Irv Weinstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irv Weinstein
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Irv Weinstein in 1973
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| Born |
Irwin B. Weinstein
April 29, 1930 |
| Died | December 26, 2017 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, television news anchor |
| Years active | 1945–1998 |
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Notable credit(s)
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WKBW Eyewitness News |
| Spouse(s) | Elaine Weinstein |
| Children | Beth Krom, Marc Weinstein, Rachel |
Irwin B. "Irv" Weinstein (born April 29, 1930 – died December 26, 2017) was a famous American TV news anchor. He was known for hosting Eyewitness News on WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, for 34 years. From 1964 to 1998, he became a well-known broadcaster. Many people in the Buffalo area and in Southern Ontario knew him.
Irv was loved for his strong way of speaking and his good sense of humor. He worked alongside weatherman Tom Jolls and sports anchor Rick Azar for many years. Irv Weinstein was honored in the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998. He was also inducted into the N.Y. State Broadcasters Association in 2006.
Contents
Irv Weinstein: A Broadcasting Legend
Early Life and Radio Days
Irv Weinstein was born in Rochester, New York. His parents were from Lithuania. He started his broadcasting career while still in high school. He worked at WHAM Radio as an actor. He appeared on several local shows. Even at 15, Irv's voice sounded grown-up. He often played adult roles.
His work on WHAM led to one national radio appearance. He played a small part on The Aldrich Family. He was paid $230, which was a lot of money back then. Irv first wanted to be an actor. But actor Robert Mitchum told him there weren't many acting jobs. So, Irv decided to go to broadcasting school in New York City instead.
After school, Irv sent out many job applications. He started his professional career at KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa. This job only lasted a few months. He then worked at different stations in West Virginia. He almost gave up on broadcasting. But his wife convinced him not to take a job with the post office. In West Virginia, he used the name "Mark Roberts." He was influenced by the style of Paul Harvey.
In 1958, Irv was hired at WKBW Radio in Buffalo. He wanted to be closer to his hometown. He started working under Art Wander. Later, Irv became the news director. He developed a fast-paced style. He used strong writing and alliteration, which is repeating sounds. For example, he called criminals "pistol-packing punks." He also called firefighters "Buffalo blaze busters." It was here that he started calling himself "Irv."
Becoming a TV News Star
In 1964, Irv Weinstein became the news director and anchorman at WKBW-TV. This was a sister station to WKBW Radio. At that time, WKBW-TV's news shows were not very popular. They were ranked last in the city.
The "Eyewitness News" Success
By 1974, WKBW-TV's Eyewitness News program was a huge success. It had more viewers than the other two Buffalo stations combined. It stayed the top-rated newscast until Irv retired in 1998. Irv's new ideas for news were later used by others. These ideas helped create the national "Action News" style.
In 1968, Irv returned to acting briefly. He was in WKBW radio's Halloween show. It was an adaptation of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds. Irv also appeared in a 1971 remake. This remake was shown again in 1998. During his 40 years in Buffalo, Irv was in many stage plays. In the early 1980s, he even co-owned a theater in downtown Buffalo called The Playhouse.
Irv's Unique Style
A WKBW-TV commercial for Eyewitness News had a catchy song:
- "Irv Weinstein, you're really a pro!
- Ya got all the news that we wanna know.
- You tell it like it is and never throw us a curve,
- Nobody says it like Ir-r-r-r-v !
- Eye-wit-ness News (Yes-sah!)"
In 1991, Irv was caught on a hot mic. This means his microphone was on when he didn't know it. People heard him talking about the talent at the station. This was accidentally made public.
Irv was known for using alliteration in his reports. He or another journalist, Mel Epstein, created the famous phrase: "It's 11:00. Do you know where your children are?" This phrase is now used on many TV stations across the U.S. Also, the phrase "topping tonight's Eyewitness News" is still used to start WKBW's newscasts today.
His Impact and Retirement
The day Irv retired, December 31, 1998, was a special day. It was called "Irv Weinstein Day in Erie County." This was announced by the county leader, Dennis Gorski. Five days later, a writer from Toronto, David Frum, wrote a tribute to Irv. He wrote, "The way the French feel about Jerry Lewis, that's how we feel about Irv Weinstein."
In October 2004, Irv's importance was discussed. A politician, Tim Hudak, talked about him in the Ontario Legislature. Irv Weinstein was a very important part of Buffalo culture. He was with WKBW for 33 years. This was the longest time any news anchor had stayed with one TV station in Buffalo. This record stood until 2017.
Toward the end of his career, Irv changed his reporting style. He moved away from very dramatic news. He once explained why he reported on so many fires. He said that Toronto had most of its wooden buildings burn down in a big fire in 1904. But Buffalo still had many old wooden houses. So, there were truly more fires in Buffalo than in Toronto.
Personal Life and Later Years
Irv Weinstein and his wife, Elaine, were married from 1955 until he passed away. They spent most of their retirement in Irvine, California. They also had a second home in Ellicottville, New York.
Their daughter, Beth Krom, was the mayor of Irvine for two terms. She now serves on the City Council. The Weinsteins' son, Marc, is a co-owner of Amoeba Music. Their younger daughter, Rachel Lloyd, is an artist and theater worker in the Pittsburgh area.
In the summer of 2016, Irv was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. He first felt symptoms in March. After his diagnosis, Irv moved to an assisted living facility in Mission Viejo, California. He spent the rest of his life there.
By November 2016, he could no longer walk. But he could still use his arms and upper body. His mind was still sharp. Doctors thought he had about five years to live. He could still speak, but with some difficulty. By April 2017, Irv could no longer speak. He communicated by typing. Irv Weinstein passed away in Mission Viejo on December 26, 2017. He was 87 years old. He died from problems caused by ALS.
