The Glass Tower Disaster | A Short "Documentary" | Fascinating Horror

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone. Hope you enjoyed this little recap of The Towering Inferno (1974). It's an absolute classic - well worth a watch if you haven't seen it before. Keep an eye out for those easily-breakable windows!
As always, THANK YOU to all my Patreon patrons: you make this channel possible.
/ fascinatinghorror
SOCIAL MEDIA:
► Twitter: / truehorrortales
► TikTok: / fascinatinghorror
► Suggestions: [e-mail]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Background
01:59 - The Glass Tower Disaster
08:40 - The Aftermath
MUSIC:
► "Glass Pond" by Public Memory
SOURCES:
► "The Towering Inferno" directed by John Guillermin, distributed by 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros, December 1974. Link: www.imdb.com/title/tt0072308/
​​​​​​​#Documentary​​​​ #History​​​​​​​​​ #TrueStories​

[@FascinatingHorror]

Thanks for watching, everyone. And, as per usual, you've made my day with the comments. Delighted that I was able to fool some of you... if only for a few minutes. Happy April Fool's Day!

[@BlighterProductions]

I really like this occasional April Fools effort you do. It’s a great choice to break up the constantly more depressing content on your channel.

[@robertescher3082]

When you did the Amity Island disaster a bit ago... THAT one fooled me. This one? My Dad thought it would be a great idea to take a then six year old me to see this in the Theatre... then wondered why I kept having nightmares about burning building for the next year or so... Also, I think the 2018 film "Skyscraper" while not an intentional sequel, would certainly qualify as a spiritual sequel to TTI. Brilliant work as always! I appreciate your insight into these stories - both real and occasionally fictional.

[@DanceswithDustBunnies]

You had me going for a bit, even going to Google maps to look for the building, figuring it must have been demolished after the fire, but then I looked at "Doug Roberts'" pic again and remembered it was 1st April LOL

[@neonhomer]

As soon as I saw the opening thumbnail, I knew what was in store... watched it anyway.

[@AWSmith1955]

At the @1:52 mark I realized what day it was LOL

[@_The_Archive_]

Fun Fact: During filming of The Towering Inferno, an actual fire broke out on one of the sets and Steve McQueen found himself briefly helping real firefighters put it out. One of the firefighters, not recognizing McQueen, said to the actor, "My wife is not going to believe this", to which McQueen replied, "Neither is mine."

[@BrenMurphy1]

I was born in 74

[@paulzammataro7185]

😂

[@jena.alexia]

​@@BrenMurphy1Me too! 🙌

[@charbird20]

McQueen was probably thinking the universe was playing a sick joke on him or something 😅

[@flaneur5560]

You mean recognising?

[@rogerluna6743]

The 70's were rough. Towers were infernoed. Poseidons were adventured. Airline pilots were all going down with food sickness forcing civilians with both flight experience and psychological issues to overcome overwhelming odds. Not to mention Ringo cutting a disco album.

[@katej23]

The only man that could save that ‘airplane’ had a drinking problem 😂

[@frednone]

The food poisoning case was from 1980. Well, there was a similar case in 1957. You're thinking of the 1970 case of the insurance scam bomb where the damaged plane was forced to land in a blizzard.

[@neonhomer]

​@@frednoneAnd the airport manager took a divorce and risked his job to make sure the passengers of The Golden Argosy landed safely...

[@sister_bertrille911]

I remember one time a stewardess (what we now call a "flight attendant") had to fly a 747 when the pilot was sucked out of the plane after a midair collision.

[@Noycey64]

What was Ringo’s “disco” album? I never knew he did one.

[@charlesmcdowell7540]

Was thinking ‘wow this architect is really handsome, kinda really looks like Paul Newman!’

[@Nykki72]

This comment made me just laugh hysterically!!

[@bigoldgrizzly]

The Mayor put me in mind of James Cagney the second I saw him

[@neilalex9809]

Me too 😂

[@mikelipinski868]

It IS Paul Newman. They got it wrong, for God's sake! 🇨🇦

[@ninigotmac]

totally, I'm thinking the FH guy was seriously mistaken in his sources, how could he not realize that is a photo of Paul Newman haha

[@95Titanium]

I listened to this about 24 hours ago. Only now I realised this was an April Fools prank. Well done sir, you got me good.

[@diamondprincessbeaut7283]

I just realized it was an april fools joke.. I watched this like 2-3 weeks ago

[@maxhill9254]

+1

[@mcbull71]

I kept thinking: why have I never heard of this before?

[@aimeekatz]

"Estimates of the cost of the disaster placed it around $14 million" The budget of the movie. Genius 😂

[@silverdandylmao]

Yoooo that's so clever tho 😂😂😂

[@coolgirlfrozenfeet]

Yeah, that seemed pretty low, even for the time.

[@F40PH-2CAT]

Great movie....until 9/11. I was in the South Tower on the 44th floor, despite not knowing what was going on. But my nose knew there was a fire. So i told everyone near me to grab their stuff and head to the stairs. I wanted out and the elevator scene where it stopped on a fire floor in the movie was stuck in my mind. Building security got on the PA and pleaded with us to return to our offices. I ignored it. That got me down on the ground before my building got hit. Thank you 1970s disaster movie craze. It may have saved my life.

