I Was a Teenage Newshound
My first professional newspaper job was on The News-Gazette in my home town of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. I was 15. The pay was 75 cents a hour, eventually climbing even higher. I was not an intern. That was a salary. I was a sports writer, graduating to general assignment in the summer, and I pumped out reams of copy. I recall a special section commemorating the opening of a bowling alley, for which I wrote at least 15 stories, all with my proud byline; I even interviewed a pin-spotter and the owner of a shoe rental franchise.
I am inspired to recall those days because of the coverage of my recent film festival in Champaign-Urbana by Melissa Merli. The quality of her writing was splendid, her curiosity was boundless and her word volume was worthy of a bowling alley. Merli interviewed every star or director, wrote about all the movies, covered the panel discussions and the Q & A sessions, wrote about the 70mm projection and even profiled Chuck and Eileen Kuenneth, who met in my University of Chicago film class in 1983, were married in 1991, and were at their fifth or sixth Ebertfest.
Other writers also contributed to the paper's coverage, but it was Merli's story, and she covered it right down to the ground and put a tarp on it. I was awestruck. Outsiders might sympathize with poor overworked Melissa, but many newspaper veterans will understand that she had an ideal assignment: Write all you want about something you care about. The complaint of many journalists in these latter days of cost-cutting is that they have to boil stories into info-nuggets. As you approached Merli's third byline on the same page, you could feel her enthusiasm and her joy in her work. I'd hire her on any paper I edited.
* * *
Someday there will be a memoir to write about my days as a teenage newshound, but here one story will suffice. The paper was put to bed every day at noon, and the city room cleared out for Vriner's, across the street, except for the lowest writer on the totem pole, and Bill Schmelzle, the city editor. We heard the city fire trucks roaring out of their garage. "Call them, see what it is, and give me a graf," Schmelzle told me.
I wrote the graf, which was "railroaded" into print. That means it was set in hot type without benefit of copy editing. I wrote:
"Champaign firemen responded to a still on fire at Morris Brown's junk yard at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday. The blaze was out on arrival."
Later that afternoon, Harold Holmes, the executive editor, called me into his office.
"Roger," he said, "there is someone I'd like for you to meet. This is Mr. Morris Brown."
I shook hands and told Mr. Brown (also a noted bail bondsman) I was sorry to hear about his fire.
"Oh, there's more to be sorry about than that," Holmes said. "Do you know what a still is?"
"It's a machine used for...distilling? Something?" I said.
"Yes, but at the fire department, you see, it's also short for 'stillborn.' That's a fire that's already out when they get there."
"Oh," I said.
Mr. Brown handed me his card, which read: "Can't make bail? You don't need the wings of an angel if you know Morris Brown."
The news staff, which had mysteriously materialized behind me during our meeting, collapsed into laughter.
Comments
The paper was put to bed every day at noon, and the city room cleared out for Vriner's, across the street, except for the lowest writer on the totem pole, and Bill Schmelzle, the city editor. We heard the city fire trucks roaring out of their garage. "Call them, see what it is, and give me a graf," Schmelzle told me.
Brilliant. That little excerpt reads like John Irving edited by Juno MacGuff.
Posted by: Ali Arikan | May 1, 2008 01:01 AM
Greatest writers of all-time: Roger Ebert and Rod Serling.
Posted by: Brian | May 1, 2008 03:40 AM
I live in C-U and take the News-Gazette. I agree Melissa Merli is an outstanding writer. Her enthusiasm about arts-related topics is always evident, and I've long thought she has the best job in town because she gets to go to all these events and talk to people and then write articles. Doesn't get much better than that.
Posted by: Anne Onimous | May 1, 2008 07:47 AM
Wonderful post. It reminds me of my days as a teenaged copykid on the 5 a.m. shift at The Huntsville (AL) Times. My real duty was tending the industrial coffee-maker that fueled the plant, but they also let me run stories from the wire machines to the editors. The Night Editor, a consummate newsman who seemed to survive exclusively on cigarettes and Chocolate Soldiers, once helped me write a story that got published on the front page toward the end of my run. He tried to convince me to chuck my plans for law school in favor of journalism, and would that I had listened to him. I might not have made as much money, but I sure would have had more fun.
Posted by: Vicki VanValkenburgh | May 1, 2008 08:11 AM
I would love to read a memoir of your early days as a writer. I think with your humor and wit, it would definitely be a great read!
- Joseph (uber fan)
Posted by: Joseph Gomez | May 1, 2008 10:20 AM
Wonderful little anecdote.
I wonder how many news people can currently tell stories like this now that editors and staff are always "online."
Posted by: lionel (acid42) | May 1, 2008 10:49 AM
Dear Roger
Thank you so much for Ebertfest, what a wonderful festival.
It took me back to my preteen years: taking the Greyhound in to
town. Going to all three real theaters in one day.
Where I could escape into fantastic films. "Sergeant Rutledge"
"From Russia With Love" "The Magnificent Seven" "The Longest Day"
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" "Lawrence of Arabia" "Hud"
"Donovan's Reef" "The Great Escape" and so many more.
Movies afect us on so many levels and provide not only entertainment but knowledge, experience and concepts for us to
use in our own lives.
