Amanda Ripley Author of The Unthinkable

scott zeilenga said on October 31, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Very cool.  Well, actually not, but interesting nonetheless. I just finished that section of your book and found it really interesting. Actually, that story made me look at the fire safety at my own job and evaluate its effectiveness.
Thanks for the update.

z.

Glenn Corbett said on November 01, 2008 at 8:54 pm

Here’s an update to the stories above - Kentucky Governor Beshear has agreed to forming a legal panel to look at the “Beverly Hills Supper Club Survivors for Justice”  critique of the fire investigations conducted in 1977 (and civil litigation thereafter). This article was publsihed by the New York Times.

Amanda, I’ll update this blog when new things develop.

Panel to Review Arson Claims in Deadly 1977 Kentucky Fire

By STACY L. NEITZEL
Published: October 28, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — More than three decades after a fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Ky., killed 165 people, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed a panel on Tuesday to review assertions that arson may have been to blame.

Initial reports concluded that faulty aluminum wiring was the cause of the blaze, which also injured 200 people.

Fire officials said that crowding, lack of sprinklers and poorly marked exit signs contributed to the death toll. In addition, the building did not meet fire safety standards or code requirements.

But rumors of arson and survivor accounts of workers in the ceiling near where the fire started have persisted since the blaze, on May 28, 1977. Some survivors have said investigators dismissed their accounts.

This month, more than 20 fire experts from across the country met to review the case files.

Members of Mr. Beshear’s administration met recently with a group of survivors who submitted a report outlining their concerns about the possibility of arson, said Jay Blanton, a spokesman for the governor.

One member of the governor’s panel, Cecil Dunn, was the special prosecutor in the case. No criminal charges were ever filed.

The two others on the panel are William H. Fortune and Robert G. Lawson, both University of Kentucky law professors.

They will review the survivors’ report and share their findings with the governor’s office over the next several weeks, Mr. Blanton said.

The three panel members have intimate knowledge of the case and will act as a set of “independent eyes,” Mr. Blanton said.

Dave Brock of Florence, Ky., who was an 18-year-old busboy at the time of the fire and has been pushing for a new investigation, said he was pleased by the governor’s action. “I think it’s the best thing they could do,” Mr. Brock said.

The fire is the third-deadliest nightclub fire in United States history; the deadliest was the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston in 1942, which killed 492 people.

Glenn Corbett said on November 17, 2008 at 2:34 am

Here is an update…..

Glenn Corbett said on November 17, 2008 at 2:35 am

http://www.fox19.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3122749&h1=Beverly Hills fire reinvestigation request updated&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=127500&LaunchPageAdTag=Search Results&activePane=info&rnd=65643436

Todd McKee said on July 03, 2009 at 12:22 am

I am interested with how many of the fire “experts” were called to be interviewed for the re-investigation?

All kit said on September 12, 2009 at 12:48 am

Here some information im putting,

A wedding reception in the Zebra Room had ended at 8:30 p.m. Some guests complained that the room was becoming overheated, though no smoke was in evidence yet. The doors of the Zebra Room were closed after the reception ended, and the fire continued to smolder undetected for another 25 minutes. Two waitresses, looking for tray jacks, entered the Zebra Room at about 8:56 p.m. They saw dense smoke hanging near the ceiling and notified management immediately. A phone call was placed to the fire department at 9:01 p.m., and the first fire engine arrived in only three minutes, as it happened to be in the area of the club at the time of the call. Meanwhile, the management used two fire extinguishers inside the Zebra Room, but to little effect. The fire had taken hold and could no longer be contained inside the room. The flames spread so rapidly, a full evacuation of the sprawling, crowded building was not possible. A lack of a sprinkler system and audible automatic fire alarms added to the dangerous conditions. These basic safety standards were required by law, but had not been installed and the local volunteer fire department had not forced correction of the deficiencies…

          Thanks!

