Deep Dive: Triangle: Remembering the Fire (2011)
Film Lens
Triangle: Remembering the Fire recounts the tragic events of March 25, 1911, when a fire at the Triangle Waist Company in New York City resulted in the deaths of 146 workers, mainly young immigrant women and teenage girls. The film details the harrowing choices faced by these individuals as they were trapped on the upper floors of a ten-story building, forced to decide between burning alive or jumping to escape the flames. The fire consumed the factory in just 18 minutes, marking it as the worst workplace disaster in New York State until September 11, 2001.
This documentary examines the dire working conditions that led to this tragedy and the subsequent changes in labor laws that emerged in its wake. It illustrates how the disaster catalyzed a movement for worker representation and contributed to the rise of an American middle class pursuing the American Dream. The film is directed by Daphne Pinkerson and features insights from Dennis Clancey, providing a historical context to the events that shaped labor rights in America.
Why Watch
- •See the impact of the Triangle fire on labor laws.
- •Meet the young women who faced impossible choices.
- •Find out how this event shaped the American middle class.
Did You Know
•The Triangle Waist Company fire killed 146 workers in 18 minutes.
•Most victims were young immigrant women and teenage girls.
•This fire was the worst workplace disaster in New York until 2001.
•The tragedy occurred on March 25, 1911.
Perfect For
Labor rights historyEarly 20th century AmericaWorkplace safety advocates