Stage doors??

I'm heading home today, and haven't had time to get out with the camera. So I took the approach of looking out the window and seeing if there were any interesting details I could pick out with the long lens.

Fire escapes are a feature of older buildings in many American cities, and they often make great photographic subjects with their strong lines, shadows, and (usually) repeating patterns as they zig-zag from floor to floor.

That is NOT the case with these! I've never noticed anything like this before - it's almost like every floor has its own independent fire escape. Can't help wondering why that should be...there's probably a story behind it...

I liked the combination of the random doors and stairs with the patchy brickwork, and the wonderful old signage at the top.

(Ok, I was intrigued and spent a few minutes googling for information. There's information on the DePaul Theatre School here. It seems they moved to a new site in September last year, but they still put on shows at the Merle Reskin Theatre (formery the Blackstone Theatre), the building in the photo. And I read this snippet about its history:

Memories of a tragic fire at the Iroquois Theatre in 1903, which led to a loss of 571 lives, and resulted in a revision of the fire codes, prompted most theatres to reassure patrons that they would be safe. The Blackstone Theatre's program for opening night asserted that the theatre was "equipped with every modern device for safety and comfort, and it is believed to be the safest and most substantial theatrical structure in existence." A later program stated that "this theatre, under normal conditions, with every seat occupied, can be emptied in less than three minutes."

So I'm guessing that's the story behind the multiple fire escapes - to evacuate the audience in record time!)