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The Beverly Hills Supper Club: The Untold Story of Kentucky's Worst Tragedy
This is the complete history of the alleged mob activity in Newport, Kentucky, and the magnificent Beverly Hills Supper Club, where 169 people died and the lives of thousands were changed in an instant. Unlike other publications, however, this is the true untold story of what led to Kentucky’s worst tragedy—a story of greed, corruption, deceit, Mafia rule, government cover-ups, kidnapping, and even murder. In fact, this book details one of the worst cases of mass murder in US history.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
328 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 31, 2017
Excellent book!
Excellent research done by Author and Contributors. This was a very unnecessary Tragedy that should have never happened. The coverup that continues today is unbelievable. My only hope is that the Survivors are able to find some sense of Peace.
Excellent research done by Author and Contributors. This was a very unnecessary Tragedy that should have never happened. The coverup that continues today is unbelievable. My only hope is that the Survivors are able to find some sense of Peace.
September 24, 2013
Interesting topic, but the book is a mess.
To appreciate what you are getting into when you pick up this book, you need to be prepared to separate the theory involved here with the storytelling (and I use that term loosely). By mid-book, I had to keep reminding myself of this about every third paragraph.
I didn't expect Woodward and Bernstein, as the author is a local part-time history enthusiast and daytime insurance agent. But even allowing for that, the scope of the details involved here and his exuberance in trying to build what he sees as an overwhelming case makes the reading both tiresome and confusing. If you are going to write a work that overturns conventional wisdom on a subject, you had better be able to convince the reader you are a honest broker when it comes to evaluating the material under discussion. Once the book advances to the topic of the fire itself, that perception of objectivity quickly vanishes.
Ironically, the best part of the book is the beginning, detailing organized crime's long and checkered history in Northern Kentucky. Piggy-backing off the work established by other historians, Webster actually does a good job of patching together into a comprehensive tapestry the astonishing extent to which the mob ran the area from Prohibition up into the 1970s. As somebody who has lived in Cincinnati almost all my life, I was aware of Newport's reputation as "Sin City," but seeing the litany of just how extensive that influence was turned out to be a revelation.
It is only a short point after this, though, that the reason for this detail becomes clear: In the worldview Webster hopes to create here, the mob is all-powerful in Northern Kentucky and all the way down into the Kentucky Statehouse. Perpetuating that view is the only way the theory the book is advocating can work. In other words, he is trying to bring to life one whale of a conspiracy.
Another irony, then, is the fact that I believed before reading the book that it was possible the mob started the Beverly Hills fire, and I still think it's possible. There's just no way it's proven in this book with anything beyond hearsay and circumstantial evidence. And if you read the book carefully and with an open mind to all possibilities, it isn't long before a likely possibility for an ulterior motive behind this effort surfaces.
The clear subtext of this book has to do with changing history's narrative that the Schilling family, the owners and operators of Beverly Hills, were wholly or substantially responsible for the events which led to disaster at the club. You get a whiff of that suggestion from the vehemence with which the book tries to refute the idea of the Schillings' culpability at so many turns, and takes emotional shots at the media and other investigators. There's also a striking pattern of how the media and state investigators are held up for ridicule on certain details which don't fit the framework being built by the author, but then are flipped into the role of credible source of information only a few paragraphs later when something being reported does fit the book's storyline. Add on top of that the fact that two listed co-authors are both former Schilling employees who have remained loyal to the family. There are even political undertones evident in the book that hint at a larger agenda they would like to put in play.
So, as to the full proposition under examination here, it still seems possible that the true cause of the fire was arson, and that the source of that does go back to mob sources. But there is a gaping hole in logic left unmentioned by the author: Even if the source for the fire could be proven to be arsonists sent by the mob under the scenario they suggest, it doesn't exonerate the Schillings from a large degree of responsibility for the outcome.
Beverly Hills was owned and operated by the Schillings. Even if the book's sequence of events is close to the actual events preceding the fire, the author insists imposter work crews were in the club for multiple days prior to the fire setting the stage for the arson. How can that be described as anything but negligence?
