Fire, death & mystery at Festival Theatre

Photo: Booktryst.com

100 years ago this week end the Empire Palace Theatre was the scene of a fire which killed eleven people and brought to an end the life and career of The Great Lafayette.

With a sell-out audience of 3000, the performance of the Man of Mystery was to be his last as a lantern overturned and in the ensuing fire Lafayette, his body double(!) and nine others perished.

There is a variety of events this week-end commemorating the occasion.  More details here and here.

The Empire Palace Theatre was on the site of what is now the Festival Theatre in Nicolson Street.

Note: Later today I will post on another anniversary this week marking a remarkable event in the local area.