June 16, 1999 London, England Screaming Lord Sutch, born David Edward Sutch, hangs himself after losing a battle with depression Sutch was one of the pioneers of shock rock, holding horror-themed concerts dressed as Jack the Ripper, making his entrance by emerging from a coffin and employing the use of prop knives, daggers, skulls, and…
Children eager for toys stampede at theater, causing 183 deaths
June 16, 1883 Sunderland, England Children push passed and over each other to get free toys, killing 183 children between 3 and 14 The children had attended a variety show advertising itself as “the greatest treat for children ever given” and featuring “conjuring, talking waxworks, living marionettes, the great ghost illusion, &c.” for the price…
The death of Superman
June 16, 1959 Los Angeles, California Actor George Reeves is killed, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Reeves had appeared in many movies during his career, but is best remembered for the titular role in the television serial The Adventures of Superman. He reluctantly took the role, as television at the time was considered greatly…
George Stinney Jr.: youngest person executed in the 20th century in the US
June 16, 1944 Columbia, South Carolina George Stinney Jr. is executed by electrocution at the age of 14, becoming the youngest executed criminal in the 20th Century in the United States Stinney was convicted of the deaths of two girls, ages 8 and 11. The girls had been beaten to death with a piece of…