JWB and Fame

[BettyO]

(07-12-2012 10:19 AM)Lindsey Wrote:  I hate when people ask if Booth was an alcoholic because usually they site the one instance that he was seen drinking a quart of brandy in two hours and that he was known to really be able to hold his liquor. As people have already said, attitudes towards drinking were different and I think there was probably a huge difference between Booth's drinking and George's, who said in his statement that Booth had told him to lay off the sauce.

It was reported that JWB's father, Junius, had a serious drinking problem - but I wonder, if as Laurie said, that it was a strain of mental illness as opposed to drinking - I remember in one instance, the elder Booth was locked in his dressing room so he would not get "juiced" prior to that night's performance. He had someone buy him some liquor and then a long straw which he was able to put through the keyhole and drink! I don't know if that's insanity or alcoholism - probably a bit of both!

I think that poor ol' George Atzerodt would get what is generally called "sloppy drunk" whereas if JWB imbibed, he could hold his liquor better -