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Tom ward (narrates): A
once lavish theatre in america
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that saw the house brought down.
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00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,800
The decibels were so crazy loud
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00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,720
that they were doing physical
damage to the building.
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00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,320
An ancient Turkish city
with a poisonous secret.
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00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:26,296
Those who approached
the deadly grotto
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00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,080
dropped dead immediately
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00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,480
and were dragged
away to the underworld.
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00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:37,040
Pock marked sicilian ruins
snared in an ingenious trap.
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00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,080
There was a massive
feat of misdirection,
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00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,800
of sleight of hand with thousands
of lives hanging in the balance.
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00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,760
And a war torn
shell in the Balkans
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00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,960
given new purpose
by a blockbuster series.
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No spoilers, but
once you see it,
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you can't unsee it.
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You can't unsee it.
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Decaying relics,
ruins of lost worlds.
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Sights haunted by the past,
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their secrets waiting
to be revealed.
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In the usa, on Cleveland's
Lorraine Avenue
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is a forgotten treasure.
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There's some older homes,
there's some empty storefronts,
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it's all just a
little bit rundown.
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Then you see this marquee
with the word variety on it.
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This could only be a theatre.
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Despite its modern sign, the
interior has seen better days.
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When you step inside, it's
like you're going back in time.
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You have turnstiles,
massive mirrors,
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rusting machinery.
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There's plaster that's
peeling off the walls,
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there's giant chandeliers.
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The main hall is kind
of a beautiful wreck,
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but clearly in its heyday,
this was quite the place.
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Having entertained generations
in majestic surroundings,
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a surprising event
would spell its downfall.
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It was deafening,
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I mean, there were
chunks of the ceiling
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literally raining down
on top of the crowd.
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The only way you could stop it
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00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:46,040
was to run in and
pull the breaker,
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00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,400
ending the power
for the whole thing.
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00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,280
Rose zitiello first came
to the variety theatre
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more than 35 years ago.
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Pass the turnstiles here
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pass the turnstiles here
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where you would have
given the attendant your ticket,
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you would have walked
into this inner lobby
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00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,680
and this is where the
concessions were sold,
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so, the popcorn and the
beverages, candy bars,
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00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,520
so this was a popular
area just to sort of be a meet
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and greet area before
you went to take your seat.
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When it opened in 1927,
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the huge main auditorium
was the height of luxury.
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This would have
been one of the aisles
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to walk to one of your seats.
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There was 1,900
seats in this main floor.
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You can really see
the vast size of it.
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This theatre was a very opulent
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and extravagantly
appointed theatre.
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00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,160
I mean, you could still see
some of the velvet curtains
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and the wall treatments still
hanging on the walls here.
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I mean, most people in 1927,
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I mean, most people in 1927,
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maybe they had emigrated here,
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00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,120
just within the
last 10 to 15 years
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00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,160
with the large wave of immigration
that Cleveland saw at that time,
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so, for them to be able
to come to a theatre
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00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:19,519
for a modest ticket price and be
in a luxury theatre for an evening
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I think, was a very grand event.
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00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,120
The house was
regularly packed out
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to see the latest
vaudeville shows.
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00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,600
Vaudeville acts
included musicians,
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00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,880
singers, trained
animals, magicians.
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00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,000
People would pay their
nickel or dime at the door
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00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,160
and get an evening of what
was literally a variety show,
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00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:46,280
a little bit of everything.
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But the theatre hadn't only been
designed for live performances,
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00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,560
vaudeville was competing
against a new and exciting medium,
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moving pictures.
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So, to my right here
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so, to my right here
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is where the magic happens,
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this is the peerless
magnarc high intensity lamp.
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00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,320
The first film that they
opened at the variety theatre
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was 'hula' with Clara bow.
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She was a big sex symbol
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00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,480
and this movie was
a little controversial.
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00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:26,840
She swims nude in a
lagoon, she wears pants,
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00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,440
she does a little
striptease behind a bush.
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00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,400
She's trying to seduce
a married man and wins,
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which is not the way
it's supposed to turn out.
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It was considered scandalous.
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The crowd was standing
clear around 118th,
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up 119th to get in this
theatre to see that show.
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00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,120
When silent films became
talkies in the late 1920s,
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00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,160
even more people were
drawn to the variety.
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00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,880
And its success
attracted a new owner.
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00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,920
The Warner brothers studio
decided to buy it in 1929.
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00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,480
Warner brothers was
really making a play
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00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,880
for theatres all
over the country
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00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,280
so, that they would have a
built-in audience for their films,
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00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:15,656
we think it was part
of their business model
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00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:20,200
probably made them an offer
that they could not turn down.
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00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,640
This is right in the middle
of Hollywood's golden age
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00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,496
and everyone would
come to the variety
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00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,560
to see the latest
blockbuster movie.
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00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,920
After decades of entertaining
the people of Cleveland,
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00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,600
vast social and cultural
changes in the late 1940s
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began to undermine its success.