[@babecat2000]

Wow that is crazy.

[@tyson211]

That boils my blood that building security told people to go back to their offices. I’m glad you didn’t listen and survived. Thanks for sharing❤

[@F40PH-2CAT]

​@@tyson211to be fair who would have thought another plane was coming? The "event" at this time was limited solely to the north tower (1WTC). My anger at those who made that announcement was quelled when i realized they likely died when 2WTC collapsed.

[@ResettisReplicas]

That sounds terrifying, and I’m glad you made it out safely! You said you smelt fire, but did you notice the plane crash itself?

[@adde9506]

@@tyson211 They had no idea anything was going to happen. The South Tower was evacuated as an exposure to what they believed was a catastrophic accident which had compromised the structural integrity of the building next door; the North Tower might come down on its brother or the heat of the blaze might be enough to destabilize the South Tower. The firefighters got to the scene, looked up, and said evacuate this building... and that one, too. When they were told that the South Tower was not at risk from the North Tower's fire, not matter how bad it got, and that the North Tower was designed to collapse into its own footprint, they halted the entirely unnecessary evacuation of thousands of people into their very dangerous working area. They did right by the South Tower; the death toll there lays ENTIRELY at the feet of the terrorists.

[@Whatlander]

As someone who's never seen The Towering Inferno, this video was a wild ride. Especially the bit about airlifting in a man with explosives lmao. I especially enjoyed "a second, less nervous pilot."

[@Playsinvain]

Two people running on the roof startled the first pilot.

[@Whatlander]

@@Playsinvain Amazing.

[@shideyafudo]

Ditto, lol

[@demonizer133]

Omg, you got me! The whole time I was listening, I kept thinking "Oh wow,! I never knew The Towering Inferno" was based on a true event 😅 It wasn't until I read the comments that I realized this was posted on April the 1st. Nicely done! 😆👌🏼

[@mazc1358]

Same 🤣

[@emanueltheodorus1056]

Movie scenes described as an actual horror story is honestly my favorite part of your channel. I love this yearly tradition.

[@spookyfrogs1874]

oh goddamnit, i just finished the video and was like "wow how have i never heard of this??" i got got didn't i

[@CinemaDemocratica]

It's hard to find a comp in all of KZbin -- which is quite a thing. Of all the big names of the platform, and as far as I know, nobody else is doing anything remotely like this.

[@lewisfilby2394]

wish I didn't read the comments first....

[@susanlansdell863]

I thought they wouldn’t top the Poseidon one but this was brilliant.xx😂

[@user-cp1ku6kr6z]

What movie is this? I had no idea

[@gravityissues5210]

It’s amazing how every single thing that could go wrong with this building did so, all at the same time-and on its grand opening. It’s like a Hollywood movie.

[@wrosebrock]

Didn't realize it til it was over

[@cltransler]

Thankfully, the whole thing was resolved in under two hours... even with trailers.

[@theshermer]

This event couldn’t happen without a ton of lawsuits for all the things that did go wrong!

[@monkeybusiness1999]

Exactly what I thought. Then, uh oh... duh....! 😂

[@Stellra52]

I mean to be fair this is exactly what happened with the Titanic so if anything it would have been part of an unfortunate tradition if it actually happened 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@JohnSmith-bh4zx]

Such a fascinating story, they should make a movie out of it!!

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I saw "The Towering Inferno" on Christmas Day, 1974, and I read the two novels that inspired the move: "The Tower" and "The Glass Inferno". I was around 13 and was starting to read more in the newspapers than just the comics and the advice column. I wish I had a more precise recollection but one article was about how people in the movie were affected by it. If my memory is correct, Faye Dunaway moved from a 20th floor apartment to a 3rd floor apartment -- that or something close. Many lives, knowingly or unknowingly, have been saved because of this movie that teaches people about fire safety and because of improved fire safety codes. -- Something I learned elsewhere is familiarize yourself with your surroundings so you know how to get out in an emergnecy. This isn't about living in fear but about having practical and sensible about possible trouble. Also: the Glass Tower, though it never really existed, is one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen.

[@MarcMcKenzie-qb6or]

I found a copy of THE GLASS INFERNO on sale at my local library and snatched it up for only 75 cents! They also had a copy of THE TOWER that I also borrowed and read. It was fascinating to see how screenwriter Stirling Siliphant combined the two novels to make the film THE TOWERING INFERNO.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

@@MarcMcKenzie-qb6or Absolutely. It's remarkable how Stirling Siliphant combined the two novels. (I preferred "The Glass Inferno" of the two.) Not only that, but Stirling Silliphant was involved with turning Paul Gallico's novel "The Poseidon Adventure" into a movie and there's quite a comparison between book and movie. There are almost two separate Posiedon stories. Had the movie precisely followed the book it would have taken place around 1963. Too there are main characters in the book who are not even in the movie.

[@gdraxa]

Ah the Towering Inferno. Who can forget? The architect eventually gave up his career and started a company which made sauces and salad dressings. In an interview he said the change made him a “new man”, inspiring the products name “New man’s own”

[@indy_go_blue6048]

God I love puns and word play. Good work.

