September 11th taught me many things about fire and escape. 1. Don't stay above the 5th floor in a hotel. This way the firetruck ladders can reach you. 2. On an airplane or hotel count the rows or doors to the nearest exit. You Cannot depend on emergency lighting in an emergency so know where your exits are with your eyes closed. 3. MOST people will panic and get you killed. 4. The Majority of fire victims die from smoke inhalation NOT from burns. Keep a wet towel in the shower of your hotel so you can put it under the door. And the MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE. Have a plan Before a tragedy strikes. Run through worst case scenarios in your head so when it happens it's the second time you go through it not the first.
@@orange555 Not paranoid. Checking for exits and having an escape plan is good. You never know. My parents were in a hotel when a fire started. They had to find an exit through the thick smoke, with wet towels over their heads. It was a scary experience.
@c0cksm4ck It's not paranoid It's prepared, so that you don't have to be paranoid. It's a sad reality, it only takes one irresponsible person, accident or equipment failure. It's smart IMO to at least give a passing thought to how one might exit a building or room if the usual egress wasn't available.
To me, sparing a quick thought for potential exits & hazards in a venue (esp. if crowded) is just a sensible basic precaution, like having a civil defense emergency kit at home? You may never need to use it, but it's not onerous to be at least a little prepared, & if anything DOES happen, you're much better set up to help yourself & others. It feels like the really difficult part of it all is just keeping this kind of basic safety thinking towards the forefront of our thoughts, when there are so many other endless distractions in life...?
Its a shame the kiss nightclub in Brazil never learned anything from this 242 people dead and 168 people injured the same thing that happened to the station happened to the kiss nightclub and other nightclubs the station was the 3rd fire caused by pyrotechnics the ozone disco fire dont count since there was acoustic foam but i believe it was electrical that fire and not pyrotechnics
The Station owners were always cutting costs. They ignored what happened at the Cocoanut Grove. There were, and still are many bars out there just like the Station. So, please, make it 2nd nature to look for exits other than the main one. Your life could depend on that!
I am reading about the Station fire now. The owners were flat out crooks and completely ignored safety regulations. They packed people in so that Great White would play there, and there were so few ways out.
A place with no fire sprinklers, a narrow door, polyuritaine(?) and the late response from the firemen. They were doomed. The whole video of what happened that night is here on YT. It's eerie to know the people you can hear in the video, were burning alive and choking on smoke. And the survivors... How do you learn to live with that? What a horrible tragedy.
The crazy thing is that the footage taken of that god awful night was shot by a guy doing a story on club safety - this happened THREE days after the E2 Nightclub Stampede that killed 21.
My Dad was a Boston Firefighter ( Ladder 12, Engine13, Columbus Ave.) He was on duty that night and spoke of the tragedy and of the people trapped in the revolving door and the fact that the exits opened inwardly. This is a very moving and well made documentary. Thank heaven that lessons were learned from this holocaust... but Oh! the painful price to so many.
Wow. I'm amazed how this man remained calm under pressure. To be able to quickly assess the situation in the midst of chaos, quickly survey a room in the dark, and find a window to pull you and your wife out of is an incredible feat.
@@robny lol no it's called instincts. Some people panic, others don't. It happens the same in emergency situations in any time. So knock it off with the "greatest generation" bs.
@@juliebraden6911 they were the greatest generation this bunch of pussies that they've raised now would have just sat there screaming and call there mommy or look for a cry room or something
Panic is unpredictable. I was in a life and death catamaran situation and trapped under the ocean with the sail hovering over my head. Running out of breath I knew I had one more chance to swim downward, outward and then up to save myself I was surprised how composed I was knowing I could very well drown. I don’t think any of us know how we will react until we are in such life or death situations. Crowds I’m sure can invoke more panic.
My husband is disabled with a spinal condition thus he can't walk fast or run with his cane so we tend to avoid large crowded places like this and at movie theaters we sit down near the screen, close to the exits - just in case...After you watch these kind of videos it really makes you more conscious of your surroundings. What a horrifying way to die.
The opening shot of "This is the Army" show members hit home with me. My father was a violinist and part of that road show--it was a project of the Special Services branch of the U.S. Army, that employed musicians, actors, dancers, and other theater folks to help raise spirits and funds for the war effort. The Special Services produced live performances and the movie version (starring Ronald Reagan!) of this Irving Berlin musical. The live show performed for returning and departing service members, as well as on Broadway and in other night clubs, touring the entire country, and eventually the entire world (my dad did not follow it overseas however) and with the movie raised millions of dollars between 1942-45. According to my father's version of the events, the live show had performed at the Cocoanut Grove the night before the fire. He and the rest of the theater group were on the train pulling out of town, still inspired and thrilled by a wonderfully successful show the night before, when news of the fire reached them. Everyone on the train went into shock and felt as though they had been simultaneously clobbered in the belly and spared by divine intervention. I hope I got the timeline right on this. Unfortunately I cannot verify it with my dad because he passed many years ago. But I'd love to see others who had connections to that road show add to this, or correct me if I got the calendar wrong. Here's a great article about another musician who was in This is the Army: soldiers.dodlive.mil/2013/01/this-is-the-army-mr-greene-2/ Thanks to the folks who put together this mini documentary. It is a very moving piece that captures a poignant moment of American history.
Thank you to all the firefighters out there who risk so much in the moment of complete chaos and uncertainty. 🧡 Sending love to all first responders! 🧡🧡🧡
@@dylanlac765n6 That’s why I stay away from the water. Definitely my second scariest way to go. Those people who died at their tables had the easiest death. Still a horrible way to go no matter the means of death.