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00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:42,280
During this period,
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00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,960
a lot of the American
middle class was moving
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00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,400
out of centre of cities
and out to the suburbs,
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that's spelled a real problem
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00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,200
for these great old
downtown theatres.
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With multiplex cinemas
opening out of the city centre
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00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:00,000
with multiple screens,
several movies playing,
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00:07:00,001 --> 00:07:03,400
with multiple screens,
several movies playing,
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00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:04,960
the variety just
couldn't compete.
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00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,160
At the same time, a
new form of entertainment
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00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,800
was gaining the upper hand.
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00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,280
With the rise of television,
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00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,736
people were staying
in and just weren't going
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00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,840
to the theatre much anymore.
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00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:20,840
They could see
great entertainers
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00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,240
in their own living rooms.
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00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:27,720
In 1954, Warner
brothers sold the theatre
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00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:32,080
and the coming decades would
see its fortunes decline yet further.
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The theatre was sold
to different owners
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00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,720
and it was really
starting to fall apart.
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00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,360
But it wouldn't go out quietly.
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00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,160
In 1976, a new owner
bought the variety
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00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,560
with a plan to
reverse its fortunes.
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00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,200
A burgeoning music
scene would provide him
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00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,680
with a much needed
revenue stream.
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00:07:58,720 --> 00:07:59,720
During the '80s,
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00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:00,000
there was quite a Cleveland
presence of independent labels
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00:08:00,001 --> 00:08:04,360
there was quite a Cleveland
presence of independent labels
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00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,440
and punk rock bands and
they actually found a home here
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00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,160
at the variety theatre.
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00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:11,760
Through the '80s,
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00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:16,880
the theatre hosted whole
series of rock concerts, bands,
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everything from
rem to metallica.
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One of these shows would
go down in music history.
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00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:34,440
One of the most infamous
events was on December 2, 1984.
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00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:39,440
And on that evening everybody
knew that motorhead was playing here,
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00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,240
there were at least 1,900
people on the main floor
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00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,400
and a couple hundred
people more in the balcony.
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00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:52,600
Now, this is a band that is
proud of how loud they are.
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That evening was no different.
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00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,999
The volume started out loud,
it got progressively louder,
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00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,656
the volume started out loud,
it got progressively louder,
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00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:06,040
louder than the management
had pre-authorised
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00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:11,520
and negotiated with the band
and the sound was deafening.
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00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,080
The band's volume reached
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00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:19,680
a literally ear
splitting 130 decibels
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00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,600
which would have set the record
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00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,240
as the loudest rock
performance ever measured,
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00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,680
beating a previous
performance by the who.
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They played song
after song at top
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volume and the audience
kept wanting more,
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so they kept playing.
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But the thunderous
noise of the band
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inside this aging theatre
was a recipe for disaster.
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The performance was so
loud that chunks of plaster
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00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,000
started falling
from the ceiling.
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The plaster began raining
down on the audience,
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00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:00,840
the plaster began raining
down on the audience,
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as you know the
theatre was not designed
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00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,080
for heavy metal music,
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00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,600
so, the maintenance
man sees the plaster falling
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00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,720
and at that moment,
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00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,880
he doesn't know if it's just
superficial plaster falling,
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00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,760
is it a structural problem,
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00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,280
does he have to get
this crowd out of here.
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00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,120
He tried to get the band
to turn down to no avail.
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They were loud, they were proud,
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00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,840
they were gonna be
as loud as they could.
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00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,560
And it finally got
so bad that he went
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00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,960
and he just pulled the breaker
and shut the whole thing down.
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00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:44,560
The damage to the ceiling
was in fact only superficial,
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00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,520
but the fallout wasn't over yet.
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Incensed by the noise,
local residents took action.
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00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,280
The theatre, this rear wall
where we're standing right here
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abuts right against
a residential district,
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00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,016
abuts right against
a residential district,
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so, it's a densely populated
neighbourhood here.
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00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,280
And the neighbours
could hear the band,
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00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,360
they also found out later
about the falling plaster.
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00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,160
They began to
complain, file lawsuits,
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00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,440
and eventually the theatre
had to stop hosting rock shows.
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00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,200
One of the neighbours
actually recorded
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00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,320
one of the concerts
from their house.
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00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,080
And it was so loud that they
could listen to every word
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00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:34,520
and every beat that was going
on and they used that recording
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00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:37,680
as a tool to go to court to
shut the whole thing down.
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00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,600
Struggling to survive without
the income from live music,
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00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,480
the theatre limped on until closing
as an entertainment venue in 1990.
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00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,840
Today, thanks to a dedicated
group of local campaigners,
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00:11:58,880 --> 00:11:59,999
the future looks bright
for the variety theatre.
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00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,560
The future looks bright
for the variety theatre.
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00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,920
They're really enthusiastic
about saving this building
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00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:11,760
that was once so beautiful
and making it really at the heart
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00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,880
of a rebirth of this
neighbourhood.
