Journalist Recalls Wistful Encounter With Cliff Robertson
Keith Schildroth (pictured), who spent many years working as a sports reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has shared a wonderful Patch remembrance of Oscar-winning actor Cliff Robertson, who passed away last weekend.
Rather than focus on the David Begelman MGM scandal or the actor’s celebrated drama Charly, Schildroth details a chance encounter with Robertson at a St. Louis restaurant in 2007. To the reporter’s great surprise, he quickly found himself sitting at a table with the kind-hearted actor, talking about journalism. Writes Schildroth:
Robertson told me after serving in the Merchant Marines in World War II, he attended Antioch College in Ohio and studied journalism. Robertson worked at the local newspaper and radio station.
Robertson said the print world had changed many times since he left for an acting career… Robertson asked my opinion of the [Internet] revolution. I said there was no balance being considered. A large portion of readers want the paper in their hands in the morning…
Robertson smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Interesting, very interesting,” Robertson said. “I really enjoyed working at that small-town paper.”
Schildroth says he had to turn down an invitation to hang around for dessert because of that day’s Post deadlines. A year after this memorable meeting, the veteran journalist was laid off.
