Fire at the Upstairs Lounge — EP 161
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Mark Bologna
4.8 • 891 Ratings
🗓️ 30 June 2022
⏱️ 86 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
NOTE: Today’s discussion involves some gruesome descriptions of what happened on the night of Sunday, June 24, 1973. You may wish to listen to this one when your little ones are not around.
On June 24, 1973 an arsonist set fire to a gay bar in New Orleans called the Up Stairs Lounge. Within moments fire engulfed the bar, and ultimately claimed the lives of 32 people. It was the largest massacre of LGBTQ individuals in the United States until the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016.
My guests today are Robert “Bobby” Fieseler, and Clayton Delery. Bobby authored a new book about the fire entitled, Tinderbox, the Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation.
Clayton Delery is a native of Metairie, LA just outside of New Orleans. Clayton’s 2015 book about the fire, The Upstairs Lounge Arson: 32 Deaths in a Gay Bar, was recognized by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities with a Book of the Year Award.
Join us as we talk about the fire, about life in New Orleans during that time, and about the impact of the fire on New Orleans and its citizens in the 45 years since.
Resources
Tinderbox, the Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation, by Robert Fieseler, is available on Amazon and at local bookstores, including Garden District Book Shop and Octavia Books. You can also follow Robert Fieseler on Twitter (@wordbobby).
The Upstairs Lounge Arson: 32 Deaths in a Gay Bar, by Clayton Delery is available on Amazon.
Johnny Townsend's book Let the Faggots Burn was the first book published about the Up Stairs Lounge fire. His book is a great source of information about the men (and women) who lost their lives in this tragedy. You can purchase Johnny's book at Amazon.
Robert Camina produced an award-winning and moving documentary about the fire called Upstairs Inferno. You can purchase it directly from his website.
Thank You
I first learned about the Up Stairs Lounge massacre many years ago.
Its been on my list of topics for the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast since we launched in December 2016, but I hesitated to tackle it. I wanted to make sure I had the interview skills to do it justice. I also wanted to find the right person or people to talk to. Thanks to my friend James Tardie I connected with Robert, and through Robert, with Clayton.
Words cannot express how appreciative I am to Robert Fieseler and to Clayton Delery for opening up to me. While I understand they have books to promote, it is obvious how personal the story is to both of them. Our discussion was difficult, but I hope it conveys to you the listener at least a sense of the tragedy itself, as well as the times.
I am also hopeful by sharing this story, it helps us all be mindful of the work we still have to do in today's world to ensure everyone is treated as equals.
I also owe a word of thanks to John Price and the Old 77 Hotel. When John heard about this topic, he quickly offered a space for us to record. The Old 77 actively supports all members of our community, and I am honored to have them as a partner.
Sponsor: The Old 77 Hotel and Chandlery
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Subscribe to the Podcast
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Contact Us
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to [email protected]
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey, this is Mark. Just a note before we get started. Today's discussion involves some gruesome |
| 0:06.3 | descriptions of what happened on the night of Sunday, June 24th, 1973. You might want to listen |
| 0:12.2 | to this one when the kids aren't around. Thanks. |
| 0:15.0 | Hey y'all, this is Mark. Welcome to episode 161. |
| 0:18.0 | Today's episode originally aired in June of 2018. |
| 0:22.0 | I'm replaying it now in June of 2022 because the city of New |
| 0:25.5 | Orleans after nearly 50 years finally held a commemoration and |
| 0:29.5 | apologize to the families of those who were murdered on June 24th, 1973. |
| 0:35.0 | I'm looking forward to bringing you a new episode soon, |
| 0:37.5 | but it just felt right to replay this one |
| 0:39.3 | and share it with those of you that haven't heard it. |
| 0:41.8 | So with that, let's jump in. You're listed to Beyond Bourbon Street, an insider's guide to New Orleans. |
| 0:57.0 | Beyond Bourbon Street is the podcast where we explore the food, music, culture, places, and people that make New Orleans unique. |
| 1:04.2 | Whether you are planning a trip, living in New Orleans, |
| 1:06.8 | or simply wanting a taste to the Crescent City |
| 1:08.6 | from wherever you are, you've come to the right place. |
| 1:17.0 | And now, your host, Mark Bologna. |
| 1:21.0 | Hey all, this is Mark. Welcome to episode 66 66 the subject of today's episode is a fire that happened in New Orleans 45 years ago |
| 1:28.1 | Specifically on June 24th 1973 there was a fire at a gay bar called the upstairs lounge that ultimately claimed the lives of 32 people. |
| 1:36.0 | It was the largest massacre of LGBTQ individuals in the United States until the Pulse Night Club shooting in 2016. I want to talk about the |
| 1:45.4 | fire, about life in New Orleans during that time period, and about the impact of the fire |
| 1:49.7 | on New Orleans and its citizens in the years since. |
... |
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