[@F40PH-2CAT]

So wanted him to release a hot sauce called "Towering Inferno". 😅

[@AB2B]

@@F40PH-2CAT 🤣🤣🤣 I would've bought a basket full as gifts.

[@braylonmaverick2617]

I heard that James Duncan, the builder of the Glass Tower, died after a drunken fall. He hit his head on the edge of a table, which bleed profusely, but didn't realize how serious the injury was because he was so drunk. He eventually died of exsanguination.

[@ohioguy215]

@braylonmaverick2617 True story but it wasn't Duncan.

[@veryspecificchaosfox]

you know, as someone who's been to san francisco several times, i was briefly left wondering to myself "man, i've never heard anything about this building......" and then i remembered.

[@approximated_nerd]

ahh yes a fellow enbie

[@megmcguigan3857]

I was a kid living in SF in the 70's and my mom absolutely hated this film. I love 70's disaster films.

[@KAFNOR]

Likewise. I thought I was up-to-date on San Francisco's tallest buildings - and then I heard the guest list. Happy April Fool's!

[@maryalderman7592]

Don't feel bad, I saw the movie in theaters, and still was fooled.😊

[@cathyd74]

I thought maybe the movie was based on a real disaster! ​@@maryalderman7592

[@ericbenton2580]

Literally watched this and thought "this sounds like something out of a movie" and didn't realize until I Googled it, and then saw what day this video came out 😂. Well done, you got me.

[@afarewelltokings]

this april fool's joke you do each year has to be not only my favorite on youtube, but possibly my favorite running april fool's joke of all time. love you man, keep up the great work

[@jonathancarlson6127]

Nice touch about the non-use of toughened glass. People just running through like it was sugar stunt glass.

[@Felamine]

Years ago I read an account from a survivor who was at that party on the 135th floor. He said that when the firefighter was breaking out windows to set up the breeches buoy, it looked like the glass completely shattered with just a light tap from a prybar. They seemed to cut corners everywhere in that building.

[@Zombertino]

​@@Felamine Wait, are you being serious?

[@Felamine]

@@Zombertino look at today's date. 😎

[@Zombertino]

@@Felamine yeah, I know. I thought you were going to relate a supposed real life account of the event 😂

[@RedHotMessResell]

Bet it tasted good on the way down 😂

[@Highland_Ronin]

I don't fall for many April fools jokes but somehow Fascinating Horror manages almost every year. Bravo.

[@mjt8199]

It's less embarrassing than being Rickrolled

[@moreygloss9248]

I made it this far in the comments before I realized ...

[@moteroargentino7944]

Same, it wasn't until the events started getting too "cinematic" that I said, wait a minute, this can't be real...

[@polbecca]

Well I have only just watched this FH video and, not having seen the film but merely aware of ita cast, was completely taken in. I did notice the rather 1960s Star Trek style elevator lobby but assumed that was just the fashion of the time!

[@bigoldgrizzly]

Took me a while - couldn't for the life of me, work out how in hell I could have missed this at the time - took me all the way to the breeches buoy for it to finally click

[@bobdobalina838]

Being from chicago I knew this was an april fools because Our great sears tower would have been the tallest building in the world at that time.

[@gillpatrick6646]

You mean Willis tower 🙄😒

[@pilotgrrl1]

Nope, we Chicagoans are steadfast calling that building the Sears Tower.

[@hbdragon88]

@@gillpatrick6646calling it Sears Tower would still be accurate as it wasn't renamed Willis until 2009.

[@gillpatrick6646]

@@hbdragon88 these facts. I was just being salty about the name change period.

[@sandrasanders706]

​@@pilotgrrl1Still Sears Tower to me.

[@Him_He_Me]

50seconds in and Im like.... wait, isnt this the Towering Inferno??? LOL... Ive seen the movie a few times. Happy April Fools!!! Oh those elevators scared the crap out of me... the glass one. Very well done I might add. Thanks so much I loved it.

[@gabbleratchet1890]

God, I remember this disaster so well. We were all reeling from that ocean liner that capsized two years prior and then this. It was a scary time.

[@linda10989]

Don't forget that earthquake!

[@The__Outlaw]

Yes , The Poseidon Adventure , With Captain Leslie Nielsen at the Helm

[@crzywnch1]

Since the Jurassic Park one a few years back that got me for a couple of minutes, I get excited for which movie is this year's pick, well played Sir 😂

[@daffers2345]

There was also that awful avalanche at that ski resort in '78 ... Rock Hudson was there

[@QuaintMelissaK]

And then a few months later, a small plane crashed into a jumbo jet, forcing a stewardess to land the plane, while a nun looking like Helen Reddy sang to calm down the passengers.

[@Andrew-Kerr]

I started watching it thinking, “Wow, the Towering Inferno movie was inspired by a real disaster. That’s kinda sick!” Then Steve McQueen’s name was mentioned and finally the penny dropped. Well played and happy April 1st!

[@mxslick50]

Supposedly the two novels this movie was based on were themselves based on a real event. EDIT: The two novels are "The Tower" and "The Glass Inferno".

