The Cocoanut Grove Disaster | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror

"On the 28th of November, 1942, a hanging decoration in one room of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts caught fire..."
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[@1981deloreanfan]

My grandma actually was supposed to go that night on a blind date. She had to cancel and my father told me that her date was possibly among the dead.

[@mercoid]

☠️🍾☠️

[@vi0let831]

Holy shit...

[@1981deloreanfan]

@@trashcat623 That’s how random life can be.

[@bravelittleroomba]

Then you are here typing this because this disaster happened.

[@AdmiralBison]

@@trashcat623 I don't believe in fate, but by that same paradigm if that fire didn't exist, someone else may have existed in his place.

[@sjeabee5345]

I always wondered why buildings with revolving doors had two standard doors flanking it, kinda assumed it was for people who walked too slow, now I know the truth. Awesome information as always!

[@hyperion3145]

@@paradise8389 the more you know

[@gengoosekhan]

Wheelchairs.

[@johns7734]

This is a prime example of the old saying, "building codes are written in blood."

[@blujay2084]

@@paradise8389 As someone who made a living wheeling in a tool kit on a small hand truck cart I can tell you all about revolving doors.

[@shroomiestshroom3655]

@@blujay2084 not sure how wheeling a tool kit makes you an expert on revolving doors, but go ahead...

[@k.c.5666]

My Great Aunt died in this fire. She was only 18 yrs old. My grandfather had to i.d. her body. He said there were rows of burnt bodies. She was the 2nd to last one. He was only 15. He soon left Boston, joined the Navy, and settled in Philadelphia, P.A. never to return. I visited the site a few years ago. Rest in Peace, Auntie Evangeline 💔

[@bootykingfaia]

evangeline is such a beautiful name 💖thank you for sharing, may she rest in peace

[@tgd9477]

My condolences ❤️

[@Lauranna]

Your poor grandfather. I can’t imagine the trauma this left him with at only 15 years old.

[@timothysullivan4130]

GOD BLESS her & ALL the poor souls who lost their lives💔😢😔🙏

[@hilsbroorjlch3259]

Did he have to view every single body? That would be awful. But it would have prepared him for the gruesomeness of military service. Although, I truly hope he never had to do something like that ever again.

[@23mrcash]

Cheap is expensive. We don’t want people sneaking in so let’s bolt the fire exits

[@GazB85]

I worked in a factory back in 2005, I live in England and they had the fire exits nailed shut. I hated that place and am glad the higher upper's lost their job's and the business clasped back in 2008.

[@coreym162]

@@GazB85 you'd think lessons would be learned after the Station Fire. I'll be the reason they didn't was as dumb as they didn't take America seriously given that fire happen in America.

[@claire040776]

Sneaking in for free or sneaking out without paying their bill!

[@nekovannox]

Always remember, kids, dead people don't pay either!

[@shroomiestshroom3655]

@@nekovannox but their relatives do, just because someone dies doesnt mean their debts do to, sad fact is that if he kept records of bar tabs he probably could have chased the victims for money owed after, and by law they probably would have had to pay.

[@HBMPaladin]

The Nightclub owner had close ties with organized crime... and helped by politicians ..... NO WAAAAAAY.

[@benbaer4697]

That's republicans for you.

[@ZaphodTHEBeeblebrox]

@@benbaer4697 not just repubs, fren

[@benbaer4697]

@@ZaphodTHEBeeblebrox true true.

[@MyHentaiGirl]

@@benbaer4697 all politicians ain't your friends, trust no ones

[@worldcure7883]

@@benbaer4697 the irony of your tiny brain not even bothering to do research before making this comment. Maurice J Tobin was a proclaimed liberal and a Democrat. Your direct immediate bias shows why liberals are way more corrupt.

[@carolryann4839]

I took care of a woman who survived the Cocoanut Grove fire when I worked in a nursing home in New Hampshire, she'd been severely burned and needed constant application of a special cream because her skin was so delicate as a result. She was such an amazing woman.

[@bootykingfaia]

thank you for being one of the good workers in a nursing home!

[@tabiibat]

Can you imagine the survivors guilt that kid felt for the rest of his life? Even if Stanley’s match wasn’t the first spark, he’d feel like maybe it was.

[@BimmerBabe]

the guilt should be from the couple removing the bulb for privacy in a freaking night club. they should have went home for privacy smh

[@tabiibat]

@@BimmerBabe yeah true. But that's not how survivors guilt works

[@BimmerBabe]

@@tabiibat yea i know.

[@bogdangabrielonete3467]

Regardless of what caused the fire, the culprit and sole responsible was the club owner, due to blatant safety violations. A fire could have started for any number of reasons : a short circuit, a lightning strike, hell even a cigar not properly put out. The idea is the fire should not have been able to spread so quickly, and many escape routes should not have been blocked or hidden

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@BimmerBabe It was the man who did it. It wasn't her idea. Still the BAR'S responsibility to make sure all codes are followed and the marshall's responsibility to close it down if not.

[@dubdaze68]

I really need to start looking for exits more when I arrive at places.

[@mercoid]

Always!

[@hanindhira]

thats the first thing i always spot whenever i go somewhere.

[@trubre5565]

Anyone ever look for an EXIT sign in a casino?

[@wrongturnVfor]

Dunno why but it has always been a habit of mine. Always plan the nearest exit and an alternate route when I am going to be anywhere more than 5 mins

[@TheRealRusDaddy]

@@trubre5565 they dont want you leaving

[@mromatic17]

“The employees blocked the exits to demand that customers paid their bills!” What in the actual fuck? What difference does it make if you die or the money burns with the building?