Barb said on June 13, 2010 at 11:02 pm

Hello, I was one of the musicians there that night, and for some reason, after all these years I looked this up online.  Just started reading here.
One thing I just read somewhere online was that in the Cabaret Room people did not respond, but they most certainly did.  I remember exactly what the busboy said.  He first said people on this side on please exit and he pointed out the exit in the front of the room, then he said the same thing to the other half of the room, pointing out the exit sign on that side.  The one exit was out through the kitchen and people got stuck.  I was onstage and got up and left.  People were streaming out at a steady rate, but no more than a few minutes later, flames burst out the door as people were coming out, yet there was no smoke that I could tell just minutes prior.  There were just too many people in that room and the flashover had to have been really fast.  Barb

Barb said on June 14, 2010 at 12:31 pm

Christian, I don’t feel people weren’t just milling around, I’m telling you, we (the musicians) watched that door as people streamed, non-stop out of it.  If anyone was milling it would have been because they weren’t concerned and were waiting their turn to get to the door.  However, I find it hard to believe that anyone who stayed long enough to watch people “milling around” actually got out of there alive.  Who the heck gave that report anyway?  There were only two exits from that room, unless you went out into the rest of the building.  The one exit to the right of the stage as you were facing it, went through the dressing room and out a side door, a direct exit.  Musicians were killed because they stopped to put their instruments away.  We were the closest to the exit.  How long does it take to put a violin away?  My case was on the bench outside of the dressing room, so I grabbed it and kept going, we were helped out of the door and down the stairs and encouraged not to panic.  I took my shoes off to go faster, again, no smoke, nothing at that point, only minutes later (and I wrote down right afterwards how long, have to go back and see) there was smoke and then fire blasting out of there.  The other side of the room, there was an exit, but it was through the kitchen.  There was a young waiter?  bartender? who we’d get a cup of coffee from during the break.  One news report was all about how he lost his life directing people out of the other exit which was through the kitchen.  There was an exit sign on that left side, but apparently it was not a direct route.  So, the time frame from when the busboy got in there and announced we should leave, at which time we stood up immediately and began moving, as did the audience, and when the fire blasted out that door (just a regular size door, small steps down to the ground)  the time frame was short.  The reports said at the point the fire was announced in that room, it had already been going for some time and other rooms had been vacated, and that apparently no one realized that it would spread quickly through the ceiling, because the bus boy acted on his own to make the announcement.  Are all those newspaper accounts still online somewhere?  Does anyone want copies?

Todd McKee said on June 14, 2010 at 5:37 pm

Barb:  Thank you for the post! I would love to talk to you more about this, my number is 740 507 8802.  I have factual information for you about that night that you may be interested in.  You can also email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  There are several new details that most do not know regarding the fire and if you have time we could talk about it.  Your friend, Todd McKee

anonymous said on June 15, 2010 at 1:12 pm

“Nothing happens unexpectedly, everything has an indication,
we just have to observe the connections.”

Barb said on June 15, 2010 at 1:17 pm

Thanks Christian,  I’m no longer in the area, but I’m going to keep this info and be sure to stop in if I am ever within even a couple hours of Cinci.  I feel like my story is a non-story.  I entered and exited through the stage door, saw nothing, and not until now have I ever really realized, I was 2 minutes away from a fiery death.  The way Walter Bailey made that announcement, I knew immediately something was really wrong.  He was being really clear about where the exits were, THEN telling people to leave.  Seemed like an indication that there was some reason to panic and we should not do so.  And you are probably correct that it was a waiter who lost his life.  I only knew him from him bartending behind a small bar which was to the left of the stage kind of in toward what I thought was a kitchen, but it doesn’t show it as a kitchen on the maps.

