The Indiana Coliseum Explosion - "The Holiday On Ice Disaster" 1963

Sometimes tragedy seems to strike for almost absurdly simple reasons, as in the case of the Indiana Coliseum disaster of 1963. A leaking propane tank situated close to a popcorn stand was all it took to claim the lives of 81 people, and wound hundreds more. All for the sake of a basic lack of safety awareness.....
If you would like to support this channel - buymeacoffee.c...
Although focused primarily on disasters, this channel is all about the interesting, the strange, the unsolved, the tragic. Our world has a varied history full of terrible tragedies, bizarre tales, unexplained events, and extravagant people. I hope you enjoy some of the fascinating stories we have here.#History #Disasters

[@ddgamble2199]

My 9-year-old self, my mother, and my grandmother had tickets to that show. That morning, I woke up with a fever, so we stayed at home. Our seats were ground zero.

[@aaronharris5069]

OMG! I am glad you're still alive. That must have been a scary thought. 💜💜💜

[@patriciaseaton1522]

Thank goodness your family did not attend.

[@stargazeronesixseven]

🙏 Thank You Good God for saving you & your family from this tragedy ... 🕯🌍

[@matthewgood1873]

If this is true. Damn you are very lucky and its so weird how things work out isn't it.

[@twiztidjester3151]

That's insane, my mother (God rest her soul) was born in 1949 and she and a friend were supposed to go to that show as well. My grandmother didn't want my mom to go as she just had a bad feeling she couldn't explain, so my mom didn't go, and in turn, neither did her friend. Their seats were also right near ground zero. I'm glad your family avoided that disaster, and I guess mothers really do know best.

[@dfpytwa]

That explosion almost killed me and my mother. My mother worked there in the concessions. She was just working a couple of hours and leaving early due to being 7 months pregnant with me. She just got home and heard the explosion in the distance and later found out what happened on the radio. If she had worked the full shift we would have both been at ground zero.

[@Lockbar]

Good for you!! You were probably kicking or somethung and that made her leave. The fetus was a hero.

[@lymarie1974]

I agree with lockbar, you are the hero. Bless you and your mom

[@x2malandy]

I knew some people that worked the concession stands. Mayer Chapel.

[@russellcrawford6274]

Praise God

[@wendyladybug355laurie4]

Many PRAYER'SNLUV WWG1WGA 👼👼✝️✝️🙏🙏💝💝🕊️🕊️

[@thomashughes_teh]

My father was one of the first responders who toiled through the night in rescue and recovery. He donated blood. He became hypersensitive to the phrases "Holiday on Ice" and "the Coliseum" from then on. He did all he could to avoid being within sight of the place for the rest of his life including going longer routes while driving near the fair grounds. It was the worst day of his entire career.

[@leftfinned]

I’m so sorry your Dad was so traumatized by this horrific experience, but also so thankful for first responders like him who are real heroes.

[@tenshi66]

Can't imagine that hell

[@lightmarker3146]

Your father was a hero . God has him in heaven now and he has peace forever .

[@wendyladybug355laurie4]

Many PRAYER'SNLUV WWG1WGA 👼👼✝️✝️💝🙏💝💝🕊️🕊️

[@donnatlaw6172]

So sorry, Tom... my Dad was a firefighter and nothing left his mind. A WWII vet, also, he never spoke about any of the atrocities he witnessed until I was older and asked.... Many blessings upon our first responders. ❤✌

[@amyhoerner8054]

My dad was one of The Rescuers on scene the day that the Colosseum blew up. I wasn't even born yet but I grew up hearing him tell the stories. My dad retired from firefighting as one of the oldest active firefighters in the state of Indiana in 2008 at the age of 77. He told me many times that the Colosseum was absolutely the worst situation that he had ever worked.

[@wendyladybug355laurie4]

Many PRAYER'SNLUV WWG1WGA.MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FATHER.MY HUSBAND IS A FIREFIGHTER/EMT, SO I CAN RELATE.👼👼✝️✝️🙏🙏💝💝🕊️🕊️

[@gailjackson8941]

Firefighters are HEROES!

[@desratlinda8639]

Wow..(Must've been hard for him to live with that memory)

[@davidlafleche1142]

Even worse: The Station Nightclub.

[@ChroniclesofAlicha_Balaam]

@@davidlafleche1142 What was that??? The Station Nightmare?

[@larrycarrell1379]

I was 11 and living in Indiana at the time. I remember that the disaster was on TV and in the newspapers for days. One of my classmates was at show with his parents. They were not injured. His father was a MD, so his family stayed through the night to treat the injured. JFK was assassinated about three weeks later. I think that is why this disaster was overlooked in history.

[@kennyspaulding796]

I too am an Indiana resident, l was 5 when this happened, I didn't know about it either at the time but heard about it sometime later in the 90's. I remember the JFK assassination, when it happened and the Beatles appearance. He mentioned the TV station WRTV but in '63 it was WHBU ch6 . It became WRTV ch6 sometime in the 80's I think it was.

[@chrisusher7144]

Omg

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@kennyspaulding796 WRTV's call letters were WFBM in '63. My father was a news anchorman there from 1957 to '60. I also was five in 1963 during this disaster and JFK's killing. Like you, I don't recall the coliseum explosion, but vividly do the president's death. I was living in New Albany, in far southern Indiana in 1963, though I was born in Indianapolis in 1958. In September 1964, my family drove up to Indy for the state fair, and were right by the repaired coliseum as the Beatles played inside. Pretty cool to be that close to them.