[@allandavis8201]

When I came on to KZbin for the first time today and saw the title of this exceptional prank I saw 👀 the thumbnail and thought “why is he using a still from the Towering Inferno” and was all keyed up to chastise him, it was not until Steve McQueen came on screen I clicked, I had forgotten the date today.

[@maryriley8161]

That happened to me last year with jaws but it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize. I was like, wow even the characters have the same name 🤦‍♀️

[@daffers2345]

Yeah don't feel bad, I was tricked for a bit by his very first one (which was _Jaws_ incidentally), so I can see how someone would be fooled XD Once I caught on I was happy and look forward to it each Apr now. I am wondering what'll happen if/when Apr 1 falls on a Tuesday .........

[@slactweak]

@@allandavis8201 "...I had forgotten the date today..." Same here. I was hooked until they mentioned the outside elevator being damaged and being lifted to the ground by a helo. Gotta say, excellent prank.

[@drunkGfunk]

I didn't realize it wasn't real until I read the description about 8 minutes in lol. Good job, love your work.

[@lesanimaux4416]

I have these stories on in the background and I fully believed this until I looked at the comments just now. I wasn't looking at the images and have never seen the movie. When you said the architect believed the building was indestructible, I remember thinking to myself "yeah that's what the captain of the Titanic said and look what happened" - you are so believable in your storytelling. Well done, you 100% fooled me.

[@bonniehalf-elven]

2:27 "...who designed the glass TOWER, AND INFER NO rivalry..." Well done, sir! The fact that cc had split that up makes it even better!

[@fffrrraannkk]

Yeah that was top tier. Very impressive. A lot of people probably won't notice because it's so subtle.

[@katej23]

I heard it straight away and cackled. This is by far my favourite channel on KZbin due to the thorough research on the regular videos but also the cleverness of these cheeky ones every year!

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

"And all the lights were turned on, making the building stand out LIKE A TORCH..."

[@crustycurmudgeon2182]

To the original commentor and those who replied before me: you guys are geniuses! (BTW: never thought to use the CC option before reading these-- I will, going forward!) A hardy Huzzah! to all of you!

[@sturmovik1274]

"...as the towering inferno which engulfed the Glass Tower currently remains without a sequel."

[@billyponsonby]

‘…without a sequel.’ Very good!

[@F40PH-2CAT]

There was a sequel in 2001. "Towering Inferno II: The Two Towers" 🥺

[@SpookyPancakes]

O H

[@SpookyPancakes]

@@F40PH-2CAT 💀

[@eddiervo]

It was at this line I realised (with the cat onscreen). I was got good. Just before... I was thinking... "They look like film stars", but the penny still wasn't dropping.

[@rrice1705]

Oh yea, that was a genuine LOL moment for me! 😆

[@mathuetax]

Nice job here. I knew immediately it was about the movie Towering Inferno, BUT for a brief moment initially (I was cooking and could just hear the audio in the living room) I was thinking, "That movie was based on a real event?" 👍👍👍👍👍

[@wastelandrzyria2869]

I watched this like a month after April Fools, and having never seen this movie (and clearly not looking at the description first), you definitely got me lmao 😭 I was in awe like "Why have I never heard of a disaster this major and horrendous before?? 200 fatalities? That's insane!" I...... feel so dumb LOL

[@andylucas5770]

I listened to all of it - and was enraptured - while I was doing some chores. Then, I was like: wait, what? And started it over. That’s when I realized what day it was. Well played sir; well played. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@harkelin]

I DID THE SAME! This experience we call life is not unique to us. Wow ❤

[@Luvcatz88]

I've never heard of this so I was like wait what 😂

[@davidprince1138]

I was totally fooled! My thought was "wow, this is exactly like towering inferno, with the water dumping".

[@littlebear274]

Definitely lucky that all those famous people were among the few who survived!

[@trace9657]

That was me when I was listening to the one he did on the New England town and a great white shark. I was like, "wait, was Jaws based on a true story because this is exactly..." Then I paid more attention to the screen and noticed the images were right out of the movie and I remembered what day it was.

[@eclectictsunami544]

I love that you do these every year and never break character while narrating for a SECOND

[@bluepearlgirl-emelie]

I have lived in SF and the bay my whole life. I was like how did i miss something that was 1688 feet tall in our skyline!? GREAT april first gag!! BRAVO!!

[@scottrands9576]

My first thought was, “How have I never heard about this?” even though the building looked very familiar. Then it was, “Was Towering Inferno based on this?” Bravo, I say! Bravo!

[@jogolding9919]

I was wondering what we would get for this April 1st. You absolute utter genius. Please never stop this tradition

[@joannewilson1162]

The first year when he covered the Amity shark attacks(jaws) I thought he was for real. I was actually angry about it because it was done just like all of his documentaries and I thought he was for real and I was upset that the channel was like a big joke. It was my daughter that brought attention to the fact that it was April 1. The three years I look forward to his annual special uploads…❤

[@katej23]

@@joannewilson1162I remember when the Amity Bay incident video came out too, I was so confused as I’d never heard of such an awful shark attack and I’ve read about a lot of them. Took me way too long to realise it was Jaws 😂 I’ve also looked forward to each one since!

