Christine Chubbuck (partially found on-air suicide footage of television news reporter; 1974): Difference between revisions
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Chubbuck originally worked at Channel 40 (ie. WXLT-TV, now WWSB, a small market channel in Florida) as an evening news reporter, later moving on to host a morning community affairs talk show titled ''Suncoast Digest''; July 15 began much as any other day, until Chubbuck, just before ''Suncoast Digest'' was due to go to air, declared that she needed to read a newscast beforehand, confusing co-workers (as this was something she had never done before). Oblivious to her real intentions, the audience casually watched her read the newscast for eight minutes, as she covered three national stories. When she got to the fourth story (ie. that of a shooting at a local restaurant), the reel jammed, prompting her to shrug, nonchalantly turn towards the camera and proclaim "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living color, you are going to see another first - attempted suicide." Chubbuck then drew a revolver that she had hidden in her bag, placed it behind her right ear and pulled the trigger, immediately slumping forward violently onto her desk, as the technical director scrambled to fade rapidly to black. | Chubbuck originally worked at Channel 40 (ie. WXLT-TV, now WWSB, a small market channel in Florida) as an evening news reporter, later moving on to host a morning community affairs talk show titled ''Suncoast Digest''; July 15 began much as any other day, until Chubbuck, just before ''Suncoast Digest'' was due to go to air, declared that she needed to read a newscast beforehand, confusing co-workers (as this was something she had never done before). Oblivious to her real intentions, the audience casually watched her read the newscast for eight minutes, as she covered three national stories. When she got to the fourth story (ie. that of a shooting at a local restaurant), the reel jammed, prompting her to shrug, nonchalantly turn towards the camera and proclaim "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living color, you are going to see another first - attempted suicide." Chubbuck then drew a revolver that she had hidden in her bag, placed it behind her right ear and pulled the trigger, immediately slumping forward violently onto her desk, as the technical director scrambled to fade rapidly to black. | ||
Many viewers who witnessed the broadcast proceeded to phone both the police and the station itself, some of the belief that it was nothing more than a morbid joke (some of the WXLT-TV staff members have even recounted that they too initially doubted the legitimacy of what had happened, on first impression also believing it to be a prank of some kind). After being rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, it was discovered by WXLT-TV news director Mike Simmons that Chubbuck had left behind both a follow-up news story describing her suicide attempt (in which she accurately predicted that she would be taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital) and a suicide note (in which she said goodbye to her co-workers and loved ones, also expressing the chilling sentiment that she wanted "everyone" to see the broadcast). | Many viewers who witnessed the broadcast proceeded to phone both the police and the station itself, some of the belief that it was nothing more than a morbid joke (some of the WXLT-TV staff members have even recounted that they too initially doubted the legitimacy of what had happened, on first impression also believing it to be a prank of some kind). After being rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, it was discovered by WXLT-TV news director Mike Simmons that Chubbuck had left behind both a follow-up news story describing her suicide attempt (in which she accurately predicted that she would be taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital) and a suicide note (in which she said goodbye to her co-workers and loved ones, also expressing the chilling sentiment that she wanted "everyone" to see the broadcast); she was pronounced dead the following day. | ||
Shortly thereafter, an injunction was brought against Channel 40 (by Chubbuck's family) preventing them from ever releasing the footage of her death; the master copy was then allegedly handed over to the family, who are said to have destroyed it. | |||
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As the broadcast aired in 1974, and several primitive forms of videocassette recorders were released in the early 1970s (such as the U-matic, which came out in 1971), it is entirely possible (albeit unlikely) that another recording exists elsewhere, although until proof of such a recording is unearthed, the video is generally accepted as being impossible to obtain. Having said that, there ''are'' some people who claim to have seen the footage via a variety of sources including early internet sites, FBI training videos, and'' Faces of Death'' knock-offs;<ref>[http://www.findadeath.com/forum/showthread.php?4399-Christine-Chubbuck Ongoing Christine Chubbuck thread at findadeath.com, in which various people claim to have seen the footage after its initial 1974 broadcast.] Retrieved 05 Jul '13.</ref> however, until any solid proof surfaces, these claims remain nothing more than hearsay. | As the broadcast aired in 1974, and several primitive forms of videocassette recorders were released in the early 1970s (such as the U-matic, which came out in 1971), it is entirely possible (albeit unlikely) that another recording exists elsewhere, although until proof of such a recording is unearthed, the video is generally accepted as being impossible to obtain. Having said that, there ''are'' some people who claim to have seen the footage via a variety of sources including early internet sites, FBI training videos, and'' Faces of Death'' knock-offs;<ref>[http://www.findadeath.com/forum/showthread.php?4399-Christine-Chubbuck Ongoing Christine Chubbuck thread at findadeath.com, in which various people claim to have seen the footage after its initial 1974 broadcast.] Retrieved 05 Jul '13.</ref> however, until any solid proof surfaces, these claims remain nothing more than hearsay. | ||
Revision as of 04:05, 8 October 2014
Christine Chubbuck hosting an episode of Suncoast Digest.
