1921 — Nov 27, Fire, Rialto Theatre, New Haven, CT                                                      —       9

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-5-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–9  Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Ninth Death as Result of Fire in Rialto Theatre.” 12-16-1921, 19.

–9  Stannard. “New Haven’s Rialto Theatre burned 100 years ago…” New Haven Register, CT. 12-4-2021.

Narrative Information

Nov 28: “Short circuit of wires immediately after flash of flames sweep out over audience, throws house in darkness, adding to terror of audience — Attempts to quell panic by shouts of “it’s only a part of the show” proved futile. No asbestos curtain to protect patrons — Balcony crushes in and it is believed many are burned to a crisp beneath the debris — Burning incense at production of “The Sheik” may have started blaze – theatre manager placed under arrest.

“New Haven, Nov. 28. (Mon.) An audience of nearly 1,000 persons were attending a performance in the Rialto theatre, College street, at 7:30 o’clock, last night, when stage draperies were set ablaze from an incense pot. Instantly great sheets of flames shot out over the audience. A wild panic ensued, and men, women and children fought turbulently in a rush for the doors. Many were trapped in the blazing theatre, and up to midnight two bodies had been found in the ruins, while two more persons died in the hospitals. Firemen were pouring water early this morning on the red-hot ruins under which it is feared at least fifteen charred bodies will be found.

“Over a hundred were injured and burned in escaping. Nearly sixty of them are in three New Haven hospitals, several of them dying. The remainder were treated on the street, in the Hotel Taft, and in nearby drug stores. A general emergency call was sent widespread over New Haven, and every available physician and nurse was rushed to the scene of the fire. One hundred and twenty-five firemen and nine pieces of apparatus took part in fighting the fire.

“The theatre was not equipped with an asbestos curtain that should have been used to confine the flames to the stage….

“Coroner Eli Mix ordered that the police arrest Lawrence W. Garrett, the manager of the theatre, while a sweeping investigation can be begun. Five other attaches of the theatre were taken into custody and are charged with technical breach of the peace….

“Some time ago the Rialto building, a two story brownstone block structure fronted with immense colonial pillars, was the Yale Music School, and was used also for college commencement exercise. Before that it was the College…[unclear] Congregational church….

“The Rialto was crowded to capacity, and two hundred persons who had purchased tickets, were in the lobby, as the first show was just ending….” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “5 Known Dead in N. H. Fire; Victims may number 25.” 11-28-1921, 1.)

Nov 28: “Accused of Selling Standing Room Prohibited by City Ordinance. Coroner Mix Reiterates Belief that Blaze in Rialto was Started by Burning of Incense which Ignited Cheese Cloth Draperies – Former Milford Woman’s Body Identified by Her Son.

“New Haven, Conn., Nov. 28. – The death list resulting from last night’s fire in the Rialto theatre was increased to five tonight when Miss Mabel Moran, of Derby, and Allen Keith, a Yale student, died in the New Haven hospital from burns received when flames swept the crowded moving picture house. The dead:

Miss Mabel Moran, 25, Derby. Conn.

Allen Keith, 29, Sophomore in Yale, Southport, Conn.

Mrs. Marcella Cowan, Widow, New Haven.

Harry D. Perrigo, 48, New Haven.

Timothy J. Hanlon, 58, New Haven.

“….The police tonight arrested William L. Carroll, manager of, the theater, on a warrant issued by City Attorney Whitaker, who was present all day at the inquest conducted by Coroner Mix of New Haven county. The warrant contains two counts, one charging Carroll with selling standing room admissions in violation of a city ordinance, and the other charging violation of the state law in regard to standing room in theaters. Carroll was held in bonds of $2,000. He is employed by Black’s New England Theater corporation, which operated the Rialto.

“Different versions of how Hanlon was fatally injured have been given out, but Coroner Mix tonight said that his inquiry showed that the man was not in the theater when the fire broke out. He said Hanlon fell over a fire hose while watching the fire, was taken to the hospital with other injured and died of heart failure….

“Identification of a man’s body found on a fire escape was made today when it was learned that an automobile owned by Harry D. Perrigo was standing near the theater. His dentist completed identification of the body by examining the teeth.