[@kennyspaulding796]

@@brianarbenz1329 looks like I need to make a correction. Yes it was WFBM. Here I am putting out false information on the internet, I didn't want to be one of those people. But yes that's right. Now I have to think till my brain hurts 🤕 to remember what WHBU was. Was it ch13 or do you remember? I always wondered why 6 and 13 changed their call letters ch8 stayed WISH. Remember the Palm Sunday tornados in '65? 🌪️

[@moniqueengleman873]

I am from Kentucky and heard nothing about the tragedy. Gruesome. That kind of scene changes people for life. So random. Were there any conspiracy theories back then?? Or did they trust what they were told?

[@ronruble6281]

I remember my mother and a friend had "good" tickets to the show but did not go because she did not "feel right" about going to it. The tickets were in / near the area of the explosion. She was very upset the next few days.

[@calimio6]

Upset! Why?

[@ronruble6281]

@@calimio6 Several friends in her "club" died. My parents had a flower shop and every day she had to talk to many families members that lost some one when they came in to order flowers for the funerals.

[@calimio6]

@@ronruble6281 that makes a lot of sense thanks for sharing. Hopefully she is ok after all those years.

[@trevormiles5852]

@@calimio6 Survivors guilt. ? she could have said something about her feelings and saved others but did not ? Her friend might have gone and died ? she was just human and had feelings ?

[@loisaustin6200]

@@calimio6 Premonition probably. Many people have that gift.

[@AnnieE2013]

I'm a resident of Indiana and have never heard of this before. Thank you for the compassionate and very well-done telling of this tragedy.

[@KnuckleheadParker]

I’m in Chicago Ever hear of the massive explosion at Standard Oil in 1956 I think?

[@samanthagomez7074]

Wow really

[@FaithJourneyMinistries]

I've never of this either, but then again I wasn't born until 1975 and was living in Ohio at until early 2000's. , I live in Indiana now and still never heard of it until now

[@angelab904]

I can't believe I've never heard of this tragedy. So horrible to hear about children instantly being orphaned and whole families losing their lives.

[@jennifer60515]

Same here, this is completely new to me.

[@TK-tcbk1]

Ok. I’ve lived in central Indiana for the last 25 years. Been to the Coliseum many times. I only live 15-20 minutes from the fairgrounds. I have NEVER heard of this part of Indianapolis history! Sad but interesting. Thank you.

[@noodengr3three825]

I grew up here in northeast Indiana and don't think I had ever heard of this tragedy. I was 3yrs old when it happened and my father shared many Indiana stories with me. Just not this one.

[@miathemouse5659]

Same! I cannot count the number of times I've been there, but this I've never heard spoken of.

[@19580822]

It was in the local papers when it happened, but it was quickly overshadowed by JFK's assassination a few short weeks later.

[@TK-tcbk1]

@@19580822 I bet it was!

[@JamesDavidWalley]

I think it's telling that the plaque shown at the end of the video wasn't installed until almost forty years after the disaster. It seems the sentiment of the time was to try to forget it ever happened.

[@muncgrl]

I remember this so well, I was 10 and my father had a gas operated popcorn machine in a shed in the yard. He would give all the kids in the neighborhood bags of popcorn throughout the year. After that explosion at the Coliseum he dismantled it and never used it again. We lived about 60 miles from Indy.

[@bleirdo_dude]

He should have just continued, and called it Boomcorn.

[@Elhastezy888]

@@bleirdo_dude 🤣🤣 omg funny not funny!!

[@billh.5360]

@@bleirdo_dudeSorry. Not funny.

[@kscorp5176]

Another great video about a tragedy I'd never heard of before. Am legitimately surprised that there wasn't a panicked rush for the exits.

[@henrymanzano2201]

Agreed. They must have been paralyzed by fear

[@reachandler3655]

I believe there are a number of contributing factors that helped avoid mass panic after initial shock; 1) The performers calmly exited, had they ran screaming the audience likely would have too. 2) The band continued to play, this would have a calming effect. 3) There was likely WW2 vets and emergency responders in the audience, whose training and experience would have helped them remain calm, this would also have a calming effect on those around them.

[@theredsofine8375]

Born and raised in IN and I never heard of this

[@princessmarlena1359]

@@reachandler3655 very clever.

[@reachandler3655]

@Jens Nobel Good point, I hadn't considered that.

[@MountainCry]

I've never heard of this before even though it was relatively recent in the past. Well done and well researched, thank you.

[@craigpridemore5831]

I went to college in IN and didn't know this 1.

[@walterblock5082]

@@craigpridemore5831 I've lived here for over 40 years, you didn't hear much about this after the 80's, don't even remember the last time it was mentioned in any way.

[@ilahildasissac1943]

Never knew about this .

[@missmindersue]

More news the msm refuses to show us, they do it daily hiding all the demonrats crimes 😡 “They” are the enemy of “We The People” NCSWIC 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@virginiaconnor8350]

I was just 8 and never heard about it and never knew about this to even look it up. My parents got married in Indianapolis before my dad was sent overseas as he was in the U.S.Army. This was horrible! A late RIP to all those killed. God bless all and who were injured too!

[@Christian762]

The band playing on might have been on purpose. During the era of live circuses a lot of circus bands had a prearranged piece of music to play in case of emergency, to quickly let the performers and staff know something was amiss but not necessarily the audience. The playing might also have been meant to help calm the audience and prevent a panic, sort of like the music played during the sinking of the Titanic.