This was a privately held club with only a few entrances to the building (as made tragically clear the night of the fire). In the evenings, no one was allowed to get into the club who wasn't a paying customer. Are we to believe that during other hours the club was such an open venue that having random work crews (and even what was described as a squirrely looking group with two young kids in tow that showed up on the day of the fire) come through the door and set up shop without anyone questioning them was an acceptable practice for the manager and owners of Beverly Hills? That goes far beyond straining credulity and, if it was the actual case, was strongly negligent. Because as we are reminded by the author's own account, the Schillings were already aware that they were under threat by the mob. They had also had their other premier night spot, the Lookout Club, burned several years prior, along with a previous Beverly Hills fire and a long list of other "unexplained" nearby nightclub fires throughout the previous decades. If just isn't credible to think that they and their employees weren't on their guard for mob threats in that environment.
The common belief in the area in the 1970s wasn't that the Schillings were the opponents of those who made Newport "Sin City" as much as they were participants in that same scene. It is more believable to see the Schillings and the mob as rivals then as viewing the Schillings as victims being terrorized by mob tactics. That may or may not be accurate, but acknowledging that reputation does put in some perspective how much of a revisionist flavor there really is in this book.
I have no idea if there are still monetary stakes in play if the script as to who was responsible for the first could be rewritten at this point. (A prominent Cincinnati law firm joins the odyssey at one point, so it at least seems possible.) But clearly something is driving the efforts of a small group of people who would like to see the official narrative of the fire changed. By book's end, wondering about the answer to that question of motivation for those seeking this historical revision is as least as relevant as examining the possibility of a mob source for this most tragic event. That conclusion has to be unsatisfactory for all involved with this book, both readers and authors.
To appreciate what you are getting into when you pick up this book, you need to be prepared to separate the theory involved here with the storytelling (and I use that term loosely). By mid-book, I had to keep reminding myself of this about every third paragraph.
I didn't expect Woodward and Bernstein, as the author is a local part-time history enthusiast and daytime insurance agent. But even allowing for that, the scope of the details involved here and his exuberance in trying to build what he sees as an overwhelming case makes the reading both tiresome and confusing. If you are going to write a work that overturns conventional wisdom on a subject, you had better be able to convince the reader you are a honest broker when it comes to evaluating the material under discussion. Once the book advances to the topic of the fire itself, that perception of objectivity quickly vanishes.
Ironically, the best part of the book is the beginning, detailing organized crime's long and checkered history in Northern Kentucky. Piggy-backing off the work established by other historians, Webster actually does a good job of patching together into a comprehensive tapestry the astonishing extent to which the mob ran the area from Prohibition up into the 1970s. As somebody who has lived in Cincinnati almost all my life, I was aware of Newport's reputation as "Sin City," but seeing the litany of just how extensive that influence was turned out to be a revelation.
It is only a short point after this, though, that the reason for this detail becomes clear: In the worldview Webster hopes to create here, the mob is all-powerful in Northern Kentucky and all the way down into the Kentucky Statehouse. Perpetuating that view is the only way the theory the book is advocating can work. In other words, he is trying to bring to life one whale of a conspiracy.
Another irony, then, is the fact that I believed before reading the book that it was possible the mob started the Beverly Hills fire, and I still think it's possible. There's just no way it's proven in this book with anything beyond hearsay and circumstantial evidence. And if you read the book carefully and with an open mind to all possibilities, it isn't long before a likely possibility for an ulterior motive behind this effort surfaces.
The clear subtext of this book has to do with changing history's narrative that the Schilling family, the owners and operators of Beverly Hills, were wholly or substantially responsible for the events which led to disaster at the club. You get a whiff of that suggestion from the vehemence with which the book tries to refute the idea of the Schillings' culpability at so many turns, and takes emotional shots at the media and other investigators. There's also a striking pattern of how the media and state investigators are held up for ridicule on certain details which don't fit the framework being built by the author, but then are flipped into the role of credible source of information only a few paragraphs later when something being reported does fit the book's storyline. Add on top of that the fact that two listed co-authors are both former Schilling employees who have remained loyal to the family. There are even political undertones evident in the book that hint at a larger agenda they would like to put in play.
So, as to the full proposition under examination here, it still seems possible that the true cause of the fire was arson, and that the source of that does go back to mob sources. But there is a gaping hole in logic left unmentioned by the author: Even if the source for the fire could be proven to be arsonists sent by the mob under the scenario they suggest, it doesn't exonerate the Schillings from a large degree of responsibility for the outcome.
Beverly Hills was owned and operated by the Schillings. Even if the book's sequence of events is close to the actual events preceding the fire, the author insists imposter work crews were in the club for multiple days prior to the fire setting the stage for the arson. How can that be described as anything but negligence?
