I was watching the George Reeves segment today and noticed that Jim Beaver was interviewed on it as a "George Reeves Biographer". Jim Beaver is an actor who starred in the TV series "Deadwood" and also currently stars on the CW's "Supernatural". Being a fan of "Supernatural", I thought it was pretty cool that he was actually interviewed on UM.

Not to derail this too much, but...does anyone have any thoughts on the death of George Reeves? I read a book last year that made a very compelling argument for the meshing of two theories pertaining to Reeves' death - the theory that Reeves was accidentally shot during a domestic dispute with his fiancee Leonore Lemon, and the theory that MGM VP Eddie Mannix had a hand in covering up the crime and using his connections with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office to declare Reeves' death a suicide.

It is documented fact that George Reeves had been in a romantic relationship for years with Toni Mannix, Eddie Mannix's wife. Eddie himself was General Manager and Vice President of MGM Studios at the time and had quite a reputation of cleaning up problems that would tarnish the studio's reputation and those of it's actors and actresses. For example, Mannix supposedly had a hand in cleaning up a situation where a drunk Clark Gable killed a pedestrian while driving and left the scene. Someone else at the studio ended up taking the fall and accepting responsibility for Gable's accident. Anyhow, Eddie and Toni had an open marriage, and all indications are that Eddie knew of the affair between his wife and Reeves.

While working on a film in New York, Reeves met and fell in love with another woman - aspiring actress Leonore Lemon. After returning to LA, Reeves ended his relationship with Toni Mannix - a move that devastated Toni. She began stalking Reeves, trying to run him off the road, making hundreds of hangup calls and even allegedly stealing his dog in retribution.

Anyhow, the theory suggests that Lemon, who had a reputation as a hothead, got into a fight with Reeves on the night of his death, most likely because he told her he had changed his mind about marrying her. Supposedly she was threatening Reeves with the Luger, a struggle ensued and she shot him. Oddly enough, Lemon waited 45 minutes to call the police after the shooting, and the party guests who were in the house with Reeves and Lemon told inconsistent and conflicting stories about what allegedly happened. Lemon herself changed her story several times in the days and weeks that followed.

Supposedly, Eddie Mannix stepped in and arranged a coverup to protect Toni. He didn't want it to be known that she and Reeves were romantically involved. He was also afraid that her bizarre stalkerish behavior might peg her as a suspect in Reeves' death should Lemon be prosecuted and her defense attorney ultimately looking for a scapegoat. So, Reeves' death had to be ruled a suicide.

I must say it's the best explanation I've heard for Reeves death and pretty much accounts for all the known evidence, including the slipshod investigation conducted by the police and the coroner's office. Unfortunately, people have insinuated that Mannix's involvement in the coverup was to hide the fact that he had hired a hitman to kill Reeves. Not impossible, but there is no evidence. A hitman theory also doesn't explain the 45 minute delay before calling the cops, Lemon's and the partygoer's inconsistent stories, nor the extra bullet holes found in the floor of Reeves' bedroom.

I actually had a similar type of situation not too long ago when I rewatched the Tommy Zeigler segment. I'd completely forgotten that Jeff Ashton was interviewed and went: "Oh wow, that's the prosecutor from the Casey Anthony case".

Not to derail this too much, but...does anyone have any thoughts on the death of George Reeves?

I think Jim Beaver pretty muched summed up my thoughts on the case...Reeves was depressed and shot himself. Reeves allegedly oiled his guns to clean them which would have accounted for the lack of fingerprints on the gun and the lack of powder burns on Reeves's hands. He also says that the gun used in Reeves death (if held a certain way) would have ejected a cartridge that could have landed behind Reeves body.

I think Jim Beaver pretty muched summed up my thoughts on the case...Reeves was depressed and shot himself. Reeves allegedly oiled his guns to clean them which would have accounted for the lack of fingerprints on the gun and the lack of powder burns on Reeves's hands. He also says that the gun used in Reeves death (if held a certain way) would have ejected a cartridge that could have landed behind Reeves body.

Have you ever seen Hollywoodland? If so, any thoughts?