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| One of the thousands of headlining news stories about the death of George Reeves. Rutland Daily Herald, Wednesday, June 17, 1959. |
"Despondent, Superman Kills Self" - Press Democrat, Tuesday, June 16, 1959
"Superman Takes Life"- Tampa Times, Tuesday, June 16, 1959
"Television's 'Superman' Ends Life With Pistol" - Pittsburgh Press, Tuesday, June 16, 1959
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| Snippet from the Pittsburgh Press, Tuesday, June 16, 1959. |
Beginning Tuesday, June 16, 1959, national and international papers would repeat the tragic news of the death of actor George Reeves best remembered as TV's 'Superman' who was found dead in his Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, California home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Within a few days the focus of the story would be on events of George's life that have placed his death in so much mystery like: his will not including his finance Lenora Lemmon (or such a will being missing), the belief of his mother Helen Bessolo and several friends that Reeves wasn't suicidal, and the presence of extra bullets in the room.
By the end of June 1959, there would be headlines about the "mystery" and suspicions of Reeves death that continue to this day. A great curiosity of mine is how learning of Reeves death, whether from newspapers, TV, or hearing it on the radio impacted his young viewers in that tragic time. If you were a child or adolescent and remember that day in 1959, please share your recollections in the comments section or write to archivebuilder@gmail.com with the subject heading "Reeves".