I'd literally prefer to be decapitated by ISIS or get kidnapped and tortured by Mexican cartel than be burned to death. Wonder just how Brazen Bull victims felt.
The owner was a weasel. The decor and furnishings were all flammable. He kept doors locked to prevent deadbeats from leaving without paying. The club had a legal capacity of 600, he allowed overcrowding to 1200. He failed to install fire doors required by code. He was politically connected and gave contributions and free dining and entertainment to public officials and municipal employees who could help him cut corners.
Right? One story tells how some were in a pitch black kitchen, mid-fire & the men called out "Any more women?" before escaping through the window. Today, I don't think that would happen. The Station Fire videos are not like that...
Men are still gentlemen. Stop trying to push that stupid narrative. Things have actually gotten better in many ways. Women aren't treated as helpless and are still treated with respect. It's a big world out here. Look outside your narrow view if you need to.
Great video. I've just recently discovered and have been studying the Cocoanut Grove fire, what a huge tragedy. Thanks for making these historical interviews available in videos like this. A terrible loss of life, at least through this, some major changes have happened with fire codes (fireproofing, revolving, inward swing doors and more).
My mother was a kid living in Fall River, MA when that happened. She said her uncle came in middle of the night and said "There's a fire at the Coconut Grove. I'm going to take the kids to see it." Then he left for a while. And when he came back he said, "Never mind, kids, we're not going."
Ridiculous story, it's 60 miles from Fall River to downtown Boston. In 1942 the major freeways weren't built yet. Your great uncle was either completely bonkers or it's a made up story.
@@wraithby There's always someone who says "your story is a lie" online lol. He said he left for a while.. it could have been several hours he was gone for, we don't know.
@@casedistortedFacts are hard. No one was driving from Fall River to Boston on backroads before Route 24 was built, late at night, in 1941 when gasoline was rationed. Your critical thinking skills are non-existent, but others do have facts to bring to bear.
As an electrician, I work on many small buildings where the owners see exit lights as an afterthought. Much less, a sprinkler system. And I guarantee they have a minimum of 75 people in the building at peak business. Regulation is paramount in these cases.
I worked in aged care where fire training was an annual thing..one thing that has always bothered me tho..if lights are out, there is a lot of smoke, and you are meant to get down low and go, go, go...wouldn’t it be better to have some type of iridescent arrows along the floors pointing toward exits, especially in places with lots of aisles and corridors, and exit signs at the bottom of doors and windows as well? Silly, I know, but that has always bothered me.
As an electrician doing the right thing you will never know the lives you saved because you did your job properly. The absence of catastrophe makes you a hero by preventing a fire.
Thanks to these fire videos, I always do a visual check of a crowded place. If I can imagine a stampede causing a log jam at the exits, I immediately leave. My friends think Im nuts, but I doubt any of them have seen these videos.
Great coverage of a horrible tragedy. Whenever you see a revolving door, notice that there is always a regular door right next to it. As you look at that door, remember those who were killed and injured at the Cocoanut Grove, and how it took a tragedy of this scale to make such a simple precaution mandatory.
A Starbucks in an old building near me got in trouble with the fire department for keeping the side doors closed so people would only use the revolving door. The reason was that in winter the regular doors let in the cold, but it was a dumb idea.
There was a nightclub fire in France a generation later on November 1,1970 at the Cinq-Sept(five-seven) club. It was a very similar situation, highly flammable decor, exits locked shut to prevent gate crashers and a continental turnstile with metal bars extending all the way from the floor to the ceiling at the club entrance. Like the revolving door at the Cocoanut Grove, the turnstile seriously impeded the efforts of the patrons to get out of the building. A dead boy was found impaled on the turnstile. 146 people died in the Cinq-Sept fire. I guess people never learn.
Me No you can’t. Those are 1942 prices. They range from 22 to 50 in 2020 money. No wonder the management locked the doors so people couldn’t leave without paying. Nightclubbing wasn’t cheap in 1942.
I was security for musicians and actors - when I worked some of the San Francisco Venues I knew where all the exits were and had an escape rout from main area and back stage. We were armed because of what happened to Dimebag Darryl (Pantera), but the Station Night club fire was why we gave the announcement before shows - "HAY! Take a look around you, see all these exits? Take the closest to you and not the front of the venue! We don't want to lose you!" We were serious about that!
Well said. I agree. It is interesting but so upsetting to hear these types of stories. The portrayal of events of this sort don't need any sensationalization, as the stories themselves are tragic and eventful enough on their own. RIP those lost (and those who survived, as many of them have now died of natural and assorted causes).
i actually think the lady meant at that moment, when she had to put her coat up, she was reluctant. it was her first time at the club, and having to put her coat up. she didnt want to be without het coat that she loved.
"We had to get the girls down." Selfless acts of men and women. What a bad situation all around. I do not feel safe in most public spaces for this reason.
The Kiss nightclub fire was strikingly similar in that a spark caused hell, the façade had to be broken into, the door only opened inwards (which worsened things to those inside), the place was overcrowded, and people died as soon and they reached outside from intoxication, sadly.
@@msgrl4254 All three Coconut Grove, Kiss and Station have lots in common. Overcrowding, poor escape routes, non existent fire protection - hoses, extinguishers, ill trained staff, no emergency lighting (not that it is much use once smoke fills the ceiling) alcohol, blocked exits. In a panic most people will try to get out the way they came in - this is the main reason for many deaths, people falling and choking the escape route. Know the alternate escape routes, even in your own home.