I guess now I am wondering, how did that event affect people in ways that they might not even know?  I mean, somewhere, inside, each of us who got out must carry that knowledge that at least at one moment in time we were just a flash away from eternity.  And as I’ve done a search on this, and found out about the firefighter who got in and got out with at least one woman on fire, I want to know more, like if the fireball went through the Cabaret room, didn’t it ignite the whole room?  So there were people still in there alive?  i didn’t know that.  Anyway, I’m not surprised that people arent’ interested in reviving an investigation.  Even if it was arson, after 30+ years, and underworld driven, unless someone comes forward and confesses, where would you ever get enough evidence?

I’m more interested in what happened to the survivors, and the other musicians too.  Cannot even remember names.  Have all of that somewhere in old papers, probably complete with silver fish…..  Barb

A wonderer said on June 16, 2010 at 11:15 am

Anthe- May I ask what type of experience or expert you are?  It make me wonder when you are throwing out names and locations of people.  You say that there are people that burnt it down and one is dead and one is in Ohio. I hope yo can back it up!

Matthew Sorrell said on August 16, 2010 at 10:53 pm

I’m Curious! Is there any video or audio archives from that night? I’m currently reading the book written by Ron Eliott and Wayne Dammert: Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire. I’ve also found some audio from Wkrc but that’s about it. I’m totally blind, so the book is actually being read to me. Any audio will help. The reason I’m looking is not just curiosity. In fact, due to not being able to physically see photos, this is my way of learning about that night aside from the book. I was only 2 weeks old in 77 and was still in the hospital in Ft Thomas on the night of the fire. My Mom and Dad have talked about it over the years. Today, after a Doctors appointment in Highland Hights, I had Mom to drive me bye the site. I said a silent prayer for all who lost someone, and the souls who were lost. I’m not sure why the fire is on my mind here lately, but it is. Perhaps it’s because I’m a member of a fire dept in northern Kentucky as communications officer, or because an event as tragic as this happened right here in our area. Thanks:
Matt

A Wonderer said on August 17, 2010 at 10:27 am

Christian yous should shhhhhhh PLEASE!  Thank you!

matthew sorrell said on August 17, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Thanks a bunch for the links. I’ll take a look at them. I’d never bring up the subject, if I ever talk to a surviver, without asking permission to talk to them first. I’m respectfull like that.

matthew sorrell said on August 17, 2010 at 3:28 pm

oops, misspelled survivers:

Christian Anthe said on August 17, 2010 at 10:12 pm

Matt: You could also visit the ‘‘Newport Gambling Museum’’ on 5th @ York Streets in Newport, KY, owned by Larry Trapp.  He has a rare record released shortly after the fire, only a few hundred copies were made.  If you bring a reliable record player with you, he might let you listen to it.  Made just after the fire locally.  Most of your local news have live recoeded footage, but would take special permission to have all that brought out of archives.  Since I’ve just been told to ‘‘Shhhhh’‘, I guess I’d better not say any more.  I can say I admire you saying some prayers on the bottom of that hill.  It should be preserved as a hallowed ground.

matthew sorrell said on August 17, 2010 at 11:28 pm

Thanks again Christian.

Christian Anthe said on October 04, 2010 at 6:45 pm

To attempt to answer your question, there are living whitnesses to an unusual chain of events that was happening at that time in 1976-7, such as mysterious deaths connected to things which I cannot go into publically.  I will say you can measure the chemicals on carpeting, panelling, upholstery, etc., still burried in the rubbel of the hill where the club stood and find out exactly was in the air that night.  That’s the first part.  Getting together whitnesses diaries, family members, etc. who heard them talk endlessly about what they saw that week prior to the fire, etc.  Things were not properly investigated then and a lot of important major factors were left “unquestioned”.  The fire was never officially investigated for arson either, so the real leg work was never done.  The average citizen should not have to be doing this and should be handled by the officials.  It is a disgrace this has gone on so long and everybody knows what happened.

