New Haven, CT Rialto Theatre House Fire, Nov 1921 - Death List Grows

Rialto Fire Victims Now Total Seven

Keith, Yale Rescue Hero, to Receive Military Honors - Two Still Missing.

Special to The New York Times.

New Haven, Conn., Nov. 20.-The deaths due to the Rialto moving picture theatre fire were today brought to a total of seven, four of the injured, Everett Case, Victor Cortler, Allan Keith and Miss Mabel Moran, having died during the last twenty-four hours. The list of those in a critical condition was tonight announced by the three city Hospitals and the Yale Infirmary as ten. Between fifty and sixty other persons who are less seriously burned or bruised are reported out of danger. Seventy still remain in the hospitals, however.

Although Lawrence Carroll, manager of the Rialto, has been arrested and held under $1,000 bonds, his counsel maintains that he acts not in a personal capacity, but for the Block Picture Corporation of Boston, which is understood to have an arrangement with the Famous Players’ Company. Yale University officials have requested conferences with the city officials to assure safer condition for undergraduates.

Allan Keith of Southport, the sophomore who died from burns sustained at the fire, will be buried with the honors accorded to war heroes. His funeral will be held tomorrow in the college chapel, and a memorial to his bravery in returning into the burning theatre and rescuing several women and children after he had made his escape will be raised at Yale. He is said to be the first Yale undergraduate to perish in a theatre fire. He is a member of that Keith family which is intimately connected with the American stage.

The New York Times, New York, NY 29 Nov 1921

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Theatre Death List Grows

John J. Dunn Ninth Victim of the Fire in New Haven.

New Haven, Conn., Dec. 1.-John J. Dunn, injured in the Rialto Theatre fire of Sunday night, died today. His death brings the list of actual fire victims to eight. One man who was in the theatre died of heart disease.

Nine hospital patients were reported this afternoon as in extreme condition. Among them is Tilton E. Doolittle of Spokane, Wash., a Yale student. His twin brother is resting easily.

So many inquiries had been made about supposed missing persons that Coroner Mix ordered a careful examination of the ruins at the theatre. The ashes were sifted, but no trace of human bones has been found. Money, trinkets and clothing were found in quantity, some being easily identified.

Three funerals took place today and three yesterday. There remain in the hospitals about 25 patients, and it is estimated that fully 100 persons are under medical care at their homes.

The New York Times, New York, NY 2 Dec 1921