Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire report by Al Schottelkotte

[@DruinStLouis]

This was BIG news back in the day. Over 46 years ago, hard to believe. Thank you for posting.

[@erynlasgalen1949]

Blueprints preserved on microfilm. I had almost forgotten what life was like before digital storage.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Al was great reporter. We don't have the same caliber of that these days.

[@mh53j]

Did he use to do the helicopter traffic reports on Cincinnati back in the late 60s?

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@mh53j No idea as I'm not from Cincy but from what I've seen he was a great journalist the kind people looked up to back in that day.

[@jeffmorrison579]

My mom worked there and called in sick that night she never mentioned it for years .

[@muffs55mercury61]

Probably survivor's guilt. I can relate to her silence, so sorry she went thru that.

[@Connection-Lost]

@@muffs55mercury61 She's the one who set it up

[@mikesauro4068]

I remember I just got back from MY high school senior dinner dance in Dayton and My mother had this on I remember staying up all night watching this thinking that this could happen easily at the place we were at that night And even though I was a teenager and usually teenagers don't have The empathy that you develop later in life I prayed And wept for these people I was up all night still in my suit watching this . This is one bad memory I will never forget Until the day I die.

[@ScottALanter]

I was just a kid when this happened. But, I can vividly remember the horror that night. There was a great sadness that was felt across the entire tri-state.

[@Dennisjohns-c4j]

Lost for words the only thing I can say is very very sad,💔💙🖤🌹

[@amydamjanovic9183]

John Davidson apparently suffered from PTSD for years after, he was never the same.

[@moemcgovern7345]

We never hear from him. I saw John at a club in New Jersey in 1976

[@chrisbeard5794]

I have just started reading the book about the tragedy by Robert D Webster.

[@pntyhs]

24:48 - The grim irony of those statements, just 19 months before the Cincinnati Who concert stampede.

[@tobyl55]

Good point

[@danstadtmiller483]

We were there the night before! We were so packed in there! Had it happened the night we were there we would have been killed!!

[@daylily-vj8cr]

my mom wanted to take my family and I there that night as a graduation gift to me, I refused, glad we didnt go but i feel so bad for all those people

[@mikemanners1069]

It was a Mob Hit. They threatened the owner for years to sell to them. They have a lot of blood on their hands.

[@rebeccacoomes2501]

Yep......The Mafia got away with one of the largest mass murders in American history. They had Democratic Governor Carroll in their pocket as well. The fire was on Saturday night. On Monday MORNING, the site was bulldozed BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR! Before any real investigtion had begun! There were a lot of pictures taken though, and many of them show distinct use of accelerants.

[@mikemanners1069]

Carroll should have been investigated but Kentucky politics has always been screwing rotten to the core. Good ol boys, payoffs, cronyism, etc. How Carroll can sleep at night is beyond me.

[@indyfan22k]

@@mikemanners1069 Sounds similar to Illinois State Politics

[@RandomMan7491]

@@indyfan22k Sounds similar to politics. 😀

[@slothmonkey9579]

Nah the mob never played that way. They didn't usually involve civilians in stuff like that. They may have burned it down when it was empty but not with that many civilians inside. The aluminum wiring thing was a huge fire starter. My dad probably put us through college with the money he made from re wiring homes after the code changed.

[@gregman1715]

God Have Mercy For All The Victim's And For All Their Family's

[@jayskicksnfits9372]

*Families* *Victims*

[@moemcgovern7345]

God Bless all of you. I wish you all Peace. Amen.

[@swiftkarma4436]

" tell me some gore. Tell me what happened." I respect people that want to know details because I'm one of those types of people. However I would never ask anyone who was actually there to describe it to me. Now if they volunteered I would listen.

[@robertsteinbach7325]

According to many sources, Walter Bailey had horrible stage fright. That must have been frightening for him to have to go on stage and calmly and clearly announce the fire warning and evacuation. That is the definition of courage.

[@moemcgovern7345]

I read about a fire in Chicago in 1958. 90 something students and 3 Nuns. Were killed.

[@krisone5253]

I worked at a Ramada Inn. The Simplex fire alarm kept going on, False Alarm. Me and my coworkers tried to read the error message codes on the main panel. I used to open the main box,and silence the Alarm. I was told to do so! Because, if the Fire Department came out, it cost $500. And, the system had a three minute warning to silence the system or they would send out the Fire Department! Now, their going to tear down that Ramada!