“The number of injured probably exceeds 125, more than 80 of whom were treated at hospitals…

“Police and fire reports indicate that there are no bodies in the wreckage. The brick walls and the stucco foyer of the theater are all that remain. The structure had been remodeled for moving pictures purposes after having been a church for many years and later a lecture hall used by Yale university.” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Death List…Theatre Fire Reaches 5; Southport Youth Gave Life Saving Others; Coroner Orders Arrest of Manager Carroll.” 11-29-1921, p. 1.”)

Dec 9: “New Haven, Dec. 9. – Coroner Mix in examining the evidence taken in the Rialto theater fire inquest is understood to have found a degree of uncertainty as to the responsibility of the state police in enforcement of state laws applying to moving picture theaters, and today he was prepared to summon Colonel E. L. Isbell, head of the State Police commission to obtain information. Several members of the force have testified, certain sections of the laws it is understood, make the state police responsible for enforcement of regulations intended to guard the safety of patrons of moving picture houses, and they are also said to have the power to close houses which are not deemed to have complied with the law. Coroner Mix has had with him during the inquiry, Assistant State’s Attorney Pickett and City Attorney Sheriden Whittaker and it is understood that they are not agreed that the state police in their testimony have enforced fully the laws. The calling in of Colonel Isbell, it is understood, is to get more information.”  (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Mix Uncertain on Fire Blame.” 12-10-1921, p. 22.)

Dec 15:  “New Haven, Dec. 15. – Marie L. Kelly, six years old, died in the New Haven hospital tonight from burns received in the Rialto Theatre fire on November 27. Her death brings the total loss of life to nine. The child’s mother, Mrs. Mary Kelly of West Haven, died last week from the injuries she received in the fire.” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Ninth Death as Result of Fire in Rialto Theatre.” 12-16-1921, 19.)

Dec 19:  “Hartford, Dec. 19. – Ten moving picture theatres in the state have failed to pass the state police inspections made since the Rialto theatre fire in New Haven it was announced tonight. Nine of these have been closed, and the other one will be ordered to shut down. Of those closed, two are in New Haven, two in Hartford, and one each in New London, New Canaan, Thompson, Canaan and Wallingford.” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Ten Theatres in State Are Ordered Closed.” 12-20-1921, p. 1.)

Dec 28:  “Coroner Fixes Blame Squarely on City Building Inspector, Theatre Manager and President of Theatre Corporation – Also Raps State and City Police.

“Austin, Lawrence E. Carroll, manager of the theatre, and Alfred S. Black, president of the Connecticut Theatres corporation, which controlled the theatre are held criminally responsible for the deaths of nine persons in the Rialto theatre fire of November 27 in a finding by Coroner Eli Mix, today. The finding makes about 18,000 words and is the longest ever written by Coroner Mix. It is said that the evidence taken made about a quarter of a million words. The coroner’s inquest was based on the death of Everett [unclear] B. Case, which was taken as typical of all the deaths as an outcome of the fire.

“Police Are Criticized. The coroner, after finding Manager Carroll and A. S. Black criminally responsible, criticizes the other persons who were connected with the operation of the theatre and the presentation of a prologue to a moving picture film, which prologue, he holds was direct cause of the fire but finds none of them criminally responsible for the deaths. He, however, points out that they were more or less negligent in their acts. Chief of Police Phillip T. Smith and members of his department are also criticized for having failed to see that the theatre was legally licensed and in permitting the prologue to have been given. The coroner found that at least one police captain and one police sergeant, who had not paid admissions, were in the theatre and saw the prologue being given in violation of the Sunday laws and of the law …[unclear (forbidding?)] standing on the first floor, and in the gallery. The coroner points out that these officers took no action.

“The origin of the fire was due to the burning of incense during the prologue. The conditions in the theatre and on the stage, which the coroner finds were in direct violation of city ordinances and state laws, permitted the fire to spread.

“Coroner Mix apparently bases his finding upon the alleged failure of Building Inspector Austin to enforce the building code. He does not go into the question of whether or not the 1920 building code was retroactive. He quotes from both the 1914 building code and that of 1920. On Friday, Corporation Counsel Bennett gave an opinion to court and to the board of aldermen that this latter building code was not retroactive. The coroner finds that the duties of the fire marshal in regard to the protection in theatres and the inspection of the…[unclear] are discretionary and that the officer could only be held for willful neglect after…[unclear].

“The coroner finds that violations of the law in the theatre included, in the absence of an asbestos curtain, lack of a water curtain, an automatic sprinkler, casks of water on the stage, hose connections, lack of fire proof scenery and woodwork. The only hose on the stage was a garden one.

