In Pittsburgh it was the Press Club, Jojo's in the strip district (24hours) Primanti's (the OLD place, also 24 hours) and a few other bars.
A very sad story about someone in this market. Don Cannon, story from 2007.
There were other local "icons" none of whom I will ID but the stories would AMAZE you and in some cases it wasn't just booze.
A few years into my career I took my wife to a station Christmas party. On the way in she saw one of our news anchors, someone I still am working with closely.
As we entered the hotel he came staggering toward us with a LARGE scotch in his hand, ran into a wall and started greeting us. He was SLOSHED!
My wife couldn't believe it. For me it was pretty normal. At one point ON THE AIR we were all talking about what we did on the weekend. Our anchor was behind a glass in another studio but listening in while he put together a newscast.
While most of us were saying things like we read over the weekend, did some gardening, played with the family...when it was his turn this guy spun around and without the slightest hesitation said he got blind, stinking drunk on scotch.
There was an awkward silence until we went to break, LOL!
To be fair newsrooms back then were tough for several reasons. Many turned to booze.
I didn't drink much before I started working in news, now I drink my beer like it's oxygen!
I really don't know what the reason is. Some try to rationalize it saying it's the pressure of deadlines, trying to be accurate because your reputation is all you have, or because so much of the news you have to at least read if not report is so depressing.
I think it's just the type of person who was attracted to news.
It is very different today!
FWIW when the Feds went into WACO I was sitting in a local pizza pub with a sportscaster for the baseball team, a very well respected and still on the air weather man (he is a wonderful guy) and a couple of other newsies, staff and air talent.
We were all sloshed to the point that we couldn't quite grasp what was going on.
Within a few hours several of us were on the air and covering the story in a completely competent and sober manner.
But that ended it for me. While I admit to drinking a lot of beer, I don't hang out with those types.
Besides most have retired or been fired, LOL!
Best wishes to LD.
Good for her! I wish her well.
I know all the guys were always ogling her pretty looks, while I was distracted by her lipgloss. I badly wanted to do a science experiment with her. My hypothesis was that if you gently pushed Laurie Dhue face first into a glass window, she would not be able to pull herself away.
It’s amazing how the world’s most beautiful woman can still feel bad about themselves.
She’s a brave and classy lady...I admire her guts and candor. BTTT
I absolutely love her. I pray that she is able to continue with her sobriety. It is difficult but with friends, family and faith, she can win.
Nerdy guys, pay attention. those drop dead gorgeous girls--do not assume they will reject your advances. Peter Orzsag's gorgeous wife probably had low self-esteem too.
Best Wishes Laurie
It’s interesting with Laurie. I remember her on MSNBC, oh, so, pretty! Hers was the first face I saw in the new millennium. She was at Times Square, doing MSNBC’s coverage, and was so excited I figured that was not a bad way to bring in not only the new year, but new millennium.
Then, she switched to Fox, and IIRC, after a while she went with Geraldo to do a network vs cable show, and had grown very weary. And rather annoying. So I didn’t watch her or her show.
I’d read recently about her addiction and am thrilled for her that she’s found her sobriety, her faith, and her very own life and center, not the caricature that show biz seems to make of people.
When and if she comes back to tv, I imagine she will actually be a more mature version of the gal we used to watch, with enthusiasm and sparkle,