[@johnsmith5255]

If they used music for such reasons, I'm pretty sure that those specific music scores wouldn't be needed in this case. An explosion flinging a portion of the audience to the ceiling would easily give you the impression that 'something was amiss'.

[@Christian762]

@@johnsmith5255 You'd be surprised at some of the disasters that happen at theaters and shows, where many times the crowd and even sometimes the performers don't realize what's happening isn't "all part of the show." People get lost in the fantasy and spectacle of shows sometimes and lose track of reality. Hard to know in this case, but that's why that tradition existed.

[@Gail1Marie]

That song is "The Stars and Stripes Forever." It's used to alert their own personnel without panicking the audience. If you're ever in a venue and hear that, get moving toward the exit.

[@drmichaelshea]

Yes, just as the band played through the sinking of the Titanic.

[@johns3544]

@@Gail1Marie Not all the time could be any thing. Same as if your at a bar and getter herased and not to be niticed your say a cirtin word. You can easly hide a few notes to a song and just figure ther playing it a bit diffrent or was miss step in the tune.

[@boldgambit7896]

My grandfather was a reporter for the Indianapolis Star at this time. This is one of the few incidents that still keep him up at night.

[@craigpridemore5831]

Thank you for showing the plaque. It wasn't just statistical numbers, it was people.

[@charlesvorce4368]

I vividly remember this event. I was 10 years old, living in Columbus, Ohio. My parents were ushers at shows at the coliseum at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, a similar building, and I went with them many times to see the shows. For years after I was terrified to go to the coliseum for fear of another explosion. Oddly, I don’t remember anyone ever talking about this, including my parents. Lesson: your children may have fears that you are not aware of. Talk to them.

[@irishqt4570]

Hello fellow Ohioan. I'm shocked I've never heard this story with my father (Charles) having been an Ice skating instructor, and a founding member of Cols figure skating assoc. We lived 5 mins from Ohio State fair grounds, Dad taught at OSU ice rink, Mom was pregnant w me at the JFK assassination. I think that event pushed this one from the front pages.

[@Gail1Marie]

@@irishqt4570 That's a logical explanation. The assassination occurred on November 22, so this would've been three weeks before.

[@shaneanderson9466]

Yes Charles! In the early 60s my Dad took me to lots of drag races around Central Texas. Being 3 or 4 years old I was terrified.

[@samanthagomez7074]

Wow really

[@niafer9444]

Sometimes, when life is not great, one needs a story like this to make one appreciate the small and important things we do have. A sad and interesting story well told. Thank you.

[@dev-debug]

Never heard of this one before, sadly it takes tragedy to move the safety needle. Back then cylinders did not have certification stamps on them. Now cylinders have to be re-certified and date stamped before they can be filled. Makes it more expensive but well worth the cost.

[@annieh5479]

I lived within walking distance from the Coliseum and almost went to the show - I was 11 years old. All night long the sirens screamed along our street taking people to the hospital. It was horrible. We used to go skating on Saturday there - after they cleaned it up and made it useable, we went back. But there was a gaping hole where the seats were that had been lost from the explosion. It's something I will never forget. The Indianapolis Star had a whole section with pictures in it - they were graphic.

[@calebsmith2362]

I was born and raised only an hour outside of Indianapolis and never in my life have I ever heard of this. Everyone remembers The Beatles playing the Indiana State Fair in September 1964, and rightly so. Who would’ve thought the same venue hosted such a disaster only a year earlier.

[@69ssrscamaro4]

I'm betting that the Beatles didn't have a clue about the incident prior to their performance.

[@naarahjanemorris3121]

RIP to all the 81 people who died in 1963 its so sad that safety checks weren't done regularly.

[@rhuephus]

ha ha ... you're 60 years too late

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

@@rhuephus yet there are still people alive who lost loved ones.

[@ItalianCountryball11]

@@WouldntULikeToKnow.fr

[@LTPottenger]

It's crazy to store that stuff there in the first place.

[@HowieHoward-ti3dx]

Yes, 81 white people who could have done more for America and have kids stopping the demographic change the Dems and commies have in store for America by allowing tu-rd Worlders to come here.

[@aaronharris5069]

I am from Indiana, and I never heard this story before. I am sorry to the families that lost loved ones that fateful day. 💜💜💜

[@richosborne1971]

I just discovered your channel about an hour ago, and looking through your videos I see many tragedies that I’ve never heard of. You have a very simple and well done style, and you’ve gained a new subscriber. Thank you.👍

[@wayveyjayvey]

I've got through the collection twice already. Very pleased I found it plus to see the subscribers going up. Keep up the great content!!

[@chatteyj]

I discovered it about a week ago, he seems to be crafting a channel of mostly unheard of disasters, thumbs up sir, the tone is of the narration is perfect and respectful to those involved.

[@jonelfilipek7848]

Make it 2!

[@josephdouglas6482]

"Discount" Gas was probably one of the first mistakes..

[@machintelligence]

The second mistake was to fail to close the storeroom door. This was a fuel/air explosion and there was very little air in that room. When the gas flowed into the corridor it mixed with air to form an explosive mixture. Close the door and trip the fire alarm and hope for the best. The concentrated gas will burn, but is not so likely to explode.

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

@@machintelligence the cylinders should not have been there in the first place.

