marno@ihuxm.UUCP (10/23/84)
I've heard a rumor that Jon-Eric Huxom of Cover-Up died last week from a freak accident involving a blank gun. From what I understand, his brain is legally dead. I was told that he starred in some movie, but I've never seen this t.v. show and I don't know what the movie is. Who is this person and what happened to cause this freak accident?
lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (10/23/84)
Huxom's death was not a "freak" accident at all. It was, however, a stupid accident. Apparently (and I haven't had a chance to speak to the people I know over at Fox yet) he was playing "Russian Roulette" with a .44 loaded with several blanks (remaining chambers empty). In his television show, he was supposedly an ex-marine weapons expert. In real life, he knew little about arms and apparently had not been told about how blanks work. He put the gun to his temple and hit a chamber with a blank. The blank's cotten wadding blew a quarter-sized chunk of his skull to the center of his brain. Aren't guns fun? --Lauren--
rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) (10/24/84)
I'm kind of amazed that they use real blank cartridges in the TV prop guns, instead of something more like caps. I know the sound wouldn't be right, but couldn't that be added later? Also, if they had to use real blanks, you'd think that there would be a mimeographed sheet or something passed out to all people on the set who had to use the prop guns, explaining rudimentary safety precautions that applied to the blank-filled guns. Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611
lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (10/25/84)
There are already questions being raised about the issue of the studio's responsibility regarding firearm safety "training" in this matter. I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of lawsuits result, if it turns out that proper notification/training was not given. --Lauren--
cs4911ay@unm-cvax.UUCP (10/25/84)
[It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a -- ] > From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) > > ... > > He put the gun to his temple and hit a chamber with a blank. > The blank's cotten wadding blew a quarter-sized chunk of his skull > to the center of his brain. Aren't guns fun? > --Lauren-- Yes, guns can be fun. Target practice and skeet shooting are mildly entertaining, and some people seem to enjoy hunting (I can't quite understand it, but it's true). It is true, however, that guns, as with any other dangerous instrument, are to be handled with a certain amount of caution and respect. If one is an idiot, one should not play with guns. Fact of the matter is, I suspect what really killed old John-Erik was the force of the explosive compression when the air from outside rushed in through the hole and filled the vacuum in his skull. I think my signature line pretty much says it all. -- Mike Conley U.N.M., Albuquerque, NM "Think of it as evolution in action."
sail@mhuxr.UUCP (GORMLEY) (10/25/84)
> I've heard a rumor that Jon-Eric Huxom of Cover-Up died last > week from a freak accident involving a blank gun. From what > I understand, his brain is legally dead. I was told that he > starred in some movie, but I've never seen this t.v. show and > I don't know what the movie is. Who is this person and what > happened to cause this freak accident? Followup on the death of Jon-Eric Huxom: His parents have the Screen Actors Guild investigating why the prop gun was loaded with "loaded" blanks. There is also talk of filing a multi- million dollar lawsuit against 20th Century Fox(?) They have also found a replacement for Jon-Eric on "Cover-Up", and his name is to be announced shortly. Rosanne Sargent AT&T Bell Labs ...!mhuxr!sail
dsmith@uiucuxc.UUCP (10/26/84)
An article in People (so it MUST be true, right?) said that while Hexum was discussing tv stunts with a former teacher he "explained that the guns used on the show were safe. `They usually take the pin out, or they're blanks,' he said. `You can get hurt with blanks,' Mullin admonished. `Absolutely,' said Hexum."
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (10/29/84)
> I'm kind of amazed that they use real blank cartridges in the > TV prop guns, instead of something more like caps. I know the sound > wouldn't be right, but couldn't that be added later? > or perhaps, the reason for blanks is for visual effects... -Ron