Roger Ebert’s Voice Carries On
I was just four years old when I climbed the steps of the historic Virginia Theatre’s stage to participate in a children’s panel for the annual Roger Ebert Film Festival.
I had been attending the festival all my life, but this occasion was different. A foreign language film had just finished and the director, who spoke several languages, and Ebert were beginning the discussion.
After talking with them a bit, Ebert asked me, “How many languages do you speak?”
“One,” I replied.
Ebert proceeded to ask what language that was.
Wondering why he had asked such an obvious question, I said, “The one I’m speaking now.”
As the audience began to laugh, Ebert too; I stared out at them, confused as to what was so funny. It was only after my father repeated the story to family friends when I was older that I understood.
Ebert had left me with a memory that day that I would never forget, as he has for so many others.
At the time, however, I did not know that I would one day attend the same high school as the renowned movie critic.
An Urbana, Illinois native, Ebert attended Urbana High School and was a member, and later editor, of “The Echo”. “It was a great time to be in high school,” Ebert said. “Elvis was new, 1950s cars were cool, and the UHS teachers were without exception outstanding.”
Dan Perrino, a former UHS teacher, said, “Even though my area was music, it was quite obvious by Roger’s actions in school, in class, and the hallways, and just watching him assert himself in leadership roles, Roger was a leader. He sparkled.”
“The Echo”, the student newspaper both then and now, was one of Ebert’s first experiences in the journalism field. In addition to “The Echo,” he worked part time at the Champaign-Urbana “News-Gazette”.
Ebert said, “In my senior year in high school, I won the Illinois Associated Press Sportswriting Prize. I was able to show the certificate to my father a few weeks before he died of cancer.”
A Former co-worker at the News-Gazette and longtime friend, Betsy Hendrick said, “We visited over lunch, I remember times in particular when we would go across the street to a tavern (the tavern was air conditioned, which the N-G offices were not) to proofread pages of room assignments for the local schools set in six-point type, very tiny, and just having fun with others who worked on the paper.”
Ebert was recognized for his talents aside from writing, as well.
“Roger received great recognition when he served as emcee for one of the school’s talent shows,” Perrino added. “As a matter of fact, he was quite exceptional. This was one of the music department’s activities called the Stage Show.”
Once in college at the University of Illinois, he worked for “The Daily Illini” student newspaper and received an undergraduate degree.
Ebert then moved to Chicago to work at the “Sun-Times”.
Hendrick said, “He was and is always so caring and so interesting, the center of attention whether he wanted to be or not. His friends in those days were mostly other journalists.”
Among his career accomplishments are the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1975, and a co-hosted, weekly film review television show with fellow critic Gene Siskel.
Originally titled “Sneak Previews,” the show was picked up nationally and later renamed several times. From his partnership with Siskel came the famous trademark, “Two Thumbs Up.”
When Siskel died in 1999 of complications from a brain tumor, the show was retitled “Roger Ebert & the Movies.” Co-hosts were rotated in for each show until Chicago Sun-Times writer, Richard Roeper, filled the position of co-host permanently, and it was renamed accordingly.
Ebert said, “I liked the license to ask people questions, and poke around behind the scenes.”
His interest in movies stemmed from going to Champaign-Urbana theaters.
On July 18, 1992, Ebert married Chaz Hammelsmith, who now emcees Ebertfest. The couple calls Chicago their home. Hendrick was happy for the couple, saying Ebert is a “dedicated family man.”
In 2002, Ebert was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. He then had surgery for cancer in the salivary gland in 2003.
In 2006, Ebert lost the ability to speak, eat, or drink due to the removal of his lower jaw. Ebert has since made two very public appearances to open up about his illness – interviews with both “Esquire Magazine” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Ebert said, “We all get sick. There’s no point in denying it.”
He now communicates through a computer and a notepad. “When Roger could still speak, he was one of the very few persons I know who never, never interrupted another person even though one could see he was just dying to get in the conversation with his salient points,” Hendrick concluded.
Although Ebert lost the use of his voice, he continues to write very often. Ebert can add his latest book and memoir, “Life Itself,” to an extensive writing repertoire. His first book was “Illini Century: One Hundred Years of Campus Life.”
“It has made me value each day and every moment more deeply, and be thankful so much goodness has come to me in this life,” Ebert said.
Ebert’s film festival is organized by his alma mater, the College of Media at the UIUC and is held at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Ill.
Ebert selects somewhere between 12 to 14 movies, including a silent film. A discussion is held after each showing, with the film’s director, actor, producer, or someone else affiliated with the project, as a guest. It ran from April 25 to April 29 this year.
I have always remembered my experience on the Ebertfest panel as a blunt four-year-old girl
Ebert’s impact on those around him has been a constant throughout his many journalistic endeavors.
About The Author
Caitlin,
What a thrill to be written up in the Echo! You are a gifted reporter and writer. I remember that long-ago day very well. It was after “Shiloh,” and you asked the actor Scott Wilson, “Why were you so mean to Shiloh?” He answered, “Well, honey, I just didn’t know any better.”
Roger
Interesting, thoughtful article, Caitlin. You covered his life quite succinctly. Thanks.