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The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
Imagine watching a local news-related show when the anchor takes out a gun and shoots herself live on air.
It happened in Sarasota, Florida in 1974 and those who saw it have never forgotten the moment. It involved a broadcaster named Christine Chubbuck, who suffered from depression she mostly kept hidden until that fateful day. She had a difficult life off screen but no one expected it to spill onto live television.
"During her final live broadcast, Chubbuck said: "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in 'blood and guts', and in living colour, you are going to see another first – attempted suicide." She then went on to shoot herself."
Shocked viewers frantically called police but it was too late. She died in hospital several hours later.
The tape on the incident has been locked away forever and has ever been shown again. But you can imagine the trauma for those who saw it happen live on air. A thankfully rare moment in broadcasting that hopefully no one will ever witness again.
Viewers watched in horror as TV presenter died live on air
- Shorty Wave
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Re: The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
Sounds a lot like the movie “Network” from 1976, where Peter Finch’s news anchor character threatens to shoot himself live on air. Remember his big line, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”? I have heard that this type of thing has happened but I didn’t know specifics. Sad story.
- bmaudioworks
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Re: The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
Coincidentally, last night I was reading about the R. Budd Dwyer (former Pennsylvania state treasurer) suicide on live TV in 1987. Saw a clip of it years ago, including when he pulled the trigger, but it's probably since been scrubbed from YouTube etc.
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Re: The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
bmaudioworks wrote:
Coincidentally, last night I was reading about the R. Budd Dwyer (former Pennsylvania state treasurer) suicide on live TV in 1987. Saw a clip of it years ago, including when he pulled the trigger, but it's probably since been scrubbed from YouTube etc.
I remember that footage very well and it reminded me of what happened in Sarasota. Very sad and thankfully, very rare.
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Thread Starter- SpinningWheel
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Re: The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
Coincidentally, last night I was reading about the R. Budd Dwyer (former Pennsylvania state treasurer) suicide on live TV in 1987. Saw a clip of it years ago, including when he pulled the trigger, but it's probably since been scrubbed from YouTube etc.
I found it at archive.org. Gruesome.
The Final Moments of Budd Dwyer
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Re: The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
It is extremely disturbing, but I can't help but notice that the cameraman zoomed straight in on the guy's face, as blood dripped from every orifice and kept it locked on him. That's his job, of course, but you also have to wonder if maybe there was a little too much of that.
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Thread Starter- Fleadh
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Re: The Day A Local Achor KIlled Herself On Air During A Newscast
They made a movie about it a decade or so ago, Christine. Worth a watch because Rebecca Hall gives a fantastic, cringey performance (in a good way, like the similarly obsessed, obtuse performances of De Niro in King of Comedy and Penn in The Assassination of Richard Nixon).
Seems to have left Kanopy, not sure where it'd be at now.