Naked Man Jumps off Caloosahatchee Bridge

Fort Myers News Press via "Sound Off" ^ | 08-18-03- | Fort Myers News Press

[AAABEST]

We couldn't have 2 naked jumpers .....could we?

[pbear8]

So what was it that Gentry and Billy Joe threw off the bridge?

Thank you. I've always wondered too.

[TwoBear]

In college, we dared a friend of mine to jump in our large apartment complex clubhouse pool naked. About the time he left the ground for the pool, we all screamed "Naked Man in the Pool!!", snagged his clothes and high tailed it for the apartment with intentions of locking him out.

Next thing I knew, a streaking naked man was passing me in a flash beating me to the apartment!

[StriperSniper]

a clearance for boaters of 56'. Very survivable.

Yes, very. This 150' one has had survivors:

[Jennifer in Florida]

According to this page it has a clearance for boaters of 56'. Very survivable. I thought it was a stunt before I thought suicide as well.

How deep is the river at this point, though?

[Chad Fairbanks]

You yelled too soon... ;0)

Better luck next time...

[martin_fierro]

Somebody else already used the "Billie Jo McAllister" bit, so I'm all outta material here.

[martin_fierro]

I've always wondered, too.

Did a brief interenet search on the topic (a LOT of people've been wondering), but didn't come up with much more than this:

In the spring of '67 unheralded newcomer Bobbie Gentry got signed by Capitol Records in L.A. to see what kind of records she could make and what kind of reception they'd get; within a few days she recorded a standard blues song, "Mississippi Delta," with her own unknown "Ode to Billie Joe" as the B-side. "Ode" was originally seven minutes long and explained a lot more about what was thrown off the Tallahatchie Bridge. It also had only her own guitar accompaniment, no lush orchestrations. Quickly Capitol execs noticed the strength of the B-side, so they re-recorded it with strings, cut the length almost in half to give the song an air of mystery and make it more suitable for AM radio airplay, and re-released it as Bobbie's first single.

Another guy wastes a lot of space belaboring the obvious.

[Alouette]

Didn't Bobbie Gentry also originally write and record "Fancie" which is now Reba McIntyre's current hit?

[Old Professer]

Wasn't exactly a "fashion-plate," was he?

[Richard Kimball]

And, as is the case in any mystery, of course, there has to be someone to claim a homosexual angle.

[xzins]

"They say that Billy Joe McAlester jumped off the Caloosahatchee Bridge...."

[Corin Stormhands]

Just wonderin' if there's any reason you pinged me to a naked man thread. I ain't been to Florida in years.

[xzins]

Thought that age your wearin' might make you familiar with the tune I alluded to.

However, you make me wonder now about your last trip to Florida? Are there skeletons......????!!

[Corin Stormhands]

I ain't talkin'

[jaz.357]

Naked Man Jumps off Caloosahatchee...

Waving a LOOSE-CA-HOOTCHIE!

[CommandoFrank]

Maybe he's stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river...

[afuturegovernor]

I go to the University of Mississippi and the original handwritten lyrics to that song on are display on at the library.

[My Favorite Headache]

Still waiting for that phone call right back....oh and alert me only when people jump off the sunshine skyway bridge in Tampa...there is literally a website that has a betting pool on when the next jump will be.