Sid Adilman

Sid Adilman, former entertainment editor for the Star and Canadian editor of the show biz bible Variety, died yesterday of heart failure at age 68. His wife Toshiko and sons Mio and Nobu were at his side.

Sid was my friend, my mentor, my guide. But, more importantly, Sid was the entertainment journalist who refused to allow the American cultural and celebrity juggernaut to crush Canadian TV, movies, music and theatre. He always stuck his stupid little pencil nubs in the cultural dike. 

I owe him my job at the Star, and much much more.

But many other people, including household names, owe him even more than that.

Unfortunately, I can't find it online so I reproduce it here in full: My column from when Sid retired from the Star in November 2002.

Adilman's watchful Eye --- Canadian culture would not be the same without Star columnist

IF YOU enjoy Canadian movies, music, television, theatre, art or books, you owe at least a small debt of gratitude to The Star's Sid Adilman.

If you create Canadian culture, you should know you owe him a lot.

And if you write about it, you probably owe him your job. Without Adilman on the scene boosting and battling for homegrown art and artists, most Canadian critics would have had to find another beat, because these pages would likely be dominated by U.S. wire copy about Hollywood productions and Broadway shows.

Last week, Adilman, 65, left the building, retiring from daily journalism after 42 years of covering entertainment. He first joined The Star in 1960 as a summer intern and then general reporter, moving to the now-defunct Telegram in 1963. But, after the Tely folded in 1971, Sid returned with his "Eye On Entertainment" column, becoming both Canadian editor of the trade paper Variety in the 1980s and, from 1986-91, editor of this section.

Long the most influential cultural journalist in Canada, he never stopped writing his column, giving boldface to those who struggled mightily against the American entertainment behemoth that always threatened to crush Canadian showbiz. He helped to build this industry, as surely as those moguls who grew rich from it.

As Toronto Life magazine wrote in an expansive profile in 1985, Adilman "is a must-read for the city's entertainment community."

King CanCon is how I very fondly think of him, the slight, skittish guy with the big glasses. He helped put Canada on the world's cultural map. So, when word of his retirement spread, everybody remarked on how it's the end of an era. He'll be freelancing - but it won't be the same.

"It's going to be weird not having him there; I mean he's always been there," said Chum/City guru Moses Znaimer. "He isn't one of those guys who write in newspapers who like to pretend they live in New York. He is a genuine supporter of things Canadian."

"Sid's constant interest, support and very vocal criticisms have kept us all on our toes for years," said movie producer Robert Lantos. "Nothing escaped him: We have a better industry today because of his attentive eye and critical insight. One of the finest cultural journalists ever, (he) deserves tremendous respect because he was always on the job, whether or not we liked it."

And sometimes they didn't like it at all.

Sid always had the inside scoop on who was doing what to whom and with whose money - often the taxpayers'. He'd confront TV execs about their less-than-enthusiastic commitments to Canadian programming; harangue cultural bureaucrats who weren't performing; kick butt if anybody messed with Canadian talent; and complain long and loud if something or someone did not live up to expectations. He was the only entertainment writer in the country who consistently obsessed over government funding decisions for Canadian production, federal task forces studying cultural matters and the fate of the National Film Board.

Nobody was safe. From Izzy Asper to Moses Znaimer, all were in his sights. Even in his final column yesterday, he lobbed verbal grenades at CBC suits who don't give on-air personalities the star treatment Sid feels they deserve.

"I know people he's written not great things about, and that's okay; sometimes you have to do that," said Stratford's My Fair Lady Cynthia Dale. "But he's always been a champion for the cause of Canadian talent."

Said Alliance Atlantis chief Michael MacMillan: "I could never get angry with him (because) his fundamental purpose was always good."

Sid's nose for news was notorious. If you didn't specify something was not-for-attribution, you'd find your casual cocktail party conversation reproduced in 100-point type. But, if you told him something was off the record, it went into his vast and impenetrable mental vault.

"He could drive you crazy with his information, but he never divulged his sources - not ever," said Lantos.

Sid's note-taking style made me crazy. He'd hurtle through the newsroom, hot on the trail of some headline, and empty his pockets of scraps of napkins, coasters, placemats, ticket stubs and matchbook covers upon which were scrawled the names and deeds of his subjects - or victims. From these he would construct columns.

No wonder he is legendary for some of his mistakes.

Sometimes even his corrections had corrections.

"The facts were sometimes wrong, but the point was generally right," said MacMillan.

Probably his most infamous gaffe came in 1984, when Sid wrote that, during a play at the Theatre Passe Muraille, cast members were smoking marijuana on stage. They weren't. It was actually strawberry tea. The theatre threatened to sue. The Star apologized.

Sid could also be punishing. In the mid-'80s, when veteran press agent Gino Empry gave a scoop to The Globe and Mail instead of The Star, Sid ordered our reporters and critics to boycott him and his clients for 90 days.

But that's because getting the news first mattered more than anything to Sid. He'd often complain that too many entertainment writers were into being critics and not reporters. As he groused to Toronto Life in 1985, "They feel that their opinions are worth something, even though they've been in the business only half an hour."

That commitment to news made him difficult to work with sometimes, mostly because he expected all of us to care as much as he did. So he could be a pain, running on too many double espressos and doting excessively on his Triple A idols: Anne Murray, Anne Of Green Gables and the late Al Waxman.