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00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,880
With modern technology and
sound attenuation measures,
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00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,640
the theatre can now be
restored for live music
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00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:26,080
and without upsetting
our neighbours.
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00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,960
Hidden on the
Italian island of sicily
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00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,160
are traces of a bitter conflict.
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00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,680
So, this is an
idyllic part of sicily,
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00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,800
looking out towards
the mediterranean sea.
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00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,480
A modern road cuts its
way through the countryside,
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00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:59,960
and there's a dusty ride
and if you look closely
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00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,240
it seems like there's
something built into the hillside.
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00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,000
Somebody has
built infrastructure
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00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,840
to defend this place
against a modern attack.
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00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,640
50 miles east is a church
that at first doesn't appear
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00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:16,800
to bare any scars
of this conflict.
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00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,640
Like a subterranean world,
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00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:24,960
another sicily lays
under this church.
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00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:31,000
You see evidence
of ancient devotion,
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00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,080
ancient fear of death
and then aeroplane.
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00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,960
Although these places
are 50 miles apart,
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00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,720
they were part of a make
or break moment in the war.
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00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,800
This moment relied
on a grand deception
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00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,360
unlike anything that had
been attempted before.
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00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,360
Nobody would ever believe
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00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,120
somebody could try
something so desperate.
228
00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:00,000
And that's just what
they were counting on.
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00:14:00,001 --> 00:14:02,441
And that's just what
they were counting on.
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00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,400
Roberto piccione is a historian
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00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,440
who has lived in the ancient
walled city of Syracuse
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00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,120
for more than 50 years.
233
00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,720
This is the church
of San filippo,
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00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,120
in the middle of the
old Jewish quarter
235
00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,840
and underground there
is something special.
236
00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:34,520
It seems to be going down
and down until you're in this,
237
00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,720
this labyrinth that might
stretch underneath the entire city.
238
00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,120
About 2,000 years ago,
239
00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,840
this was an aqueduct,
a Greek aqueduct.
240
00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:48,776
But there are signs
that these tunnels
241
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,760
were put to a
very different use,
242
00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,440
nearly two millennia later.
243
00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:59,200
Here we can see a
messerschmitt German plane,
244
00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,000
an Italian plane, and a stucco.
245
00:15:00,001 --> 00:15:02,400
An Italian plane, and a stucco.
246
00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,480
And here we can see a parachute.
247
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:13,360
This kind of draw just describes
what the people saw every day.
248
00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,000
From early 1943,
249
00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,920
they saw their city mercilessly
bombed by the allies
250
00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:25,280
and fled to these catacombs
to wait out the onslaught.
251
00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,080
People stay here, entire family
252
00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:36,640
just try to wait the
handing of the bombing,
253
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,200
talking, singing, praying,
254
00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,200
playing with the young kids
255
00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:47,120
for avoid that they be
scared and try to stay together.
256
00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:48,560
It must have been terrible
257
00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,776
to have been in
these air raid shelters
258
00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,080
and to hear the sounds
of war all around you
259
00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:55,680
and be afraid that the bomb
260
00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,480
that lands to the side of you
261
00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,999
may in a minute land
right on top of you.
262
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,856
May in a minute land
right on top of you.
263
00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:06,120
After months of terror, on 9
July, the cacophony ended.
264
00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,960
So, when the bombing stopped,
265
00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:16,280
I think, that the people
ask themselves now
266
00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,320
what is going to happen,
267
00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,040
and what happened
was the invasion.
268
00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,360
50 miles west,
269
00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,760
Italian troops tasked
with defending a key route
270
00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,680
in to the island's interior
271
00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,800
nervously waited in
the ponte dirillo bunkers.
272
00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,880
Here we are inside
the ponte dirillo position
273
00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,200
and here there
were about 30 men.
274
00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,160
From this window, we
have a really good view
275
00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,560
of the sea just on the
right, and in the other side,
276
00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:56,320
we have the road that
was really important.
277
00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,360
The soldiers here
were about to face
278
00:16:58,400 --> 00:16:59,999
the largest allied invasion
force yet deployed in the war.
279
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,720
The largest allied invasion
force yet deployed in the war.
280
00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,560
Yet this place was
barely defended
281
00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:12,240
and is one of the few remnants
of access defences on sicily.
282
00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,280
We have only light defence,
283
00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:20,440
so, machine gun and gun
284
00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,560
and there was only
one small Cannon.
285
00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,599
You have to ask the question
286
00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,920
why do the Nazis fortify France
287
00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,120
ahead of the 1944 invasion.
288
00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:36,320
But...
289
00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:41,000
They're not nearly as
intensive about fortifying sicily.
290
00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:45,840
It can in part be explained
by a daring allied deception.
291
00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,200
You have a dead body
released from a submarine,
292
00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:55,040
fake documents, it's really like
something out of a James Bond film.
293
00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,999
In 1943 with the Nazi's
desert army defeated in Tunisia,
294
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,736
in 1943 with the Nazi's desert
army defeated in Tunisia,
295
00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,936
allied military
strategists were looking
296
00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,400
for a way to invade
fortress Europe.