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Meanwhile, I have been duped each time 😂. It takes me reading the comments to then remember it's April Fool's Day. So many people I know and watch don't actually do anything on this day, so when someone does do something, my guard is down, lol.

[@ThePawsOfDeception]

Brilliant! For several years now, my favourite thing about April 1st is that I don't know what date it is until about halfway through these documentaries. I sit here asking myself, "why does this disaster I've never heard of before sound so familiar?" until I suddenly realise it's because I'm an idiot! And by next year I'll have completely forgotten again. Love it!

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I loved the "Jaws" story from last year.

[@sarafleming9893]

Don’t feel bad. I’m in the same boat, sitting behind you, and rowing my heart out! LOLOL (I kept thinking, and they made a movie about this disaster. How heartless! Until I realized it was an April Fool’s joke!! 🤦‍♀️😂)

[@Zsomi8]

I've gotten so used to them, that it's the opposite for me. On March 29 I was already thinking "It's almost april 1st, I wonder what the Fascinating Horror video will be about"

[@SugarandSarcasm]

The Jurassic Park one is a favourite of mine

[@Klm49]

I'm in the same situation!!

[@Donmenon]

Absolutely loved this! Looking forward to your video on the Nakatomi Plaza Heist next. What an incredible story!

[@teaguejelinek4038]

"expecting it to be a small easily extinguishable fire" Hearing this so many times on this channel it just gives me chills now

[@killsims]

So glad one of the unlikely survivors was the cat. I remember feeling so terribly concerned for it.

[@tracischuller329]

That was one of the best things about '70s disaster movies, no kids or pets died.

[@catreader9733]

Even Jones the cat escaped in Alien.

[@tracischuller329]

Right!! :)

[@Suguri]

@@tracischuller329 I hate seeing a pet in drama/horror movies nowadays because it's almost guaranteed they're there for a cheap escalation death. Jonesie for the win, the little shit!

[@hannah1948]

@@Suguri I hope jonsie had a long and happy life!!

[@vahvahdisco]

I thought to myself ‘How come I’ve not heard of this disaster before ?’, albeit I was only 5 when it ‘happened’. When you said that over 100 people from the inauguration party had perished, I kept thinking how many celebrities had passed but then thought on that all the main ones mentioned were still alive into the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. I then thought The Towering Inferno must have been based on this and then it dawned on me ! You definitely had me fooled - yet again ! 😂🤣😂 Good one !

[@conny.rapp.tattoo]

Same, but watched it only on the 2nd of April :D

[@jaysmith1408]

I watched the movie several times, I thought this was going to be the event that inspired it.

[@ce731]

I kept thinking ... I wonder if this is what prompted "The Towering Inferno". That's what I get for not READING the description first!

[@andrewvelonis5940]

He got me, hook, line and sinker.

[@dx1450]

It's been a long time since I've seen this movie, but I do remember OJ Simpson played a security guard in it.

[@nugget0428]

Legitimately didnt know that this was based on a movie until they listened to the architects idea to blow up the water tanks 😂 well done

[@AxolotlPeet]

Watching this on april 3rd and listening while folding laundry, it was only when I glanced at the screen and thought "but that's Richard Chamberlain!" that I realised. Very well done, very enjoyable.

[@alteridolriley]

I was like "it's not Tuesday..." and then I remembered the date 😂

[@deletdis6173]

Same 😂

[@geocelta1961]

Same

[@Melissa-jp8ps]

Yes, i was disappointed to realize that it is indeed monday after all, lol

[@Lownamebrand]

Dude I listen to the new FH video every Tuesday on my way to work because it's the first day of my work week. I thought I was late lol

[@user-mn5zg4bi8h]

Same

[@cynthia3156]

What's crazy is you tell this story at the same cadence you do the others, without a hint of a smile or lilt in your voice to indicate it's an April Fool's joke. Always hysterical to be a part of this tradition 😅🤣

[@poodtang2104]

10:52 Wonder what ever became of the Security Guard.

[@andrewvelonis5940]

Until I read your comment, I thought it was real. He got me good.

[@poodtang2104]

@@andrewvelonis5940 Yeah he did.

[@cynthia3156]

@@andrewvelonis5940 hahahahahaha

[@TerrificLittleSunday]

dude, why spoil the joke?

[@stevencooke6451]

I love the deadpan delivery. I have to say that I had forgotten a lot of the actitivies in this tragedy. Including the fact that the Glass Tower was dedicated on my ninth birthday. That architect seemed like a new man to me.

[@thatclintguy]

Dang bro, you got me! I watched it yesterday, so I did not catch the date. I am fascinated with industrial accidents and couldn't believe I never heard of this tower collapse. Today, I was on the internet googling this disaster to find out more and wasn't getting many hits except for some movie...then I connected the dots. Well-played!

[@imacdonald99]

"A less nervous pilot...". Love it😂

[@hi-viz]

Oh wow I joked last year that we'd get Towering Inferno for this year, didn't expect it though 🤣

[@JosieJOK]

I was thrown off a bit because I forgot that the movie wasn’t set in LA, but San Francisco!