This was a privately held club with only a few entrances to the building (as made tragically clear the night of the fire). In the evenings, no one was allowed to get into the club who wasn't a paying customer. Are we to believe that during other hours the club was such an open venue that having random work crews (and even what was described as a squirrely looking group with two young kids in tow that showed up on the day of the fire) come through the door and set up shop without anyone questioning them was an acceptable practice for the manager and owners of Beverly Hills? That goes far beyond straining credulity and, if it was the actual case, was strongly negligent. Because as we are reminded by the author's own account, the Schillings were already aware that they were under threat by the mob. They had also had their other premier night spot, the Lookout Club, burned several years prior, along with a previous Beverly Hills fire and a long list of other "unexplained" nearby nightclub fires throughout the previous decades. If just isn't credible to think that they and their employees weren't on their guard for mob threats in that environment.
The common belief in the area in the 1970s wasn't that the Schillings were the opponents of those who made Newport "Sin City" as much as they were participants in that same scene. It is more believable to see the Schillings and the mob as rivals then as viewing the Schillings as victims being terrorized by mob tactics. That may or may not be accurate, but acknowledging that reputation does put in some perspective how much of a revisionist flavor there really is in this book.
I have no idea if there are still monetary stakes in play if the script as to who was responsible for the first could be rewritten at this point. (A prominent Cincinnati law firm joins the odyssey at one point, so it at least seems possible.) But clearly something is driving the efforts of a small group of people who would like to see the official narrative of the fire changed. By book's end, wondering about the answer to that question of motivation for those seeking this historical revision is as least as relevant as examining the possibility of a mob source for this most tragic event. That conclusion has to be unsatisfactory for all involved with this book, both readers and authors.
February 13, 2016
The topic itself is horrifying & fascinating; it's difficult to believe something this awful happened & was handled the way it was. The book's detailing of the history of the mob in Ohio & northern Kentucky was incredibly interesting. I found it very gripping, but I'm knocking off one star because of the writing style (can we get an editor over here?) & because the author shows his own bias at some points more, I think, than he strictly should. As a side note, I am now waaaaaaaaay more aware of emergency exits at any place I find myself.
May 26, 2019
This book intrigued me as my husband was a former employee of the Beverly Hills Supper Club. It amazes me how much misinformation is still out there about this tragic fire . Today on the news they reported on the news about the overcrowding causing so many deaths. I read this book in two days. It's a page Turner. I t s a tribute to the people who perished in the fire. Very informative.
The minute by minute account of the fire, evacuation,and corruption will be forever etched in my mind. I read the book in two days
The minute by minute account of the fire, evacuation,and corruption will be forever etched in my mind. I read the book in two days
June 11, 2023
A tough read for anyone who lived in NKY at the time of the fire, but a necessary one. In the days and weeks that followed the fire at the Beverly Hills supper Club, we all heard the rumors about the overcrowding and chained exits. Rumors that I now know were proven to be false. As I recall, no one I knew believed the cause was aluminum wiring (including family members acquainted with some individuals mentioned.) Just about everyone assumed it was arson and naturally, the owners were to blame.
After reading this book, I realized a lot of people didn’t know a lot of things about what happened before, during, and after that night. Thanks to the continued persistence of one of the authors, a busboy who was on the scene that night who won’t stop until the truth is finally admitted, and this author, people know a lot more about what happened at the Supper Club.
The book is broken into four sections. The first discusses mob activity in nearby Newport, which is essential to the story. Next is a tension filled chronological timeline of the day of the fire and during the fire itself. After that is the aftermath, the governments refusal to consider arson, and Brock and then others efforts to expose the truth. Finally, there’s a summary of it all, which I wouldn’t recommend jumping to. You’ll lose too much crucial information.
Some of the formatting on this book was distracting (bolded/italicized words and phrases and hyphens placed in the middle of words), and one woman pulled from the building is named and then referred to by the name of a family member who escaped earlier, but it doesn’t detract from the the well- and heavily researched/documented facts. I recommend it to anyone familiar with the fire.
After reading this book, I realized a lot of people didn’t know a lot of things about what happened before, during, and after that night. Thanks to the continued persistence of one of the authors, a busboy who was on the scene that night who won’t stop until the truth is finally admitted, and this author, people know a lot more about what happened at the Supper Club.
