Today, November 28, marks the 75th anniversary of the deadliest night club fire in history, and orchestra conductor Arthur Fiedler was part of that history.
Although I was a baby at the time of the fire, the legend of it was
still talked about by the time I became aware of historical events and I remember
dreadful stories of it (links below).
Fiedler was fascinated by the work of firefighters and would travel in his own
vehicle to large fires in and around Boston at any time of the day or
night to watch the firefighters at work. He was even made an "Honorary
Captain" in the Boston Fire Department. A number of other fire
departments gave him honorary fire helmets and/or badges. The official
biography of Fiedler reports that the conductor helped in the
rescue efforts at the tragic Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston in 1942 which killed 492 people and injured hundreds more.
Arthur Fiedler dressed as a fireman
with Red Skelton as Clem Kadiddlehopper
April 15, 1969
photographer unknown
photographer unknown
The story goes that the fire was started by 16-year-old busboy, Stanley F. Tomaszewski, a model high school student, and star athlete, as he was changing a light bulb turned off by a prankster when a match set fire to the make-believe palm trimmings. Four hundred and eighty seven revelers died as a result.
photographer unknown
The scale of the tragedy shocked the nation and briefly replaced the events of World War II in newspaper headlines. It led to a reform of safety standards and codes across the US, and to major changes in the treatment and rehabilitation of burn victims internationally (links below).
Cocanut Grove interior
The musicians in the band performing at the Cocoanut Grove that night were: bandleader Mickey Alpert, Bernie Fazioli and bassist Jack Lesberg. Alpert's orchestra is most famous for being present on the night of the deadly fire.
Mickey sheet music
words & music
by Harry Williams & Neil Moret
published by Mills Music of New York
Alpert was born in 1904 and grew up in Roxbury near Boston. In his early
years, he played in theatre and broadcasted
in the evenings. He met Jacques Renard,
who already was a bandleader. With the help of Jack Berman, both opened
the famous Boston night club "Cocoanut Grove" on October 27th, 1927. Due
to ongoing prohibition, both, Renard and Alpert, sold the club in 1931,
as it became almost bankrupt. Some years later, under ownership of
Barnett Welansky, Alpert returned to the "Cocoanut Grove" as master of
ceremonies.
The most important, but sadly, most tragic point of Alpert's career happened on November, 28th, 1942 in the Cocoanut Grove club. As the orchestra started to play their second set, the great fire in the club started. Alpert managed to escape from the building. After the fire, Alpert went to New York, married and started a new career as a casting director. Alpert died in 1965, he was 61 years old.
This photo below was taken within half an hour before the tragic fire by the club photographer who escaped being a probable fire victim by going out to develop the films a few minutes before the disaster. Alpert, master of ceremonies of the night club, who fled the blaze uninjured, is sitting in the center of a group of soldiers from the play, This is the Army, which was appearing in Boston at the time. Peering over Alpert's shoulder is Sgt. Ezra Stone, of radio, screen, and stage fame. All of the soldiers left before the tragedy.
The most important, but sadly, most tragic point of Alpert's career happened on November, 28th, 1942 in the Cocoanut Grove club. As the orchestra started to play their second set, the great fire in the club started. Alpert managed to escape from the building. After the fire, Alpert went to New York, married and started a new career as a casting director. Alpert died in 1965, he was 61 years old.
This photo below was taken within half an hour before the tragic fire by the club photographer who escaped being a probable fire victim by going out to develop the films a few minutes before the disaster. Alpert, master of ceremonies of the night club, who fled the blaze uninjured, is sitting in the center of a group of soldiers from the play, This is the Army, which was appearing in Boston at the time. Peering over Alpert's shoulder is Sgt. Ezra Stone, of radio, screen, and stage fame. All of the soldiers left before the tragedy.
Mickey Alpert & soldiers
Cocoanut Grove photographer
After settling to USA as a child, Renard was raised near Boston and learned to play violin. In the 1920s, he left the classical field to become an orchestra leader in Boston. In 1927, he started as leader of the orchestra in the famous Cocoanut Grove nightclub, which he co-founded with Mickey Alpert. They gave up the club in 1931 due to financial reasons.
In the 1930's, many recordings (mainly on Victor) and radio shows followed. Later Renard moved to New York as director of CBS radio shows. He kept being busy in recording and performing for the rest of his life.
Jacques Renard was an American violinist, orchestra leader and songwriter of Russian origin.
Born May 15th, 1897 in Kiev, Russian Empire, died January 30th, 1973 in
Miami, Florida.
After settling to USA as a child, Renard was raised near Boston and learned to play violin. In the 1920s, he left the classical field to become an orchestra leader in Boston. In 1927, he started as leader of the orchestra in the famous Cocoanut Grove nightclub, which he co-founded with Mickey Alpert. They gave up the club in 1931 due to financial reasons.
In the 1930's, many recordings (mainly on Victor) and radio shows followed. Later Renard moved to New York as director of CBS radio shows. He kept being busy in recording and performing for the rest of his life.
Angelo Lippi - maitre d' of the Cocoanut Grove
photographer unknown
Cocoanut Grove interior
Cocoanut Grove escape path
There have been many books written about the tragedy and many more to be issued on the anniversary of the fire: Holocaust! The Shocking Story of the Boston Cocoanut Grove Fire by Paul Benzaquin, Chased by Flames by Angelo Verzoni and The Cocoanut Grove Fire by Stephanie Schorow.
The Cocoanut Grove Fire
The Shocking Story of the Boston Cocoanut Grove Fire
by Paul Benzaquin - 1959
Holocaust! The Shocking Story of the Boston Cocoanut Grove Fire
There are many videos about the fire on YouTube, in particular, The Cocoanut Grove with images, films, interviews of survivors of the fire & the song, God Bless the Child, written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. in 1939, and sung by her. There is also, Cocoanut Grove the Movie (links below).
There has been an attempt to make a film about the Cocoanut Grove fire by Deborah Whitaker (link below).
Arthur Fiedler articles/mentions
Music & Mayhem
Net links:
The Club
The fire
Boston Fire Historical Society ~ Cocoanut Grove fire
Cocoanut Grove Fire: 28 Devastating Photographs
Charles Kenney ~ Rescue Men: Secrets of Cocoanut Grove fire
The Writing of Cocoanut Grove The Movie
YouTube links:
Coconut Grove -
Cocoanut Grove the Movie ~ images, films & music
The Cocoanut Grove ~ images, films & music
Disasters of the Century
Survivors Tell Their Stories
Alarm, Coconut Grove Disaster documentary reenactment
The interior photos and postcards you show may be of the cocoanut grove club at the ambassador hotel in los angeles, california, not the one in Boston. There is a postcard from Los Angeles that very distinctly shows the ornate architecture seen in these views
ReplyDeleteAh, thank you. I appreciate your letting me know & will do further research on this.
DeleteI try very hard to put the most accurate info in my blogs & value corrections and observations from my readers.
Regards
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI'm with the Cocoanut Grove Memorial Committee, cocoanutgrove.org., we are working with the City of Boston to establish a Memorial at Statler Park in Boston.