[@joannewilson1162]

This was the one I thought it was gonna be too

[@Maven0666]

I think I read there were no sprinklers and the fire dept couldn’t get that much hose up there and voila… catastrophic bs. Lives lost and pear shaped chit follows.

[@ResettisReplicas]

Same!

[@QuaintMelissaK]

Better late than never!

[@paulstarer8787]

Okay I watch you religiously and you never disappoint. Loved every minute of this April 1st post!

[@Animei9]

I look forward to these every year. Your videos are always great, but these light-hearted April 1st are truly epic

[@IWriteDrama]

Thank you for having these amazing April Fool's Day videos. The fact you do not break "character" and deliver it like it was a true story is absolutely perfect. This is part of the reason I love your channel.

[@roxannenicholles8537]

I was 3 minutes in and thinking you’d made a mistake with photos because you kept showing Paul Newman before I remembered what day it was…nicely done.

[@philipreiter1808]

I did the same thing. I was thinking shame on him for doing a movie plot. He should've done this on April Fool's Day, then though, wait a minute, it is.

[@robyn7691]

same! lol

[@janerecluse4344]

It's so depressing how easily this could be real. When, as a species, are we gonna learn that you can't cut corners on big architectural projects?

[@bobdaman98]

Well done. Your voice is captivating, your explanations are short and to the point, this helps me create the perfect picture of the drama (that's how I figured out it was from the movie), even if I'm just listening. There's enough material in old horror movies to create a similar "Documentary" using your style.

[@Frank_NStein]

I agree. Well-paced narration with no overbearing background music

[@JosieJOK]

Love your annual April Fool’s “disaster” videos!

[@sherylcascadden4988]

I found the other three in December, and was looking forward to this.

[@mistergoodbear]

Love them, even though I did get an embarrassing way through the original Jaws one before I realized what was happening.

[@sherylcascadden4988]

@@mistergoodbear I read the book before I saw the movie, so the title was almost enough.... The description of the first scene cinched it.

[@katej23]

⁠@@mistergoodbearyou did better than my husband at the time, who watched the entire video and only realised at the end when there was an actual dinosaur and he says ‘wait…. Hang on!… this is the plot of Jurassic Park?’ Me: yeah honey, yes it is 😂

[@dwhitey]

How dare you? People died in the Glass Tower disaster. Show some respect lol jk

[@Nefville]

Oh wow! I remember watching a really good 3 hour long documentary about this called "The Towering Inferno" and what surprised me was just how much access the police, firefighters and even building security gave the filmmakers. They were *right* in the heart of the action. Highly recommend it.

[@neonhomer]

I've read two books on this as well...

[@jimwalker735]

Plus, it was required to be familiar with this movie when I was in the academy and completing my fire science degree.

[@neonhomer]

@@jimwalker735 really?

[@mundanestuff]

It was filmed like The Office was filmed, the film crew was onsite during the event.

[@Sassymouse88]

I wonder if they ever made a follow-up to such a documentary. Surely they would have learnt a lot of lessons from the first one.

[@gregoryignatius4282]

Watching the full 11:25 video left me thinking there was not a building that tall built in San Francisco during 1974 and architects have debated whether a tower that tall should ever be built in California. The story started sounding increasingly like the film I remembered with Steve McQueen.

[@MusicalsLoverJodie]

I honestly look forward to these videos every year!! ❤ They never fail to be awesome!!

[@spacecadet35]

One day you will have to do a video on the Terrorist attack on the Nakatomi Plaza Tower on Christmas Eve 1988. Excellent work.

[@michaelkantner6420]

Oh GOD YES!! I can imagine what kind of spin he will do for that video!

[@reneedennis2011]

​@@michaelkantner6420Exactly 😂!

[@Tom_Lube]

As someone who has never seen either of those movies this is honestly what I thought it was about

[@nwvfd22]

I watched the news coverage of that. They definitely needed more F.B.I guys.

[@reneedennis2011]

@@nwvfd22 😂😂😂😂

[@1986kerrichinchilla]

you got me for 4 minutes. then i remembered the movie. Well played

[@jonmel]

You didn’t recognise Paul Newman a.

[@TheZombieButler]

I hadn't watched the whole essay and was just about to comment. . April Fools ! You got me.😂

[@paul-ld9vh]

I watched the whole thing and remarked that I didn't remember a building that tall in San Francisco 😂😂

[@qwipperty]

@@jonmel I was going to ask, why did they put Paul Newman's photo up there....and that exterior elevator looked suspiciously like the one from Mel Brooks' High Anxiety.....

[@user-vb6eh5po4t]

I have never seen the movie. Made it five minutes 😂😂

[@Z0RDR4CK]

Thank God I've read the description before making any comments!... damn even it's June by now and not anywhere close to April Fool's Day you really got me with this one. Took me to minute 2:15 where you listed the cast of the movie as real life celebrity guests. - at that point I knew something is odd and since you are not known for bad research I started wondering what the heck is going on! :) _You didn't disappoint either!... You put the same effort into this piece of work as of every other video you've made so far. - Great dedication. Thank You!_

[@liamcinq]

I'm a once casual viewer turned subscriber recently, i loved how this was done, ill need to seek out any past years videos. Bravo sir.