[@bradbaldus1713]

I was in central Indiana as a child visiting my grandparents when this happened. I remember my parents, who had lived in Indianapolis just a few years before, reading the victims list in the newspaper and knowing a few victims. Chilling. Shortly before seeing this video I was thinking that it was strange that there weren't any videos about it since it was a pretty horrible thing and as bad as many other tragedies which have been documented. Good reporting.

[@markdinkel-uh2je]

I'm thinking there has got to be some footage of the explosion but maybe even back then cameras were not allowed.

[@markbeck8384]

I was still training in ice skating when the Explosion happened. I did meet people in the show later on. They told me they were doing a chorus line "wheel" when it happened, out in the middle of the ice. They said actual body parts flew out onto the ice before they could clear. Later on, I was in both Ice Capades and Holiday. Many arenas still had those popcorn stands, and I always wondered if it was an accident waiting to repeat. Sadly, those ice shows are dead now, except for Disney on Ice being a faint reminder, in the States. Holiday still has shows in Europe.

[@barryervin8536]

I was 16 when this happened, and I do remember it. It was all over the news, and there was even a photograph taken from the stands of huge flames coming up through the floor. But then unlike other similar disasters it just seemed to quickly go away and we never heard much about it, for some reason.

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

The Kennedy Assassination eclipsed everything.

[@sabtahi13]

Perhaps the Kennedy Assassination eclipsed everything three weeks after this event... Just a thought.

[@galady8632]

3 weeks later JFK's assassination pretty much consumed the news. That may impacted coverage of developing details re the fire.

[@Zyphera]

Some other comments pointed out the assassination of JFK 3 weeks later. Maybe that drowned out the news of this disaster.

[@mrsdiana324]

I think maybe because jfk was killed shortly after and news was full of that

[@TracyA123]

To think that people actually showed up to the same event only a few months later is shocking! You couldn't drag me near that place after that! Some videos leave you shocked and saddened for the entire day after you watch them. Videos like this leave you emotionally wrecked for the entire week!! Also...super classy having no commentary while the victims names were on screen.👍

[@nunyanope4988]

Maybe morbid curiosity? Or people had limited choices with entertainment and were just bored to pieces?

[@TracyA123]

@@nunyanope4988 yeah I can imagine it was both. No way you'd get me near that place!

[@wethepplwhorblackerthanblu6442]

@@TracyA123 yeah but I have to say what does that says to our generation now our resiliency to work things out and to get back on the horse so to speak ????

[@TracyA123]

@@wethepplwhorblackerthanblu6442 good point! Today the event promoters, the employees and anyone else involved would be cancelled and made out to be villains. You're right people were tougher back in the day

[@Gail1Marie]

On the other hand, it would probably be the LAST place a second explosion would take place. The inspectors probably went over it with a fine-toothed comb. As they say, safety regulations are written in blood.

[@brenonhigh2027]

The building is known as the Indiana Farmers Coliseum now and still hosts live events and events for the Indiana State Fair. It is also the home of the Indy Fuel ECHL ice hockey team and the IUPUI Jaguars Basketball. I’ve been to several Fuel games and never even realized the scope of the tragedy. I’ve seen the plaque honoring the victims many times and have always wondered about it and then this shows up in my feed today. Great video!

[@jjkhawaiian]

Must be haunted or at least cursed now. Tragic deaths like this instill negative energy locked by anger and confusion.

[@aa-vk6hd]

Ghosts are not real

[@krashd]

"Indy Fuel" is an odd name for a team that plays at a venue that experienced and LPG explosion. 😐

[@rutheliz75]

This is the first time hearing about this tragedy. Thanks for posting .

[@ShipperChick]

My ex-husbands grandparents were supposed to be at the show that night, but they decided that since their first grandchild (my ex-husband) was due to be born any day, they decided to stay home. I have been told that their seats were right above where the explosion occurred.

[@babyboomermemories6150]

I am 65 and never heard about this. Well done sir.

[@stilleto1956]

I vividly remember this! I was in second grade and my family didn't go to Holiday on Ice that year! I had friends who went and their family members who suffered for decades from their injuries! Add to it the Kennedy assignation a few weeks later made 1963 a very traumatic year for Hoosiers!

[@SH-fm5eu]

I heard this happen as I lie in bed as a child, we lived on Sutherland Ave at the time. I remember my Mom telling Dad the Colosseum blew up and then hearing sirens for the rest of the night. My uncle went to help as he had just got through National Guard Medic training but it was too much for him.

[@motorTranz]

May God comfort the families of those who perished. My sincerest condolences. Thank you for sharing this tragic story.

[@barbarabonnette2705]

And the people who had to go in and clean up that carnage. If it was compared to combat, I can’t even imagine what they saw, and the injured they had to treat.

[@Lazy_Tim]

Great video. Not heard of this one. Had to look up the Indiana Coliseum as was glad to find it still there and well used.

[@hebneh]

I was only 9 years old when this happened, and lived very far away from Indiana, but I remember this very well. Particularly I recall a pair of wire service news photos in one of the local newspapers showing first, a line a skating women on the ice, and then a photo of the wreckage. I assumed the performers had literally been skating when the explosion happened. I think this event really struck me because (as the narrator says) I had already been to ice shows at the time, since they were quite popular for families, and could imagine myself at a show like this.

[@catrash8191]

Thank you for covering this particular event. Unfortunately, much memory of this tragic event has been forgotten, often overshadowed by the...other Indiana State Fair disaster. It is remembered, as the section of stands that were damaged in the explosion were rebuilt and refurbished, that section of seats standing out from the rest. I had family members who were there that night and I thank you for covering this in an unbiased and informative way.

