It has been called one of Hollywood's
most famous murder mysteries.
On June 16th, 1959, actor George Reeves, the star of the very popular
television series 'Superman', died from a single gunshot to his head.
There are some serious suspects.
Filled with mysterious and
suspicious circumstances, the death of George Reeves is still debated worldwide.
Was it murder... or suicide?
I have studied the George Reeves case for many years.
I am a fan of George Reeves. I like the guy; I wish that I had met him.
Here are some articles that I have written that I think you will enjoy.
The police said it was 'difficult to determine just who all had been in the house that night...'
George's maybe future wife, Lenore Lemmon, said Polly Adler had come to the house,
the very night that George Reeves died...
Polly was famous for running a high class whore house in NYC.
Polly was a friend of Lenore.
Whether you call her Lenore or Leonore,
I think she was more than her bad reputation.
She openly admitted that she had been a party girl. She laughed about it.
She was also a gold digger.
But, I do not believe she killed him.
Radio actor and announcer Harry Bartell
is stabbed... by George Reeves!
The 26 new episodes
What the heck was that all about?
Yes, they were going to film brand new color episodes.
Everyone knew about it, and yet... nothing ever happened.
I believe that George was indeed contacted by National Comics about new filming.
He was the only person contacted. Jack Larson did not receive an urgent cablegram.
Whatever was said with National, George had the idea that it was going to happen.
He told a number of people that they were going back before the cameras to film 26 new episodes.
Nothing ever happened...
I believe this failure to get the new filming underway,
was one of the factors leading to George Reeves' death.
The deal was $20,000 plus expenses. George and everyone were deluding themselves
with a pie in the sky idea.
George Reeves was 45 years old. He was under a lot of pressure.
He had been unable to find an acting job. He needed to get out of his home, out of his depression.
He also needed an actual agent, but he didn't have one.
He had a very angry Toni Mannix, who had literally stolen his dog.
And then there was Lenore...
Behind his nice smile, George was a man with a lot of pressure on him.
It's easy to find a conspiracy. There is a great cast of suspects.
Lenore had slept with gangsters. She told me, "I loved Frank Costello."
Toni Mannix, a woman with a lot of money, a woman scorned...
Her husband, Eddie, head of MGM studios, who hated to see his wife hurt,
... and Powerful Hollywood.
Here's the only known photo... of Bill Bliss. He arrived at the house after midnight, alone.
The story that he came with Carol Van Ronkel is not true. She was already in the house, drunk and
passed out in bed with houseguest Bobby Condon.
The photo was provided by his wife, Janet.
He remains an enigma.
(Photo courtesy Lou Koza) Here's George, Toni and his beloved dog, Sam.
George Reeves and Toni Mannix were a wonderful Hollywood couple.
They had 'dated' for almost nine years.
Her husband, Eddie, knew and approved of their relationship.
But, as it happens so many times, one of them was losing interest.
She was starting to show her age, and George was either going through a mid-life crisis,
or he was just growing tired of the relationship.
George and Toni had a very ugly break up.
Lenore Lemmon had entered the scene...
This is Art Weissman, in a TV tabloid program.
He was George's agent and manager, but he didn't know his way around the Hollywood studios.
Art was a good and loyal friend to George, but he was not the agent that was needed.
I blame him for most of George's failures to get acting jobs.
This is Eddie Mannix at MGM studios. He was one of the most powerful people in Hollywood.
Some people feared him.
Other people liked him. Everyone respected him. (Thanks to Lou Koza)