| Date | August 10, 1965[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayerstudio,Culver City, California |
| Cause | Ignition of storednitrate film byelectrical short |
| Outcome | Destruction of archived Metro-Goldwyn-Mayersilent and earlysound films |
| Deaths | 1 (reported) |
On August 10, 1965, a fire erupted in Vault 7, a storage facility at theMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio (MGM)backlot (nowSony Pictures Studios) inCulver City, California.[1] It was caused by anelectrical short that ignited flammable storednitrate film. The initial explosion reportedly killed at least one person, and the resulting fire destroyed the entire contents of the vault, which included archived prints of silent and early sound films produced by MGM and its predecessors. The only known copies of hundreds of films were destroyed.
The storage vaults, located on Lot 3, were spaced apart from one another to prevent fire from spreading between vaults. Studio managerRoger Mayer described the vaults as "concrete bunk houses" and stated that it was considered at the time as "good storage because [the films] couldn't be stolen". The vaults were not equipped with sprinkler systems and each had only a small fan in the roof for ventilation. However, Mayer believed that a sprinkler system would have made little difference because "the amount [the studio] lost by fire was minimal".[2]: 12-13
Unlike most major studios, MGM sought to preserve its early productions and those of its predecessorsMetro Pictures,Goldwyn Pictures andLouis B. Mayer Productions,[3]: 22 as well as prints of films purchased forremake value.[3]: 39 The studio did not participate in the common practice of purposeful destruction of its catalog and even sought to preserve films of little apparent commercial value. Beginning in the 1930s, MGM donated prints andnegatives of its silent films to film archives, predominantlyGeorge Eastman House, and in the early 1960s, it began a preservation program led by Mayer to transfernitrate film prints ontosafety film.[3]: 22
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. on the evening of August 10, 1965,[1] anelectrical short ignitednitrate film stored in Vault 7 located on Lot 3, triggering a major explosion and fire that caused the ceiling of the vault to collapse onto the stored cans of film. The initial explosion could be heard from Lots 1 and 2, as recounted by film historianRudy Behlmer, who was walking between them at the time.[2]: 12 ExecutiveRoger Mayer stated that at least one person died in the explosion,[2]: 12 although a contemporary newspaper article states that there were no fatalities.[1] The fire was extinguished, but none of the films stored inside the vault were salvaged.[2]: 12
Because of MGM's efforts to preserve its catalog of silent and early sound films, 68% of silent films produced by MGM have survived, the highest rate of any major studio.[3]: 22 However, the fire destroyed the only known copies of numerous silent films, includingLon Chaney'sA Blind Bargain (1922)[2]: 12 andLondon After Midnight (1927)[4] as well asGreta Garbo'sThe Divine Woman (1928).[2]: 12
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