Matthew Sorrell said on October 04, 2010 at 11:44 pm

I’m thinking that Christian just about covered it.

tiffany travis said on October 09, 2010 at 12:03 pm

I wonder where Teter and McDonald are now, and how they fared in the fire. I saw them in 1975, and loved their act.

nobody said on October 11, 2010 at 7:29 pm

Teter lives in Las Vegas.  Walter Bailey (hero busboy) communicates with him once in a while.

ButtonNose said on October 12, 2010 at 11:05 pm

I remember the night of the fire very well. I was in Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati and the news of the fire was on TV. I personally knew someone that was there that night, but he and his wife left earlier that evening because he didn’t like John Davidson!

Christian said on October 14, 2010 at 8:20 pm

Correction on above reply: Teter lives in Orlando, Florida; he was a ventrilloquiest and commedian that week with MacDonald.  He performs now in Las Vegas, I believe.

Bob Roden said on November 20, 2010 at 5:34 am

My father was one of the musicians who died,he made it outside,but then died from the toxic smoke and fumes.At least he wasn’t burnt.

Barb Rylander said on November 20, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Bob,

This is Barb Rylander, was Barb Ferrel, a violinist at that time.  Please tell me who your father was and what instrument he played.  Did he stay to help get the music off the stands?  Was he taken to a hospital or just made it outside?  You know, I remember when the busboy pointed out the exits so calmly and THEN said something about a small fire, I knew there was something wrong, but never did I imagine it would be only minutes later that the fire would be in that room.  Barb

Christian Anthe said on November 29, 2010 at 6:44 pm

Barb, did you know that the orchestra conductor’s cousin is still living, Keith Cianciolo?

Ed said on March 11, 2011 at 9:32 am

Hi all,

In less than 2 months I was to be 14 years old while I watched the news flash of the fire from my maternal uncle and aunt’s home. I was staying with them while my mother and step-mother went to see John Davidson as a girl’s night out as 2 divorced women of the same man, my father.  It is now more than 30 years since that tragic evening so O have lost perspective about the time, but it seems that by the 11 o’clock nightly news, we recieved a phone call with my mother’s voice on the other end of the line.

A few days, weeks, or months later, time is a bit hazy, my mother told me “her story” of what took place. Apparently she and my father’s 2nd ex-wife while lock hands/arms were amongst the last to be able to get out alive through a usable exit.  I recall her telling me how once outside my father’s ex-no. 2, a LPN,  started administering first-aid to those lying on the ground from smoke inhalation and ex-no. 1 (my mother) tried to follow giving any aid that was possible in her capacity.

The one thing that sticks out in my mind was my mother’s discription of her realizing that her feet of her 5’3” build no longer touched the ground as the crowd pushed from behind.

My mother is still alive a doing well and may even be able and willing to give her story of that night in May 1977.  I have no news from dad’s ex-no. 2.

Regards and in memory of the perished,

Ed

Christian Anthe said on March 25, 2011 at 12:42 am

Hi Ed:  Would you please be so kind to give Debbie Buckley a call on her cell at 859-760-3890?  Debbie is the Curator for the Ft. Thomas Military and Community Museum and would very much love to refer your mother to speak with the students of Northern KY Univ. to have a story board/poster created with her story.  Debbie currently has two rooms in the museum on display about Beverly Hills Supper Club and is the only museum to have done any displays since 1977’s tragedy.  Thank you and God bless you. - Christian Anthe