God bless all of those that had perished and were injured in the fire along with their families and God bless those who risked their own lives to save others and all the fire fighters who tried desperately to save lives
My great great great great grandfather and his son were there at the fire and were killed. His son was dating Ann. They were there with her parents. The two men's names are Fred Sharby and Fred Sharby Jr. If you visit Keen State College there is an award for football that is named after Fred Sharby Jr.
Uumm unless your family is popping out kids on a regular basis at the age of 12, there no way you've gone through 6 generations of people since then. A lot of these people are still alive today.
There was a nightclub fire in France a generation later on November 1,1970 at the Cinq-Sept (Five-Seven) club. It was a very similar situation, highly flammable decor, exits locked shut to prevent gate crashers and a continental turnstile with metal bars extending all the way from the floor to ceiling at the entrance way. Like the revolving door at the Cocoanut Grove,efforts
Great video about a very tragic nightmare from hell, who would Have thought, you go to a club, have dinner, dance and have a fun Night, then all of a sudden, hundreds killed in a club that Became a fire trap, so tracially sad.
Anytime you stay in a large hotel with many floors, always know the way out of your room to the stairs. You never take the stairs when you're staying on the 24th floor, but you'd better know how to get to them if the place is on fire.
This event was so terrible they had to rewrite the life safety code and this event proved the need for exit signs with backup batteries and emergency lighting so people could see and find a way out.
It's now 2019, are there any more survivors left? I'd love to meet or talk with them about the incident. (Writing a story and I would like to get this incident mentioned in the story) - do let me know TIA!
I been hearing about the coconut grove fire for years when I see new video's I watch them thank God these people survived I would love to meet these people if they are still around and hug them what a horror this must have been I see this video is old when I noticed it it's now 2022 when I'm watching this
The owner spent three days per death in prison before being released. Don't bother looking for justice in our system, remember that so you're not shocked when it happens on repeat in your lifetime.
Jones was inside on the night of the fire, but the stories that told of him making daring rescues were just that... stories. Jones was attending a dinner party in his honor, but was one of the first people to be overcome by the fire rising to the first floor. The smoke and heat were so intense he and many others passed out in mere seconds of the fire's arrival. Firefighters who entered the building found him clinging to life in his seat, but he never regained consciousness. After clinging to life for some time in the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
I never go anywhere that's more then one story.When I do go places the first thing I look for is exit signs. I don't go anywhere where there is going to be a large crowd,ex Concerts,no way in heck am I going to Concerts I don't care if I love the music and Band, after seeing the crowd at a Kenny Chesney Concert and after I saw what happened at The Station in 2003 ,I avoid Concerts altogether.
Donna Dreyer you shouldn’t have to avoid concerts just go outdoor concerts and for indoor go to an actual arena and if not then just don’t go to concerts I go to WWE shows and the pyro is always tested and if disaster happens they have many sprinklers and a fire team on standby they also have at least 10 exits.
the are new laws put in place as a result of this horrific disaster. The lessons learned from this disaster. Greatly improve public safety. There are many businesses today that still disregard the lessons learned from disasters like this. Be it a natural or man-made disaster, we all must be vigilant and aware of those who do not heed his lessons from past disasters like this. The loss of innocent should not be in vain. But should stand as a testament to the importance of exits, means of egress, a way to get out, be it a fire, an earthquake, acts of violence or any tragic events that could lead to a panic and chaos. The exit doors must be always ready available adequate and unobstructed at all times. Michael McGrath Spokesperson for the website Home Depot 911
Mike M Mike, all due respect. Please don't be deluded into thinking it won't happen again. Both Station and CG had cops there that night, that did nothing to shut it down from overcrowding and Station had firefighters and a fire marshall that were well aware of its dangers and did nothing. I know places that lock n block to this day that are legal. Panic bars are only 160.00 each, lol :)
TightSqueeze Jam at FB I also recall at The Station (documentary) that there was security/bouncer at some doors that wouldn't let people through - backstage, etc.
WWII rationing started in May of 42. Didn't that have any effect on the business? Or was Seafood, Steaks, Booze, and Tobacco running free? Just wanting to know.
According to what I've read The Coconut Grove Fire started when an underage kid was working past his shift. The regular guy who lit the lamps with matches was out sick, and since the kid could use the money when he was asked to stay, he said sure. The kid said he thought he saw a small flame, but dismissed it as his imagination. Back then there were no laws about how late a underage kid could work
He was 16, but they don't know that he caused the fire. A couple wanted more "privacy" so they unscrewed the light bulb above their table. The boy was sent to fix it, which he did. He lit a match to see what he was doing. They don't know whether the match caused a fire or the light ficture itself. Either way, the fault pretty much completely lies with the owner, who ignored any and all safety regulations, made everything extremely flammable and barricaded up exits so people couldn't get out without paying.
then after that the Hartford Circus Fire happened and no one knows how that started, some say it was a spotlight some say arson,some thing the Germans and some think it was a ciggarette thrown on the sidewall of the tent
Many of the women had natural fur and many of the men had fashionably tailored coats. Their coats might cost a month's pay or more. People were judged on how they dressed in the 40's so a coat was very important.
They were expensive. Also, back then, people took much more care of their possessions. There was much more pride taken in appearances. My grandmother was dressed up for everything.
+Kiki Lang Lurve is right. People also tend to focus on things they can control, however random or trivial they might seem, even in the midst of a terrifying tragedy. My father and his college roommates were in a terrible car accident in 1950. (On edit: everyone survived.) He laughs now, but at the time his main worry was how he was going to get his library books back by their due date.
