Death of Superman

[Rube E. Tewesday]

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mreeves.html

Nuthin' to say except: Damn, that's some good Staff Reportin'.

[Elendil's Heir]

Very good indeed - I learned a lot.

Two spelling corrections, if I may: in the paragraph beginning "The suicide angle...," it should read that "he was known to have been a party animal." And in the paragraph beginning "As to 'Hollywoodland,'" it should read that the movie is (in the writer's opinion) "eminently fair and respectful."

[starstormsix]

SDSTAFF jumblejim mentioned the name "Peg Entwhistle." The correct spelling of her last name is "Entwistle," according to the Internet Movie Database and Wikipedia.

[N9IWP]

I don't have a great desire to see the movie, but I am glad that the powers that be do sometimes listen to consultants (even upaid ones!)

Brian

[Sage Rat]

If you were killing someone, it seems like the bullet would end up in a wall or the floor. It seems unlikely to prop someone's head above the gun as you kill them. ...or am I missing something?

[Moirai]

I just wanted to say that I loved Jim's post in it's original thread, and I'm glad someone picked it up for additional exposure.

Well done.

[nivlac]

I've read a lot about all the theories about George Reeves' death and SDSTAFF jumblejim did a great job dispelling many of the myths. The quote from Jack Larson was a beauty.

[loboloco]

Agreed it was a fine piece of reporting. But I have a problem from the explanation for the spent/ejected casing to be under the body. Jumblejim explained:

"Without thinking about it, quickly point at your temple. If you're like most people, your little finger will be toward your front and your index finger will be toward your back. If you imagine that your hand is holding a pistol, you will see that the top of the imaginary pistol is facing behind you rather than toward the ceiling. Such a position would eject the cartridge down and to the rear of the victim, hitting the bed much more quickly than the body could fall. "

However, most semi-automatic pistols I know have the ejection port on the right side. Thus, if the gun is pointed to the right temple, with the top of the gun facing to the back (as described above), the ejection port would be facing up, and eject the casing up, not down.

To be fair, Jumblejim did preface his description with:

the most natural position for holding a pistol to one's temple is with the gun nearly upside-down.

Which is correct. If the gun is held practically upside down, the ejection port would face the rear and throw the casing down and back.

[Annie-Xmas]

I just wanted to say that I loved Jim's post in it's original thread, and I'm glad someone picked it up for additional exposure.

Well done.

I'm also glad Jim is now a member of the SDSAB. I hope this leads to more posts by him, especially in Cafe Society.

[Falkie2007]

Well, I have never believed that he committed suicide.

Reeves was scheduled to film a movie in Spain and also one in Australia within a few days after his death.

He was also supposed to direct a number of episodes of Superman when the show returned to filming. Hardly the behavior of a man who kills himself.

I found something strange on ebay.au tonight. A Poughkeepsie, NY paper had front page stories on Reeves' death on the day he died and the day after.

In the article, Lenore Lemmon made a statement to Police Sergeant V.A. Peterson which quotes Miss Lemmon:

"He's going to shoot himself."

A noise was heard upstairs.

She continued, inexplicably:

"He's opening a drawer to get the gun. "

A shot was heard.

"See, I told you so. "

She was heard to comment.

Could someone tell me how you could know someone was going to shoot themselves when they are sitting in the living room and the victim was upstairs and out of sight in a bedroom?

I have never seen this quote before and it adds to the questions I have always had about his death.

Falkie

[Loach]

I have been researching a full-scale biography of Reeves for many, many years (while simultaneously starring in the odd TV series here and there),

Is Jim's identity a secret? (I'm too tired to come up with the proper Clark Kent comment) I may have missed something. Seems like if he wants to keep it a secret it won't be for long. It will be a dead give away if an actor comes out with a well researched biography of George Reeves.

[Amp]

I thought it was known that he was Jim Beaver (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064769/). Didn't this come up in the original thread where he posted?

[Loach]

I thought it was known that he was Jim Beaver (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064769/). Didn't this come up in the original thread where he posted?

Didn't read the original thread. I kind of figured from the way he mentioned it that he wasn't to worried about his identity. Definately a recognizable face. IMDB does list him as a biographical consultant. Unpaid? Should be against the law.

[Ike Witt]

Didn't this come up in the original thread where he posted?
The one thing that stuck in my mind was the Eve Golden Beaver line.

[dropzone]

Why someone who's been researching this for years for a BOOK for which he would be paid MONEY would throw away donate the fruit of his research to win his HIGHLY RESPECTED membership in the SDSAB is beyond me. indicative of what an honor being a member of the SDSAB is.

[dropzone]

Wait a second--THE Jim Beaver? I recall making it a point to catch your name after seeing (imdb-ing you), well, SOMETHING (probably "X-Files") because I noticed you didn't suck. <--(a high compliment from me) and made it a point to notice you afterwards. Granted, it was in the "He's familiar--oh, yeah, I recognize that name!" sense of notice, but still....

[Annie-Xmas]

In case anyone's interested, here's the link (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=380703&highlight=hollywoodland) to the orginal thread "Hollywoodland."

[C K Dexter Haven]

Yes, THE Jim Beaver, and we're delighted that he's joining our merry crew.

[Contrapuntal]

Yes, THE Jim Beaver, and we're delighted that he's joining our merry crew.Wait a minute! I saw that guy on Deadwood. He's a real bad man. He like hurts people and stuff.

[dropzone]

Yeah, and now he'll be doing that to people who mess with Cecil.

[Bryan Ekers]

Wait a second--THE Jim Beaver? I recall making it a point to catch your name after seeing (imdb-ing you), well, SOMETHING (probably "X-Files") because I noticed you didn't suck
Well, he made some films when he was younger....

[dropzone]

You mean like "Silkwood?" "Turner and Hooch?" Until this summer I'd managed to completely avoid the oeuvre of Ms Streep and I have enough slobbery dogs at home to watch another on TV. Considering my wife's even more limited tastes our Mr Beaver might just as well not existed before he was on the X-Files.