The book is broken into four sections. The first discusses mob activity in nearby Newport, which is essential to the story. Next is a tension filled chronological timeline of the day of the fire and during the fire itself. After that is the aftermath, the governments refusal to consider arson, and Brock and then others efforts to expose the truth. Finally, there’s a summary of it all, which I wouldn’t recommend jumping to. You’ll lose too much crucial information.
Some of the formatting on this book was distracting (bolded/italicized words and phrases and hyphens placed in the middle of words), and one woman pulled from the building is named and then referred to by the name of a family member who escaped earlier, but it doesn’t detract from the the well- and heavily researched/documented facts. I recommend it to anyone familiar with the fire.
Read
November 28, 2019Rating and reviewing nonfiction is always much more difficult than fiction, as there's a whole other axis involved. The book was engagingly written, but I have some concerns about the accuracy, as the author got facts about unrelated things wrong. Some of those were minor (placing a small city in the wrong state), but some of them were more concerning, as the author was basically making the same mistake about those instances that he claims to be setting straight here. And, of course, there's the underlying problem that if the author made mistakes regarding things I do know, what mistakes did he make regarding the things I don't know?
May 31, 2019
Eye opener!
I’m originally from Kentucky but moved away in 1975. I had returned to KY for my sister’s high school graduation. I was in my hotel room relaxing while watching TV when the report came on regarding the fire. I even got in my car and drove over to that side of town. Of course I didn’t get to close but close enough to see it burning. Never in my wildest dreams would arson come to mind! However after reading this well written book I have no doubt! My High School Choir teacher from Simon Kenton was killed in the fire. To this day I still remember what it was like!
I’m originally from Kentucky but moved away in 1975. I had returned to KY for my sister’s high school graduation. I was in my hotel room relaxing while watching TV when the report came on regarding the fire. I even got in my car and drove over to that side of town. Of course I didn’t get to close but close enough to see it burning. Never in my wildest dreams would arson come to mind! However after reading this well written book I have no doubt! My High School Choir teacher from Simon Kenton was killed in the fire. To this day I still remember what it was like!
August 25, 2019
Fantastic details
Since I am from Lexington and remember this tragedy, I was excited to read this book. I had no idea of the corruption that was and probably is still going on in my State. State fire marshal Warren Southworth got the raw end of the deal and that is sad. I know this as I knew him personally and he was obviously trying to clean up his department as stated in this book. Tough trying to be a good guy while in the middle of such corruption including the governor and the Kentucky state police.
Since I am from Lexington and remember this tragedy, I was excited to read this book. I had no idea of the corruption that was and probably is still going on in my State. State fire marshal Warren Southworth got the raw end of the deal and that is sad. I know this as I knew him personally and he was obviously trying to clean up his department as stated in this book. Tough trying to be a good guy while in the middle of such corruption including the governor and the Kentucky state police.
March 19, 2020
Fantastic job!!
You guys kept searching and pushing for the truth and got it. No one found liable but at least some answers for the families.
You guys kept searching and pushing for the truth and got it. No one found liable but at least some answers for the families.
June 21, 2022
It brought up some interesting evidence and theories but was so hard to take seriously with the poor copy editing and exclamation points.
March 29, 2023
Wow. This book is heartbreaking. It’s an important read, but sad and scary - both for the tragic event and the dishonesty and cover-ups after the fact. ☹️😢
January 21, 2025
Wow!! I can't believe this story isn't better known
April 23, 2020
Full review, finally. It's practically a novel. Yeesh. https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
Also, Council Bluffs is in Iowa, not Nebraska.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is such a hard review to write because the content in the story itself is so engrossing. But the writing is not good. There are errors throughout. Plus the constant use of exclamation points is very amateurish. The facts speak for themselves and don’t need those. Plus random words are bolded and towards the end whole paragraphs are bolded. The content itself is so believable and shocking, that was totally unnecessary
Also, Council Bluffs is in Iowa, not Nebraska.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is such a hard review to write because the content in the story itself is so engrossing. But the writing is not good. There are errors throughout. Plus the constant use of exclamation points is very amateurish. The facts speak for themselves and don’t need those. Plus random words are bolded and towards the end whole paragraphs are bolded. The content itself is so believable and shocking, that was totally unnecessary
August 19, 2013
Thank you to Netgalley and Robert Webster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this book because although I was too young to remember this tragedy I'm fascinated by events in US history that change the course of people's lives in various ways.