[@donaldweir7736]

The Indiana State fair grounds has had other tragedies. In 2011 A stage was blown over by a thunderstorms killing 7 people and injuring 58. I the late 1800s the boiler of saw mill being demonstrated exploded killing several people. Thanks for the article. Don

[@jamesklatt]

Sugarland was scheduled to perform when their stage was blown over.

[@judydavenport9636]

I remember going to one of these ice capade show when I was a toddler. all I remember was as a lil tot I was thrilled at the people skating around putting on the show. mom bought a souvenir book of the show id look at for hours.

[@delilahwilliamson6825]

My Aunt was a nurse, and she was at our house, when we heard all the fire engines going east on 38th Street, about that time, our phone rang (before the days of pagers) my father picked it up, and turned to my Aunt and said "you better get to your hospital, there has been an explosion at the Coliseum".

[@x2malandy]

At 8:05 the paper said that Robert Engle, 20 said he saw a tank fall over and it knocked the top valve off of it. That is when the gas escaped. He started running and telling everyone to run. I knew Robert and the Geticks, Macarthys, Hunnicuts, McCrays, Terrils, Chandlers and a lot of people that worked the concession stands down there. It was not a rusty tank leaking. Thought I would verify Roberts account. I also knew a young fellow that lost his legs in the explosion. I was 14.

[@craigp3601]

My Father was told it was none of his business and would be taken care of. When he heard the explosion he knew what had happened. Several of the victims were members of our church. My father felt the people who ignored the warning should have gone to prison.

[@tylerbowers1100]

Great work, King! I’ve probably burned through all your videos over the last 48 hours. Lots of great info on lesser-known tragedies.

[@sherimcdaniel3491]

What an unbelievable and completely preventable tragedy. Doesn’t it seem to be so often that massive instances like this are tracked down to have been caused by something so easily averted?

[@cherylfitch2693]

Thank you for your circumspect and dignified informative report on the disaster. No hysteria. The narrator deserves credit for a job well done. 🌹

[@suzieb8366]

Out of the channels that I have watched disaster videos yours brings me to tears. I think it's because you put such efforts into the visual history with photos, it brings it closer to the more human experience and its always tragic. RIP those who suffered.

[@Carlton_Wilson]

I can't believe I had not heard of this. My mother saw The Beatles there in 1964. I don't think she was aware of this incident either.

[@gregcarter9680]

I've lived in Indiana almost my entire life, and have been to that building multiple times, and I've never heard anything about this before finding this video.

[@indianapatsfan]

Been in the Indy area for almost 20 years now, I've seen a couple of hockey games in that arena and I never knew about this.

[@ericbainter826]

I grew up in southern Indiana and my fourth birthday was just a few days after this disaster. I don’t remember the event itself but I do remember my parents and others talking about it as I grew up. I had forgotten about it in the intervening decades. Good video.

[@irenetorkel2186]

I like to binge listen to channels when at work but this channel has so much detail it's hard to resist pulling my phone out of my pocket. The amount of research and the inclusion of photos puts this channel at the top for quality. I hope you get the subscribers you definitely deserve. If you ever set up a subscription I will be there.

[@hannw7]

My great grandfather, Ira Anderson was the state fire marshal during the time of this horrible event. He had left his position as a state senator to become the state fire marshal in 1961. He was indicted but charges were dropped and he returned to being a farmer in Birdseye. He never talked about it with me. I’m know he carried it with him until he passed. My older family members said it was all too horrific and painful.

[@sandigrace2271]

Why was he indicted?

[@ChrisHilgenberg]

I used to use the monorail when it was still in operation from the IU hospital to Methodist (both downtown Indy hospitals) and there is a timeline in the walkway from the monorail to the entrance listing the history of Methodist Hospital and it has a specific marker for this event on the timeline; the two most famous photographs of this disaster are the shot of 'the ice morgue' seen in the video, and another of the gaping 50 ft hole left by the explosion and subsequent collapse of the section of stands. It is an extremely sobering photograph of such a horrible day.

[@lightmarker3146]

I remember the ice shows so fondly . This was a horrific tragedy.

[@bender7565]

Look at you! I was 6 when this happened and remember the excitement on the 3 TV channels. I looked into it years ago and found just a few pics and you had a little video and more, very cool! The following year the Beatles show was a matinee and they had a 2nd show at the grandstand, another horror vid for later. Mom entered her cookies every year and usually kicked butt, but in 64' I think 3rd upset her and I was being hustled out and The Beatles were playing Love Me Do, I was behind the grandstand but I wanted to at least slow down to hear them live, mom would have none of it.

[@greenman6141]

I am glad that the stadium itself survived. It is beautiful. A wonderful example of WPA architecture, design and engineering. Such buildings don't have to be concrete horrors.

[@P_RO_]

Agreed. Many of those WPA buildings are works of art in themselves by intent, as that also gave jobs to architects and designers too, and not just the workers building them. Construction standards with these were held high also by intent, as that taught workers to always give their best which would help both them and industry when the economy recovered. The CCC and the WPA programs were brilliance in action- something I don't think we've seen from our government since then.