After meeting the lovely Chaz I know your are a truly blest man
who will continue to be a voice for good in the world.
Thanks again to you and Chaz for all the joy of Ebertfest.
John
Posted by: John Nichols | May 1, 2008 01:23 PM
Please write your memoirs!
Posted by: chase | May 1, 2008 03:39 PM
Please tell us more--especially about your early years as a film critic. Honestly, you could just tell us what you had for breakfast, and most of us would race to read it. Love the exuberance of your reviews of films you love, and can't wait to read reviews of the clunkers (wit, thy name is Ebert) and the truly bad films (thanks for expressing the outrage we all feel.)Your fans out here just wanna hear more! And thanks for choosing the Branagh Hamlet as first showing for the Festival--I'm in agreement on that one!
Posted by: Weltha wood | May 1, 2008 03:53 PM
Yes, please write your newshound memoirs. I was a state "Radio Speaking" champ after you. My first job was at the local radio station for $1.40 an hour. The station's cheapest advertising rate was "a dollar a holler", which meant ads were crammed in to make money. "More ads right after this song."
Posted by: Steve | May 1, 2008 08:25 PM
Dear Mr. Ebert,
Please write more about your early days as a writer. No one can string words together like you can!
Posted by: JULIE | May 1, 2008 09:17 PM
I would have to agree with Weltha- that it would be great to hear more of your childhood. I've been reading your stuff for about five years now (mind you, I'm only a sophomore in college) and I genuinely enjoy reading every single thing you write- even if its about a movie I have no intention of seeing. You and Paul Zimmerman ("Dr. Z", the old school football writer on Sports Illusrated) are the two writers who I most love to read. And I like to read your guys' stuff not because I come away somehow more knowledgeable or wise or better informed but simply for the joy and delight of reading what you have written. I think that is the single highest compliment you can pay a writer and few writers so fit that standard as yourself. Get well, Roger. Thanks for all the articles.
Posted by: Ryan U | May 1, 2008 09:24 PM
I have to chime in and agree with the others who have said this: please write a memoir, at least of the earlier years. I promise it won't mean that you're reaching your 'August years', and I refer you to Bruce Campbell on that score, since he's been steadily publishing books of his experiences for a while now. Either way, a memoir of the earlier years would be so much fun. Oh, now that I'm thinking of it, I'll also cite Ruth Reichl and her food critic books as a good example of publishing a series of memoirs. OK, stopping now.
Either way, and regardless of anything else, I sincerely pray that your physical ailments abate soon, that your continued recovery proceeds with speed and with full effectiveness, and that you're returned to full health just as soon as is humanly possible. Thank you, again, for your writing on the movies. You would be missed greatly, so don't go anywhere. Cheers.
Posted by: Justin D. | May 1, 2008 10:18 PM
Dear Roger:
I do not hear very many people express or share such vivid memories of their early years. How is it you remember such details? Chaz mentioned at Ebertfest that you outdid yourself in the past year or two as far as writing and publishing books. It's shocking that one of those many books was not a memoir. A great idea, indeed!
I was reading a review on rogerebert.com in which you spoke of the Co-Ed Theatre on Green Street in Champaign. It saddened me that I had so quickly forgotten about one of my favorite theatres. I attended so many movies at the Co-Ed. The audience was such a good mix of people from both the working and educational community. My favorite theatre was quite steep and if you arrived late, it could be a bit embarassing to walk in and up facing the entire audience. When the Co-Ed Theatre closed, one of the managers moved to the small theatre located at the Country Fair Shopping Center in Champaign. After that theatre closed, I saw him at the Carmike Theatres in Champaign. There is something comforting to me about having familiarity with my theatre movie experience. At Ebertfest, I feel comforted by seeing Anthony and Jameel at the Virginia Theatre each year. Is that odd? I'm curious how often you have the opportunity to see a film WITH a REAL [non-media professionals] audience?
I hope you are feeling stronger with each day! At Ebertfest, you had 1500 people sending positive energy your way!
*I Love Ebertfest*
Posted by: *I LOVE EBERTFEST* | May 1, 2008 11:00 PM
Hi Roger (and Jim)
Great festival, I loved every minute of it. Great article about Melissa's writing. I have enjoyed getting to know Chuck and Eileen and spent a lot of time with them this year at the festival. They're a great couple.
But I'm writing about something else.
Roger's listing in Wikipedia was hacked into by someone in the Department of Justice, according to an article at:
http://www.mister-info.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=10545&format=html
"The IP address belonging to the DOJ also made edits identified as vandalism to the Wikipedia articles Tracy Jordan, Roger Ebert, and James E. Akins. After several warnings on the IP address's "talk page", the IP address was blocked for four days for "repeated vandalism." "
Didn't see another link to get this to you guys, but thought you'd be interested
Best wishes,
Don
Posted by: Don Tingle | May 2, 2008 12:00 AM
For some reason my comment was posted under the name "Ryan U." While someone else's comment was posted using my name, which is "Justin D". Just a heads up for the admin--some of the names were improperly posted for some odd reason. Since this is a blog that will probably be often commented in, you may want to fix that soon. Thanks for admin'ing a great new blog!
Regards, Justin D.
Posted by: Justin D. | May 2, 2008 01:37 AM