297
00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:13,720
The only problem was that the
Italian and German forces knew
298
00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,560
that the allied attack
would have to come
299
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,280
somewhere along the
southern European coast.
300
00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,680
Sicily was the obvious choice,
301
00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:29,040
but a battle against a concentrated
access force could be disastrous.
302
00:18:30,120 --> 00:18:33,680
So, the allies turned to
deception on a grand scale...
303
00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,720
Operation mincemeat.
304
00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:42,520
A Spanish fisherman fishing
off the southern coast of Spain
305
00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:47,480
pulls a badly
decomposed dead body
306
00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,280
out of the water
307
00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:53,760
and the body is
wearing the battle dress
308
00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,720
of a royal marine major.
309
00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,920
He had on his person
a number of plans.
310
00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,576
When the German commanders
heard about this discovery,
311
00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,776
they thought they
had hit the jackpot.
312
00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,680
This was worth
its weight in gold.
313
00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:15,200
What the Germans have
got is a plan for the invasion
314
00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,760
of Southern Europe
through Greece
315
00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,280
and the Balkans and it's a lie.
316
00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,560
The bogus plans
said that any troops
317
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,520
moving towards sicily
were simply a decoy.
318
00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,600
The access powers
moved their attention
319
00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,640
away from sicily and many
of their armaments too,
320
00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,160
and they weren't ready
for an attack there.
321
00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,240
You had two panzer
divisions being relocated
322
00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:45,440
from the eastern front,
323
00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,720
you had seven divisions
set up in Greece.
324
00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,360
You had another ten
set up in the Balkans.
325
00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,520
It was a massive redistribution
of forces for an invasion
326
00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,360
that was gonna come in a
completely different place.
327
00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,520
Sicily's physical defences
were also neglected.
328
00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,320
The bunkers at ponte dirillo
329
00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:09,400
are one of the few remaining
signs of war on the island.
330
00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:16,240
It doesn't appear
as if it's a place ready
331
00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,680
to defend itself
from a major assault.
332
00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:21,000
And it wasn't.
333
00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,280
9 July 1943, in
the dead of night,
334
00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,640
thousands of allied paratroopers
descend on to the island.
335
00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:36,640
Their mission to secure
key positions like ponte dirillo.
336
00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:44,440
The Americans
landed from these hills
337
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:46,080
that we can see in front.
338
00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,200
There was a total of
about 100 paratroopers
339
00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,760
from different groups that
attacked this front point.
340
00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:57,840
All these marks...
341
00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:00,000
Are American bullet...
342
00:21:00,001 --> 00:21:01,240
Are American bullet...
343
00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:03,560
Everywhere.
344
00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,400
There were several German tanks.
345
00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:08,960
We don't know
exactly the number,
346
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,240
but it's sure that
one was stopped
347
00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,240
just in front of the Ridge.
348
00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,296
After a very short
but fierce battle,
349
00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,760
they managed to capture
the bunker complex.
350
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:27,520
It was supposed to take an entire
infantry regiment to capture this,
351
00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,960
but that hadn't even
landed in sicily yet.
352
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,600
When the main landing force
arrived on the nearby beaches,
353
00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,360
access opposition on
sicily's southern shores
354
00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,400
was soon washed away.
355
00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,200
During the allied landings,
356
00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,480
this coast was really full
357
00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:50,960
of boat everywhere.
358
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:55,480
The eye witness
like my father told me
359
00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,560
that it was impossible
to see the sea.
360
00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:00,000
Everywhere there were landing
craft, merchant Navy ships.
361
00:22:00,001 --> 00:22:03,680
Everywhere there were landing
craft, merchant Navy ships.
362
00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:10,880
Over the next three days, the
invasion involved 3,000 ships,
363
00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,520
150,000 allied troops,
364
00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,440
and 4,000 aircraft
365
00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,920
and opposing them was a
relatively modest German force
366
00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,200
of only two divisions.
367
00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:25,040
The German leadership still
thought that the main attack
368
00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:26,520
was going to come elsewhere.
369
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,960
In just under six
weeks of bitter fighting,
370
00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,320
the entire island was
controlled by allied troops.
371
00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,760
Operation mincemeat
wasn't the only reason
372
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:40,776
that the access were
defeated in sicily,
373
00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,920
but it was a really
important aspect of it.
374
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,280
They don't have
an easy time of it,
375
00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,720
but they have a much easier time
376
00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:54,520
than if the Germans had
concentrated force there to stop them.
377
00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,280
The success of
this invasion marked
378
00:22:58,320 --> 00:22:59,999
a key turning point in the war.
379
00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,240
A key turning point in the war.
380
00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:03,080
For the first time,
381
00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:06,360
the allies were beginning
to take back Europe.
382
00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,320
Today, a memorial
stands at ponte dirillo
383
00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:20,680
in tribute to the us troops
who gave their lives there.