That makes sense. I stopped at a car accident to help. This teenager had rolled the family car, and as the car sat up-side-down gas poured out of the tank. The teen tried to stop-up the gas flow. We had to pull him off, in fear he might ignite himself. When we got him away from the car, he started crying. "I just filled the car up."
One of the paper palm tree leaves caught a spark and went up, legend is from a little lighter or candle flame. All the decorations were very flammable.
Gary M tjat was kind of a disaster waiting to happen. You have to search hard, but WOW, were there some crackheads running the place upstairs...nasty, primitive conditions. It was totally inevitable, with them running 20 some heaters off a system not equipped to handle that much draw. Not sure why California needs heat, anyway..?
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 no such thing as reincarnation. This is your life....your only life..You live...you die....then there is eternity...Where you spend it is up to you. Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and you will have life...and when you cease to breathe that life continues in the presence of your Lord🎼🎼🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Not sure of your point. Lots of people at the Station had cameras and shot video. The lesson I speak of are about blocking exits and takiing unnecessary risks with scenery and effects -- not fireproofing.
TightSqueeze Jam at FB The TV footage that was shot at The Station shows people coming towards the cameraman very quickly. The TV station was sued for being a hindrance. The first ones out were already in smoke.
My grandfather was there when it happened and helped save lives and survived
Awesome 👍
Batman: Your grandfather is a hero Batman.
Is that what he told you?
My mom and aunts told me the story
They have a old newspaper article where he’s seen helping people after the fire
September 11th taught me many things about fire and escape. 1. Don't stay above the 5th floor in a hotel. This way the firetruck ladders can reach you. 2. On an airplane or hotel count the rows or doors to the nearest exit. You Cannot depend on emergency lighting in an emergency so know where your exits are with your eyes closed. 3. MOST people will panic and get you killed. 4. The Majority of fire victims die from smoke inhalation NOT from burns. Keep a wet towel in the shower of your hotel so you can put it under the door. And the MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE. Have a plan Before a tragedy strikes. Run through worst case scenarios in your head so when it happens it's the second time you go through it not the first.
Yeah living in constant fear and paranoia sounds like a great way to live life.
@@orange555 Not paranoid. Checking for exits and having an escape plan is good. You never know. My parents were in a hotel when a fire started. They had to find an exit through the thick smoke, with wet towels over their heads. It was a scary experience.
Being cautious and careful isn't being paranoid. It's good to know things like this. You never know.
@c0cksm4ck It's not paranoid It's prepared, so that you don't have to be paranoid. It's a sad reality, it only takes one irresponsible person, accident or equipment failure. It's smart IMO to at least give a passing thought to how one might exit a building or room if the usual egress wasn't available.
To me, sparing a quick thought for potential exits & hazards in a venue (esp. if crowded) is just a sensible basic precaution, like having a civil defense emergency kit at home? You may never need to use it, but it's not onerous to be at least a little prepared, & if anything DOES happen, you're much better set up to help yourself & others.
It feels like the really difficult part of it all is just keeping this kind of basic safety thinking towards the forefront of our thoughts, when there are so many other endless distractions in life...?
It is a shame the the nightclub in Warwick RI, The Station, did not learn for this horrific event.
Its a shame the kiss nightclub in Brazil never learned anything from this 242 people dead and 168 people injured the same thing that happened to the station happened to the kiss nightclub and other nightclubs the station was the 3rd fire caused by pyrotechnics the ozone disco fire dont count since there was acoustic foam but i believe it was electrical that fire and not pyrotechnics
@@michael-johnbrown2881 Its because of laziness and people thinking it would not overcome them. But, danger is always luring in the corners.
The two tragedies happened 60 years apart but are so similar, and show that no one learned anything the first time.
The Station owners were always cutting costs. They ignored what happened at the Cocoanut Grove. There were, and still are many bars out there just like the Station. So, please, make it 2nd nature to look for exits other than the main one. Your life could depend on that!
I am reading about the Station fire now. The owners were flat out crooks and completely ignored safety regulations. They packed people in so that Great White would play there, and there were so few ways out.
There were people melted together 8-10 deep at the side door
A place with no fire sprinklers, a narrow door, polyuritaine(?) and the late response from the firemen. They were doomed. The whole video of what happened that night is here on YT. It's eerie to know the people you can hear in the video, were burning alive and choking on smoke.
And the survivors... How do you learn to live with that?
What a horrible tragedy.
The crazy thing is that the footage taken of that god awful night was shot by a guy doing a story on club safety - this happened THREE days after the E2 Nightclub Stampede that killed 21.
My Dad was a Boston Firefighter ( Ladder 12, Engine13, Columbus Ave.) He was on duty that night and spoke of the tragedy and of the people trapped in the revolving door and the fact that the exits opened inwardly. This is a very moving and well made documentary. Thank heaven that lessons were learned from this holocaust... but Oh! the painful price to so many.
Hey! Thanks for sharing, your dad sounds admirable.
Ravensbread hockey & football players aren't heroes, your dad is
Yes. It had to be so hard to see that for your Dad.
At least a lot of them are in peace and can't feel the pain anymore ♥
Sure what ever
Wow. I'm amazed how this man remained calm under pressure. To be able to quickly assess the situation in the midst of chaos, quickly survey a room in the dark, and find a window to pull you and your wife out of is an incredible feat.
They were built different back then.
@@robny lol no it's called instincts. Some people panic, others don't. It happens the same in emergency situations in any time. So knock it off with the "greatest generation" bs.