[@IggyStardust1967]

Damn, I remember this incident! I was only 7 years old when it happened (well, nearly 8 years old) and I remember it like it was yesterday. I swear, not only does all this look like a movie, but that architect is a dead ringer for Paul Newman!

[@Nefville]

That's funny, I thought he looked like Butch Cassidy. The security guard however, he looks like a murderer.

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

Lol

[@crazyleyland5106]

And the fire chief looked just like Steve McQueen.

[@steve10]

It was quite a scary film though for a kid 😂

[@rrice1705]

@@crazyleyland5106Yea, wasn't he a police officer in San Francisco at some point? Drove a green Ford Mustang?

[@HEDGE1011]

7:55 “Several amazing, barely credible, stories of survival emerged in the aftermath of the disaster….” That low key line made me laugh out loud. What a great April Fool’s episode! Thank you!

[@SlowGrandNational]

Incredible. It took me 15min of researching to figure out that this was from a movie. I did spend a significant portion of that reading about the San Fran Millennium Tower and its leaning, falling glass problem.

[@PattyPaints]

Haha! You had me right up until I saw "the architect". Then I just sat back and enjoyed the show. Well done!

[@tremorsfan]

You list actors attending the party while at the same time mentioning the characters played by those actors. Brilliant.

[@lmaggiesmith]

I was just a child when this "tragedy" occurred but I distinctly remember the story of the black security guard, while evacuating the building, saved the kitty cat. The last clip is that kitty cat!

[@kellyp136]

The security guard went on to become a world famous football player and then a murderer.😁

[@daffers2345]

If the glove doesn't fit ... ah, never mind XD

[@ladysilverwynde]

Well, at least the kitty cat had a happy ending. 😅

[@delanorrosey4730]

Frank Drebin: Nordberg, you get back here! Ed Hockin: Frank, it's a girl! Frank Drebin: I know!

[@kathrynclark3895]

@@kellyp136 He went from saving lives to taking them.

[@Notthross]

OMG . . . I'm listening to this a MONTH after April Fools as background noise for working and was just thinking how ridiculous this whole disaster was. The comments had me confused for a several minutes before I realized that it was, in fact, actually a joke. Although not entirely intentional so long after the fact, thank you for making a fool out of me! I needed that laugh today! XD

[@stacydetwiler1475]

Hee hee hee. I was 15 years old when this movie came out The 70's was a great decade for me. Many fond memories.

[@8pelagic610]

I love hearing the subtle levity in your voice when you are narrating these gems.

[@rrice1705]

If I'd been the one recording this it would have taken me forever to get through it. I wouldn't be able to stop laughing.

[@wizzer19]

It's AI

[@nekonekolen]

As a longtime SF resident, You fooled me. Because the movie came out shortly before I was born. Bravo

[@bifflilla]

Definitely watched this long after it first aired so I had no context. All I could think was “wow, I lived in the Bay Area for so long and I never knew about this disaster.”

[@BeckynRupp-bj3gh]

I quoted this story to my brother a few days ago. I'm so used to your stories being true, but before my time, so I literally just fell for it. Took me like 3 days to think it through, and a friend says to me... I've seen that movie! Wait.. what? Lol, good job. U got me too.

[@GenXfrom75]

That architect sure bears an uncanny resemblance to Paul Newman 😂😂😂😂… great job on the convincing delivery of this tale! ❤😂

[@jimbrown9477]

lmao this was EXTREMELY well done! as a millennial who isnt really into films from the 80s or before, i watched this youtube vid on FireTV, with no comments visible so i literally was totally fooled. i googled this the next day only to find out it was a film lmao. i am going to give this a rewatch now since when i heard you say "toughened glass" it made me wonder why you used that odd term. i prob missed a few more puns in here haha. WELL DONE

[@jimmyandersson4599]

This was a real good one with all the movie scenes. Great job😊👍💙💛🇸🇪

[@msevilgenius_]

2:29 "... who had designed the glass tower, and infer no rivalry..." Excellent

[@LiamMonticelli]

The use of upper case in the subtitles was a very nice touch. 👏🏻

[@geenicoll2920]

One of my all time favourites, also it just goes to show that FH is so good at telling a story you could honestly believe this to be IRL

[@Plasmastorm73_n5evv]

He got me good the year he did Jaws...

[@IAmTheStein]

I love your work as always, man!

[@Fran11784]

This was absolutely the coolest thing I’ve ever watched on KZbin! Thanks for this you should do more like this for sure.

[@juliazaja8134]

I can’t tell you how much I love your annual April 1st videos. They tend to highlight so many of the forgotten tragedies of the 1970s.

[@caileanthomson1286]

I remember reading about this, apparently architect Doug Roberts suggested leaving the building standing following the fire, saying: "I don't know. Maybe they just oughta leave it the way it is. Kind of a shrine to all the bullsh*t in the world..."

[@kerch-e]

You really are the best on April Fools. I was hoping for it, and it was great.

[@TheJaxx62]

Excellent lol! I kept shouting at my phone that that is Paul Newman 🤣🤣🤣 you got me good!

