Jack O'Brian
Encyclopedia
John Dennis Patrick O'Brian (August 16, 1914 – November 5, 2000) was a New York Journal American
television critic and supporter of Joseph McCarthy
.
O'Brian was born in Buffalo, New York
. His series of published attacks on CBS News
and WCBS-TV
reporter Don Hollenbeck
, who eventually committed suicide
, was referenced in the 2005 motion picture Good Night, and Good Luck.
O'Brian was also pivotal in the exposure of the quiz show scandal centering around the quiz show Twenty-One. In 1958, he published the contention by former contestant Herbert Stempel that the NBC
game was rigged. Later came an investigation by New York County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Stone that led to Grand Jury testimony and ultimately Congressional hearings in 1959. The House probe, led by Congressional investigator Richard N. Goodwin
, the dramatic admission by the man who had defeated Herb Stempel on Twenty-One, Charles Van Doren
, that the program was fixed.
After the death of Dorothy Kilgallen
, his colleague at the Journal American, in November 1965, O'Brian took over her old Voice of Broadway column. He continued with the column past the end of the Journal-American and through the short life of the New York World Journal Tribune
, which folded in 1967.
In the 1970s and 80s, O'Brian conducted a daily afternoon interview show on WOR
Radio in New York, "The Critic's Circle," focused on entertainment.
He died in 2000 in New York.
New York Journal American
The New York Journal American was a newspaper published from 1937 to 1966. The Journal American was the product of a merger between two New York newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst: The New York American , a morning paper, and the New York Evening Journal, an afternoon paper...
television critic and supporter of Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
.
O'Brian was born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. His series of published attacks on CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
and WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
reporter Don Hollenbeck
Don Hollenbeck
Don Hollenbeck was a CBS newscaster and commentator and colleague of Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly. He died from natural gas inhalation as it was discovered that his stove and oven had been turned on but not lit . Consequently, Hollenbeck's death was ruled a suicide...
, who eventually committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, was referenced in the 2005 motion picture Good Night, and Good Luck.
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Good Night, and Good Luck. is a 2005 American drama film directed by George Clooney. The film was written by Clooney and Grant Heslov and portrays the conflict between veteran radio and television journalist Edward R. Murrow and U.S...
O'Brian was also pivotal in the exposure of the quiz show scandal centering around the quiz show Twenty-One. In 1958, he published the contention by former contestant Herbert Stempel that the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
game was rigged. Later came an investigation by New York County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Stone that led to Grand Jury testimony and ultimately Congressional hearings in 1959. The House probe, led by Congressional investigator Richard N. Goodwin
Richard N. Goodwin
Richard N. Goodwin is an American writer who may be best known as an advisor and speechwriter to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and to Senator Robert F. Kennedy.-Life and career:...
, the dramatic admission by the man who had defeated Herb Stempel on Twenty-One, Charles Van Doren
Charles Van Doren
Charles Lincoln Van Doren is an American intellectual, writer, and editor who was involved in a television quiz show scandal in the 1950s...
, that the program was fixed.
After the death of Dorothy Kilgallen
Dorothy Kilgallen
Dorothy Mae Kilgallen was an American journalist and television game show panelist. She started her career early as a reporter for the Hearst Corporation's New York Evening Journal after spending only two semesters at The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York...
, his colleague at the Journal American, in November 1965, O'Brian took over her old Voice of Broadway column. He continued with the column past the end of the Journal-American and through the short life of the New York World Journal Tribune
New York World Journal Tribune
The New York World Journal Tribune, also known as the World-Journal-Tribune, was a newspaper published in New York City from September 1966 until May 1967...
, which folded in 1967.
In the 1970s and 80s, O'Brian conducted a daily afternoon interview show on WOR
WOR (AM)
WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
Radio in New York, "The Critic's Circle," focused on entertainment.
He died in 2000 in New York.