@@juliebraden6911 they were the greatest generation this bunch of pussies that they've raised now would have just sat there screaming and call there mommy or look for a cry room or something
He should’ve screamed to the others to come too. I wonder if the waiter made it
Panic is unpredictable. I was in a life and death catamaran situation and trapped under the ocean with the sail hovering over my head. Running out of breath I knew I had one more chance to swim downward, outward and then up to save myself I was surprised how composed I was knowing I could very well drown. I don’t think any of us know how we will react until we are in such life or death situations. Crowds I’m sure can invoke more panic.
My husband is disabled with a spinal condition thus he can't walk fast or run with his cane so we tend to avoid large crowded places like this and at movie theaters we sit down near the screen, close to the exits - just in case...After you watch these kind of videos it really makes you more conscious of your surroundings. What a horrifying way to die.
szqsk8 it's horrifying yes but research shows that people die is seconds. it's the fear they'd feel before they die is hard to take
I don’t blame you, having a good sense of situational awareness could save your life.
If he's slow the crowd will just trample him down getting out running over him.
The opening shot of "This is the Army" show members hit home with me. My father was a violinist and part of that road show--it was a project of the Special Services branch of the U.S. Army, that employed musicians, actors, dancers, and other theater folks to help raise spirits and funds for the war effort. The Special Services produced live performances and the movie version (starring Ronald Reagan!) of this Irving Berlin musical. The live show performed for returning and departing service members, as well as on Broadway and in other night clubs, touring the entire country, and eventually the entire world (my dad did not follow it overseas however) and with the movie raised millions of dollars between 1942-45.
According to my father's version of the events, the live show had performed at the Cocoanut Grove the night before the fire. He and the rest of the theater group were on the train pulling out of town, still inspired and thrilled by a wonderfully successful show the night before, when news of the fire reached them. Everyone on the train went into shock and felt as though they had been simultaneously clobbered in the belly and spared by divine intervention.
I hope I got the timeline right on this. Unfortunately I cannot verify it with my dad because he passed many years ago. But I'd love to see others who had connections to that road show add to this, or correct me if I got the calendar wrong.
Here's a great article about another musician who was in This is the Army:
soldiers.dodlive.mil/2013/01/this-is-the-army-mr-greene-2/
Thanks to the folks who put together this mini documentary. It is a very moving piece that captures a poignant moment of American history.
Thank you to all the firefighters out there who risk so much in the moment of complete chaos and uncertainty. 🧡 Sending love to all first responders! 🧡🧡🧡
So sad yet extremely fascinating to hear the stories,Thank-you for the up-load.Most impressive.
Burning alive has to be one of the worst forms of death.
No other way of dying scares me more.
@Wyatt Judah Yo wtf
And drowning
@@dylanlac765n6 That’s why I stay away from the water. Definitely my second scariest way to go. Those people who died at their tables had the easiest death. Still a horrible way to go no matter the means of death.
I'd literally prefer to be decapitated by ISIS or get kidnapped and tortured by Mexican cartel than be burned to death. Wonder just how Brazen Bull victims felt.
Just from the photos it looked like a great club. Poor people. .even the survivors who I'm sure never forget that horrible night.
basically just an ugly garage w cheap decor by modern standards as i heard it :)
The owner was a weasel. The decor and furnishings were all flammable. He kept doors locked to prevent deadbeats from leaving without paying. The club had a legal capacity of 600, he allowed overcrowding to 1200. He failed to install fire doors required by code. He was politically connected and gave contributions and free dining and entertainment to public officials and municipal employees who could help him cut corners.
I love that the men back then were such gentlemen, helping the women.
Right? One story tells how some were in a pitch black kitchen, mid-fire & the men called out "Any more women?" before escaping through the window. Today, I don't think that would happen. The Station Fire videos are not like that...
Women can help them selves dam lazy or what
Men are still gentlemen.
Stop trying to push that stupid narrative.
Things have actually gotten better in many ways. Women aren't treated as helpless and are still treated with respect.
It's a big world out here. Look outside your narrow view if you need to.
true men still. ITS FEMINISMS FAULT!!
@@Misslynndance ITS FEMINISMS FAULT
Great video. I've just recently discovered and have been studying the Cocoanut Grove fire, what a huge tragedy. Thanks for making these historical interviews available in videos like this. A terrible loss of life, at least through this, some major changes have happened with fire codes (fireproofing, revolving, inward swing doors and more).
oh my goodness. what a story from the past... thank you so much survivors for your story of a horrible incident!
jjlwis horrific thank you for posting very interesting my thoughts are with those that died or was injured
My mother was a kid living in Fall River, MA when that happened. She said her uncle came in middle of the night and said "There's a fire at the Coconut Grove. I'm going to take the kids to see it." Then he left for a while. And when he came back he said, "Never mind, kids, we're not going."
That story has no legs whatsoever like you're talking about nothing nothing happened it's like a sign for episode
Ridiculous story, it's 60 miles from Fall River to downtown Boston. In 1942 the major freeways weren't built yet. Your great uncle was either completely bonkers or it's a made up story.
@@wraithby There's always someone who says "your story is a lie" online lol. He said he left for a while.. it could have been several hours he was gone for, we don't know.
@@casedistortedFacts are hard. No one was driving from Fall River to Boston on backroads before Route 24 was built, late at night, in 1941 when gasoline was rationed. Your critical thinking skills are non-existent, but others do have facts to bring to bear.
As an electrician, I work on many small buildings where the owners see exit lights as an afterthought. Much less, a sprinkler system. And I guarantee they have a minimum of 75 people in the building at peak business.
Regulation is paramount in these cases.
I worked in aged care where fire training was an annual thing..one thing that has always bothered me tho..if lights are out, there is a lot of smoke, and you are meant to get down low and go, go, go...wouldn’t it be better to have some type of iridescent arrows along the floors pointing toward exits, especially in places with lots of aisles and corridors, and exit signs at the bottom of doors and windows as well? Silly, I know, but that has always bothered me.