384
00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,120
For Roberto, these sacrifices
must never be forgotten.
385
00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,480
Doesn't matter if
they were British,
386
00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:31,360
American, Italian, or German.
387
00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:35,480
They were young guys
that lose their life in sicily.
388
00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:41,440
So, it's important to remember
this part of history for avoid
389
00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,920
that this will not happen again.
390
00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,800
In Croatia, on the
outskirts of Dubrovnik,
391
00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:57,560
is a once opulent structure
392
00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,999
that fell victim to
tragic circumstance.
393
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,400
That fell victim to
tragic circumstance.
394
00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:09,080
Just a short distance from one
of the oldest cities in Europe,
395
00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:10,800
perched on the side of a cliff
396
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,160
is a very big and very
modern looking building.
397
00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,920
It doesn't appear to
be in too bad shape,
398
00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:20,920
but the closer you get,
399
00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:24,040
you realise that's
not at all the case,
400
00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,920
the whole thing's
an absolute mess.
401
00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,440
Amidst the destruction
are traces of a glorious past.
402
00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,440
There seems to be sort of
this panoramic restaurant
403
00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,840
and then a terrace
with swimming pools.
404
00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,160
Inside all the
rooms look identical
405
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:43,976
and they've been
stripped bare except
406
00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,840
for a few broken
toilets and old bathtubs.
407
00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,120
But the views out
are still fantastic,
408
00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,360
it's picture postcard
stuff everywhere you look.
409
00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,560
You can tell, in its day,
this place was spectacular.
410
00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:04,200
Yet the architectural
style suggests a building
411
00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:05,960
only four decades old.
412
00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,280
And that makes you think
that something very sudden
413
00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,400
and quite terrible
happened here.
414
00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:19,040
But from the ruins, a pop
culture legend was born.
415
00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,720
A lot of people know Dubrovnik
416
00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,600
from the series
'game of thrones'.
417
00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,920
This is where one of
the most shocking scenes
418
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,680
in the entire series was filmed.
419
00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,080
Ivan vukovic grew up nearby
420
00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:46,000
and has many fond memories
of the time he spent here.
421
00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,560
This is a place where I
came with my parents,
422
00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,480
it was my playground.
423
00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,960
It was the part of my childhood.
424
00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,999
Everybody loved to come here
because it was a pure luxury.
425
00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,736
Everybody loved to come here
because it was a pure luxury.
426
00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,560
And look at it now,
427
00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,920
it's like the days
of glory are over.
428
00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,296
When construction
began in the mid '80s,
429
00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:13,040
Croatia was actually still a
part of socialist yugoslavia,
430
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:17,040
and it was approaching a pretty
important juncture in its history.
431
00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:22,320
And this building has
really come to represent that.
432
00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,840
Croatia was one of the
wealthier Yugoslav nations
433
00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,800
and this construction was
part of an ambitious plan
434
00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,800
to further boost
the local economy.
435
00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,800
It's very unusual to
get something like this
436
00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:39,760
in the times of the '80s
437
00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:44,440
or before because at that
time everybody had to be equal
438
00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,320
that some of the
theories of socialism.
439
00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:50,600
Under socialist rule,
440
00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,200
the focus was on primary
and secondary industries
441
00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,920
like mining and factories.
442
00:26:57,960 --> 00:26:59,999
This building was
designed to make money
443
00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:00,200
this building was
designed to make money
444
00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,160
for the country but in
an entirely different way.
445
00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:08,240
This was built to attract
wealthy western tourists.
446
00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,600
This is the hotel Belvedere.
447
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,440
It first welcomed
guests in 1985.
448
00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,800
This place is one of the rooms
449
00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:27,720
of 200 in total of
hotel Belvedere.
450
00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,680
I found one list,
451
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:31,880
who was here,
452
00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,160
how much money they spent,
453
00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:38,480
and the date is July 25, 1990.
454
00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,776
They are mostly people
coming from the west,
455
00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:45,080
Spain, us, United Kingdom.
456
00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:47,800
Croatia never had
a hotel like this.
457
00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:52,560
This place had everything.
458
00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,040
It had an indoor pool,
459
00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:56,520
had an outdoor pool,
460
00:27:57,920 --> 00:27:59,999
it had international
cuisine, it had a discotheque,
461
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:00,840
it had international
cuisine, it had a discotheque,
462
00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,800
it even had a helipad.
463
00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,520
I mean, imagine what
it would have been like,
464
00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:10,600
looking out over the
adriatic, drinking a cocktail,
465
00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,880
it must have been fantastic.
466
00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:18,320
It wasn't just wealthy
western tourists lured
467
00:28:18,360 --> 00:28:19,920
in by all the luxury on offer.
468
00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:25,080
My mother could come
and spend her money
469
00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:28,560
to buy some exclusive
things in exclusive shops
470
00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,880
and my father was freaking out
471
00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:36,480
while he was sitting in this
tavern just one deck below.
472
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,080
In its first six
years of operation,
473
00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,600
it gained a reputation as
one of Europe's finest hotels.
