Gene Siskel: Architect of the Thumbs Rating

Gene Siskel (26 January 1946 – 20 February 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. He co-hosted a movie review television series alongside Roger Ebert and together they created the iconic “Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down” rating system that became a fixture of American pop culture.

Early Life and Education

Siskel was born in Chicago on January 26, 1946, the youngest of three children born to Ida (née Kalis) and Nathan William Siskel, Russian Jewish immigrants. He grew up in a historically Jewish neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side. After his father died when Gene was four and his mother when he was nine, he was raised by his aunt and uncle.

His interest in film began early. He attended DeWitt Clinton Elementary School in Chicago and frequently visited the nearby Nortown Theater. At Culver Academies, he encountered anti-Semitism from a schoolmate. Siskel graduated from Yale University in 1967 with a degree in philosophy, where he studied writing under Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Hersey. A reference from Hersey would help him secure his position at the Chicago Tribune in 1969.

Career and Achievements

Before joining the Tribune, Siskel served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military journalist and public affairs officer for the Defense Information School. He then worked briefly in association with Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner.

From 1969 until his death in 1999, Siskel served as film critic for the Chicago Tribune, producing over 5,000 reviews. His critical approach prioritized narrative effectiveness—plot coherence and believable character motivations—and he often criticized films that favored stylistic flourishes over substantive storytelling. His first print review, published one month before becoming the Tribune’s official film critic, was for the film Rascal, which he did not favor.

In 1975, Siskel partnered with Roger Ebert to host a monthly show called Opening Soon at a Theater Near You on PBS station WTTW. The program gained nationwide attention in 1977 when WTTW offered it to the PBS system. In 1978, the show was renamed Sneak Previews and expanded to weekly episodes airing across PBS affiliates. In 1982, Siskel and Ebert left PBS for syndication, creating At the Movies through Tribune Broadcasting. Following a contract dispute with Tribune Entertainment in 1986, they moved their show to Buena Vista Television, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, resulting in Siskel’s demotion at the Tribune from full-time film critic to freelance contract writer. He remained a freelancer for the Tribune until his death, replaced as film critic by Dave Kehr.

Notable Events and Milestones

Siskel and Ebert introduced their trademark “thumbs-up, thumbs-down” rating system following their 1982 departure from PBS. The system became famous enough to be parodied on comedy shows and became central to their public identity. Known for their biting wit, intense professional rivalry, and heated arguments on air, the pair became celebrated figures in American pop culture.

Siskel’s last review for the Chicago Tribune was published on January 29, 1999, for the film She’s All That, in which he gave a favorable three-star rating and praised Rachael Leigh Cook’s performance. Siskel was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 1998 but remained in the public eye as Ebert’s professional partner until his death on February 20, 1999.

Additional Resources

Readers seeking more detailed information about Gene Siskel’s life, career, and critical legacy can consult Wikipedia’s full biography and other film history archives. His extensive body of work at the Chicago Tribune and his television collaborations with Roger Ebert remain accessible through various media databases and streaming platforms.

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