WTTW broadcasted the compelling documentary “EASTLAND: Chicago’s Deadliest Day” on July 24, 26, and 28, 2025.
The documentary, which was initially released in 2019, tells the harrowing story of the Eastland Disaster of July 24, 1915, when a passenger steamer capsized while docked on the Chicago River, killing 844 people, many of whom were workers and families from Western Electric. It remains one of the deadliest tragedies in the city’s history and ranks as one of the worst maritime disasters in American history.
Presented by the Chicago Marine Heritage Society and produced by Harvey Moshman and Chuck Coppola, the documentary recounts not only the disaster but also explores the aftermath for those impacted and why this major event faded from public memory. The story is told through original newsreel footage from the scene, state-of-the-art computer graphics demonstrating how the ship rolled over, and interviews with more than 30 subjects.
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and a renowned Chicago plaintiffs attorney, was extensively interviewed for the film and discussed the legal ramifications of the disaster. He explained how those accountable for the lives lost that day avoided responsibility, escaped conviction, fines, or penalties, and how the victims’ families were left without justice.
Stream The Eastland Disaster on PBS.org or on the free PBS app to hear the powerful retelling of Chicago history and Robert Clifford’s compelling insight into the legal aftermath of the Eastland Disaster.
Click here to watch the film’s trailer.