As an electrician doing the right thing you will never know the lives you saved because you did your job properly. The absence of catastrophe makes you a hero by preventing a fire.
Thanks to these fire videos, I always do a visual check of a crowded place. If I can imagine a stampede causing a log jam at the exits, I immediately leave. My friends think Im nuts, but I doubt any of them have seen these videos.
👮💪🔥🚁
If you are that concerned, just position yourself near an exit. You shouldn't just bail on every crowded event just because you can imagine log jams.
I do the same thing.
a BUNCH OF white racist cunts. I have no problems having white racist cunts die.
Great coverage of a horrible tragedy. Whenever you see a revolving door, notice that there is always a regular door right next to it. As you look at that door, remember those who were killed and injured at the Cocoanut Grove, and how it took a tragedy of this scale to make such a simple precaution mandatory.
A Starbucks in an old building near me got in trouble with the fire department for keeping the side doors closed so people would only use the revolving door. The reason was that in winter the regular doors let in the cold, but it was a dumb idea.
There was a nightclub fire in France a generation later on November 1,1970 at the Cinq-Sept(five-seven) club. It was a very similar situation, highly flammable decor, exits locked shut to prevent gate crashers and a continental turnstile with metal bars extending all the way from the floor to the ceiling at the club entrance. Like the revolving door at the Cocoanut Grove, the turnstile seriously impeded the efforts of the patrons to get out of the building. A dead boy was found impaled on the turnstile. 146 people died in the Cinq-Sept fire. I guess people never learn.
My SisterCousin (cousin by birth, sister by adoption) was born on the night of the fire. She turns 75 today...
kpyng why not just your sister?
There’s always somebody born to take the place of those people who die that’s for certain.
Wow this man not panicking allowed him to think and save himself and his wife.
At 2:50, for once I can afford everything on the menu!!
Me No you can’t. Those are 1942 prices. They range from 22 to 50 in 2020 money. No wonder the management locked the doors so people couldn’t leave without paying. Nightclubbing wasn’t cheap in 1942.
@@robertmiller7721 you’re right I just looked it up $3.00 would be $50.00 in today’s money 2021. 😬 so yeah not cheap at all for the time.
In Serbia this would be accurate and even cheaper. 50 euro cents for a beer in a quality restaurant or 1.50 for a Pizza.
My dad was a waiter there that night, he knew some musicians that went back into it to get their music, never came back out...
It looked a beautiful club. Such a very sad and tragic loss of life.
Incredible survival stories!
Thanks for the video and the story! It's helpful to be prepared for such events.
I was security for musicians and actors - when I worked some of the San Francisco Venues I knew where all the exits were and had an escape rout from main area and back stage. We were armed because of what happened to Dimebag Darryl (Pantera), but the Station Night club fire was why we gave the announcement before shows - "HAY! Take a look around you, see all these exits? Take the closest to you and not the front of the venue! We don't want to lose you!" We were serious about that!
Well said. I agree. It is interesting but so upsetting to hear these types of stories. The portrayal of events of this sort don't need any sensationalization, as the stories themselves are tragic and eventful enough on their own. RIP those lost (and those who survived, as many of them have now died of natural and assorted causes).
Really an amazing video! Liked and subscribed this time! There is nothing better than hearing these first-hand accounts from this generation!!
i actually think the lady meant at that moment, when she had to put her coat up, she was reluctant. it was her first time at the club, and having to put her coat up. she didnt want to be without het coat that she loved.
well done. this year will be the 80th anniversary!
"We had to get the girls down." Selfless acts of men and women. What a bad situation all around. I do not feel safe in most public spaces for this reason.
The Kiss nightclub fire was strikingly similar in that a spark caused hell, the façade had to be broken into, the door only opened inwards (which worsened things to those inside), the place was overcrowded, and people died as soon and they reached outside from intoxication, sadly.
And the Station nightclub fire but it was caused by pyrotechnics. But had many other things in common.
@@msgrl4254 All three Coconut Grove, Kiss and Station have lots in common. Overcrowding, poor escape routes, non existent fire protection - hoses, extinguishers, ill trained staff, no emergency lighting (not that it is much use once smoke fills the ceiling) alcohol, blocked exits. In a panic most people will try to get out the way they came in - this is the main reason for many deaths, people falling and choking the escape route. Know the alternate escape routes, even in your own home.
God bless all of those that had perished and were injured in the fire along with their families and God bless those who risked their own lives to save others and all the fire fighters who tried desperately to save lives
The Iroquois theater fire set the precedent for fire safety in buildings, sadly we still have to learn the hard way
My great great great great grandfather and his son were there at the fire and were killed. His son was dating Ann. They were there with her parents. The two men's names are Fred Sharby and Fred Sharby Jr. If you visit Keen State College there is an award for football that is named after Fred Sharby Jr.
How is 1942 six generations back? Great great grandfather seems more likely.
Uumm unless your family is popping out kids on a regular basis at the age of 12, there no way you've gone through 6 generations of people since then. A lot of these people are still alive today.
@@melissajohnson2935 Fred Sharby was born in 1899 so assuming a kid every 20 years the math checks out.
@@jeremyud Fred Sharby was born in 1899 so assuming a kid every 20 years the math checks out.
Well Fred Sharby's picture is in this video at 6:51 at the bottom
Still the deadliest kind of building fires, all night clubs, all over booked, all with most of their exits bolted shut or baracaded.
9:23. See the face on the stairs?
