Marie Torre

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Marie Torre (1924-January 3, 1997) was a television personality who appeared on KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania between 1962 and 1977. She was the station's first woman anchor[1] and one of the first female anchors in the United States. Earlier in her career, she gained some notoriety when, as a reporter for the International Herald Tribune, in New York City, she refused to name the source of comments critical of actress Judy Garland. During a landmark court case, Garland v. Torre, Torre was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment for contempt of court[2]. She appeared three times on the children's show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood[3]. After 1977 Torre returned to New York City. Carlow University in Pittsburgh sponsors a Marie Torre Memorial Lecture Series[4]. Although she is fondly remembered by older Pittsburghers, Torre was a native of Brooklyn, New York.

[edit] References

  1. ^ WQED Pittsburgh: Pittsburghers of the Century: December 1999
  2. ^ http://www.mobar.org/handbook/journalist.htm
  3. ^ Marie Torre
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  1. WQED Magazine
  2. Mobar.org
  3. Internet Movie Database
  4. Marie Torre Memorial Lecture Series
  5. Marie Torre 1924-1997

Marie Torre (June 17,1924-January 3, 1997) was a television personality who appeared on KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania between 1962 and 1977. She was the station's first woman news anchor[1] and one of the first female anchors in the United States. She showed great versatility, easily moving from covering hard news stories -- including the kidnapping of Peggy Ann Bradnick at Shade Gap, Pennsylvania, in May, 1966 -- to interviewing newsmakers, including President Lyndon B. Johnson and Coretta Scott King. She hosted a daily interview talk show -- "Contact" -- later re-named "The Marie Torre Show" -- as well as public affairs programming on KDKA-TV. She also served as the station's entertainment critic -- including everything from motion pictures to live theatre productions,such as the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.

She also appeared three times on the children's show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood[3].

Earlier in her career, she gained great notoriety when, as a television columnist for the New York Herald Tribune, in New York City, she refused to name the source of comments critical of actress Judy Garland. During a landmark court case, Garland v. Torre, Torre was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment for contempt of court[2].She was called the "Joan of Arc" of her profession.

In 1977, Torre returned to New York City, appearing on WCBS-TV and WABC-TV, and producing public affairs programming. She later produced and hosted public affairs broadcasts on WILM Radio, in Wilmington,Delaware, until her death. Carlow University in Pittsburgh sponsors a Marie Torre Memorial Lecture Series[4]. Although she is fondly remembered by thousands of Pittsburghers, Torre was actually a native of Brooklyn, New York.

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