[@greenman6141]

@@P_RO_ Yes, very nicely put. My mother was did her high school years in a WPA building. SHe said it was lovely and the library was stunning, with beautiful carved wood bookcases and desks. It is something that really ought to be done again.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I am searching my memory about this event. IIRC "Ice Capades" (same group I think) had performed at the U of IL Assembly Hall earlier in October. This was pretty big news as Indy is just 100 miles east of Champaign-Urbana, and I remember it being covered locally and on CBS Evening News ("with Walter Cronkite.") I think it's lost in history because of the events in Dallas just 3 weeks later.

[@dedrabianca6314]

What about Sally Wirwille.. the girl who had the premonition about this and survived? Great job!

[@mikemortensen4973]

I was five years old, living in west central Indiana on a farm and don't remember hearing about it at the time ( but I was only 5, soooo). But actually, believe it or not, I've never heard of this incident at all until a few minutes ago, when I happened upon this video. I'm shocked!

[@tommunyon2874]

Aside from the coverage of this on the television evening news on the day it happened I have scarcely heard mention of this event again. What always comes up in my memory is, "...they are using the ice as a temporary morgue." This is a very detailed and well presented report that clarifies what I only fragmentarily recalled.

[@leopold7562]

Discount Gas. Pretty inevitable they'd be the sort of company to cheap out on using safe cylinders for their product... But I have to say, fair play to the people of Indiana. No panic in the midst of massive explosions and flying bodies? And to then park the whole incident as a one-off and carry on as normal? They're either perpetually stoned or a fantastic example of humans who are clearly unfazed by tragedy. Either way, their calmness under those circumstances probably saved way more lives.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@leopold. Maybe more like Midwest, DNA 😏…………

[@chatteyj]

Its amazing that one as canister could ave caused so much devastation.

[@ShipperChick]

More like we are a resilient and hardworking society. Some of you folk from not-the-Midwest don’t realize where your food comes from….

[@leopold7562]

@@ShipperChick I'm not from the Midwest, but I do know my food doesn't come from Indiana. Largely because I don't live in the US...

[@Syclone0044]

@@leopold7562 Touché, my friend 😄😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@kannlowery]

I grew up in central Indiana and had heard about this explosion, but never knew all of the details. Thank you for this video explaining it.

[@drmichaelshea]

I remember going with my dad to see the Holiday on Ice performance on Saturday afternoon at a very similar venue: the Coliseum at the Utah state fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, a very old building much like the one in this story. I remember that performance because it was interrupted by someone who had a grand mal seizure, the first time I had ever even heard of such a thing. May the victims of this tragedy rest in peace.

[@Gail1Marie]

The Ice Follies came into the old (built 1924) Minneapolis Arena at 2900 Dupont Avenue and Lake Street when I was a kid. All the bleachers and flooring were wood; it would've gone up like a box of matches had there been a similar explosion. It was torn down in 1966. Hadn't thought about it for years until reading this. We enjoyed simpler pleasures then.

[@drmichaelshea]

@@Gail1Marie yes, simpler pleasures, and despite the relatively primitive facilities we had then, the world seemed like a safer place. So have we gained something - or lost.

[@Gail1Marie]

@@drmichaelshea I don't know if "the good old days" really were safer. We didn't have seat belts, cars had metal dashboards and rigid steering wheels, we didn't have a registry of sex offenders (to find out if your next door neighbor is a pedophile), and airplanes weren't as reliable (or navigation aids as sophisticated). We always look at the past with rose-colored glasses. But I agree that we were content with a lot less. I remember having only about 10 outfits (including a dress for church) and only four pair of shoes. My parents' house, built in 1941, had closets only three feet wide. No one needed a bigger closet, because no one had more clothes than that. Today, closets are the size of my childhood bedroom!

[@drmichaelshea]

@@Gail1Marie Thank God for you, Gail Lofdahl. You have helped me today to be mindful of what it means to become as a little child, not so wrapped up in the world.

[@Gail1Marie]

@@drmichaelshea Glad I could help.

[@craigp3601]

I was eleven years old and lived one mile North of the Fairgrounds. My father worked by a heating and air-conditioning company and had been in the Coliseum for a service call a few days earlier. When he detected gas, he opened the door to the storage compartment and found the bottle laying on its' side due to the low ceiling height under the seats. He immediat4ly told the building manager that it was illeagle to store the bottle in that location

[@Elhastezy888]

Man .... I can not imagine the feelings & thought processes your father had to deal with knowing he tried .... incomprehensible 😑

[@lynnbomar5720]

As in Roman times sacrifices take place in coliseums all around the world.....

[@AronBezzina]

I found your channel about a week ago. I have watched all of your content. You make amazing videos!

[@lindagoble9026]

I remember this so well. I was having a sleep over that night and remember the news coming on the television.

[@lachutequimarche8074]

Incredible channel thank you for all the hours of entertainment while I’m in my workshop. Top notch stuff and your voice is easy to listen to.

[@denicesanders4586]

I had never heard of this horrible event. Tragically sad. I grew up going to the Ice Capades in Spokane, WA every Christmas season. The worst tragedy I recall from my youth was the Sunshine Mining Disaster of 1972. Fifty years ago in May. My friend's fathers, brothers or grandfathers were killed in a mine fire. That was a horrid day that stretched on, seemingly, forever.

