BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info

Subject: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: GUEST,Smiler
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 02:30 PM

A few years ago, I remember reading news of a fire that occurred in a cinema in London, with dozens of casualties.

It was in a cinema showing porn films and I believe the casualties were all men. I remember also that the fire escapes were locked at the time.

I am seeking more details for a project, and wonder if anyone has further information on this.

I can't find anything on google, about the incident.

I think it happened in the mid to late eighties.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Peace
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:20 PM

London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority
8 Albert Embankment
London, SE1 7SD

telephone: [phone] (switchboard)
email: [e-mail]

These people may be able to direct you, Smiler. Maybe if you can get the name of the cinema that burned it will make searching easier. Also, some of the London 'catters may remember. Good luck with it.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:36 PM

It wasn't a proper cinema as I remember, it was a private house. I think somewhere in the Smithfield area, quite near St Bartholomews Hspital (which would have been involved in treating survivors.)

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Micca
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 01:16 PM

I had a vague memory of this incident but could only find this, it does contain enough to make your search a lot easier I think try the end of this piece

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: GUEST,smiler
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 01:28 PM

Thanks for replies. I shall enquire further on your info Brucie.

I meant cinema broadly, in that it was showing movies to paid members of the public, and I believe there were many present.

Whereas other disasters are well documented, this one seems to have been quietly forgotten.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: GUEST,smiler
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 01:32 PM

Thanks Micca, my last post crossed with yours.

I'll check it out

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 12:39 PM

as I remember it it was a gay porn "cinema" - actually a private house. It was probably a Victorian terrace property - but my memory does not serve me well. Highly illegal and there were prosecutions that ensued.

If the doors were locked they may have had good reason since the police were interested in the commercial, decency and health and safety aspects.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Micca
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 01:36 PM

Mr Red, I think the situation was more that at that time a licensed members only Cinema Club could show "uncertificated" and therefore "pornographic" films provided membership was issued a full 24 hours before admission was sought, whether it was a "gay" cinema or not I do not recall, I remember this because I was taking my Occupational Health and Safety qualifications just after the event and we examined some of the legal implications of this case in Class.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Oct 04 - 01:46 PM

The main "health and safety aspect" would have been ensuring the fire exits were usable and so forth. If the exits were locked that would probably have been something to do with management making sure people couldn't sneak in without paying.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Micca
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 03:15 AM

Kevin, we were given this as an "real life" exercise in applying the existing H&S regulations to situation and determining what regs had been breached. it got VERY complicated, the more we learned, involving "duty of Care" and a lot more

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 07:44 AM

I think the postee was looking for leads - any ideas on dates?

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Micca
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 08:04 AM

Mr Red, if you follow the link in my post of 10 October 1:16 Pm it gives both the dates of the event and of the trial from The Times report.

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: GUEST,smiler
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 10:25 AM

Cheers for the information Micca

It has been very useful

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 12:52 PM

page 8 of 10

Feb 1994?

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Micca
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 03:40 PM

Yeah, Mr Red, it says "Murder on 26 Feb 1994" so I suppose that was the date of the fire, altho, The Times wanted a subscription to read the full report in their archive,

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 05:40 PM

This was on my newspaper database


Deaf man charged with nine murders in London cinema fire

127 words
3 March 1994
Agence France-Presse
English
(Copyright 1994)

LONDON, March 3 (AFP) - A 34-year-old deaf man was Thursday charged with nine murders in connection with a fire at an unlicensed pornographic cinema last weekend.

David Lauwers, a tailor's cutter with no fixed address, was remanded to custody for court appearance March 31. He was also charged with two counts of attempted murder.

Lauwers was arrested late Monday after he went voluntarily to a London police station.

Police said the fire was started when gasoline was poured through the mail slot of the three-story Victorian building that housed the second storey cinema.

Nine people were killed and 15 were injured, four of whom remained in critical condition Thursday.

aln/job

Subject: RE: BS: London cinema fire- Seeking info
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 06:11 PM

I thought the media were reporting "Unlicensed cinema" at the time.