James said on May 06, 2011 at 1:24 am

I’m quoting Barb, from above: “The other side of the room, there was an exit, but it was through the kitchen.”  (Were you referring to the front door of the Cabaret Room)?  In your description of the Cabaret Room, you made a very vivid description of what it was like to exit the room from stage right, that is, as you faced the stage, to the right of the stage, there was an exit.  That is correct. This was the exit you apparently escaped from. You must have walked out of the east side of the Cabaret Room and DOWN the stairs to the outside of the club that faced south, toward the front.  Alexandria Pike would have been on your left side down the hill.  Back inside, the exit to the left of the stage, if you were looking at the stage from the front, did not go through the kitchen!  It went through a service bar area into the back of the club and outside, roughly facing the Chapel. If anyone had excited from the front doors of the Cabaret Room, they would have to make a right turn and travel along the hallway (North) to the exit out of the Garden Room.  There are holes in your story.  I’m sorry to bring this up, but it simply doesn’t agree with the diagrams of how the Cabaret room was situated!  No one had to run through the kitchen unless they doubled-back and ran toward the east-west corridor that ran behind the Empire Room.  People exiting from that front part of the Cabaret Room (to have access to the kitchen) would have been met with a wall of fire roaring down the South to North corridor, right in their way.  From what I understand, very few people escaped from the front doors of the Cabaret room because those were the doors that the smoke and fire came raging through.  The folks that exited out the Garden Room, or through the kitchen would have done so LONG before the fire had roared down the South to North corridor; that is, BEFORE the flames became too intense that escape from the front of the Cabaret Room became impossible.

Barb Rylander said on May 06, 2011 at 9:57 am

To clear up the “hole” in my account.  I have no memory of being in any part of the Supper Club except where we played.  During our breaks I would go to the left of the stage (as you face it) and get coffee, so I ASSUMED the kitchen was back there, since there were servers coming in and out that way.  I never went back there.  However, there was an exit sign there, people did try to exit (I read this part) and it was not a straightforward exit.  At any rate, that does not constitute a “hole” in my story, just a misunderstanding.  Barb

James said on May 06, 2011 at 6:34 pm

Terribly sorry for putting it that way.  I should have said that it didn’t make sense to me, or that I misunderstood you.  I often get worked up when I read about this fire since I was up there on the hill that night.  Nothing personal.

James said on May 07, 2011 at 2:56 am

Barb, I want to apologize to you again, personally.  Had I proofread what I had written, which was written in such in a hurry, I would NOT have made such a mistake as I did.  I am truly grateful that you made it out of the Supper Club alive that night! I was not trying to discredit you in any way, I just chose a poor selection of words.  I hope you will forgive me for that.  I’m truly sorry.
Jim

Barb said on May 07, 2011 at 8:04 am

Jim, no problem, I’m glad you clarified the actual layout.  I do have that as well from somewhere, online?  the report? 

You know the guy that would serve us coffee (and put a little Bailey’s in mine) lost his life leading people out that exit.  Brings tears to my eyes, I think moreso because it is a Saturday this year.  Night after night there we were, playing backup, some of us just college students, classical, earning decent money.  And there was this guy, just a little older, or maybe not, and when the time came, he had the courage to risk, and lose his life.  He didn’t sign up for military duty, wasn’t trained, didn’t apply for the job of fire rescue, but when his knowledge of that building could save lives, he used it. I know I’ve got his name in my files, but don’t have time to look.  Sorry.

I will be with you in spirit on that Saturday night this year.  My daughter, baby girl #5 and I will be attending a wonderful performance that is part of an intense weekend of classical music study and performance. 

All who go, please come back here and post.

Mary L Simmons said on May 09, 2011 at 10:04 pm

Hi

My name is Mary and I was in the club that night.  I am the mother of Ed and he ask me to tell my story.  I need to think out the details again before I write about it. I can tell you that it was horrible and I saw so may bodies and felt helpless to be able to make a difference.  The scene was tragic.

Tom D. said on May 30, 2011 at 10:13 pm

I caught a little bit of a radio interview on WLW today as I was working at my police dept.  I heard a bit about a possible warning sent to the owners, in newspaper letters, cut out, warning if Beverly Hills kept building, they would keep burning, and there had been a fire before this one? 

My personal connection to the story is that my Grandpa’s wedding was supposed to happen at Beverly Hills that night but was changed at the last minute.  We drove home through the fire, but didn’t know what it was.  My parents lost friends, and my mom and dad thought there was some kind of organized crime element to it though they never let on.  My email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
thanks!

