While the gays take to the streets of New Orleans this weekend in celebration of Southern Decadence, a new documentary about a darker chapter of the city’s gay history is currently making its rounds on indy film fest circuit.
Upstairs Inferno recounts the story of a 1973 arsonist attack on the Up Stairs Lounge, a popular gay bar once located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The fire killed more than 30 people and remains the largest gay mass murder in U.S. history. The devastation was compounded by the homophobic response by the general public, local government and religious leaders, who refused to acknowledge the tragedy. As a result, no one was ever charged with the crime and families were left the grieve their loved ones in silence.
To this day the case remains unsolved.
Check out the trailer for Upstairs Inferno below.
UPSTAIRS INFERNO – Teaser Trailer [HD] from Camina Entertainment on Vimeo.
Brian
The uncaring attitude taken by the media at the time this fire occurred was absolutely disgusting. They should be named and shamed. I don’t care that it happened a long time ago – the media should be named and shamed.
As for who committed this heinous crime, there are probably people out there who know. I hope their guilty consciences rot their brains.
Marty Maguire
didn’t even know about this tbh
bottom250
My god I can’t stop crying after reading this sweethearts. Justice must served.
Marcia L Kupka
I had no knowledge of this-I’ve been to NO and loved the general atmosphere-this changes that,
Sukhrajah
@bottom250: The justices that we can afford are the ones that we employ and enjoy now. Living our lives – openly, honestly, and proudly serve as a testament to who and what we are – and potent reminders that we will not allow this to happen again. This film directly serves to remind us of the sacrifices that were made, and will bring us some closure. The families that lost so much, the quantity of culture lost, the value of their sacrifice shall be avenged by this film – that said, we have to look back, but also hold our heads high, focus on the future and live with the vivacity, the strength and the beauty that they were deprived of – contemplating and acknowledging its fragility.
bottom250
@Sukhrajah: Hugs sweetie for you beautiful words. My tears still flow for these gay souls.
onthemark
Whenever I go to New Orleans I make sure to go to that corner and just meditate on that event for a few minutes.
The case is *officially* unsolved but that’s a little misleading. The only real suspect was Rodger Dale Nunez, a hustler who’d been thrown out earlier that day, who apparently confessed to several friends that he set the fire (not knowing how bad it would be). He killed himself the next year.
Silver Veloz
I knew about the story, but didn’t know about this documentary.
Robert L. Camina
Thank you for sharing the story about Upstairs Inferno: The documentary! Make sure you check our website for screenings near you!! http://www.UpstairsInferno.com
RCamina
Thank you Queerty for sharing the trailer for my film, UPSTAIRS INFERNO. It’s an incredibly important story from our history. Not only is at an important story in LGBT History, but U.S. History. This is still the deadliest fire in New Orleans history. The documentary not only examines the facts surrounding the case, but it honors those lost in the fire, as well as their families and friends left to cope with the aftermath. We premiered the film on the 42nd anniversary of the fire IN New Orleans, with survivors, family members/friends of victims and witnesses in attendance. It was very emotional. Learn about upcoming screenings of this film at http://www.upstairsinferno.com. You can also view photos from that World Premiere. Thank you all for sharing this important story.
RCamina
@Silver Veloz: Thanks for taking time to comment on the story! You can learn more about the film and when it will screen near you at http://www.upstairsinferno.com
RCamina
@Marty Maguire: Thank you Marty! I appreciate you taking time to comment on the story! You can learn more about the film and when it will screen near you at http://www.upstairsinferno.com
jockjack5
Wow!
I never knew about this.
I was in pre-AIDS Key West in 1973 (NAS Key West) and none of our gay bars on Duvall Street were over 1-story tall. And, we had a blast, despite our sexuality, and could live our lives openly. We DID however have to watch out for the military investigators because this was way before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but they were fairly low-key and some of them were gay too.
I’m 63 now and happily open and living a good retired life.
I’ve never been to New Orleans… such a sad and tragic event.
Arcamenel
I think about all the gay black slaves that probably died on the slave trip en route to the united states and great britain. Then the ones that died during slavery itself and died under laws like Jim Crow.
HenryK
We need ONE more person to join, “https://www.facebook.com/UpstairsInferno” :
The documentary to break 3200 fans. Can it be you? Let’s go for 3300 too!!
HenryK
@Brian: Thank you Brian for your input. Even though the evidences are ‘circumstantial’, they points to one person who was responsible for ‘starting’ that murderous vortex of inferno.
The “Worst”, …. the “worst” of the “Hate Crime”, was the following plus 40 years of “Silence and Obfuscation”, perpetuated by the leaders of local Religious Institutions, Politicians of the State and City, U.S. President Richard Nixon, the National and Local Medias and the citizens of New Orleans.
With the ‘Sword of Light on the Silver Screen’, Robert L. Camina has brilliantly cut through the thick veils of “Hate Crime” of forty plus years of “Secrecy and Obfuscation”, of the “Largest Mass Murder of Gays in United States History”, the atrocity which has deliberately and almost successfully been erased from our minds and pages of history.
For Review/Critique of Documentary, Click on the LINK: http://www.criticalno.com/2015/07/movie-review-upstairs-inferno.html
Please Brian, ‘Subscribe’ to “www.upstairsinferno.com” website’s newsletters, for the latest in updates of where the film is screening as it tours from city to city.
Tobi
The UK had a similar incident in a gay porn cinema, Dream City, back in 1994, in which 11 people died.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerkenwell_cinema_fire