Thanks for this fascinating presentation on a terrible tragedy. I was 14 years old in 1977 and living in southern Ontario, and it really seemed a terrible year for losses. A few months earlier we had just had the Tenerife air disaster, and in a few more months, we'd learn of the death of Elvis...like those, this event is forever imprinted in my memory. I still remember seeing the first TV news coverage of the fire, where it was reported that 'dozens' may have been injured or killed(this at a time before 24-hour news coverage existed). It was only the next day that the true horror of the night was fully reported. As for John Davidson, he was a big name back then and was frequently seen on numerous TV shows, including Hollywood Squares, and I distinctly remember news reports leading with Mr. Davidson's harrowing escape. At the time, I hadn't heard of the 1942 'Coconut Grove' disaster and it seemed unbelievable to me that 169 people could perish in a single fire(exceeding even the 'Station' nightclub fire decades later). May their souls rest in peace!
Thanks for watching! Mr. Webster says, "The idea of reopening the case has been brought up to two former governors. The first time, the request was secretly hushed. The second request was not even heard. It will most likely never be investigated further."
another question. since this seems like arson. and was this mostly an electrical based fire? sprinklers if installed would in some ways have made that much worse. but if something was wiped on walls. i assume a propellant. or maybe some kind of wax. im not a pro arsonist i dont know. but foam is used for electrical fires. sad the wiki still holds onto the accident theory. im not a conspircay person. BUT ealier in the video when you mentioned how many clubs and whatnot were fire bombed in that region? 40? that tells me right away as sad as it is. its amazing so many DID survive. unlike coconut grove. or the station fire rhode island.
great job.. was always fascinated by this. i worked in a smiliar type of supper club. although much smaller. as a busboy in the early 90s. family who owned it was mafia(ish). but not hardcore. someone did them dirty by claiming the fish they served came from a area near a bay in new york that was polluted. and they lost their liscense. many great memories, good money. and coming of age there. was very sad to see on google earth around 2005 it was a shambles the building???? now its just a complete flat slab of concrete at its foundation. at first i thought it could be from hurrican sandy. but all the surrounding houses on that street were fine. including mine. to fully bulldoze something like that is a bit suspicious.
Just drove up to the site today. It was quiet and peaceful, an open field lightly grown over. Saw a couple red brick pieces but not sure if it’s fill. There were plastic flowers on site of cabaret room. Sad and heart wrenching thoughts. Saw two deer run across field New homes are built nearby but the actual square foot area of Beverly Hills club is not built on. I walked over near chapel and remembered the reporter Howard Ain being up in that area relaying the horrible event. ♥️🖤
I’ve heard a rumor Mt Adams bar n grill had a bootleg activity and a couple big old houses with internal elevators used to move alcohol.near Eden park by Kemper Gilbert Ave.
Any idea what expenses Chesley had to advance? He had to pay experts, investigators etc. He didn’t “get” all that money to keep. BTW, if he had not sued the victim’s would never have received a dime.
Thanks for watching. Mr. Webster agrees and says, "He MUST have had some money given to him as an advance. True, if he had not sued, the victims would likely have received nothing."
The Beverly Hills Supper Club is something I can never forget. I set in the top dormitory at Our Lady of the Highlands and watch the entire thing from beginning to end. I'm now 63 and I can still remember it as if it happened yesterday.
Thanks for this fascinating presentation on a terrible tragedy. I was 14 years old in 1977 and living in southern Ontario, and it really seemed a terrible year for losses. A few months earlier we had just had the Tenerife air disaster, and in a few more months, we'd learn of the death of Elvis...like those, this event is forever imprinted in my memory. I still remember seeing the first TV news coverage of the fire, where it was reported that 'dozens' may have been injured or killed(this at a time before 24-hour news coverage existed). It was only the next day that the true horror of the night was fully reported. As for John Davidson, he was a big name back then and was frequently seen on numerous TV shows, including Hollywood Squares, and I distinctly remember news reports leading with Mr. Davidson's harrowing escape. At the time, I hadn't heard of the 1942 'Coconut Grove' disaster and it seemed unbelievable to me that 169 people could perish in a single fire(exceeding even the 'Station' nightclub fire decades later). May their souls rest in peace!
Thank you so much for sharing. Such a tragedy that affected so many people in so many ways.
Awesome work
Fascinating story. Thank you, both for all your hard work in bringing the truth out.
So you guys did this great work ... what do we do now? Is this the final step? You guys did a great job ... and IT MATTERS!
Thanks for watching! Mr. Webster says, "The idea of reopening the case has been brought up to two former governors. The first time, the request was secretly hushed. The second request was not even heard. It will most likely never be investigated further."
another question. since this seems like arson. and was this mostly an electrical based fire? sprinklers if installed would in some ways have made that much worse. but if something was wiped on walls. i assume a propellant. or maybe some kind of wax. im not a pro arsonist i dont know. but foam is used for electrical fires. sad the wiki still holds onto the accident theory. im not a conspircay person. BUT ealier in the video when you mentioned how many clubs and whatnot were fire bombed in that region? 40? that tells me right away
as sad as it is. its amazing so many DID survive. unlike coconut grove. or the station fire rhode island.
great job.. was always fascinated by this. i worked in a smiliar type of supper club. although much smaller. as a busboy in the early 90s. family who owned it was mafia(ish). but not hardcore. someone did them dirty by claiming the fish they served came from a area near a bay in new york that was polluted. and they lost their liscense. many great memories, good money. and coming of age there. was very sad to see on google earth around 2005 it was a shambles the building???? now its just a complete flat slab of concrete at its foundation. at first i thought it could be from hurrican sandy. but all the surrounding houses on that street were fine. including mine. to fully bulldoze something like that is a bit suspicious.
Just drove up to the site today. It was quiet and peaceful, an open field lightly grown over. Saw a couple red brick pieces but not sure if it’s fill. There were plastic flowers on site of cabaret room. Sad and heart wrenching thoughts.
Saw two deer run across field New homes are built nearby but the actual square foot area of Beverly Hills club is not built on. I walked over near chapel and remembered the reporter Howard Ain being up in that area relaying the horrible event.
♥️🖤
Thank you for sharing. It is a very sad part of our area's history.
I’ve heard a rumor Mt Adams bar n grill had a bootleg activity and a couple big old houses with internal elevators used to move alcohol.near Eden park by Kemper Gilbert Ave.
I will ask our curator of collections Jason French and see if he has heard this...interesting!
Any idea what expenses Chesley had to advance? He had to pay experts, investigators etc. He didn’t “get” all that money to keep.
BTW, if he had not sued the victim’s would never have received a dime.
Thanks for watching. Mr. Webster agrees and says, "He MUST have had some money given to him as an advance. True, if he had not sued, the victims would likely have received nothing."
The Beverly Hills Supper Club is something I can never forget. I set in the top dormitory at Our Lady of the Highlands and watch the entire thing from beginning to end. I'm now 63 and I can still remember it as if it happened yesterday.
Stan Chesley now rots in h*ll