[@lorimorris6520]

I remember a lot of mining tragedy's in the 70s

[@jennyharrell5938]

I live about an hour from Indianapolis, I've been to the Indiana State Fair many times. I only found out about this incident about 4 years ago because of watching WRTV's interview with some survivors to mark the 50th anniversary. For anyone who is interested, they have the interviews on their KZbin channel.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Holiday on Ice founder Morris Chalfen that night went through his 2nd deadly tragedy in less than 4 years, both by random chance in Indiana. In early 1960, his wife and children were on a commercial airline flight from Chicago to Miami, where he was awaiting them for a Holiday on Ice program (his wife was skater in the show). The Northwest Orient airliner crashed near Tell City, Ind. on the Ohio River. All 63 people on board were killed, with the devastation so bad that limbs and other body parts were scattered about. It was just as gruesome as the Coliseum disaster. Chalfen, a conscientious and caring man who sought to use tours of Holiday on Ice to improve international relations, never let these profound loses blunt his positive outlook.

[@m.streicher8286]

I don't even care what your videos are about anymore I watch them for the aesthetic 💫

[@formerlydistantorigins6972]

That band certainly deserve credit. The fact they played as the arena was evacuated, possibly prevented a mass crush for the exits

[@islandzuk8531]

The ol days

[@LethalJizzle]

Makes me think of another "the band did good" moment when the ship Oceanos sank. The crew all jumped in lifeboats and abandoned the ship and passengers. The ships band ended up coordinating the evacuation efforts. Bright sun films has a good video on that.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@@LethalJizzle Yeah, the guy (and his wife) that was in the band, was in another ship disaster, resulting in THAT ONE, foundering!! That would be the SS "ACHILLE LAURO" (spell check, sucks), on which he and his wife, were entertaining. Reminds me, just kinda like that Violet woman, who worked on both the Titanic, and the Britannic, surviving them!!

[@rogerrendzak8055]

The band played on, hmmm? Reminds us all, of something else, huh🤔??

[@chatteyj]

@@LethalJizzle Huh it made me think of the band on another ship called the Titanic. It was a Ocean liner that sank in 1912 in the middle of the Atlantic after coming in contact with a berg.

[@mauricedavis2160]

Excellent presentation of a horrific event, job well done!!!🙏😢

[@TheWES047]

Superbly executed video as always sir. Take a thumbs up and a comment of encouragement. I watch quite a lot of channels about these sorts of incidents and must say you have a good knack for articulating the necessary information in a format that is informative, understandable and well researched. I've said this before, the northern accent adds so much charm and character. Top job!! Looking forward to the next installment... until then thank you and keep up the good work. Additional - Great idea having the playlists. If I'm struggling to sleep its nice to pick a category to shut my brain down to. Again thank you.

[@ethanmcdowell9677]

"It seems the people of Indiana refused to let past tragedy determine their future" That's every Hoosier. One trait every Hoosier holds is resiliency. We don't let past events stop us from doing something again. I may not live in Indiana now, but I was born and raised there. Indiana will always be my home.

[@aaronharris5069]

Born here in Indiana, and I can attest to that! We love our basketball here, but more importantly, we care about our fellow Hoosiers! Proud to be from Indiana. 💜💜💜

[@lotstodo]

I'd never heard of this. Such a tragedy. Thanks.

[@terrychurch100]

I like your channel very much. I watch every episode.

[@shawnmccorkle5059]

I'm 59 years old. Lived in Indiana my whole life. I never knew this happened. How was that? Been in that arena many times. Drove past it hundreds of times. Thank for sharing

[@mattkaustickomments]

Thanks for posting this story. I’ll pretend it was by my suggestion! I grew up in Indiana but never knew about this this tragedy until about a year ago.

[@theravenseye9443]

Well you did suggest it to me, it;s just I had it on my "to do" list already. Great minds and all that !!

[@mattkaustickomments]

@@theravenseye9443 You bet! Got another one for you - the 1946 Winecoff Hotel Fire in Atlanta. The building was “Absolutely Fireproof” as advertised. Just all the furniture, wall coverings and people inside it weren’t.

[@Gail1Marie]

@@theravenseye9443 Please add the O'Connor Plating Works disaster to your "to-do" list. In Los Angeles, on February 20, 1947, a "chemist" (who had falsified his qualifications to be hired) dropped a plastic rack into a vat of perchloric acid. He triggered an explosion that killed 17 people, injured more than a hundred, and damaged eleven buildings beyond repair. The explosion left a 25-foot-wide crater; the bodies of the "chemist" and his assistant were never found. Plenty of footage of the disaster scene exists. (This incident was the inspiration for "Nicholson Electroplating," a fictional case in the video game LA Noire.)

[@mattkaustickomments]

@@Gail1Marie Another 40’s industrial explosion that’s overlooked: The East Ohio Gas Company Fire marks one of Cleveland’s most devastating disasters, destroying 79 houses, two factories, and 217 automobiles and damaging 85 houses and 18 factories. Property destruction, while devastating, pales in comparison to the lives lost in the fire. One hundred thirty civilians lost their lives to the fire, 98 of whom were employees of the company. My dad first told me about this, as he grew up in Northeast Ohio. He was too young to remember, but older siblings and his parents actually heard the explosion and thus passed the story on to him. Iirc, one of the factories destroyed was the White Trucks factory- they were an industry leader in over-the-road big trucks (a competitor to Mack) for many years. I think they may still be around today. If White wasn’t the burnt factory, then they had their own noteworthy separate disaster.

