The Cinema Rex fire happened on August 19th 1978 when the Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran, was set ablaze, killing between 377 and 470 people. The event started when four individuals, who were militants motivated by Islamic extremism, doused the building with airplane fuel before setting it alight. The attack was responsible in part for triggering the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which saw the overthrow of the ruling dynasty under the Iranian monarch and a related outbreak of mass violence. The governing dynasty initially blamed "Islamic Marxists" for the fire and later reported that Islamic militants started the fire, while anti-Pahlavi protesters falsely blamed SAVAK, the Iranian secret police, for setting the fire.
Between 377 and 470 people die in an arson fire at a movie theater in Abadan, Iran
The Cinema Rex fire happened on August 19th 1978 when the Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran, was set ablaze, killing between 377 and 470 people.
Historical Significance
The Cinema Rex fire happened on August 19th 1978 when the Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran, was set ablaze, killing between 377 and 470 people.
Events Before
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple Inc., originally Apple Computer, Inc., is an American multinational corporation that creates and markets consumer electronics and attendant computer software, and is a digital distributor of…
American film director Martin Scorsese (34) divorces Julia Cameron (28) after 1 year of marriage
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Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC
Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC
Events After
International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)
International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)
Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day
Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day
BBC landmark nature series "Life on Earth" presented by David Attenborough first shown on BBC One
Life on Earth: A Natural History by David Attenborough is a British television natural history series made by the BBC in association with Warner Bros. Television and Reiner Moritz Productions.
Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years in exile
Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran on 1 February 1979, after 14 years in exile, was an important event in the Iranian Revolution.
Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage
Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage
More from the 1970s
death
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
birth
Chai Jing is born
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Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League
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Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on August 19, 1978?
- The Cinema Rex fire happened on August 19th 1978 when the Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran, was set ablaze, killing between 377 and 470 people. The event started when four individuals, who were militants motivated by Islamic extremism, doused the building with airplane fuel before setting it alight. The attack was responsible in part for triggering the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which saw the overthrow of the ruling dynasty under the Iranian monarch and a related outbreak of mass violence.
- Why is Between 377 and 470 people die in an arson fire at a movie theater in Abadan,... significant?
- The Cinema Rex fire happened on August 19th 1978 when the Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran, was set ablaze, killing between 377 and 470 people.