“Dealing with the duties of City Building Inspector Austin, the coroner says that the officers visited the Rialto theatre in June to look over proposed changes in the arrangement of the balcony. He had noticed a section of the roof of the stage had been removed. ‘Suspecting that this was for the purpose of installing a fly gallery,’ says the coroner, ‘he (Austin) informed the management that no such action would be allowed. He declared that the hole could not be left over the stage unless a box-like structure of metal lath and adamant plaster be placed over it.’ The coroner says that the building inspector never visited the theater again to see if his orders had been carried out. Coroner Mix says that even if the building inspector was honest in his belief that the building code of 1920 did not apply to the Rialto, ‘the fact remains that the alterations of June, 1921, changed the whole character and use of the said Rialto theatre and brought it most undoubtedly within the prohibitions of either code, whichever was controlling.’

“In his declaration that the building inspector did not do his duty, Coroner Mix says: ‘Had he done his duty, I am quite certain that this particular fire could and would not have been…for there would not have been the conditions present that made it possible. I therefore find Joseph F. Austin, criminally responsible for said death resulting from the neglect and omission of duty aforesaid.’

“Coroner Mix finds that it was the legal duty of Alfred S. Black, president of the Connecticut Theatre corporation, to see that all the state and city laws were complied with and everything possible done to make the theatre safe for the public…

“Lawrence E. Carroll, manager of the theatre, is found directly responsible for the condition which brought about the fire and that his presentation of the prologue in such a manner as was used were wantonly reckless and negligent acts. For these reasons Carroll is held criminally responsible for the death of Case.

“Perry B. Mason, general manager of the Connecticut Theatres corporation, John P. C. Kelly and James…[unclear (Carter?)], employes and Moses A. Coan, contractor who made alterations in the building, are admitted ‘to the last [unclear] criticism of their fellow men’ but are not held criminally responsible.

“Barry A. and Bertha E. Leonard, owners of the Rialto theatre building, are absolved of all blame in the finding, as alternations and changes made, it is stated, were made without their knowledge or consent.

“In regard to the state police, the coroner finds that no inspection of this theatre was made by that body after December 13, 1920, or nearly a year before the fire. The coroner says on this point: ‘This is stated as a fault of the system which allows so few men to this work,’ and he suggests that the state police make more frequent inspections.

“In dealing with the city police department, the coroner says that the theatre was not only never legally licensed but no attempt was made to secure a license between January 1, 1921 and June 21 although the theatre was in operation during all this time. He adds that the prologue was given unlawfully with the knowledge of…[unclear] Frank Callahan and Chief Smyth. In summing up the reference to the police department the coroner says: ‘While I find that said chief of police and the members of his department detailed to supervise moving picture theatres have failed in their duty, I do not find him or any of them criminally responsible for the death of the deceased.’

“Theatre Was Overcrowded. The coroner devotes much attention to the condition in the theatre on the night in question. He says there was a sign ‘Standing room only’ in the box office; the paid admissions were 1072 in a house seating 800. Many people were standing in the back of the house, others in the gallery, and many sitting on the steps leading into the gallery boxes with the isle in the north gallery congested.”  (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Three Held Responsible in New Haven Theatre Calamity.” 12-28-1921, p. 6.)

Sources

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “5 Known Dead in N. H. Fire; Victims may number 25. Blaze Sweeps Crowded Rialto Theatre in Centre of New Haven; Hundred Injured in Stampede.” 11-28-1921, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=11100073&sterm

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Death List in New Haven Theatre Fire Reaches 5; Southport Youth Gave Life Saving Others; Coroner Orders Arrest of Manager Carroll.” 11-29-1921, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=56095983&sterm

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Mix Uncertain on Fire Blame. Responsibility for Rialto Disaster Still Unfixed by New Haven Official.” 12-10-1921, p. 22. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=56096177&sterm

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Ninth Death as Result of Fire in Rialto Theatre.” 12-16-1921, 19. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Ten Theatres in State Are Ordered Closed.” 12-20-1921, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=56096313&sterm

Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Three Held Responsible in New Haven Theatre Calamity.” 12-28-1921, p. 6. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=11107606&sterm

Stannard, Ed. “New Haven’s Rialto Theatre burned 100 years ago…” New Haven Register, CT. 12-4-2021. Accessed 5-5-2025 at: https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/New-Haven-s-Rialto-Theatre-burned-100-years-16673571.php