[@Gail1Marie]

@@mattkaustickomments Sounds like a natural for Brick Immortar, Raven's Eye, or Fascinating Horror. Fuel explosions are quite impressive. When I was stationed at Osan Airbase in 1986, a tank full of JP-4 jet fuel exploded on a hilltop about 1/3-1/2 mile from our barracks, which was on a neighboring hilltop. My building (a two-story prefab) rocked forward about 6-12 inches and then rocked back but wasn't permanently damaged. The fire burned for hours as the crews tried to foam the fuel contained in the dike around where the tank had been. But there was a stiff breeze, and it kept blowing the foam to one side, so the exposed fuel kept reigniting. I think it took most of the afternoon and evening to put it out. A Korean grounds crew was cutting grass at the base of the tank. and they all died, along with an enlisted AF fuels specialist.

[@IrishAnnie]

I have never heard of this. Thank you for the history.

[@RCrosbyLyles]

Well done. Great story about how the people back then didn't cave to events. They did what they had to do with the band still playing.

[@sirbader1]

They don't make 'em like they use to.

[@lizbrown7232]

Most of the men would have served in WWII, or at least in the military. Some of the women also.

[@b3j8]

I've gone to the State Fair and Fairgrounds Arena many times over the yrs, and I had never heard of this tragedy. Looking at the photos I know I've sat in that very section often. Now it's just eerie and sad to think people died there. RIP to all of them.

[@nickd3157]

I rather enjoy how rarely ads pop up when i load your videos, I’ve watched all of them, and only had an ad once or twice, every other YT video has two unskippable ads often at 15 seconds each. Great content as usual keep it your channel will grow. Im surprised your subscriber base isn’t larger with the amount and quality of content you have.

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

He onky has 10k subscribers as his channel grows to 50k and 100k more ads will shiw up for monetization.

[@Lemmon714_]

Hit reload when you start a video and know an ad will start. I haven't watched a yt ad in years.

[@carolinehoward180]

Just another example of why not to take a moment of life for granted. Everything can change in a second. I hadn’t heard about this before. So sorry for all affected 💔🙁

[@lewisdoherty7621]

Thanks. I had never heard of this one. It is a good cautionary tale.

[@nadapenny8592]

Way to cover these niche disasters. The other channels I follow just kind of pass around the same stories but you always have something new and unheard of.

[@SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

One of my teachers was a nurse when this happened. She remembered being told that folks with station wagons would be called to transport people due to the shape of the cars making it easier to lay victims flat.

[@robsmithracing]

This page and Fascinating Horror are my favourite.

[@Magikalic]

I don't know why this channel hasn't blown up, your content is under-reported and told with upmost sensitively

[@boilerbonz]

The arena was known locally simply as "The Coliseum" and was the home of the Indiana Pacers from 1967 to the mid '70s. It seated over 9,000 until it was remodeled in the 2000's with better amenities, which reduced seating capacity to just under 7,000. After the remodel, it was renamed the "Farmers' Coliseum" since it stands on the Indiana State Fairgrounds, which is, of course, an ag oriented fair. Today, it is the home of the Indy Fuel, a minor league hockey team, and It is still a very impressive building, in excellent condition, since it was constructed in the days when buildings were made to stand for a 1000 years. My father and I had tickets that night to attend with my cub scout troop, but I became ill that day and we cancelled. My fellow scouts and their dads were fortunate to be seated on the opposite side of the arena, so none were badly hurt, but it was still a traumatic experience for them. I still remember the look on my parents' faces when we heard about the blast from local radio accounts. I also recall radio announcers asking for station wagon owners to bring the vehicles to The Coliseum to help transport the injured, since the city's ambulance services were overwhelmed.

[@StrokerStevens]

My dad was there in the aftermath removing the bodies, he told me lotta horror stories about that event.

[@muffassa6739]

I'm so sorry for your Dad, but he was a true hero.

[@lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615]

Growing up near Indianapolis, I was told about this as a young man. Such a sad story, thank you for sharing this story

[@gw5309]

I grew up about 95 miles south of Indy and remember this, barely. I would have been five, but it was so horrific that my young mind absorbed some of it. My Mom was a twenty year old student at Indiana Business College on December 7, 1941 and went with a friend to see an ice show featuring Sonja Henie that evening at the field house. She recounted to me the recollection of an impressive patriotic tribute held there that evening. A lot happened in her life in the year that followed. She met, and married my Dad, and he left for Army boot camp the next December.

[@bobfitzpatrick8952]

Wild seeing this - I had my high school commencement in this building in 1981.

[@carpediem6431]

Very well done. So sad that this channel only has 12 thousand subscribers. Deserves much more.

[@messiahsbythesackful6267]

I am loving this channel! Hearing a non-American voice retell my country's stories always leads to insights that I may have overlooked or simply ignored and, hopefully, to a deeper understanding of how we got here and what to do about it. Your video on the San Ysidro McDonald's mass shooting, especially, has been haunting my thoughts over the last few days. So, thank you. Be well and safe everyone! 🖖🐢👣

[@patriciayoung3267]

I have never heard of this explosion and that is saying a bit because I am fascinated by these tragedies and how people survived them.

[@trapperjohn6089]

The band saved lives by keeping everybody calm. People that operate huge venues need to take note. For any reason you need to evacuate the venue, it is best to have music playing. When the music stops, people tend to trample.

[@jbgood7694]

You are delusional.

[@sgtmattkind]

Never heard of this nicely done!

[@mylesgarcia4625]

Horrible. First I hear of this incident, being a Holiday on Ice fan in my younger years. Thanks for bringing this harrowing tragedy to light.