Relentless and secretive - we had to sneak this column by him - Sid was Sid to the end, quitting without saying goodbye. That's okay because he'll always be around, at this weekend's Gemini Awards, at Tuesday's Giller Prize gala, at next year's Toronto International Film Festival.

Because, after all, where would they be without Sid?

UPDATE: Joe Clark wrote some kind words about Sid here.

ONE MORE: Could not have said it better myself.

AND ANOTHER: By Nobu Adilman.

UPDATE: A wonderful celebration of Sid's life was held on Sunday, Nov. 12. Joe Clark sort of live-blogged it, with words and pictures. He didn't get it completely correct but good enough. Thanks Joe.

 

Comments

[Jiminy C in Rainbow Country]

"I owe him my job at the Star, and much much more".

For all the praise you heaped on Sid Adilman, this one act (probably repeated many times - considering the manner in which you take on the manipulation of culture and communications for commercial or political advantage and attract brickbats and calls for your head)- should ensure will be wearing his wings right now!

Incidentally - Adilman - Sid the dog - any connection.

[Antonia Z.]

No. Syd the Dogette was named by her foster parents before I got her. While I used to tease Sid that I named her for him, I didn't. He was not keen on dogs, BTW. The feeling was mutual.

[balbulican]

"Entertainment Journalist" is all too often an oxymoron, like "Sports Journalist" (present company ALWAYS excluded, of course)- groupies who process press releases into puff pieces, would-be reviewers, or sycophants so impressed with their subject (or themselves) that they forget what a "reporter" is supposed to be.

Adilman was not only a good writer - he stayed a journalist.

[Mark Federman]

First Gino Empry, and now Sid Adilman. Is God thinking of a new entertainment/production enterprise in heaven?

(BTW, hope all is well with you and yours, Antonia - it's been too quiet without you!)

What's going on at the Star? Goldbloom and Gherson ousted suddenly? A new publisher? A new editor-in-chief?
Who's in charge? Which faction edged out which faction?
What does it mean for the direction of the Star?
Why were Goldbloom and Gherson fired?

[Antonia Z.]

I am on leave so I won't be answering your very good questions.

Phew!

[estragon]

Well, aren't you lucky!

Never mind. Truth will out in the end.

[ivan prokopchuk]

Yes, Sid A-A-A-Adelman, as I fondly remember his stutter on radio. He was all the things you say.
But there was another death at about the same time, Gino Empry, Royal York impresario
and almost indispensable to THE Ed Mirvish and David Mirvish of the Royal Alex. I had worked with Gino with the very first Sunday Sun and later with the Oakville Journal Record. He became a personal friend after I moved on to the York Region wilderness to take up my own column.
I was truly shocked to learn that the ageless Gino had died.

[Diana-Marie]

I'd hoped you would be able to comment on this sad news; I remember your column on Sid Adilman's retirement and your obvious affection for your mentor. My condolences.

[Brian Gorman]

Sid cared, and knew, more about Canadian arts than any 10 of the lesser creatures who have taken his place -- and he was willing to fight the battle for Canadian content every day, with anyone who dared to argue that the readers were more interested in imports than homegrowns. He worried, fretted, pestered, nagged, stuttered, shook and paced. And his mind tended to wander when you were talking to him, which meant that, if you had something to say, you had to strike fast, before he lost interest and wandered off in search of someone else to pick a fight with. He was a nervous wreck. He was probably the most constant worry wart I've ever met, and he could drive you nuts with his fussing and nagging. But you could say all of this to him, and he'd smile, nod and agree with you. Mostly, Sid was a mensch, someone you grew to love as much for his eccentricities as his virtues. Like everyone else who knew you, Sid, I'm going to miss you.

Come on, Antonia! At least open up the Toronto Star masthead change as a topic, so those in the know can post on it... if you're too reticent to report and/or comment on it yourself.

[Antonia Z]

I am not ''reticent.'' I am on leave. Do you work when you are on leave? I would have to moderate comments and I am in no mood. Neither I nor this blog owe you a thing, anonymous commenter. And if you think those ''in the know'' will contribute facts here, ya gotta be crazy.

All further comments in this thread not relating to the life of Sid Adilman will be deleted.

See you in a couple of weeks.

We'll talk then.

[Caroline]

Thanks for your post, A. It was thoughtful of you to come and post when you are on leave. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Sid was a real inspiration to me when I was a young person starting in the business and he will be missed as one of the truly good ones (and there aren't many).

[Mr Dithers]

Ms Zerbisias,
Your silence is deafening. The greatest story to affect the venerable TorStar in decades and you are..er..on leave? Sorry, don't believe it. I think there is way more here than meets the eye. What, with Bow-Tie-Boy leading the charge for the 'families', there must be a move to unseat Pritchard? Does Bow-Tie want to move the Star even further left? Do the families actually believe that a more socialist Star will restore their share price? These are issues that require your incisive commentary.

[Antonia Z.]

I have been on leave since the end of August. Deal with it.

[Just some annoying guy]

BOO!

just sayin' ;)

A good first topic once you are back might be how to deal with annoying blog addicts who refuse to allow columnists to go on vacation and believe it to be their right to read blog posts from a journalist who likely doesn't see one red cent for the extra work she does blogging.

And BOO!

Just sayin'