William Ogden -- His Man Godfrey

Fearful that he had failed an audition for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program, the 36-year-old guitarist phoned his ex-wife on September 7, 1953, and drunkenly told her that he wanted to "kill himself."  Early the next morning, Ogden's body was found in his car at the rear of his rooming house at 85 E. First Avenue in Columbus, Ohio.  The guitarist had taped a length of garden hose to the car's exhaust, placed the other end through a rear window, and laid down in the front seat with the engine running.  Ironically, a spokesman for CBS-TV in New York reported that Ogden had not been rejected as a result of the audition and was eligible for an appearance on an upcoming Godfrey talent show.