How Rod Serling
became the poster child for NOT smoking...
During World War II,
the U.S. cigarette companies provided their tobacco products to U.S. soldiers for
free. Like so many other soldiers expecting to die at any minute, Rod Serling
welcomed the distraction and buzz that cigarettes provided. And like so many
soldiers who survived the bullets and bombs, he returned to the U.S. a
tobacco addict.
30 years and a
million cigarettes later,
Rod Serling died of heart failure.
Tragically, he was
only 50 years old.
During production of a Twilight Zone episode, circa 1960.
Rod visited his mentor for former teacher Helen Foley and
delivered a commencement address at Binghamton Central High School in January
1968.
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Rod with Fielder Cook, director,
while at work on "Patterns."
Jan. 1955. Source: Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.
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