The book starts off really well with some historical information on the Club but it eventually gets a little muddled with details of mob actions both in Kentucky and surrounding states. This is why I gave it four stars instead of five. The details and information were a little excessive but interesting still.
If you stick with the book you'll appreciate the rundown of events that take place the night of the fire. It's gruesome and a little disturbing at times but in order to give the necessary facts it has to be said. The shock factor of how the aftermath was handled is bothersome and makes you wonder how corrupt our government can be.
This book is rich in details and while sometimes difficult to read for various reasons it is still a high quality example of literature. If you're a history buff or just want more information on a terrible piece of life in the lives of Kentuckians you won't be disappointed. Hang in there and the rewards will be rich.
I was excited to read this book because although I was too young to remember this tragedy I'm fascinated by events in US history that change the course of people's lives in various ways.
The book starts off really well with some historical information on the Club but it eventually gets a little muddled with details of mob actions both in Kentucky and surrounding states. This is why I gave it four stars instead of five. The details and information were a little excessive but interesting still.
If you stick with the book you'll appreciate the rundown of events that take place the night of the fire. It's gruesome and a little disturbing at times but in order to give the necessary facts it has to be said. The shock factor of how the aftermath was handled is bothersome and makes you wonder how corrupt our government can be.
This book is rich in details and while sometimes difficult to read for various reasons it is still a high quality example of literature. If you're a history buff or just want more information on a terrible piece of life in the lives of Kentuckians you won't be disappointed. Hang in there and the rewards will be rich.
August 6, 2016
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/1dg9Yne
My opinion: I know how I normally go on and on about how I like conciseness in my business writing and I stick by that. I don't like it in my true crime books and that is exactly what this book gave. Personally, I would like to have seen a bit more warmth to the story. I think this would have allowed me to "attach" to the story more than I did.
I must admit that the story itself was incredibly interesting. Definitely a "who'd have thunk it?" story.
My opinion: I know how I normally go on and on about how I like conciseness in my business writing and I stick by that. I don't like it in my true crime books and that is exactly what this book gave. Personally, I would like to have seen a bit more warmth to the story. I think this would have allowed me to "attach" to the story more than I did.
I must admit that the story itself was incredibly interesting. Definitely a "who'd have thunk it?" story.
July 8, 2015
I would've given this more stars, but the format of the book was really distracting so it took me a long time to get through it. The author put the footnotes for each chapter after the chapter instead of at the end. Since I was reading it on a Kindle, I'd have to skip 5 or 6 pages to get to the next chapter. Very annoying.
The story itself is very interesting, and for those who are interested in historical disasters, this is a good read....just beware the footnotes! ;)
The story itself is very interesting, and for those who are interested in historical disasters, this is a good read....just beware the footnotes! ;)
July 7, 2019
Informative without being boring. The way the author breaks down a lot of information into timelines and categories makes this book easy to get through. It is essentially a text book and will take some time to read cover to cover, but it's still hard to put down for more than a day. I read it 30 minutes at a time, once or twice a day and got through it within a month or so. This book is a very thorough and accurate account of this story.
February 10, 2016
Well worth reading
Finally seems the truth has been disclosed to the public. Really enjoyed the early history of the area's mob connections and its tie in to this horrible disaster and loss of lives. I commend the author, investigators and remaining staff for their tenacity and bravery in telling this story.
Finally seems the truth has been disclosed to the public. Really enjoyed the early history of the area's mob connections and its tie in to this horrible disaster and loss of lives. I commend the author, investigators and remaining staff for their tenacity and bravery in telling this story.
February 12, 2015
Another Must Read
If you are interested in the Beverly Hills Supper Club at all, you need to read this book. Little known facts about the history of this place should not be missed! I had a hard time putting it down.
If you are interested in the Beverly Hills Supper Club at all, you need to read this book. Little known facts about the history of this place should not be missed! I had a hard time putting it down.
December 28, 2018
It's amazing how little press this disaster received, and yet it is such a compelling disaster that included mob ties, threats, celebrities, and only-recently-revealed sources of information that changed the entire complexion of this fire from tragedy to mass murder. Read it!
May 29, 2013
Kind of hard to get into. Other books on the topic are much more engaging.
August 1, 2014
I didnt know this was a true crime story. But it was pretty interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews