Celebrity Death Certificates


Book Description

Marilyn Monroe died at 36. Her death certificate lists "Acute Barbiturate Poisoning. Ingestion of Overdose" as the cause. Just below that line, you can see that the person who issued her death certificate typed "Probable Suicide." Many people question whether her death was a suicide, an accident, or possibly a homicide. A death certificate is an intriguing document. It encapsulates a person's life story on one page--the birthplace, parents, education, length of career, residence, time, place, and cause of death and finally, what happened to the remains. The information required for a death certificate can vary since each state looks at it differently. California regards them as public documents. Texas and New York makes them available only to family members and others showing a direct need. Satisfying curiosity is not considered a need. John Belushi, John Denver, George Harrison, Truman Capote, "Fred and Ginger" and Frank Sinatra are just a few of the 182 Hollywood notables from the Silent Era to today whose intriguing death certificates are collected here--fascinating!




Celebrity Death Certificates 2


Book Description

Literally the last word for Hollywood trivia buffs, a celebrity death certificate is also strangely compelling. Its matter-of-fact reportage makes the famous ordinary, illuminating previously well-lit profiles with the unfiltered light of the everyday. A death certificate may also reveal information that stars assiduously concealed, such as actual birthdates. In California, home to many of Hollywood's brightest stars, death certificates are a matter of public record--and consequently an untapped mine of information. This follow-up to M.F. Steen's previous collection (2003) reproduces in full 169 of the death certificates of the entertainment industry's dearly departed. Brief biographical notes are included, listing birth and professional name as well as notable film, TV and entertainment credits. Mel Blanc, Lorne Greene, John Ritter, Gregory Peck, and Ronald Reagan are just a few of Hollywood's notables whose death certificates are collected here.




Celebrity Death Certificates 2


Book Description

"This follow-up to M.F. Steen's previous collection (2003) reproduces in full 169 of the death certificates of the entertainment industry's dearly departed. Brief biographical notes are included, listing birth and professional name as well as notable film, TV and entertainment credits"--Provided by publisher.




Celebrity Death Certificates 3


Book Description

"From previous editions: "fascinating...recommend[ed]"--Classic Images; "fascinating...excellent job...informative"--Big Reel; "fascinating...unique"--ARBA; "definitely...of interest to Hollywood trivia buffs"--Valley Scene Magazine; "a unique reading experience...intriguing"--Associated Content; "Mike Steen REALLY knows where the bodies are buried in Hollywood...fascinating"--National Enquirer; "definitely...of interest to Hollywood trivia buffs"--Bookstew"--Provided by publisher.




The Big Book of Celebrity Autopsies


Book Description

From JFK to Marilyn--the morbid, medical, and mysterious facts behind the most famous celebrity deaths. When a life ends tragically whether by violence or accident, pathologists perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. It is a methodical, morbid, and necessary task. These autopsy reports, often filled with medical terminology and intriguing diagrams of the bodies we knew so well from their lives on the big screen, offer an unusual insight into the nature of death itself. The reports you'll find here provide a fascinating glimpse into the underworld that hovers just beyond the reach of the living. Includes the autopsy files or transcriptions from dozens of famous people including: Presidents: Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy Politicians: Simon Bolivar, Adolf Hitler, Vladmir Lenin, and Malcolm X Assassins and Criminals: Lee Harvey Oswald, Jesse James, and Bonnie and Clyde Musicians and Movie Stars:Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Notorious B.I.G., Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, and Ludwig Van Beethoven In a world more obsessed with celebrity than ever before, these reports are a sobering reminder of how fleeting real fame can be--and how destructive and dangerous as well. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.




The Whole Death Catalog


Book Description

In the tradition of Mary Roach’s bestselling Stiff and Jessica Mitford’s classic exposé The American Way of Death comes this meticulously researched, refreshingly irreverent, and lavishly illustrated look at death from acclaimed author Harold Schechter. With his trademark fearlessness and bracing sense of humor, Schechter digs deep into a wealth of sources to unearth a treasure trove of surprising facts, amusing anecdotes, practical information, and timeless wisdom about that undiscovered country to which we will all one day travel. Topics include • Death anxiety–is your fear of death normal or off the scale? • You can’t take it with you . . . or can you? Wacky wills and bizarre bequests • The hospice experience–going out in comfort and style • Deathbed and funeral etiquette–how to help the dying and mourn the dead with dignity • Death on demand–why the right-to-die movement may be the next big thing • “Good-bye everybody”–famous last words • The embalmer’s art–all dressed up and nowhere to go • Behind the scenes at your local funeral home • Alternative burial choices–from coral reefs to outer space From the cold, hard facts of death to lessons in the art of dying well, from what happens in the body’s last living moments to what transpires in the ground or in the furnace, from near-death experiences to speculation on the afterlife, The Whole Death Catalog leaves no gravestone unturned.




Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters


Book Description

Any episode of a crime or mystery series involves some or all of the following: the perpetration of a crime; its investigation; the analytical process which involves the determination of the villain; the arrest and trial of the culprit; and the handing out of the appropriate punishment. Such series involving the exploits of a wide variety of courageous heroes and heroines were very popular during the 1950s, and they featured a host of actors and actresses, including famous television detectives (e.g., Raymond Burr), those famous in other genres (e.g., Boris Karloff, Charles Bronson), and over 250 other players with recurring roles. This reference work lists every player who had a regular role in a crime or mystery series during the early era of television. All covered series offered live or filmed episodes of a crime or mystery nature, and all were shown on American television. All series had either regular stars or a recognizable host. Entries cover the player's real name, family information and education; how the player originally broke into show business; the player's career preceding the series; and his or her marriage, children, death date, and film and television credits. Appendices provide a catalog of American mystery series and a list of regular mystery series players whose roles began after December 31, 1959.







Resting Places


Book Description

In its third edition, this massive reference work lists the final resting places of more than 14,000 people from a wide range of fields, including politics, the military, the arts, crime, sports and popular culture. Many entries are new to this edition. Each listing provides birth and death dates, a brief summary of the subject's claim to fame and their burial site location or as much as is known. Grave location within a cemetery is provided in many cases, as well as places of cremation and sites where ashes were scattered. Source information is provided.




Jazz and Death


Book Description

Jazz and Death: Reception, Rituals, and Representations critically examines the myriad and complex interactions between jazz and death, from the New Orleans "jazz funeral" to jazz in heaven or hell, final recordings, jazz monuments, and the music’s own presumed death. It looks at how fans, critics, journalists, historians, writers, the media, and musicians have narrated, mythologized, and relayed those stories. What causes the fascination of the jazz world with its deaths? What does it say about how our culture views jazz and its practitioners? Is jazz somehow a fatal culture? The narratives surrounding jazz and death cast a light on how the music and its creators are perceived. Stories of jazz musicians typically bring up different tropes, ranging from the tragic, misunderstood genius to the notion that virtuosity somehow comes at a price. Many of these narratives tend to perpetuate the gendered and racialized stereotypes that have been part of jazz’s history. In the end, the ideas that encompass jazz and death help audiences find meaning in a complex musical practice and come to grips with the passing of their revered musical heroes -- and possibly with their own mortality.