[@MrSoopSA]

People who are greedy and stupidly power hungry don’t take safety into account, they only think about money they might be losing out on. Pretty much every theme park disaster video on this channel is due to the owners wanting to cut corners with costs for safety regulations.

[@reachandler3655]

I believe those employees were not aware of the fire at the time

[@PGar58]

Get the f**k out of my way. Send me a bill and I’ll send you a check. Scouts honor.

[@ascendedillumanti5995]

In that situation just attack the employees it's life or death who cares

[@dirkthedaring5131]

America moment

[@macScsgo]

My great uncle saved a few people in this fire by bringing them into the back walk-in freezer! He was just a bus boy :)

[@aisakataiga5200]

My great grandfather survived it too. He worked there and knew to let people out a certain window. It's crazy to think I wouldn't exist.

[@macScsgo]

@@aisakataiga5200 Only the employees would have known about the window exits and what not. That's amazing to hear :)

[@partehbear2995]

Aisaka Taiga Was he one of the six employees who escaped from the basement kitchen window? That’s pretty epic

[@reneedennis2011]

Wow!

[@peaked_boulder1406]

noice

[@towermoss]

There's a saying: "Regulations are written in blood." Remember that whenever you hear someone (typically a businessman or politician) arguing against regulations.

[@RizztrainingOrder]

Einstein?

[@WobblesandBean]

YUP. Politicians, nearly always conservative ones, want to drag us backwards to a time when this happened regularly.

[@PanzerDave]

Very true, however there is a big difference between regulations that are meaningful and onerous regulations.

[@ileolai]

@@PanzerDave onerous regulations like what? Businessmen will tell you ''you can't put lead in children's toys'' is an ''onerous regulation''

[@randomtinypotatocried]

@@PanzerDave Until you find out that "orenous regulation" actually had a purpose

[@ArchangelSteve]

"Many people stuck in this crush were, unfortunately, still alive when the fire reached them." You ever hear a sentence that just absolutely hits you like a sledgehammer to the gut, and need to take a few minutes to recover? Yeah, I got that...

[@spencertang5155]

That would be more like an hour to recover from… I mean, you wouldn’t normally think that people were still alive in the entrance or dining areas when the fire reached them, or smoke. At least now we have emergency exits on the sides of the revolving door.

[@Persephone01]

Same here too. RIP. Also the part where people were found with drinks in their hands still sitting :(

[@stephensmith7293]

@@Persephone01 It sounded like that was because the material the burning chairs were made of emitted a flammable gas when burned, creating a fire ball. They were instantly incinerated.

[@tomg5187]

Well said Steve! Agreed!

[@Smedley1947]

I watched a video presentation of the fire at the the Station nightclub and in it one of the survivors in an interview said that it was only the number of bodies above him all of whom died that absorbed enough Heat so that he wasn't burned nearly as badly although he almost had his feet burned off because they were sticking out from under the pile of bodies. I cannot even begin to imagine what that would be like, particularly the screaming of those above you. Jesus, that is absolutely horrifying to even contemplate let alone experience.

[@nyotamwuaji6484]

Can you imagine escaping a fire only to almost freeze to death?

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Yes. I live in Chicago.

[@macScsgo]

My great uncle was the person who brought people into the walk-in freezer to save them :)

[@sevengerEX]

@@macScsgo props to your great uncle

[@joshyaks]

People with severe burns are already at risk of hypothermia in normal temperatures due to the removal of large areas of skin (which plays an important role in regulating body temperature).

[@AG-hn4ng]

@@joshyaks never even considered that, learn something new every day!

[@grapeshot]

Some have compared this to The Station nightclub fire that happened in West Warwick Rhode Island but the Coconut Grove was far worse. Coconut Grove is still the worst nightclub fire in American history.

[@CLBellamey]

Yeah, they sound similar from the description of events, but I was blown away by the death toll on this one.

[@-bubby9633]

Actually in world history not just American

[@hirisk761]

The city of Boston actually passed an ordinance afterwards banning the name Coconut Grove from ever being used again.

[@JLange642]

Just imagine how bad The Station club fire would have been if the main room had been in a basement such as the Grove! Also- next time you board a plane take notice of how many people pay NO attention not only to the safety briefing, but even to how close the nearest exits are. I'm anal enough that I count the seat backs I pass on the way to my seat so I know how many there are back to the front exit, but also count how many rows to the over wing and rear exits. Being prepared may be the difference of life or death in an emergency!

[@Ascendedninja6]

The footage captured of The Station nightclub is haunting.

[@cas4040]

That poor bus boy. I can’t imagine what he went through. You know everyone in there was smoking cigarettes and lighting matches.

[@laurafrakinroslin]

Horrible thing for a 16 year old to carry. It wasn’t his fault but he must have felt guilty.

[@ktfitz4604]

There was a house fire in my local area several years ago where a family, with the exception of their son (I believe he was 19 or so at the time), all perished. The father got the son out and went back in for the rest of the family, but none of them made it. An investigation found that the son went outside to smoke earlier that evening and the butt ended up in the mulch, which once it really started to burn, then caught the house on fire. I cannot imagine having to tell that boy that his cigarette was what started the fire that killed his family. I almost feel it would have been kinder to say the investigation turned up nothing. The guilt he must feel. 😟

[@TheCarin12]

@ghost mall I don't know if it's true or not, but someone said the cause of the fire was a faulty electrical panel directly behind the melody lounge prefab wall.

