Ringtheater [Vienna, AT]
Ringtheater
Ringtheater [Vienna]
Ringtheater de Viena
Theatre building in Vienna, Austria
bouwwerk in Wenen
Edificio teatrale a Vienna, Austria
Ringtheater, Vienna, Austria
Fire at, III. S. pp. 134, 135 ; Longi­tudinal section, III. S. p. 134 ; Transverse section, III. S. p. 134; Front elevation, III. S. p. 135; Area plan, III. S. p. 135.
Built 1872-1874 by Emil von Förster. Opened 17 Jan 1874 as Komische Oper with Rossini's opera Il barbiere di Siviglia. Later renamed Ringtheater. Destroyed by a fire on 8 Dec 1881 during a performance of Offenbach's opera Contes d'Hoffmann, resulting in 384 deaths (and ultimately, new legislation on theatre safety). - Replaced by the Sühnhaus (Atonement House), a housing estate funded from private means of Emperor Franz Joseph in memory of the fire victims. Its revenue was designated to charity. Severely damaged by bombs in 1945, remains demolished in 1951. The site is now occupied by a police office block.
Burnt just before the commencement of the performance through carelessness in lighting gas battens. Great panic caused by turning off the gas, which prevented the audience from finding the exits. 450 killed, many injured.
The Ringtheater fire occurred on the 8th December 1881 at the Viennese Ringtheater. Because a gas lamp exploded, the theatre burned down and more then 400 people died in the fire. Afterwards safety curtains were made mandatory.