[@adriad4855]

As someone who doesn't watch movies I'm always impressed by the thematic continuity of these videos compared to the "regular" ones. Especially this one, since there are several videos on this channel documenting building fires/collapses that site the same issues: "lavish" but with dangerous cost cutting measures, "record breaking" but barely functional in a practical sense, built at a scale that makes fire/rescue efforts almost impossible, etc. Well done once again!!

[@hostetler125]

I sat here watching this thinking it was just too much like "Towering Inferno". Then it hit me several minutes later, April fools prank. Ha ha, you got me Fantastic Horror. I am defeated.

[@PhyllisFisher-gz8pz]

So glad this was an April Fools joke! I just watched this episode and was about to discontinue watching your documentaries. First thought was, “I know this is not an actual event”, as the Towering Inferno is one of my all time favorite movies. Now that I know it was a joke I will move on to the next highly entertaining and informative documentary. Keep up the good work!

[@user-cl5yb3vj2l]

Suggestions for future "documentaries" The 2009 737 that went Down Over ABQ (That's "Albuquerque") The 1996 tornado (or "twister") breakout in Oklahoma The 1997 La Brea Tar Pit volcanic eruption The 1994 LA Mass Transit Bus explosion and hijacking The 1957 giant locust invasion in Chicago (ok, that one might be a bit of a stretch, but I couldn't resist 😁)

[@crakhaed]

Impeccable taste

[@SaltyAndSassy]

You know what’s better than looking forward to one of these documentaries every year? Not realizing the date while you listened to the video (without watching) and falling hook line and sinker once again. Brilliant. You got me. Again. (I clearly remember wondering, back in January , “wonder what story he’ll do THIS year?”) 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@enamis1]

Every year i don't check the date, and every year I'm left absolutely delighted by this kind of 'coverage'

[@jackie0604oxon]

Ah, I missed this until now! I do love your 1 April videos, this one is masterfully done. I saw this at the cinema when I was a kid, it really scared me. I love your narration of it, thank you!

[@guildrich]

Yes, I know I'm a bit late to the "party". But I just gotta say that you definitely got me. It wasn't until I saw the construction date of the Transamerican tower (1972), the supposed "replacement" building, that I realized that something wasn't quite right. Saw the description, and realized it was yet another April Fool's prank. Not knowing about the Towering Inferno movie doesn't help much, either! 😂

[@blucie9768]

I've been sick and sleep deprived for a few days so april fools was not on my radar. Up until the tenth minute my only thought was "for once the people involved have really good pictures". Very well done!

[@plupples6392]

LOL

[@jbartlet827]

So I grew up in SF, and I kept thinking, "Wait, I don't remember this." Then I realized what was going on. I have to say, your retelling is FAR better than the actual movie! And if you just replace some words here and there, you can use this again to describe Millennium Tower when it finally falls over. Win/Win!

[@Flyboy207]

The Towering Inferno was a great movie, especially when you’re both a firefighter, and a Steve McQueen fan. There were some truly scary occurrences, and I’m glad I worked in a rural area with no tall buildings to burn. However, it was fun to hear you describe everything that went wrong, a long list of continual failures from gas mains to helicopters!

[@kvpc11]

Every single year on April 1st, this is exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you for not disappointing!

[@nerdygem8620]

I know plenty of people have said it before, but it's kind of scary how the basic premise of this movie - a building too tall to properly firefight or evacuate - played out in reality in 2001.

[@napalm_lipbalm86]

I was thinking the same thing, like it gave the terrorists a plot for their actions that day. 😮

[@KAFNOR]

At the time, the movie led to some serious discussions about fire safety in skyscrapers.

[@adde9506]

Actually, the towers were quite evacuable, though they actually weren't planned for it, were designed for shelter in place. Turns out all you need for an evacuation is enough room for people to keep moving and somewhere for them to go. It was the inconceivably catastrophic damage from the planes and subsequent, immediate collapse of the communications grid that hindered efforts. Over 15,000 people evacuated from the towers. The vast majority of deaths were on or above the floors of impact, where stairwells, elevator shafts, and rooftop evacuation mechanisms had been severed by the impact of the planes. I can't speak to the firefighting strengths or weaknesses of the towers, but I know enough firefighting designs and procedures to say they were probably more than adequate for anything the world had seen before, and that they were completely destroyed by the impact of the planes.

[@eeveestar6826]

I'd love to see a video of the 1997 eruption of Mt Wilshire in Los Angeles or the 1997 eruption of Dante's Peak.

[@Scorpioncactusflower]

I second Mt. Wilshile!

[@Nefville]

I remember both of those vividly. Very tragic but it did teach us you can actually drive a car on flowing lava. Hey I wasn't going to try it!

[@joannewilson1162]

Yeah there isn’t enough special coverage on those 2 disasters!

[@Felamine]

Or the 1996 Manhattan tunnel explosion and collapse that trapped a number of commuters as well as a prison bus.

[@katej23]

Oh yes, I second Dante’s Peak! Or the time Air Force One was hijacked with President… H Ford.

[@rescue951]

OMG i love that you did this! One of my fav movies

[@caroldegeorge3280]

Excellently done, your documentaries are awesome. Your April Fools are terrific.