Quote:
Originally Posted by ethereal_reality
Carole Lombard and Russ Columbo were actually engaged to be married when he was shot and killed at age 26
(she was in the process of converting to Catholicism at the time).
Not only did Russ Columbo have a hauntingly beautiful voice, he had a rather impressive physique.
Russ Columbo studio portrait. Rumor has it, they both preferred to sleep in the nude.
Alas, a bullet to the brain ends the hopes and dreams of Ms. Lombard & Mr. Columbo.
The crypt directly below Mr. Columbo's, intended for Ms. Lombard, remains empty to this day.
Just down the hall from Russ Columbo. This is so very sad to me.
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Here is the Handcock Park home where
Russ was 'accidentally' shot in the head by
Lansing Brown.
Brown served in the military during World War II as a photography instructor. He died of a stroke at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital.
On Sept. 2, 1934
Russ Columbo left his home on Outpost Circle Drive to visit his friend, “
Lansa,” photographer
Lansing Brown, age 34. Brown resided at the home on 584 N. Lillian Way with his
parents. Lansa's father was in the back part of the home whilst Lansa was entertaining his friend Russ in the den which is in the front of the house. While in the midst of a casual conversation in the front room or den of the house, Lansing, sitting at a desk, struck a match on a pair of Civil War-era dueling pistols. Lansing was a collector of such armaments and, unbeknownst to him, ignited a long forgotten shot which ricocheted off a nearby cabinet and struck Columbo in the right eye killing him instantly. He was taken first to Hollywood Receiving Hospital, then transferred to the Hospital of the Good Samaritan.
The time was 1:45 PM. The question is, who was
'Lansa' Brown [
August 24, 1900 – February 16, 1962] and why was Lansa playing around with an antique gun? There is a rumor that loud voices were heard by a servant coming from the den just prior to the shot. There is something
'noir about this.
I'd like to know more about photographer
Lansa Brown Jr., the young man with the gun.
Lansing Brown in later years. He was known for photo portrait work for the studios.