Status: Lost
On the morning of July 15, 1974, American talk show host Christine Chubbuck (then 29 years old) shot herself in the head on live television, following a fierce battle with depression. The now notoriously elusive broadcast stunned audiences, making headlines worldwide and marking the first time that a suicide was ever shown on TV.
Chubbuck originally worked at Channel 40 (ie. WXLT-TV, now WWSB, a small market channel in Florida) as an evening news reporter, later moving on to host a morning community affairs talk show titled Suncoast Digest; July 15 began much as any other day, until Chubbuck, just before Suncoast Digest was due to go to air, declared that she needed to read a newscast beforehand, confusing co-workers (as this was something she had never done before). Oblivious to her real intentions, the audience casually watched her read the newscast for eight minutes, as she covered three national stories. When she got to the fourth story (ie. that of a shooting at a local restaurant), the reel jammed, prompting her to shrug, nonchalantly turn towards the camera and proclaim "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living color, you are going to see another first - attempted suicide." Chubbuck then drew a revolver that she had hidden in her bag, placed it behind her right ear and pulled the trigger, immediately slumping forward violently onto her desk, as the technical director scrambled to fade rapidly to black.
Many viewers who witnessed the broadcast proceeded to phone both the police and the station itself, some of the belief that it was nothing more than a morbid joke (some of the WXLT-TV staff members have even recounted that they too initially doubted the legitimacy of what had happened, on first impression also believing it to be a prank of some kind). After being rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, it was discovered by WXLT-TV news director Mike Simmons that Chubbuck had left behind both a follow-up news story describing her suicide attempt (in which she accurately predicted that she would be taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital) and a suicide note (in which she said goodbye to her co-workers and loved ones, also expressing the chilling sentiment that she wanted "everyone" to see the broadcast); she was pronounced dead the following day.
Shortly thereafter, an injunction was brought against Channel 40 (by Chubbuck's family) preventing them from ever releasing the footage of her death; the master copy was then allegedly handed over to the family, who are said to have destroyed it.
As the broadcast aired in 1974, and several primitive forms of videocassette recorders were released in the early 1970s (such as the U-matic, which came out in 1971), it is entirely possible (albeit unlikely) that another recording exists elsewhere, although until proof of such a recording is unearthed, the video is generally accepted as being impossible to obtain. Having said that, there are some people who claim to have seen the footage via a variety of sources including early internet sites, FBI training videos, and Faces of Death knock-offs;[1] however, until any solid proof surfaces, these claims remain nothing more than hearsay.
-along with her notes was a suicide note, saying goodbye to co-workers and loved ones, noting that she wanted to do this and wanted everybody to see it
-before broadcasting her suicide she seemed particularly enthusiastic and in a much better-than-normal mood
-co-workers quickly noticed blood and her body quivering
-she detested the fact that the station focused on violent "blood and guts" reporting, emphasising sensationalism over serious journalism
-prior to her death, 1974 she volunteered to produce a feature on suicide. she interviewed the sherrif, in which she asked how someone would commit suicide. he then proceeded to tell her which bullets and which pistol were most effective.
-she said something to the effect of “wouldn't it be wild if I blew myself away on the air” to co-workers
-chubbuck's family was granted an injunction preventing the tape from being released