NKY History Hour: The Beverly Hills Supper Club -- The Untold Story Behind Kentucky's Worst Tragedy

COVINGTON, KY — On the Friday before Memorial Day, a somber group gathered at the base of a hillside in Southgate, KY in the pouring rain. Among them were the survivors, first responders and family members of 165 people who died 44 years ago in the most tragic fire in Kentucky’s history, repeating a memorial ritual they have performed for decades.

The site was that of the former Beverly Hills Supper Club, which was consumed in a 1977 inferno that has prompted questions and controversy over the years. Author and historian Robert Webster will share his theories about the fire on Wednesday, June 30, in a NKY History Hour presentation, “The Beverly Hill Supper Club: The Untold Story Behind Kentucky’s Worst Tragedy,” delving into what many believe was the true cause of the fire, discussing the tragedy in detail, along with facts uncovered after a recent five-year investigation by a retired Kentucky fire marshal and other fire science experts.

The virtual presentation will take place via Zoom at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 30. To register and participate in the free event, go to  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvdOmgrDMsH9SYv3dyNu_uqf66lqLP4soi. Information on how to connect to the session will be sent after registration. The event will also be streamed live on BCM’s Facebook page.

Webster is a Northern Kentucky native and has written numerous articles and books on the region’s history. He is a three-time winner of the Kentucky History Award for publications. His latest release is “A Brief History of Northern Kentucky.”

NKY History Hour presentations will take place every other Wednesday evening during the summer. They are currently free to the public but may become a BCM members-only benefit in the future. To support NKY History Hour and access many other entertaining and thought-provoking programs for free, join BCM today: http://bcmuseum.org/support-us/join/become-a-member.

Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by our members, the City of Covington. Kenton County Fiscal Court, ArtsWave, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Humanities, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.