[@chloebutler8438]

It turns out that the fire had already started in the walls by the time the lightbulb debacle even occurred

[@Mitchell4892]

I felt bad for him too! He wasn't even legally supposed to be employed there, was likely just being taken advantage of as cheap labour. Hope he wasn't left with too much guilt, although I can't imagine how one would escape that feeling after such an event.

[@markriosn7589]

It's stories like this that make me think of how many millions of people were saved by the simple crash bar. The inventor of that was a saint.

[@Lawnie]

Did you watch the Fascinating Horror video about the Victoria Hall Disaster? The inventor of the crash bar was inspired by that horrible incident. It's worth checking out.

[@allisonyoung8357]

This is so reminiscent of Our Lady of the Angels School fire. Terrifying

[@rapdri89]

Yes but if the owner decides to lock / chain the exit doors, no crash bar can open them. Still happens today, sadly

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@allisonyoung8357 The doors were never locked/bolted shut there. I know people who were there.

[@allisonyoung8357]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 never said they were. Just the tradegey of loss of life and when they finally decided to escape because the fire was bigger than first imagined people/kids were hurt on the escape

[@zenjon7892]

This is sick, but I am reminded of the Simpsons episode where Homer has to evacuate the nuclear plant and sees a door saying "EMERGENCY EXIT". He starts running towards it, and then sees below: "COMING SOON!"

[@tosspot1305]

Yer or the one where there's a gas leak and the emergency exit is just painted on the wall

[@generalhorse493]

Or the one where he's at a lesbian club but realizes it's a deathtrap with no exits (and is packed with patrons)

[@lemonlimespine1859]

@@generalhorse493 “What was her problem?” 😂😂😂

[@soldier9618]

What episode was that

[@Mochrie99]

@@lemonlimespine1859 "Enjoy your death trap, ladies!"

[@katewalsh2408]

Several years ago, I met a woman who told me that when she was a child, she had an aunt who had lived near the Cocoanut Grove at the time of the fire. The aunt used to talk about how after the fire, there were cars parked on the streets nearby that stayed there for weeks and weeks and never moved. The cars were assumed to have been owned by patrons in the club on the night of the fire. They didn't make it or were badly injured so couldn't move their cars.

[@mistermusturd6402]

There was a lady who lived her entire life in the home her parents bought in Brookline, MA. Her name was Michelle. She was a well know socialite for decades in the neighborhood and we had the amazing pleasure of befriending her. She knew all the best piano bars that were still alive in Boston during the mid nineties. She also had horrific burn scars over quite a bit of her body. Michelle shared with us the terrific scene that was the Coconut Grove.

[@cadredeux1047]

My mother was 21 year old nurse at a Boston Hospital that night. She was so traumatized by this that she would never talk about it. Once the war was over she got out of nursing and eventually became a teacher.

[@FXMASTER]

My late grandmother told me about this fire, she was a nurse at the time for Mass General and said she would never forget the smell and seeing a gymnasium filled with the bodies and gripped charred hands.....

[@SteelyBud]

Sometimes the most haunting thoughts these stories leave me with aren't thoughts of dismemberment or injury, but thoughts of the negligence and disregard for safety and human life by those responsible - and the light "punishments" they receive for their actions (and inactions).

[@tomrogers9467]

Initially I saw the spelling of “Cocoanut” as incorrect. Upon research, it seems that “Cocoanut” is a correct earlier version of what we now use as “Coconut”. The things you learn on the net!

[@leotoad7991]

You just saved me the effort of looking it up myself haha! Thank you!

[@Woodman-Spare-that-tree]

You’re showing your age 🙂. Us old people remember writing that word as “cocoanut” when we were kids.

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

I thoughtit was coconut as in Wilson, Cocoanut as in Chocolate

[@royalblanket]

@@Woodman-Spare-that-tree Ok? I don't even think people as old as millennials know it's spelled as "cocoanut"

[@suestoons]

@@royalblanket ugh~ I'm gonna hate myself for typing this but ... I'm a Boomer and didn't know!

[@WalrusNoodles]

As a fan of yours with auditory processing issues, thank you for providing subtitles!!! The effort does not go unappreciated ❤️

[@MissGreenTeaLady]

@Vicar Amelia At least for me, yes. It almost feels like my brain forgets to actually listen. I personally have trouble processing video and audio at once, so subtitles help a lot.

[@garyabbott3861]

I have sleep issues and am often up at 3:00 AM. I'm sure my neighbors appreciate subtitles then!

[@122378kls]

My grandmother and her sister were supposed to be there that night. But there team lost. THANK GOD! So they ended up going home. This was horrible. And my heart goes out to all of those who passed that night.

[@seriouscat2231]

So logically heart goes out to all of those whose team won. But on a more serious note, I always think it strange when people involve God but at the same time there's this idea that everyone exists purely for this life.

[@jake12466]

@122378kls *their

[@Diana-cg6su]

Please cover the Ozone Disco Tragedy in Philippines. It's interesting. 162 people trapped in an over crowded disco on March 1996. There's more to the story so i think it will be an interesting topic for you to cover. 😊

[@juliusnepos6013]

Yeah, also the M/V Dona Paz, we had so many interesting disasters

[@Heinrich_Pistor]

Yana thank you for adding a new tragedy to my lists. Don’t know why but I find most of these types of videos interesting. The resulting innovations that come out of most of them is what makes our world today a safer place yet some people don’t even know about half of the disasters out there.

[@Heinrich_Pistor]

@@juliusnepos6013 I have watched some videos of this tragedy. Most people dont know half the man made disasters that has happend in the last 100 years.

[@aewtx]

Why does it always seem t be dance clubs with these tragic fires? And it's not like it's because they're all old with dubious codes. Recently there was that Florida night club.

[@L3vinesNL]

The Volendam New Year fire sounds alot like what happend here. Except that alot less people died.

[@maestro-zq8gu]

I can't believe the memorial plaque was relocated a block farther from it's original location at the site of the revolving door because the residents of the new condos didn't want the attention.

[@dannycarrington1601]

I didn't know that! After reading your post I found a news article about it. The bronze plaque was made by Tony Marra, the youngest survivor of the fire; he was a 15 year old busboy. They moved it from the actual address of The Cocoanut Grove to the front of a parking garage.

[@aliwilliams6484]

such arrogance ......... i hope the ghost haunt them!

[@rachelstratman1405]

I heard that too & wonder if that would happen in modern times? Can you imagine moving the memorial for something like The Station Nightclub fire because people don't want the macabre reminder? Isn't that what a memorial IS, by definition? SMH

[@trequor]

city residents are just the absolute worse. They move to a tourist attraction in the centre of a major city and expect the peace and quiet of the suburbs.

[@dawnstorm9768]

I would have told those residents to a) go pound sand and b) maybe learn something of the area's history, both good and bad.

[@estelle5916]

I remember an HBO documentary about this tragedy and how the owner was in one of the hospitals with a cardiac condition when his floor was overrun with burn victims from his club. Secondary, medical staff would place signs on their foreheads identifying who would survive injuries and who were dying.

[@chris-hayes]

After learning about these incidents you begin to notice safety features in modern day buildings that you never would've paid any attention to before.

[@sashasavisha146]

I’ve been deep in some small, tightly packed nightclubs prior to the Station Fire. That I would view much differently now. I’d probably wait within easy reach of the main exit. It’s not worth it.

[@richj011]

Wouldn't want to live in a high rise either.

[@exkelsior1486]

When you put lists of the deceased in your videos, it really adds power to the severity of the disasters. I think it is so important to remember these people's names and small details to know they were people and not just a statistic.

[@rainscratch]

There is an airline disaster channel that looks in detail of all those that perished in various airline crashes. Most have photos, age, occupation, and a little personal history. As you say it puts '360 dead in airline crash' into human perspective and it is very, very sad to watch.

[@illuminaticake4528]

@@rainscratch where

[@lXlQueenofScots]

My house went on fire a couple of years back and Im still traumatised. I cannot begin to imagine the sheer terror those people experienced that night.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

That's awful. Please be very very careful with space heaters (NO extension cords of ANY kind--ever!), only use the modern type that doesn't have an obvious heating element you can see and doesn't get THAT hot. The fan ones I like the best. Candles cause another 30% of house fires. The silly battery operated ones, you can't tell the difference with frosted glass...

[@Khenfu_Cake]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 I believe electrical fires in the wall wires are a very common cause for house fires too (or at least that is what my uncle, who is an electrician, has told me). So it's a good idea to make sure the wiring is up to standards 😊

[@genekelly8467]

Just 4 weeks before this, the BFD conducted a safety inspection and gave the club a pass. As we now know, it was a deathtrap. 61 years later, the same tragedy took place in RI (Station Night Club). In both cases, corruption and massive code violations that were ignored by the authorities.

[@Raven-yv6di]

I appreciate the CC a lot! Not a lot of people take the time to caption their videos. :) Great video, very organized, and easy to understand.

[@lauraduplooy]

I'm surprised the fire inspectors that declared the building "safe" a week prior weren't prosecuted.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

They should have been HUNG, actually...the Station, too. It's identical. Minus lack of exits/locked doors. Could have been more, but everyone goes for the one they came in at.

[@saxongreen78]

...I'm not.

[@raesthetic257]

Your calm storytelling and excellent choice of haunting background music makes your channel the most chilling... good name cause I'm horrified but so so fascinated that I can't stop, I binged all of your videos, even nutty putty that had traumatised me before and yours made it even more horrific...

[@sarahhiggins6280]

oh, I am the same!!!!! That Nutty Putty traumatised me for so long!!!!! It was horrific!

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

@@sarahhiggins6280 oh, don't remind me! 😬

[@Sam_lvl]

I think about Nutty Putty everyday.

[@raesthetic257]

@@Sam_lvl Same. It’s the kind of nightmare scenario that floats into your mind and just won’t leave, keeps you up at night.

[@sarahhiggins6280]

@@WouldntULikeToKnow. sorry, I know!!!! It is so traumatising!

[@MajiggerRose]

As much as this pandemic makes me miss having fun nights out with groups of friends, this channel consistently reminds me that staying home also means I don't get crushed to death in crowds. So...thank you!

[@kimberlyoldschool]

Yup. I’m now afraid of nightclubs, ferries, cable cars, any amusement park ride...staying home is just fine with me!

[@cherylvisconti4112]

Agreed

[@LovelyRuthie]

What is positive about your uploads is that you go into what has been learnt from each incident so it can prevent future accidents, injuries & deaths. It's not just about glorifying the horror, but the fact that these preventable deaths were not in vain. Your in-depth research shows. Glad to be a subscriber!

[@AP-uj2fg]

Sometimes, I find codes and regulations to be a bit paranoid. And then I learn about the Coconut Grove.

[@ristopoho824]

I like how you portray these stories as entertainment for the morbidly curious, and then end up with, and this horrible tragedy taught people this and that which has saved countless lives since. Being sneaky with the education. wouldn't expect a channel called fascinating horror to teach me something. But yea, history is told in tragedies and all that.

[@susi-emily]

The office I work in has a number of proper fire exits, but every time we have a drill almost everyone leaves via the main entrance. This involves passing through THREE inward opening doors. It doesn't seem to dawn on them that a mass of frightened people behind an inward opening door will prevent it from opening. There has been occurances of only me and my immediate colleagues leaving through an actual fire door, yet no one in authority ever mentions it.

[@markkinsler4333]

Inward-opening doors doomed the kids at the Collinwood High School fire in Cleveland as well.

[@rainscratch]

In many studies of human behaviour in such situations, the main problem is people leaving too late and rushing for the way they came in, whether it is the safest way or not. Not being aware of other exits, and their position according to where you may be in the building all play a factor in getting out safely. And yes exit doors should always open outwards preferably with a push bar release. (known as a panic bar in theatres)

[@LabradorLady]

Thanks so much, I needed this today... stuck in lockdown for the THIRD time and starting to feel it now so all great videos like this are gratefully received! Stay safe all! 🤗 thanks again guys: u r all stars!

[@catherinepalmer4812]

I'm in lockdown in Merseyside with my three young children , it is so tough and depressing but stay safe and well , wishing you the best x

[@punkybrewstar83]

Doggles certainly help 💗

[@callum7764]

@@catherinepalmer4812 everton or liverpool supporter?

[@LabradorLady]

@@catherinepalmer4812 same to u and yours, feel like this is getting too much now!!! Going a bit 🤪!

[@LabradorLady]

@@callum7764 Wolverhampton Wanderers for ever!!! 😊

[@midnightmosesuk]

I'd never heard of this disaster before. It's absolutely shocking.

[@m.e.d.7997]

My mother was supposed to go there that night with her boyfriend and father but she had to work. None of them went.

[@shalacy6899]

I watch an ungodly large amount of stuff like this, but everytime I thought I'd seen it all, I always come back to this channel and you always show me something different. Thank you. Awesome channel you are doing a wonderful job! Also great job on the editing!

[@Blutszauger]

You should look into the Big Bayou Canot rail accident of 1993 in Mobile, AL.

[@BoulevardFan28]

It's really an interesting story caused by a multitude of failures.

[@TrainMann]

@@BoulevardFan28 a perfect storm you could say

[@WolfmanDude]

I think Forensic Files made a very good episode about that!

[@Syclone0044]

Is that the Amtrak where a barge accidentally sailed down the wrong river, collided with the railroad bridge in the thick fog, severing the rails, and didn’t report it to anybody? A lot of people drowned when that train barreled full speed into the bridge 🌉, totally unaware anything had happened.

[@Black-Swan-007]

@@Syclone0044 Yep. Some drowned, some died due to severe physical injuries, some burned. It was horrific.

[@ericsmith8373]

And, to this day, use of the name "Cocoanut Grove" on any business, is illegal in Boston.

[@gingereden546]

If you read the book, the author looked into that to find it was a myth. No one has made another cocoanut grove, but there isn't a law against it.

[@nthgth]

They'd probably spell it differently now anyway

[@albertomartinez714]

@@gingereden546 Yeah, why would there even need to be a law? Lol it's just a terrible name to use given the association

[@sunlight-sky151]

Nothing spooks me like this channel. Love it! Keep it up!

[@ClickClack_Bam]

Not even the hammer & sickle?

[@dabunnyman9133]

There's still a law on the books in Massachusetts that you can not use the name Cocoanut Grove on any business. Also amazing to see how little the surrounding neighborhood had not changed.

[@backpackpepelon3867]

If you're interested, there's a fire case in Malaysia that kill like 18 children's, maybe more I forgot. Its an arson, by teens aged around 15 or something. Its pretty recent case.

[@joanne3417]

Hey! I’m from Malaysia. Which part of the country did this happen?

[@backpackpepelon3867]

@@joanne3417 search "tahfiz terbakar", first result.

[@joanne3417]

@@backpackpepelon3867 thanks!

[@bigfatbigfoot5790]

Wasn't it at a birthday party in a small store?

[@wheenmist]

I appreciate the way you give all the ways that there were lessons learned, it seems that then the suffering was not all in vain.

[@davidhale2682]

Most of these videos are a grim reminder of how much unions have impacted day to day life and how we must not take that progress for granted.

[@CaptainRufus]

Whats sad is we have so many idiots crying about regulations when history shows we need many of them to protect people.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

You can toss up regs til the cows come home. Doesn't matter if people ignore them and get away with it. Jmo

[@CaptainRufus]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 ignoring existing rules doesn't help no. But as history shows no rules or finding loopholes sure as hell doesn't help. A lot of folks have mentioned regret at just watching exterior videos of the Station Nightclub fire. The screams haunt them. I'm sure similar audio would have been here had that sort of thing been easily recorded as well.

[@PopeSixtusVI]

We’re talking about excessive regulations that kill businesses, not building and fire codes. Get a clue, doofus.

[@Bahia82]

Oh please you can’t name me any regulations that have “destroyed “ businesses and trust me conservative idiots complain about any regulations

[@larryg5698]

@@PopeSixtusVI some regulations protect us from businesses..

[@joane5777]

I never knew the full story of this tragedy. It was totally an accident waiting to happen 🌴 Thank you for remembering all the souls who were lost at Cocoanut Grove. You always do it with such dignity~ Happy New Year 🎉 and stay safe everyone❣

[@mtcelticharper]

Cover the Hartford Barnum and Bailey Circus fire, 1944. I have binged watched your videos and can't get enough! Really appreciate your measured, factual, non-sensationalist documentaries. They are terrific.

[@PGar58]

Charles Nelson Reilly was at that fire. From that point forward he could never be in a crowd. My work is less than 2 miles from where that happened so that’s always been of interest to me.

[@nhmooytis7058]

They did kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqCchoWVdpWtndk

[@cathy1775]

And Chicago lady of angels school fire. The number of children who died is horrifying.

[@Rachel-vz6gw]

This is literally my worst nightmare and you did a fantastic job of covering this tragedy. You showed photos of the incident i havent seen before. nice job!

[@cocoaddams4502]

This was absolutely amazing. Well-researched and so compelling. My family is from Boston and I've heard about the Coconut Grove fire my whole life. It's like 9/11 in that so many people say they would have been there BUT for some fluke. I kept comparing this to the Rhode Island nightclub fire happened here about 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the results were very similar to the Grove fire. The owners also pretty much skated on the charges of their responsibility with a sentence of around 3 years I think for 99 deaths --- that doesn't include the dozens of people who were permanently harmed but lived. No justice for those people.

[@sherrybrzeczka7966]

Corruption. Amazing. What a tragedy.

[@kvarner6886]

What a weird spelling of 'coconut.' I had to look it up to see if it's even a word. Although considered outdated, it is technically acceptable. Weird, right?

[@kvarner6886]

@Heloise O'Byrne Yep. Although I have to imagine with a name like 'Cocoanut Grove' and the Floridian décor, it is referring to what we spell as 'Coconut' nowadays. Interesting history though.

[@hebneh]

@Heloise O'Byrne No, cocoa comes from seed pods of the chocolate tree. Coconuts (formerly spelled "cocoanuts") provide shredded coconut (the chewy white stuff in candy bars) and well as the liquid that gets added to various hipster bottled water and fruit drinks these days.

[@hebneh]

@@kvarner6886 The name of this club was copied from a much more famous business in Los Angeles, known for its movie star clientele. It too was called the "Cocoanut Grove", even though coconut palms do not grow in California and are only found in south Florida in the North American continent. There's a fictional movie musical made by Paramount Studios from 1938 about a band eventually getting a job playing at the Cocoanut Grove. This film is called - not surprisingly - "Cocoanut Grove".

[@kvarner6886]

@@hebneh very cool. Thanks for the info!

[@bilindalaw-morley161]

Agatha Christie was always a bit peeved that her copy editor* insisted that was the spelling. Ms Christie devoted a paragraph, or two, in her autobiography, about that copy editor, but in the end, bowed to the inevitable. *Not sure I've used the correct publishing term.

[@BLACKAAROW]

I found this channel by accident last night and have been binge watching ever since :D the music and the voice of the narrator really makes this videos have a dark undertone to it

[@fmoys1408]

Reminds me of The Station Nightclub fire in 2003. Awful when lessons aren’t learned.

[@bestopinion9257]

There are many, it happens regularly.

[@carabeingblue4016]

Had to watch this again with new eyes. I've just learned we lost family in this fire as well. My great-great aunt, Sadie Levin. Survived by her husband Ben. Also killed in the fire were Sadie's sister, Addie, and her husband, Ted. They are interred together. They had been out with another sister, Lilly and her husband, but they chose to go the Symphony instead. They adopted Addie and Ted's children. Unfortunately, Lilly would also lose her elder brother shortly after in WWII. May they rest in peace.

[@darrelchovanec9150]

if it hasn't been done yet, it would be good to hear your take on the Hartford Circus fire of 1944 that killed over 160 people.

[@Tarkov.]

Business: *Expands far beyond its original floor plan in an uncontrolled manner* Fire: "So I just started blastin"

[@najrenchelf2751]

See, what I appreciate about you, is that you dive into the bigger picture long term effects of these events! Like, I’ve always been confused about the normal doors next to the rotating entrances - this makes a lot of sense!

[@april5932]

please never change the music you use in your videos it's so good

[@dlbstl]

Yes it is very good. I really enjoyed the last minute or so just music at the very end.

[@iowaboy8432]

Suggestion for a video. PSA flight 182 plane crash. I read about it a few years ago and it was absolutely tragic in what happened. So many deaths and so much destruction that is still remembered after all these years in San Diego.

[@tonydio666]

That club was a nightmare waiting to happen. A basement nightclub with one revolving door, flammable accessories and you have dummies sealing off exits. Not very surprised here.

[@MrHankHill]

I was just binging your videos lol checked my subbed box before calling it a night and boom! Looks like I'm going to bed at 5am.

[@Decgyrrl]

Wow. This reminds me of the Happyland Social club, back in 1989, on Palm Sunday. This is exactly why I don't like crowds, not only indoors, but outdoors as well. I didn't think abt being on crowds as a younger woman, but I'm in my early 60s now. It's not important to be in a certain place, at a certain time, just to say "I've been there...."

[@davidkitterman5258]

I like your choice of music it makes the documentary more creepy

[@EddVCR]

492 lives lost...! That’s horrendous. Great research as always. I’m interested in learning about how regulations and protocols are created, so I love it when you explain changes that affect our daily lives today.

[@SmartPrice84]

There was a Coconut Grove night club in Dundee, that burnt down in the early 90s. I thought the video was going to be about that one when I read the title.

[@krashd]

I had never heard of that place until now, though it was just a smidgeon ahead of my time I suppose, I was a late 90's Fat Sam's type.

[@austinlawler3739]

It reminds me a bit of the E3 night club in Chicago, where there was only one main exit and everyone got trapped. However most of the dead were trampled to death in that indecent.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

25, I think. Days before this. Same week. It was SUPPOSED to be closed, too.

[@jasonbernard9012]

Holy crap this is so wrong in so many ways. Thank you for reporting this, as without your narration on it, I wouldn’t have heard about it

[@abingleyboy]

Surely not just the owner but those who allowed the place to pass by blind eye the safety rules were just as much to blame. Have you ever done a video on the Bradford City Football club fire of 1985. That was all caught on live tv as it happened. I remember it cos I lived close to it when it took place & saw the smoke ftom a few miles away. I believe it killed 56 people

[@fryarsandy2200]

Yep. I live in Leeds and we could see the smoke. Would make a great video

[@abingleyboy]

@@fryarsandy2200 They released a charity single that I had on record, I was only young and ditzy at the time of buying that and it was sometime after the hideous event. So I can't remember the song. I know the B side was all the stars thanking you for buying the record & well wishing everyone and that Rolf Harris was one of the stars as he did a kind of breathy "a humfa haffa a humfa haffa" thing before saying his bit & that stuck in my mind. But the mid to late eighties was a right time for disasters. There was one every other day. From this fire & exploding space shuttles, nucular power stations going poom, ferries setting off with bow door wide open & leaning into the sea, football fans being squashed to death aswell as the Kings Cross tube fire too & there are I'm sure more but these are just some I easily recall. What was going on!!

[@abingleyboy]

@@fryarsandy2200 also I know tv host Gabby Logan was there when it happened and has spoken of how horrorfying it was, I think her Dad had something to do with Bradford City football club at the time. She says even though she was young at the time she will never forget it.

[@fryarsandy2200]

Gaby's dad was Terry Yorath. A former Leeds player and Bradford manager and yes they were both there. Yes I remember all those disasters in the 80's. As you say one every other week. The song was you'll never walk alone. Take care fella

[@MrDannyDetail]

@@abingleyboy The song was You'll Never Walk Alone, and the single also featured it's original singer, Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers fame, who died a couple of days ago. I think, if I recall correctly, that by the time the proceeds of the record were ready to be donated to the Bradford fire fund they found that the fund had already reached it's target and closed, so they donated it to a burns unit instead. Many of the players on the pitch who witnessed it were so traumatised that they either quit the game before the next season started, unable to face seeing a stand full of fans again, or tried to carry on playing again the next season and found themselves unable to get through that season. They probably had what we'd now fully recognise as PTSD. The Bradford fire was particularly sad for two reasons, one was that it was the last match of the season, and the 100 year old wooden stand that caught fire was literally due for demolition immediately after all the fans had gone home from that match, so after surviving a century the stand only had to last another hour or two longer than it did, and the other thing was Bradford was supposed to be using their last home game of the season to massively celebrate that they had been promoted that season, and for that reason the mayor and other local celebrities and entertainments were present to make it a special event, which in turn meant that many of the regular adult fans took their sons, grandsons, nephews etc with them for the occasion as a treat. As a result there were a lot more small boys in attendance that day than normal (I'm not being sexist, as it was, I believe, documented that the Bradford crowd was very predominantly male in those days, and I think it was said that all the children who perished were male). Those that attended with boys were, not coincidentally, among the first to evacuate at the sight of the first glow of flames, and since no-one had evacuated to the pitch yet at this inital stage they understandably tried to leave the same way they came in, which involved descending the stand and leaving from the back of the lowest level, but the doors had been locked during the match to stop people without a ticket from sneaking in for free. As a result there was a crush of people, many of them schoolboys, in the very bottom of the stand underneath the level where the fire then took hold, and those people were later found sadly deceased and still packed together behind the locked door, and they made up a significant proportion of the total death toll. Slightly later evacuees, who evacuated onto the pitch were a lot more likely to survive, although one poor elderly chap was sadly a walking fireball when he reached the pitch form the stand, and I believe passed away on the pitch as several other people, I think including players, tried desparately to put his flames out, which is the most harrowing part of the surviving footage from the tv coverage of that day (which I believe can still be found at length on youtube somewhere, which is where I saw it a few years ago). At the time of the fire I believe the stadium had relatively new owners, and I believe it is alleged that those same owners have had multiple premises burn down under their ownership, possibly in similar-ish circumstances.

[@gangstashots3298]

It is a shame that most revelutions on construction and items are prodced after major disasters happen that shows they failed before.

[@krashd]

Although most regulations do seem to be reactionary rather than pre-emptive, it is usually because we don't recognise a danger until it has killed someone.

[@MalenkyGoblin]

My Grandma's cousin was across the street from the Coconut Grove that night. He was supposed to be there but the football team he played on lost to their arch rivals that day and they didn't feel much like celebrating. He said he knew the building was on fire but it wasn't apparent from the outside how bad it really was. The next day he and his family listened to the radio as they read off the names of the dead all day long.

[@d4ngerd4n]

1:55 The owner died and his business went to his lawyer? Am I the only one that finds that kinda weird?

[@toucan5933]

The 40's were weird in general.

[@Timeyy]

Sounds like Mafia stuff tbh

[@GR-bn3xj]

Wow this had a huge number of deaths. You would think this would be more well known of.

[@jackmatthew1880]

I'd imagine that it was eclipsed by war news.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

It remains one of the better known tragedies of the 20th century, at least for those of us over 40 or so.

[@GR-bn3xj]

@Guy Incognito I doubt anyone young knows about the cultural revolution that China had. They get their information about China from LeBron James lol

[@z512345]

My father and his friends left the coconut grove approximately one hour before all hell broke loose that night. They where saved , and I was born in 1949.

[@JerBuster77]

Seems like New England has no regard for nightclub fires.

[@davidhoward437]

Does this comment have any meaning?

[@richardkempton1894]

@@davidhoward437 I'm not sure if there are other fires, but the Station nightclub fire was in RI, hence the comment.

[@littlebubbleguy]

Or just an old history with buildings that burn down quickly.

[@helenf.7221]

I’m pretty sure they were referencing the station night club fire in RI which is new england if you didn’t know

[@krashd]

Wouldn't Boston be New Ireland? Haha, I punned.

[@cazboo7201]

Just watched a few of these, but I like the way you put a positive point to the end of these tragic stories.

[@TrippaMazing87]

My mother’s old school principal was in the fire. She was out with her newly wed husband, and they had only gotten married a few days before. She got out, but had to have an eye removed, sadly her husband did not. One day in school, my mom said, she just started talking about the day, and how until the fire she was having the time of her life. She never was the same since she shared, and she eventually retired. I never got to meet her, as she died before I was born, but I wish I did.

[@quaiful7487]

I though the title said "Coconut Grave" but it still makes sense either way, Rest in peace to the victims I really hope they are happy since they got their life cut short.

[@arnepianocanada]

Wonderfully presented. As always, your measured speech and just-the-facts style let the horrors speak for themselves.

[@robertpinto6515]

What a horror! I had just turned 5 the day before, and it was 10 days from the one year annoversary of Pearl harbor. So, the narrator stands corrected about "The eve of WWII", as we were deep in the war at the time.

[@Hissmannen]

Someone needed to search the pockets of that governor.

[@kayla2154]

omg that’s scary, the dead people literally dead still seated with their drinks in their hands, demanding to pay for drinks DURING a fire, trip hazard for people trying to get out in the dark!!!! absolutely terrifying!

[@lexyshannon9428]

I feel like the reason why remaining calm during a fire is important should be explained a bit more often so that people don't make the mistake of preventing other's escape

[@treresaresaurus1598]

Whenever you get into details about the decorations, I now know to understand it as foreshadowing.

[@juliusnepos6013]

The staff that borded up the exits infuriated me

[@odyssea-the-seeker]

Suggestion: The Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, California, 2016.

[@AgarthanExecutioner]

I know some may not believe me, but I'm Facebook friends with someone who used to work there. They documented the whole aftermath and was interviewed about it. Stellar person.. They're not dead, they just left Facebook a while ago. I miss them :( Ryan, if you ever see this.. Hi. I miss you and I hope you're well

[@lsuzicosbw644]

I’m from Oakland, remember it like yesterday. Was in that city when it happened

[@tnate6004]

I live in Vallejo and couldn't believe it happened but it was a perfect storm of circumstances, including the lack of affordable housing in the Bay Area. It's a horrible lesson of how these tragedies don't just happen in the ancient past.

[@mickcollins1921]

I love how some data wonk was able to take this tragedy and turn it into a clinical trial for burn treatment methodologies. This person's astute, creative thinking has taken the tragic deaths and turned them into procedural refinement that has likely saved thousands of lives.

[@francispitts9440]

This and the several hundred other club fires is the main reason I don’t go in places like that. Even now after so many of these types of fires we still have overcrowded places and people keep dying simply because of lack of paying attention to common fire codes. I’ve walked out of some venues soon after going in because I looked around and saw the potential problems. I don’t care about losing money for a cover charge or tickets. It’s just not worth it.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Well it's good to know that you are too smart for any such disaster to happen to YOU.

[@francispitts9440]

@@princeofcupspoc9073 It’s common sense not smarts. Plus the career I’ve spent 35 years doing has shown me exactly what people do in panic and emergencies. Experience and a little common sense nothing more.

[@lordshell]

I first read about this decades ago in a book called "Horror in Paradise" that spurred my interest in disasters.

[@midlandsballistics6345]

When you said 492 my body shook and tingles went through me :(

[@mikvance]

"I don't want people leaving without paying, better seal up these fire exits."

[@harleyv1969]

Seriously, this channel should be required in all schools

[@mersyvortex4129]

There was a big mall fire in Russia a few years ago (Kemerovo fire), in which many people died specifically because of flagrant violation of safety rules, especially emergency exits being locked of blocked. After the tragedy, investigations revealed the same situation in dozens of malls through the whole country. It makes me sad that at least in this case the owner had to have some serious ties to get away with it😔

[@quester09]

it's the Triangle Shirtwaist disaster, with cocktails.

[@gangsterpenguin8709]

9:21 "More than 400 *casualties* were brought in for emergency treatment within just an hour or two." Yep.. casualties brought in for treatment.. "gee why isn't this guy waking up, like da- oh wait he was already D.O.A. Fuck :|"