474
00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,280
The future was looking
very bright indeed.
475
00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:57,440
But by 1991, a new
Yugoslav leader was emerging,
476
00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,999
one that would tear
apart the Balkan states
477
00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:00,480
one that would tear
apart the Balkan states
478
00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,440
and Usher in the end
of hotel Belvedere.
479
00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:08,640
Slobodan milosevic's ideas
480
00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:12,120
that he's going to
concentrate Yugoslav power
481
00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,400
in his own homeland of
Serbia and its capital Belgrade
482
00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:16,880
and he's going to take power
483
00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:18,696
from the other
regions like Slovenia,
484
00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,960
Croatia, Montenegro,
and transport it to Serbia.
485
00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,200
As far as Croatia was concerned,
486
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:29,320
there was no way they
were going to let that happen.
487
00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,160
They wanted independence.
488
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,760
Civil war ensues
489
00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:40,320
and there's battling over every
key area including Dubrovnik
490
00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:43,800
which the Serbs want
because of its tourist potential.
491
00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,440
At 6:00am on 1 October 1991,
492
00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,960
the siege of Dubrovnik began.
493
00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,200
It was attacked from
the land, from the sea,
494
00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,240
and from the air by the
Yugoslav national army.
495
00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:00,000
I remember clearly that
day because it was sunny,
496
00:30:00,001 --> 00:30:03,560
I remember clearly that
day because it was sunny,
497
00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,400
and I asked my mother
498
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:09,000
what is that thunderstorm
coming from the south
499
00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,760
because I was a kid,
I was 11 years old.
500
00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,080
Unfortunately the war
started, hell broke loose.
501
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:22,536
Strategically
positioned on the route
502
00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:25,280
to Dubrovnik's old town,
503
00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,440
Croatian troops rushed
to fortify the hotel.
504
00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,480
If Yugoslav troops
broke through here,
505
00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:36,680
the city would fall.
506
00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:44,920
There was lots of direct hits
from the cannons from their Navy.
507
00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:50,720
And lots of the mortars were
falling around and, you know,
508
00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,840
the shrapnel are the ones
making most of the damage,
509
00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:55,520
so, when you walk
around the hotel,
510
00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:59,999
you will see any window
that is still in one place,
511
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:00,480
you will see any window
that is still in one place,
512
00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,120
it's all shattered glass around.
513
00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:09,920
Dubrovnik's vicious bombardment
lasted seven long months,
514
00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,600
but the hotel was never
taken by Yugoslav troops.
515
00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,800
You know, how
Croatia won the war,
516
00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:24,680
so, you have to be
like relieved or happy
517
00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,440
and then you see the aftermath.
518
00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,360
Many people lost
their lives for freedom.
519
00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:33,280
It was very, very hard
520
00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:37,720
because when the war
ends it takes time to recover.
521
00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:41,480
Yugoslavia built it and
then yugoslavia destroyed it.
522
00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,296
After the war, there's some thought
to restoring the hotel Belvedere,
523
00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:49,960
but the damage was so
extensive that it was decided
524
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,400
that it was just not feasible.
525
00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:54,800
Even after the bombing stopped,
526
00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:58,200
terrible dangers remained
for many years to come.
527
00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,360
So, after this hotel
was abandoned,
528
00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:04,440
this became my playground.
529
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:06,840
I was playing here
in these bushes
530
00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,000
and I saw something
which looked like a toy,
531
00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,560
I picked it up and took
it to my dad's place.
532
00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:15,160
And dad said,
533
00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:18,880
"don't move, it's not a
toy, it's a cluster bomb."
534
00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:24,920
There's no need for me to play
any lottery to win any jackpots,
535
00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,440
because I survived
the cluster bomb,
536
00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:32,800
I think, I won my jackpot
like 40 something years ago.
537
00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:42,600
If there's something eerily
familiar about the amphitheatre,
538
00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,640
that's because in 2013,
539
00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:48,200
it became the location
for something different
540
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,360
when 'game of
thrones' came to town.
541
00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:54,880
This is where oberyn
fought the mountain
542
00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,240
in what was an epic battle.
543
00:32:58,400 --> 00:32:59,999
The scene was
called trial by combat,
544
00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:00,960
the scene was
called trial by combat,
545
00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,360
and they'd been
fighting in this area
546
00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,160
where all the
extras were cheering
547
00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,280
and being on the side
mostly of oberyn martell.
548
00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:16,160
No spoilers, but this scene was
something that once you see it,
549
00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:17,920
you can't unsee it.
550
00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:24,320
The original 'game of thrones'
series may now be over,
551
00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:27,920
but the hotel's final
chapter is yet to be written.
552
00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:35,440
The hotel was originally built to
attract wealthy western tourists
553
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:37,360
and it may live
up to that dream.
554
00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:41,960
In 2014, it was bought
for 12 million Euros,
555
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,960
so, its glory days
may yet still return.