Sure do. Looks like a man with a black hat on. The station fire pictures I swear I saw 2-3 images of spirits as well!
Things like this make me a more cautious person
There was a nightclub fire in France a generation later on November 1,1970 at the Cinq-Sept (Five-Seven) club. It was a very similar situation, highly flammable decor, exits locked shut to prevent gate crashers and a continental turnstile with metal bars extending all the way from the floor to ceiling at the entrance way. Like the revolving door at the Cocoanut Grove,efforts
These interviews were in 2012? They all still look in good health, these survivors would be about 100 years old today.
Great video about a very tragic nightmare from hell, who would
Have thought, you go to a club, have dinner, dance and have a fun
Night, then all of a sudden, hundreds killed in a club that
Became a fire trap, so tracially sad.
Anytime you stay in a large hotel with many floors, always know the way out of your room to the stairs. You never take the stairs when you're staying on the 24th floor, but you'd better know how to get to them if the place is on fire.
This was so incredibly sad. It’s hard to imagine the carnage that those rescuing saw. Just heartbreaking 💔
Within arms reach of me, is my NEC book. On the said book, is the NFPA logo.
This video is a stark reminder that that book was written in blood.
I was so happy that the couple found a window to escape because I don’t think if they would have turned back they would have not made it....
This event was so terrible they had to rewrite the life safety code and this event proved the need for exit signs with backup batteries and emergency lighting so people could see and find a way out.
The poor busboy who was blamed is probably the biggest victim in this tragedy. :(
My name is Tony Hinton I was 10 years old went outside with the movie and now I'm 62 years old and has been with me ever since
It's now 2019, are there any more survivors left? I'd love to meet or talk with them about the incident. (Writing a story and I would like to get this incident mentioned in the story) - do let me know TIA!
I DOUBT IT MOST WOULD BE OVER 100
The last survivor just passed away at the age of 100 earlier this year. Her name was Joyce Mekelburg.
Final death toll: 492.
Unfortunately same thing happened in Romania Bucharest, same night club fire and lots of people died that night
Too sad rip🙏🏼
I been hearing about the coconut grove fire for years when I see new video's I watch them thank God these people survived I would love to meet these people if they are still around and hug them what a horror this must have been I see this video is old when I noticed it it's now 2022 when I'm watching this
Old Music...remember "Young Frankenstein?" "Pardon me boys-is this the Transylvania Station?" LMAO
I have a spoon from the Cocoanut Grove... there's still lots of matchboxes available because they were taken home at the end of the evening
The owner spent three days per death in prison before being released. Don't bother looking for justice in our system, remember that so you're not shocked when it happens on repeat in your lifetime.
3 YEARS
SOO SAD!
I heard that the Cowboy movie star Buck Jones died in the fire trying to rescue someone.
+william holzman that was a legend. It's now known that he was simply trapped inside. Either way, he did not make it out alive.
Jones was inside on the night of the fire, but the stories that told of him making daring rescues were just that... stories. Jones was attending a dinner party in his honor, but was one of the first people to be overcome by the fire rising to the first floor. The smoke and heat were so intense he and many others passed out in mere seconds of the fire's arrival.
Firefighters who entered the building found him clinging to life in his seat, but he never regained consciousness. After clinging to life for some time in the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
joenap17
incredible tragedies!!! I can't imagine. RIP.
this reminds of the six flags great adventure haunted castle fire
Boiled live lobster : $2.25 Got to love that.
$2.25 in 1942 adjusted for inflation is the equivalent of $35.61 in 2020. But I get what you mean :)
You can see why they had the doors locked so people didn’t sneak out without paying. Things weren’t cheap even during World war 2.
Well this was a place for well to do whites so not surprising they could afford the prices
I never go anywhere that's more then one story.When I do go places the first thing I look for is exit signs.
I don't go anywhere where there is going to be a large crowd,ex Concerts,no way in heck am I going to Concerts I don't care if I love the music and Band, after seeing the crowd at a Kenny Chesney Concert and after I saw what happened at The Station in 2003 ,I avoid Concerts altogether.
Donna Dreyer you shouldn’t have to avoid concerts just go outdoor concerts and for indoor go to an actual arena and if not then just don’t go to concerts I go to WWE shows and the pyro is always tested and if disaster happens they have many sprinklers and a fire team on standby they also have at least 10 exits.
the are new laws put in place as a result of this horrific disaster. The lessons learned from this disaster. Greatly improve public safety. There are many businesses today that still disregard the lessons learned from disasters like this. Be it a natural or man-made disaster, we all must be vigilant and aware of those who do not heed his lessons from past disasters like this. The loss of innocent should not be in vain. But should stand as a testament to the importance of exits, means of egress, a way to get out, be it a fire, an earthquake, acts of violence or any tragic events that could lead to a panic and chaos. The exit doors must be always ready available adequate and unobstructed at all times.
Michael McGrath
Spokesperson for the website Home Depot 911
Mike M Mike, all due respect. Please don't be deluded into thinking it won't happen again. Both Station and CG had cops there that night, that did nothing to shut it down from overcrowding and Station had firefighters and a fire marshall that were well aware of its dangers and did nothing. I know places that lock n block to this day that are legal. Panic bars are only 160.00 each, lol :)
TightSqueeze Jam at FB I also recall at The Station (documentary) that there was security/bouncer at some doors that wouldn't let people through - backstage, etc.
National Fire Protection Association
Name of the song that's playing please??
The architecture of this building was a pure trap.
It was absolutely insane. The architecture, the practically dark lighting, candles near flammable materials...
What caused the blaze
A waiter throwing a still lit match in a potted plant if memory serves.
