In the days to follow, TAC will be releasing a series of newspaper articles in connection with the death of George Reeves. These newspaper articles have been collected by me over many years. I first obtained a microfiche-negative copy of a June 17, 1959 New York Daily News article in 1983. For many years it remained the one and only article I had and, of course, being extremely curious about the George Reeves case, I eventually accelerated my efforts to obtain all I could find. To go into detail of how and when I obtained these would greatly bore you, but thanks to the magic of e-Bay, I was fortunate to purchase many original pieces.

I had hoped to have presented these to you on the 50th anniversary of George's death two years ago, however, my efforts to restore a number of the articles was far from complete. You'll notice in many places I retyped entire articles because the quality of it was less than desirable to read. I also replaced accompanying news photos, which in most cases I used an actual original news photo, cropping it exact to restore and improve the article. Also, you will find images where I took the liberty of adding them to the pages from my many years of consolidating material and placed them were they were most appropriate. After all is said and done, I think you'll find the results satisfactory.

Below I've listed the article's headline and its newspaper source that are contained in the PDF files. However, you will not be privy to these articles until they are launched on the same date of this year. I am releasing today, the first pre-June 16, 1959 installment. Rise and shine, early June 16th of this month, I will launch the June 16, 1959 articles, and so on.

So why release these articles? Well, TAC has become the place of anything and everything historically related to George Reeves. We've covered many aspects of George's life with tremendous fun, and at varied times his death. Covering details of his death, on the other hand, has not been fun. Speculation about what happened that night is a path we tend to avoid. I agree with Jim Nolt when he says, "How George died is what's always been the problem... and the one it does no good to speculate on." It is sad to think about, but yet it is an extremely intriguing subject to say the least. Jim would also say, "Any articles relating the facts of his death are, indeed, proper material for TAC."

If you are a full fledged fan of George Reeves, I'm sure you wished things had turned out much differently for our friend, but [as is] it is important you have the opportunity to read these articles if the subject contains any personal interests for you. We can only imagine where George Reeves would have gone on to had things been different in those last few hours of his life, or few months, or even years. His was a life most undeservingly cut short as a result of a series of events and ultimately a tragic means.

'Superman' Loses Seven-Year Job - December 3, 1957, Source unknown.

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet, But He Stll Couldn't Get a Job - The Florence Times, June 13, 1958

'Superman' George Reeves Plans Science Fiction Series - Reading Eagle, June 14, 1958

Merry-Go-Round - The Miami News, January 6, 1959

TV Superman Hero Injured in Auto Crash - Los Angeles Mirror News, April 9, 1959

Superman Hurt - NY Daily News, April 9, 1959

The Week in Review - Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1959

Top Secret - Los Angeles Times, May 10, 1959

It's A Bird! A Plane! It's Reeves - A Job For Superman? He Lets George Do It - Los Angeles Times, May 10, 1959

Superman Star George Reeves Is Found Dead - Hollywood Citizen News

TV Superman Kills Himself With Gun - Los Angeles Mirror News

Today's PDF file is of the evening newspaper releases of June 16 1959, and by the same time of this morning George had already died. The newspapers attached had not yet been released to the public until the late afternoon.

In the morning hours of June 16, 1959, Pat Ellsworth would soon be on her way to her work office in New York City, when she heard the tragic news on the radio. Once reaching her place of business, Pat made a long distance telephone call to her parents (Whit and Jane Ellsworth) in California to tell them of the news she'd just heard.

In effect, I've released these newspapers earlier in the day to allow you time to absorb them at your leisure. Tomorrow's release is 16 pages of news clippings. You'll likely find much of the initial exposure of information to be redundant as the news was spreading across the country. The news would spread like wildfire to the dismay of millions of children as they began their day and started hearing about it in school. Regardless of the various redundancy of info you are reading, it remains riveting as it and the days that follows unravel.

