Later clarifications of survivors’ stories showed that no one assaulted anyone there was just the understandable panic in the midst of the fire. Some of the sensationalist press of the time reported that men darted forward, picking up chairs, and assaulting men, women, and children in their flight for their own lives. The audience reacted in hysteria, jumping up from their seats and running towards the nearest exits. Unfortunately, when some of the men in the front row took the precaution of moving the tank of kerosene that fueled the footlights bracketed to it, its framework buckled, the fuel spilled and brought the small fire back to life. This started a small fire on the stage, but it was nearly extinguished. Excitement was in the air, and the audience watched the drawn velvet screen while the actors set up the horrific scene of the monarch’s death scene.Īfter Fisher “turned the wrong valve,” cast members lifted the curtain to see what had happened, only to knock over a kerosene lamp, set on the stage for additional lighting. About fifty members of the congregation’s youth were busy prepping their lines and readying their make-up while 400 of their loved ones from the small, industrious town sat on the edges of their seats, waiting in anticipation for the third act of The Scottish Reformation: the execution of Queen Mary. John’s Lutheran Church were performing at the Rhoads Opera House in Boyertown. It was January 13, 1908, and members of St. The loss of the Rhoads Opera House was felt on every street, at every home, and in every heart of Boyertown, Berks County. It is possible that no one felt guiltier than Harry Fisher in the days after the Rhoads Opera House Fire, but it is impossible that any growing town felt lonelier. When a tragedy occurs in any small town, there is always speculation about what could have been done to change the circumstances of despair, and often times, blame gets placed on whoever is still alive to bear it. Fisher, the stereopticon operator, in The New York Times on January 14, 1908, after an infamous performance of The Scottish Reformation. I don’t know what happened next,” said Harry W. Several of them jumped up and screamed and ran toward the stage. There was a long drawn out hissing sound that frightened the women and children. The Rhoads Opera House in Boyertown, before the fire that would make it famous.
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