556
00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,560
I would love to
see it brand new,
557
00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:53,936
to look it through the
brand-new window,
558
00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:57,480
brand-new balcony,
and still having this
559
00:33:57,520 --> 00:33:59,999
amazing views of the
city and surrounding areas.
560
00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,520
Amazing views of the
city and surrounding areas.
561
00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:13,920
In western Turkey,
562
00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:17,679
mysterious white rocks
jut out over the landscape.
563
00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,920
From afar these rocks
look soft and ethereal,
564
00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,080
like something
out of a fairy-tale.
565
00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:31,720
It's creased with stalactites
566
00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:33,896
and tessellated with
hundreds of pools
567
00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:35,800
of sparkling turquoise water.
568
00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,880
Though striking, these
rocks are hiding something
569
00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,440
even more extraordinary.
570
00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:47,000
Behind this glistening hillside
is a whole hidden world,
571
00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,480
a world that dates
back over 2,000 years.
572
00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,360
If you just happen to be driving
on the wrong side of the road,
573
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,296
you wouldn't even
know that it existed.
574
00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,960
It exudes a mysterious charm,
575
00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:00,000
there are these tumbled
down stone buildings.
576
00:35:00,001 --> 00:35:02,481
There are these tumbled
down stone buildings.
577
00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:06,880
This city was once renowned
across the ancient world.
578
00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:10,560
People travelled
hundreds of miles
579
00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:12,720
to come and be
buried in this place
580
00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,440
because of the magical
powers people said it possessed.
581
00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:20,240
This sight helps develop one
of the most powerful religions
582
00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:21,800
of the modern world.
583
00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:25,320
Until recently, it has
been shrouded in secrecy.
584
00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,440
This ancient city has
a poisonous secret,
585
00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:31,960
one that laid buried
for thousands of years.
586
00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:40,840
Doctor inci turkoglu
is a historian,
587
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:44,440
who has been working to piece
together the truth about hierapolis.
588
00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,600
This is the northern city gate
589
00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:52,480
and from it starts the
main artery of the town.
590
00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:55,160
This city was full of people,
591
00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:58,200
a lot of textile
business and industry,
592
00:35:58,240 --> 00:35:59,999
and there was also a very
strong tourism business.
593
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,560
And there was also a very
strong tourism business.
594
00:36:03,720 --> 00:36:06,840
The city grew because of
the mysterious white rocks
595
00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:07,920
that surround it.
596
00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:11,880
These other worldly
formations are travertines
597
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,960
and they're limestone
cliffs that slowly formed
598
00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:20,440
over 400,000 years due
to bubbling mineral Springs.
599
00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:23,520
As the water flows
down a hillside,
600
00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:28,680
it degases, leaving behind a bright
white trail of calcium carbonate,
601
00:36:28,720 --> 00:36:31,560
it's this process that
creates the wonderland
602
00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:33,080
of pools and terraces.
603
00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:37,640
Said to possess healing powers,
604
00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:41,320
when it came under Roman
rule in the 2nd century bc,
605
00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,280
hierapolis drew visitors
from across the empire.
606
00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:48,240
This was the health
resort of the ancients.
607
00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,360
The rich came here
and the frail came here
608
00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:53,400
to spend their final years.
609
00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,656
Because of this, the
necropolis reflects the cultures
610
00:36:57,680 --> 00:36:59,080
of many different regions.
611
00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:04,256
This is one of the
largest cities of the dead
612
00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:05,680
to have ever existed.
613
00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:13,000
But the popularity of this city
had a more bizarre side to it,
614
00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,800
one that has remained
a mystery for centuries.
615
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,320
It was said to be the
location of a gate to hell,
616
00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:25,200
a portal to the underworld
617
00:37:25,240 --> 00:37:29,280
where the toxic breath of the
three-headed hellhound Cerberus
618
00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:31,160
flowed out of the ground,
619
00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:35,920
claiming unsuspecting victims
on behalf of his master, pluto.
620
00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:41,400
Legends say those who
dare to approach the grotto
621
00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:43,320
dropped dead immediately
622
00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:45,680
and were taken away
to the underworld.
623
00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:48,760
Known as pluto's gate,
624
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,080
pilgrims travelled
from far and wide
625
00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,440
to watch its priests
performing arcane rights.
626
00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:58,440
The main focus involved
sacrifice of animals,
627
00:37:58,480 --> 00:37:59,999
especially bulls, to
the god and goddess.
628
00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,400
Especially bulls, to
the god and goddess.
629
00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,080
An important part
of the ceremony
630
00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:07,240
was dragging in the live animal
631
00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:09,640
and then dragging
out the dead animal.
632
00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:14,960
It wasn't only animals
that entered this gate to hell
633
00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,200
but also the priests themselves.
634
00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:22,080
What they did was
they walked into the cave
635
00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:25,560
and they came up alive
and this was very shocking
636
00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:27,200
for the common people
637
00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:29,880
because no other living
beings came out alive.