While I'd much prefer to say to you "happy readings," this is not that kind of feature. In fact, I doubt there won't be a deep breath taken and a moment needed by you the readers to reflect on an amazing life so tragically cut short, so young. LK - June 16, 2011 - Thursday - 7 a.m.

Fed Up With Role - TV's Superman Kills Himself - Los Angeles Mirror News

'Superman's' Death Rocks Young Fans - Los Angeles Mirror News

'Superman Suicide as Wedding Day Nears - Los Angeles Examiner

'Superman Killed By Broken Heart - Los Angeles Evening Herald

George Reeves, TV Superman, Commits Suicide at Coast Home - The New York Times

Superman Kills Himself; Fiancee Called the Shot - New York Daily News

Why 'Superman' Killed Self &  Lenore: Supergal in Headlines - New York Mirror (not complete)

Superman Is Suicide - TV Superman Ends His Life With Bullet - New York Post

Reeves, Superman of TV, Kills Himself in His Home - Los Angeles Times

Human Weakness Killed 'Superman' - New York Newsday

Actor Reeves' Mother Starts Death Inquiry - Los Angeles Times

'Superman's' Death Puzzles L.A. Police - Desert News and Telegram

Superman's Mother Hires Lawyer To Probe Suicide - Oscala Star Banner

Superman Autopsy By Coroner - Los Angeles Mirror News

Superman's Estate Left to Wife of Friend - Los Angeles Times

Superman's Death Probed, Relatives Question Suicide Verdict - The Florence Times

Police Reopen Probe Into 'Superman' Death; Mother to Fight Will - The Citizen

Doubts Suicide of Superman, His Mother Demands Probe - New York Daily News

Mysteries Still Surround Death of Actor George Reeves, TV 'Superman' - Ocala Star-Banner

Television's Superman Shot Self, Coroner Finds - Ottawa Citizen News

Rule Superman Did Kill Self - New York Daily News

Superman's Accusation of Woman In Will Revealed - Los Angeles Examiner

TV's Superman's Suicide Verified - Los Angeles Mirror News

Coroner Finds Shooting of Superman Suicide - Los Angeles Times

Mother Due Today to Fight Superman Will - Los Angeles Times

Superman's Girl Silent on Pistol Shots - New York Post

TV's Superman Was Suicide - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

Superman Is Leaving Mysteries Behind Him - The Tuscaloosa News

2 Bullet Holes In Reeves' Room - The Victoria Advocate

More Bullets Found In Actor's Home - Greensboro Daily News

Giesler Doubts Superman Suicide, Looks For Motive - Los Angeles Mirror

Two More Bullet Holes Deepen Reeves Mystery - Los Angeles Times

Superman's Girl Faces Gun Quiz - New York Daily News

Suicide Theory Is Maintained - Spokane Daily Chronical

Superman's Mother and Atty. Giesler Confer - Los Angeles Times

Giesler Enters TV Superman Suicide Case - Lodi News Sentinel

Superman's Mother In Home Visit - Los Angeles Examiner

Funeral Set For TV Superman - Los Angeles Times

Reeves Rites Wednesday - Hollywood Citizen News

Pallbearers Named Superman - Los Angeles Mirror News

Fiancee Took Gun Away From Superman Once Before - The Modesto Bee

Fiancee Took Gun Away From Reeves - Hopkinsville Kentucky News

Few Teens at Reeves' Last Rites - Los Angeles Mirror News

Superman's Mother Praises Independent - Pasadena Independent

Probate Court Gets George Reeves Will - Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1959

Investigation Delay's Burial of 'Superman - Los Angeles Times, Jan. 24, 1960

Superman Death Probe Continues - Hollywood Citizen News, Jan. 25, 1960

Superman Body Still in Crypt In Cincinnati - Los Angeles Times, Jan. 25, 1960

'Superman's' Mother, Who Fought Suicide Label, Dies in Pasadena - Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1964

Advertising: TV Getting Superman in Color - New York Time, September 16, 1965

In the upcoming months we'll explore some of the issues contained in these articles. For now, I hope you find these interesting.

Lou (June 4, 2011)  

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