The Brooklyn Theatre Fire of December 1876: a community's response

At the Center for Brooklyn History, a variety of collections document Brooklyn's vaudeville and theater scenes—from scrapbooks where individuals preserved programs and tickets, to periodicals like The Opera Glass, the Brooklyn Daily Programme and The Brooklyn Daily Stage. These serve as a testament to the popularity of these performances among a wide and diverse segment of Brooklynites.

On the evening of December 5th, 1876, a catastrophic fire broke out at the Brooklyn Theatre, a relative newcomer to the Brooklyn's theatre scene. The theatre stood near the corner of Johnson and Washington Streets, near the present location of the Cadman Plaza post office, at the edge of Downtown Brooklyn's entertainment and theatre district. The Brooklyn Theatre was capable of seating 1600 guests, with more affordable seats located in the family circle available to the working class and those of more limited means. The family circle was the uppermost balcony, and was accessed by two narrow, winding staircases. 

Approximately 1,000 people were in attendance on December 5th to see a performance of "Two Orphans". At around 11:15 PM, shortly after the opening of the final act, gas lamps came in contact with pieces of scenery causing a fire to break out. The actors were the first to become aware of the flames, but they carried on with the performance to avoid creating panic and continued to urge calm once the flames became more noticeable. Most patrons in the orchestra escaped onto Johnson Street, leaving bystanders and firefighters unaware of the number of people trapped in the family circle. Only the following day did they realize the scale of the catastrophe. All told, nearly 300 had lost their lives. The Brooklyn Theatre fire was the deadliest fire in U.S. history at the time, and still ranks as the third deadliest fire in U.S. history. 

The city of Brooklyn went into a period of mourning. On Saturday, December 9th, the city held a public funeral for 100 of the victims who were buried in a mass grave in a plot donated by Green-Wood Cemetery.

In the wake of the event, families of the deceased—many of whom had already lived closed to the edge—faced increased financial hardship. A relief committee took shape as soon as the extent of the tragedy became known, with Mayor Frederick A. Schroeder appointed to receive contributions. Schroeder was assisted by Daniel Chauncey, treasurer, and the Reverend Dr. Alfred P. Putnam as secretary. The fire was publicized widely and contributions poured in from across the city and the nation. The Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association raised $47,455.47 to aid the families of the victims. Aid went to 800 individuals in 188 families, with families receiving an average of $250 each. Bi-weekly stipends continued until March, 1879, at which time the funds became exhausted.

The Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association Records at the Center for Brooklyn History—donated by Association secretary Alfred P. Putnam—comprise a unique historical resource. Volunteers of the relief association who visited the homes of aid applicants filled out forms giving the name, age, address, occupation, and wages of the victim along with information as to family size, rent, health, and other factors that could influence the request for assistance. These reports provide information about an under-investigated Brooklyn population, many of whom were of working class or lower middle-class background.

Interested in seeing more photos from CBH’s collections? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images, or the digital collections portal at Brooklyn Public Library. We look forward to inviting you to CBH in the future to research in our entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections. In the meantime, please visit our resources page to search our collections. Questions? Our reference staff is available to help with your research! You can reach us at cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org.