[@gvtimj]

It is 2019 and the struggles then match the same struggles of today. It is safety vs. money. Safety vs. Cost. Essentially, greed vs. the safety/welfare of others. Safety? That is someone else's problem as money and making money becomes the ultimate goal and passion. The more corners that are cut the more money is saved. If nothing happens it is beautiful to those making the money and with the greed. If something does happen it is time to ultimately point fingers in the aftermath. That, just as it did then, does absolutely no good. Finally, the greed extends to the lawsuits and those who file them. Yes, they miss their loved ones, but millions in dollars, in all honesty, ultimately heal that sorrow much quicker than one might think. Just who pays for all these lawsuits also? The business entity? The type of money often discussed and being sought would immediately bankrupt everyone but the country of China.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I am from cincinnati, and LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT, this fire was intentionally set by the "ORGANISATION OUT OF CLEVELAND OHIO"." they" wanted to buy the supper club from richard shilling, he was presented with a blank check, and he told them "it is not for sale". the counter offer was "either you sell us the supper club, or you will have nothing to sell!!!!" the "BOYS" from the "ORGANISATION" went in and soaked the rooms with fire accelerants, and used the basement of the "ZEBRA ROOM with the aid of air handling equipment/ natural chimney effect to start the fire. bombs were used, and set to go off by electric timers, but were to be set to go at 8A.M., not 8 P.M.!!!!.

[@frankrizzo4460]

Why did it take a year to clear out this property and leave all the rubble of the building for people to see? Today it would have been knocked down in a matter of weeks or months.

[@ThePessimist]

For the investigation

[@krisone5253]

I guess one feels guilty for surviving a tragedy like this. Why did I survive? I can only imagine. Thankfully I've never been in a situation like this. R.I.P to the casualties.✝️ Some of my family were aware of this club before it burnt down💔

[@otterz4u]

wow! it's Al!

[@Ms.Andrist]

Gov. Carroll and most of the investigators from KSP were all crooks.

[@robertbroughton1443]

Taking into consideration the number of casualties in this incident, it rates ahead of the Who concert tragedy in 1979. This fire happened about 2.5 years prior. I was in my early teens when both incidents occurred. I was born, and raised in Cincy back then.

[@mooner45013]

2.42 Sec in the video, Appears a face in the fire. Any one else see this?

[@George-fh9zm]

You mean trees limbs? LOL

[@lindalacey4408]

Holy cow! Yes I do! I screenshot it.

[@RhoThorres1997]

Yes, I do. That's scary.

[@joankersting2358]

3 spots could look like two eyes and a nose to impressionable people.

[@axxxingforanswers4648]

Is it Mitch McConnell?!?!?!?!

[@rogerrendzak8055]

That principal Ken, sounds a little selfish (@08:39), asking questions like; "Why did it happen to us?? Why'd it happen, the night, we were there?? To, the thirteen"??? A more apathetic question, would be like; "Why'd did it happen, ALTOGETHER (in other words, for EVERYONE)"??? And Representative Luken, iterates @24:15; "We lose far more proportionately, than any other, civilized country, when it comes to losses of life, and property damage, due to fire,". And, Representative Luken, why do you think, THAT is?? Lack of sweeping regulations (from republican politicians), towards businesses (of which, to this day are, vastly republican owned), which in turn, will cost your constituents, and fellow businessmen, a crap-load of $💵$!!! 👉THAT is why👈, people!!! Isn't that STILL, WHAT IT'S ABOUT here, in the 21st. century🤔?? Why we still lack, basic social amenities, for EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY, in southern red states. Or anywhere red, rears its ugly head🤨???

[@77-ty7gb]

Oh stop. How dare you question his thoughts after such a horrible event. How extremely narcissistic of you.

[@pattil7947]

Has anything ever been built there as of 12/ 2018????

[@BrianMarkus]

Patti L No, still empty.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

there is activity on the site now, condos are being built.

[@bigkev2084]

were the owners charged with anything?

[@gregoryclemen1870]

STAN CHESLEY went after anyone he could just for a "BUCK"!!!!

[@mk202]

9:15 That’s one very ambitious comb over!

[@kimshepperd5687]

My next door neighbor who was pregnant was going there but could not find a baby sitter.

[@matthewkeene524]

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeleven o'clock!

