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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 29 November 2019
New film explores legacy of Boston's Cocoanut Grove fire

By MARK PRATT wider audience to restore
BOSTON (AP) — Even the disaster to public con-
though Boston's Cocoanut sciousness.
Grove fire happened long "We think it's a really, really
before she was born, Mi- important story to tell," said
chele Shapiro learned all Shapiro, a Wayland, Mas-
about the disaster when sachusetts, native who now
she was a girl. lives in New York. "This disas-
Her grandfather, Frank Sha- ter was the basis for mod-
piro, was at a nearby the- ern day fire codes, and not
ater with his wife the night many people know that.
of Nov. 28, 1942, when Four hundred ninety-two
a blaze tore through the people died, but their lives
swanky Cocoanut Grove weren't lost in vain because
nightclub, killing 492 peo- it led to so many safety
ple. The young lawyer measures."
helped with the rescue ef- On the night of the fire,
forts and later represented the Cocoanut Grove was
the survivors and the es- packed with about 1,000
tates of the victims. people, double its capac-
"I grew up hearing about ity. Exit doors were locked
this case because it was to stop patrons from skip-
such a big part of his life," ping out on their bills.
Michele Shapiro said. When The fire reportedly started
she heard a filmmaker was when a teenage busboy
making a documentary lit a match to see a light
about the disaster, she had socket and replace a
to get involved. burned-out bulb in an ar- In this Nov. 28, 1942 file photo, firemen inspect the ruins of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Bos-
The result is "Six Locked tificial palm tree. The tree ton, where 492 people died in a fire.
Doors: The Legacy of Co- caught fire, and the pan- Associated Press
coanut Grove," a nearly icked crowd surged to the
70-minute film that features revolving exit doors, which interviewed in the film. are managed, he said. swinging doors.
interviews with survivors in quickly became jammed The fire led to an overhaul "The impact of Cocoanut The movie is a crucial re-
their 90s, many of whom with stacked-up bodies. and stricter enforcement Grove was enormous," he minder for people to re-
never before talked public- Hundreds of people were of building safety codes said. main aware of fire protec-
ly. The movie also includes trapped inside, killed by across the nation. Nearly half of the 1,000 tion and safety practices,
archival footage, still pho- flames and toxic gases. It also led to advances in people who were in the even 77 years later.
tographs and an examina- The documentary looks at the treatment of burns and building that night died, "We are continually fight-
tion of the incompetence the tragedy from a fresh lung injuries, as well as le- and about half the survivors ing complacency," Grant
and corruption that al- perspective, said Stepha- gal precedents in punish- were injured, Grant said. said, pointing to The Sta-
lowed the conditions that nie Schorow, a journalist ing those responsible, said "You had a one-in-four tion nightclub fire in West
led to the fire. and author of the book Casey Grant, executive chance of getting out of Warwick, Rhode Island, in
The film has been screened "The Cocoanut Grove Fire." director emeritus of the Fire there unscathed," he said. 2003, and the Ghost Ship
several times, but producer "This movie is the first at- Protection Research Foun- One of the major safety fire in Oakland, California,
Shapiro and director-writer tempt to really cover the dation, a nonprofit based legacies of the blaze is that in 2016. "Films like this are
Zachary Graves-Miller are victims of the fire, and it re- in Massachusetts. It also revolving doors in public hugely important to remind
now trying to raise money ally focuses on the people changed the way respons- buildings are now always us about the lessons of
to distribute the movie to a hurt," said Schorow, who is es to large-scale disasters flanked by two outward- history."q

'Queen & Slim' soundtrack a perfect mix of new and old songs

By MELANIE J. SIMS and Rihanna — and Emmy- ing "Cedes Benz" and the
The trailer for upcoming winning writer Lena Waithe dance-worthy "My Money,
film "Queen & Slim" packs a executive produced the My Baby" from Nigerian art-
ton — intensity and beauty, soundtrack, along with ist Burna Boy.
flashes of lightheartedness Motown Records President Add to that mix a feel-good
and the strain of heavi- Ethiopia Habtemariam. To- crop of mellow music: Syd's
ness, too. In similar fash- gether they're like the per- extra sexy "Getting Late,"
ion, "Queen & Slim: The fect aux cord DJs. They hit Moses Sumney's haunting
Soundtrack" comes bear- play, and they don't miss, "Doomed" and the sweet
ing plenty of the same, with with a perfect mix of pleas- "Yo Love" from Vince Sta-
16 songs expertly captur- antly surprising old favorites ples, 6lack and Mereba.
ing the journey of the film's — from Bilal to Mike Jones The latter is an anthem per-
lead characters as they go to Roy Ayers — and fresh fectly suited for a Bonnie
on the run following a traf- new material, too. and Clyde love story.
fic stop that ends in the There's the high energy Perhaps the crown jewel is
shooting of a police officer. fun: Megan Thee Stallion's a rare appearance from
"Queen & Slim" director Me- "Ride or Die," a New Or- Ms. Lauryn Hill, whose new
lina Matsoukas — who has leans bounce-music track This cover image released by Motown Records shows the song "Guarding the Gates"
won Grammys for directing featuring VickeeLo, along soundtrack for "Queen & Slim." is enough to bring a tear to
music videos for Beyoncé with The-Dream's rock- Associated Press her dearest fans' eyes. q