Jim Woody said on June 03, 2011 at 11:21 pm

To Barb Rylander -
Please get in touch with me at your convenience.  I would like to talk with you.  No pressure.
James

Barb said on June 04, 2011 at 9:47 am

James,

I’d be glad to call you, or email, where can I reach you?

Veronica said on June 18, 2011 at 10:42 pm

My father, grandfather and aunt died in the fire. My mother was the only survivor in their group that night. I was only 2 so fortunately have no memories just the bits and pieces my mother has spoke of through the years, and she mostly never spoke of the night. Except after her nightmares, when I was very young. Anyway she always has said it was arson and even after the new judgement disagrees. She said there were only minutes before the busboy gave instrucitons and the lights went out.
The person who asked someone to call Debbie Buckley at the museum dont waste your time I contacted them after an advertisement in the cincy enquire and was never followed up.

Christian Anthe said on June 26, 2011 at 4:24 pm

I am not sure who your comment is addressed to, yet sounds appreciative.  Did you guys know there is a memorial for BHSC that overlooks I-471?  It’s about 27 feet tall by 50 feet wide.  It has several statues, 3 crosses, a flapole, 2 picket fences that mirror what originally stood at the top of the driveway in the older days, and a brick arch made of the original club brick.

James said on June 26, 2011 at 10:45 pm

I, too, am a little perplexed at the message left above by “freechessdownload.”  It seems like the half of the message came from the latter half of the message above it.  I suppose it’s always good to keep in mind that virtually anybody can post in here.  Whether the posts make sense or not is another story.

James said on June 26, 2011 at 10:50 pm

This message is for Barb Rylander -
Hi, Barb,
Regarding my message above, drop me a line at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  I’d like get in touch with you and hear about your side of things.  No rush, and no pressure.  At your convenience, just send me an email and I’ll write you back.  Thanks!!
James

James said on June 26, 2011 at 10:55 pm

Dear Christian -
I haven’t had the opportunity to see what is up on the hillside, firsthand.  I’ve seen a handful of pictures and that is about all.  I’m glad you had an opportunity to explore the grounds up there and report back.  Someone, obviously, is taking good care of the place - and it needs to be taken care of.  Thanks for writing in!

Christian Anthe said on July 21, 2011 at 4:39 pm

For pictures from the BHSC Hill and latest updated picture of the privately donated and handbuildt memorial, visit: http://community.fireengineering.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=3728lfmfgrd6k

James said on July 22, 2011 at 11:34 pm

Thanks for posting the link to the pictures, Christian!  It good to see that the memorial has grown and is being tended to.  Did you personally have anything to do with that?

Christian Anthe said on July 23, 2011 at 1:58 pm

I really am not at liberty to disclose any names of those who have assisted with the monument.  However, I will say that I have a fairly extensive collection of historical photos and have seen some of the deeds on the property.  I didn’t realize that 78 acres could have had so many parcels throughout time and so many interesting previous owners (Syndicate).

James said on July 23, 2011 at 6:34 pm

I’ve been looking all over the Internet for pictures of the interior of the club before the fire.  The one time I went into the club, I didn’t venture beyond the foyer so I never really did get to see what it was like on the inside.  I’ve only found about 4 or 5 pictures and they’re basically the same one’s that show up on all of the websites for the BHSC.

Christian Anthe said on July 24, 2011 at 4:50 pm

I have emailed them to you James.  However, please do not share these with anyone.  They are private.

James said on July 24, 2011 at 11:50 pm

I give you my word.
Many Thanks!!

Larry Roberts said on January 31, 2012 at 6:13 am

I went up to the site yesterday for the first time. I was 13 at the time of the fire living in Delhi. So very sad I still have tears. Cant even believe the thought of building anything up there exists.

Todd McKee said on February 05, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Hey Larry!!!! It is very humbling on each of my visits.  Feel free to visit the facebook page called The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire.  Thanks!  Todd