[@gregoryclemen1870]

you forgot about sixxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx o' clock!!!!!, thats funny. from around the world, across the nation, and up your street, from the pictures, sounds, and days events, where news is first!!!. I knew the family, and went to grade school with them( 12 kids)

[@rapman5363]

This was well done

[@ke5445]

Mob sounds possible, but true that it was unlike them to involve citizens and safety codes across the bridge were not what they r now. Too would not be unlikely that code inspectors perhaps looked the other way.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

it was" THE ORGANISATION OUT OF CLEVELAND OHIO" that had" that fire" intentionally set!!!!!. RICHARD SHILLING was presented with a" blank check" by the "ORGANISATION" who wanted to buy the supper club. RICHARD SHILLING told the" BOYS OF THE ORGANISATION" "THE SUPPER CLUB IS NOT FOR SALE". their counter offer was "EITHER YOU SELL US THE SUPPER CLUB OR YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SELL" .then unusual activity started taking place. the rooms were soaked with fire accelerants, the basement of the "ZEBRA ROOM" with the aid of air handling equipment/ natural chimney effect to start the fire. bombs were used, and set to go off by electric timers, but were to be set to go at 8 A.M. not 8 P.M.!!!!.

[@moemcgovern7345]

This was just horrible. For the victims RIP

[@jeffgoff6761]

Trust me if the mob wanted this place, it would've been theirs period. What you are missing is the blatant above the law attitudes of owner and his kids. They broke the law multiple times just on fire protection alone. They care only for profit, obviously not for customers. You should stop sticking up for the owner, stop blaming mob.

[@yawnwarrior]

Except there's a compelling case made that it was in fact the mafia, enabled by corrupt or scared politicians. Watch some of the interviews with historian and author Robert D. Webster.

[@musicnerd72]

@@yawnwarrior Exactly! There's plenty of books on the subject as well. Way too much compelling evidence out there now that points directly at the Mafia.

[@rapman5363]

The mafia would have burned it down on a random Monday. The message would be the same. The mafia didn’t involve civilians in their business. This was an accident and nothing more.

[@frankrizzo4460]

​@@rapman5363Yeah I agree with you, it would have been done when the building was closed on a certain day. Make it look like shifty wiring or something.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

the fire was set by the "ORGANISATION/CLEVELAND OHIO", RICHARD SHILLING was presented with a blank check by the "ORGANISATION", who wanted to buy the supper club. he told them "IT IS NOT FOR SALE", they countered by saying( warned) "IF YOU DO NOT SELL IT TO US, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SELL TRUST ME , I HAVE INSIDE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE!!!!! by an "ORGANISATION member"!!!!.there was a small mistake made, the timers/ bombs that were located in the "ZEBRA ROOM BASEMENT" were to be set to go at 8A.M., not 8 P.M.!!!!!

[@gonstotwriter]

"[BHSC} was the showplace of the nation." Really? I'd never heard of it till the damn thing burned in '77.

[@DarrylRuiz-s1w]

Not a single mention of arson

[@pagerhoads1531]

I remember AL he died on Christmas day when I was 25

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I know the family, I went to grade school with them.

[@OrangeySky11]

Why is the lady @22:59 wearing her bath robe?

[@mikefallopian3191]

20:49 . . . . crooked P.O.S.

[@CincyPhotography]

even after the bus boy told everyone to get out there was a fire, the people refused to leave.

[@rl373]

Wow, @6:40, I had a hold of a woman but I had enough, and had to let her go...Not heroic or brave at all..

[@corettaha7855]

Ron L has as much as he could take, meaning smoke inhalation. He saved many others subjecting himself to that smoke inhalation. He did as much as he could. More than was smart for his own well being, which means more than most would have even tried to do. Very brave and very heroic. Only someone who was never in a fire and has a childlike naïveté about what that’s like can think otherwise.

[@rl373]

@@jeremywarner116 If you are over 40 years old, then perhaps you remember Air Florida flight 90 in Washington, DC. The plane went down in the Potomac River and a passenger named Arland Williams survived the crash. He constantly passed the rescue line to others that had survived and unfortunately succumbed to the icy water. I'm sure he was also thinking that he had enough. He was posthumously awarded the Coast Guards Gold Lifesaving Medal...

[@TNAROHfan]

@@rl373 You don't understand fire. It is not like icy water or any other exertion AT ALL! You can't breath the toxic smoke, you can't see and it is like being in an oven, not to mention the primal fear that it creates in people. That is not to take anything away from Mr Williams or any other person who went above and beyond, but being in a burning building is not the same thing AT ALL!! Your body can withstand much longer periods of exhaustion, cold and pain, than it can in a few seconds in some fire environments.

[@1953childstar]

@@rl373 I remember at that time a female flight attendant who survived, lost her contact lenses and had no eyeglasses. I was working as an optician and did a "good deed".. Her prescription was nearly identical to mine and I had numerous pairs of glasses, and as she was literally blind with no glasses, I gave her a pair of mine...

[@jamesdean258]

@@1953childstar That was Kelly Duncan.

[@rickybobby6579]

this was God's way of telling us, NOT to listen to John Davidson's music