The Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, was the preeminent Nightclub of the lower Midwest for decades.
It lays out in careful and complete detail every incremental step in the creation of the firetrap, describes the start and spread of the Fire and evacuation efforts, and concludes with a description of the important legal proceedings that followed the fire..
Beverly Hills: Anatomy of a Nightclub Fire was intended by the author to be an accurate historical account of the whole tragedy and not a sensational description of the event nor a polemic indictment of responsibility.
Looking back, which is always easier than looking forward, it is clear that the real tragedy at Beverly Hills is that very little additional care and caution was needed to prevent some if not all of the deaths that occurred there.
No single individual was responsible for the building\'s shortcomings.
The firetrap in the nightclub, which ultimately resulted in the tragic death of 165 people, was clearly created by a combination of personal, professional, and legal failures by owners of the facility, local and state Fire officials and inspectors, and others.
Undoubtedly, a more complete compliance with state laws on Fire safety would have averted the disaster.
The renovations and additions completed since 1969 were dominated by multiple Fire code violations and very significant design failures for a building that was destined to be occupied by huge crowds of people.
Robert Lawson\'s meticulous study makes clear that the tragedy flowed from the fact that the building had become over time a true firetrap.
On the evening of May 28, 1977, the lavish club burned to the ground, killing 165 people in the second worst Nightclub Fire in United States history.
Over the next several years, the new owners completed numerous improvements, renovations, and additions, creating what they hoped would be the showplace of the nation.
After struggling financially into the1960s, the club was purchased by new owners in 1969.
The Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, was the preeminent Nightclub of the lower Midwest for decades