638
00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:35,320
The priests sold birds and
other animals to the visitors
639
00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:37,840
so they could try out
for themselves to see
640
00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,440
just how deadly this area was.
641
00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:46,040
It's hard to imagine these
dramatic scenes even being real,
642
00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:47,640
surely they're just a fable.
643
00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,120
Its existence was
debated for millennia,
644
00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,536
until a series of
miraculous discoveries
645
00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:57,600
were made in the early 2010s.
646
00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:02,240
The head of the excavations
647
00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:06,200
started surveys and
when they reached down,
648
00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:08,200
they found the arch
649
00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:12,360
and they found the
inscription stating
650
00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:14,840
that it was dedicated to pluto.
651
00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:19,280
The myths were
indeed based on fact.
652
00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:24,120
There is a round arched gate,
653
00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:28,080
a doorway where the
poisonous gas come out
654
00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:33,120
and they would find birds
fallen dead underground.
655
00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:39,080
Though pluto's gate existed,
one major mystery remained.
656
00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:42,680
How did the priest survive
when the animals all died?
657
00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:46,880
The man to solve
the ancient mystery
658
00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:49,360
was a volcano
biologist from Germany.
659
00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:57,200
He discovered that whereas
normal air contains just .04% co2,
660
00:39:57,240 --> 00:39:59,999
the air around the
shrine contained 80%,
661
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:01,136
the air around the
shrine contained 80%,
662
00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:05,480
just a few minutes exposure to
10% carbon dioxide can kill you.
663
00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:09,880
How the priest survived
was actually very simple.
664
00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:13,960
They realised that if they
held their breath while inside,
665
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,320
they survived while
the animals died.
666
00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:23,200
But the grotto's
days were numbered.
667
00:40:23,240 --> 00:40:26,760
A new religion was sweeping
across the Roman empire
668
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:29,520
and hierapolis was
about to change forever.
669
00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:35,640
The building behind us now
is the martyrdom of st Philip,
670
00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:38,520
one of the two
apostles of Christ.
671
00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:43,520
Philip challenged the worshippers
of the serpents in the nearby temple
672
00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:47,000
and so he was arrested
and hung upside down.
673
00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:48,320
According to one story,
674
00:40:48,360 --> 00:40:51,880
the ground cracked
open and bystanders
675
00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,880
nearby watching this execution
676
00:40:54,920 --> 00:40:57,320
also were swallowed
down in to the earth.
677
00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:00,000
Philip was one of
many of Jesus' followers
678
00:41:00,001 --> 00:41:02,800
Philip was one of
many of Jesus' followers
679
00:41:02,840 --> 00:41:07,160
who upon his death set out to
spread the word of christianity.
680
00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:12,680
At the beginning, christianity
was somewhat underground,
681
00:41:12,720 --> 00:41:16,840
persecuted, but finally in 313,
682
00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:19,320
constantine the great decided
683
00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:21,960
to give freedom...
684
00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:24,120
To Christian faith.
685
00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:28,600
With the new religion
came the end of the grotto.
686
00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,600
Christians filled
pluto's gate with stones
687
00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:37,720
due to it being a symbolic
location for paganism.
688
00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:43,040
Hierapolis continued to
thrive under Christian belief,
689
00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,640
but it was about to
be dealt a severe blow.
690
00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:49,000
The very thing
that made this place
691
00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:50,880
so, prosperous and renowned
692
00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,240
was the very thing
that destroyed it.
693
00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:58,240
In the early 7th century, a
massive earthquake hit the region.
694
00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:00,000
In hierapolis, all the big
monuments fell down,
695
00:42:00,001 --> 00:42:03,520
in hierapolis, all the big
monuments fell down,
696
00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:05,080
the many people died.
697
00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:07,680
It can be considered ironic
698
00:42:07,720 --> 00:42:11,040
that the reason for
the thermal Springs
699
00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:14,280
is the seismic fault line
700
00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:17,680
and it led to its final abandon,
701
00:42:17,720 --> 00:42:19,360
but it's not the only reason.
702
00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:25,800
Due to its geographical position,
earthquakes were inevitable,
703
00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:29,240
but another force was
about to hit hierapolis
704
00:42:29,280 --> 00:42:32,120
and this time the city
couldn't bounce back.
705
00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,720
The ottoman army advanced
and invaded hierapolis,
706
00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:41,040
by 1334 when yet another
devastating earthquake hit,
707
00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:42,480
hierapolis was
finally abandoned.
708
00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:46,456
With no-one here
to maintain the city
709
00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,600
and control the spring waters,
710
00:42:48,640 --> 00:42:53,400
the ruins were slowly submerged
in their own calcified waters.
711
00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:07,280
For centuries, the city
laid buried and forgotten
712
00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:10,040
until it was
rediscovered in 1887.
713
00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:14,920
Today people still
flock to its hot Springs,
714
00:43:16,080 --> 00:43:19,000
but many secrets are
believed to remain hidden
715
00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,480
below these white hills.
716
00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:24,520
(Dramatic music)
717
00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:28,959
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