Film Screening and Q/A Six Locked Doors: The Legacy of Cocoanut Grove

Join us for an in-person event featuring the powerful documentary Six Locked Doors: The Legacy of Cocoanut Grove. Watch the film that dives deep into the history and impact of the infamous tragedy, followed by a live Q&A session where you can ask questions and engage with experts including Stephanie Schorow, author of The Cocoanut Grove Nightclub Fire: a Boston Tragedy, and fire specialist Casey Grant, Executive Director Emeritus of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and reflect together!

Six Locked Doors: The Legacy of Cocoanut Grove examines the story behind the deadliest nightclub fire in American history. On November 28, 1942, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub was the swankiest place in Boston, Massachusetts, attracting socialites, athletes, celebrities and World War II army and navy personnel. With double the allowed occupants, locked doors, flammable materials and a host of other deadly conditions, the fire left 492 people dead. Six Locked Doors explores how corruption, greed and a former gangster-run speakeasy led to an unimaginable tragedy. The film features interviews with survivors who have never before spoken on camera and showcases an extensive archive collection of photos, and unreleased vintage footage. A tragedy of enormous historical significance, the Cocoanut Grove fire set the standards for modern day fire codes, led to major changes in medicine, and resulted in the first conviction of involuntary manslaughter.

Presented in collaboration with the Cocoanut Grove Memorial Committee which is building a permanent memorial for the Cocoanut Grove Fire projected to open in the fall of 2026 at Statler Park in Boston.