Christine Chubbuck

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Christine Chubbuck (born August 24, 1944 in Hudson , Ohio , † July 15, 1974 in Sarasota , Florida , also known as Chris Hubbock ) was a presenter of the American television station WXLT-TV . She died of suicide in front of the camera .

personality

In Christine Chubbuck, the self-confident, conscientious journalist was faced with a privately very intimidated woman who was marked by panic at the gate , who was often unable to drive home alone. Chubbuck never had a relationship in her short life, and was a member of the Dateless Wonders club in high school . One year before her act, she had an ovary removed, and the doctors advised her to take care of her family planning soon. Shortly before her 30th birthday, she lived with her siblings with her mother. Her suicide was no surprise to her family, and she announced it two days before the crime. Chubbuck was under medical treatment for her depression . Under her table in the studio there was always a bag with the pills she needed during a broadcast. The revolver was in that pocket that day.

Preparation and public suicide

Three weeks before her suicide, Christine Chubbuck asked the editor-in-chief if she could broadcast "Something About Suicide." After he happily agreed, Chubbuck made an appointment with a local police suicide specialist. In the survey, the policeman said that one of the most effective methods of suicide, the use of a .38 - revolver with a Wadcutter was -Geschoss. In addition, the weapon should not be aimed at the temple, but at the back of the head. This is exactly the procedure she used in her act. A week before her suicide, she told a staff member that she had obtained a gun and joked about killing herself in front of the cameras. Two days earlier, she had a conversation with her younger brother and announced her intention, but not for the first time.

On July 15, 1974 at 9:38 am, 8 minutes after her program Suncoast Digest began broadcasting on WXLT-TV, Christine Chubbuck pulled out her .38 revolver and shot herself in the head. It is the first known case in which a person killed himself live in front of the cameras. She died in hospital 14 hours later.

Contrary to her usual attitude, she had ordered pictures of a shooting. When technical problems arose and the broadcast was delayed, the journalist smiled to the astonishment of her colleagues and began to read out a script she had written. Meanwhile, her right arm slipped under the table and took out the revolver.

Her last known words are:

"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."

"In keeping with Channel 40's tradition of bringing you the latest blood and disgust news live and in color, you are now seeing another, an attempted suicide."

- Christine Chubbuck : Suncoast Digest TV show on July 15, 1974

The show's tech manager saw her pull the gun and reacted with presence of mind so the screen went black just before the gun went off; the bang, however, was loud and clear. Her colleagues first thought of a joke and angrily rushed to her, which suddenly changed as they approached. The script Chubbuck wrote for her show that day detailed how she would be driven to the hospital and how it would be explained that her condition was critical. She also said goodbye to her colleagues and reiterated her decision to commit suicide in public.

After the fact

Her body was cremated and the ashes were thrown into the sea by her mother at a funeral service to the music of Roberta Flack . 120 mourners, including their colleagues, were present. Her show was not canceled, the reason given by her superior was that her suicide had nothing to do with the station, but with panic at the end of the day . The recordings of the crime were kept under lock and key by the owner of the station until his death and then handed over to his widow. According to its own information, this commissioned a large law firm with the custody and had no intention of publication.

Greg Chubbuck first spoke publicly about his sister's death in 2007.

This incident served Paddy Chayefsky as inspiration for his script for the 1976 film network, which won four Academy Awards . Directed by Antonio Campos and starring Rebecca Hall in the role of Christine Chubbuck, the film "Christine" was made, which was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Was shown in 2016 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The show must go on.
  2. ↑ Safekeeping of the video
  3. ↑ Christine (2016) in the Internet Movie Database (English)
  4. ↑ Christine . Sundance Film Festival website , accessed February 1, 2016.
personal data
SURNAME Chubbuck, Christine
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American news anchor who committed suicide on camera
DATE OF BIRTH August 24, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH Hudson , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH 15th July 1974
Place of death Sarasota , Florida