History

Ed. Note: yesterday we posted about another memorial event to be held on Saturday.

From a press release:

“One hundred years ago, on January 28, 1922, the worst peacetime single-day loss of life in the history of the District of Columbia occurred when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapsed under the weight of a record 28 inches of snow, killing 98 people.

A century later, on January 28, 2022, we will commemorate the disaster and remember the victims.

The Commemoration

When: Friday January 28, 2022 at 6PM

Where: The public plaza at 1801 Adams Mill Road, NW (near the bulletin board kiosk so we can look to the opposite corner where the Knickerbocker once stood)

What: The history of the theater and the snowstorm will be outlined. In a powerful gesture, for the first time in perhaps a century, the names of the tragedy’s 98 victims will be read aloud, and their stories will be discussed. Hand-held candles will be available to light and remember the victims.

On the night of the 28th, the feature film was a comedy, “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford.” Among the 300 individuals in attendance was the Washington Post’s drama columnist, John Jay Daly. Transformed into a breaking-news reporter, his breathless 5,000-word description of the day’s events captured every bit of the disaster’s tragedy and emotion.

“With a roar, mighty as the crack of doom, the massive roof of the Knickerbocker broke loose from its steel moorings and crashed down upon the heads of those in the balcony. Under the weight of the fallen roof, the balcony gave way. Most of the audience was entombed. It was as sudden as the turning off of an electric light.”

“If possible, it was worse than hell. […] Prayers ascended from the lips of sordid sinners. Brave hearts railed at their own helplessness of the power stripped from them to do even one act of mercy. Weak men suddenly turned into giants, hoping to lift the rafters of a fallen temple of mirth and free the stricken beneath.“

(more…)