Because of September 11, and the Earthquakes I been in, I refuse to move to a condo I cn'at get out of quickly without relying on others
Hah! I work at Brockton hospital...I remember Dr.Davis.
My grandpa was in this n he told me about it and he saved lives n he’s a hero n ye yeahh….😅😅😅
Do we really need the MUSIC?
WWII rationing started in May of 42. Didn't that have any effect on the business? Or was Seafood, Steaks, Booze, and Tobacco running free? Just wanting to know.
THEY SIMPLY DEALT WITH "MR BLACK"
sad
Or the one in Kentucky in 1978..awful
Beverly Hills Supper Club
This happens again and again, because owners like to collect money from many customers but do not like to pay for controlling many exits.
According to what I've read The Coconut Grove Fire started when an underage kid was working past his shift. The regular guy who lit the lamps with matches was out sick, and since the kid could use the money when he was asked to stay, he said sure. The kid said he thought he saw a small flame, but dismissed it as his imagination. Back then there were no laws about how late a underage kid could work
He was 16, but they don't know that he caused the fire. A couple wanted more "privacy" so they unscrewed the light bulb above their table. The boy was sent to fix it, which he did. He lit a match to see what he was doing.
They don't know whether the match caused a fire or the light ficture itself.
Either way, the fault pretty much completely lies with the owner, who ignored any and all safety regulations, made everything extremely flammable and barricaded up exits so people couldn't get out without paying.
WW2 WORKING RESTRICTIONS WERE EASED FOR THE DURATION DUE TO THE MANPOWER SHORTAGE
then after that the Hartford Circus Fire happened and no one knows how that started, some say it was a spotlight some say arson,some thing the Germans and some think it was a ciggarette thrown on the sidewall of the tent
I don’t recall specific title or author, but there is a great book about the circus fire. It was published, say @2015 (?). Check it out !!
Correction and update .. the book is The Circus Fire by Stewart O’nan 2001. (I read it in 2015).
Available on Amazon.
No Free Publications Allowed
Only good thing to me was that tasty menu @ 2:50
It doesn't look like anything on that menu is above $3.00.
flea sweep Understand that typical wages, back then, were about $25 a week. So, put that $3 into perspective.
+cylinder4ify I wonder what the soup of the day was?
+MerleOberon volcano soup? 💀
jeez , people really loved their coats back in the forties ! , rip .
Many of the women had natural fur and many of the men had fashionably tailored coats. Their coats might cost a month's pay or more. People were judged on how they dressed in the 40's so a coat was very important.
CPFlyme well said
Hell I wouldn't want to be separated from my coat because it keeps me wrong. Forget all the other reasons😂
Wow 😯 also 500 hundred people died in that fire.
This, dear libertarians, is why we need regulation.
Thank you. Geez...
Thank you Liberty.
building companies have no incentive to create unsafe buildings and could be sued so no, regulations are not the only solution.
@@hkhjg1734 You don't have a case without regulations. You can't sue over breach of nonexistent laws.
Settle down Ann, people died
People must love their coats back then. A bunch of people die, and what they remember is their cool coats.
They were expensive. Also, back then, people took much more care of their possessions. There was much more pride taken in appearances. My grandmother was dressed up for everything.
Thanks, Kind of wondered. Nice to know.
+Kiki Lang Lurve is right. People also tend to focus on things they can control, however random or trivial they might seem, even in the midst of a terrifying tragedy. My father and his college roommates were in a terrible car accident in 1950. (On edit: everyone survived.) He laughs now, but at the time his main worry was how he was going to get his library books back by their due date.
That makes sense. I stopped at a car accident to help. This teenager had rolled the family car, and as the car sat up-side-down gas poured out of the tank. The teen tried to stop-up the gas flow. We had to pull him off, in fear he might ignite himself. When we got him away from the car, he started crying. "I just filled the car up."
Kiki Lang terribly traumatic for you.
Why isn't there explanation on how it started?
One of the paper palm tree leaves caught a spark and went up, legend is from a little lighter or candle flame. All the decorations were very flammable.
times have changed. yet 36 people died in the ghost ship warehouse fire in Oakland.
souls can reincarnate so they'll return for another life
Gary M tjat was kind of a disaster waiting to happen. You have to search hard, but WOW, were there some crackheads running the place upstairs...nasty, primitive conditions. It was totally inevitable, with them running 20 some heaters off a system not equipped to handle that much draw. Not sure why California needs heat, anyway..?
Souls reincarnating? No. Just no. Most of the people who lived in that building complained, but stayed anyway.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 no such thing as reincarnation. This is your life....your only life..You live...you die....then there is eternity...Where you spend it is up to you. Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and you will have life...and when you cease to breathe that life continues in the presence of your Lord🎼🎼🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
I'm wicky bear
Times have changed. We would have grabbed our phones.
Didn't help at the Station night club fire.
Not sure of your point. Lots of people at the Station had cameras and shot video. The lesson I speak of are about blocking exits and takiing unnecessary risks with scenery and effects -- not fireproofing.
Anna Lavransdattar I
Cait L. I had one. So did at least half the people. :) Had one on 9-11. Cameras DO NOT do well at night, tho.
TightSqueeze Jam at FB The TV footage that was shot at The Station shows people coming towards the cameraman very quickly. The TV station was sued for being a hindrance. The first ones out were already in smoke.
Florence Henderson and Barry Williams went on their “date” there.
Barry Shtuped his "Mother" and "Marsa."
7:31 did he say the mob?
Just from the photos it looked like a great club. Poor people. .even the survivors who I'm sure never forget that horrible night.