BARRY LAINE JOURNALIST ROBERT JACOBSON JOURNALIST

Like many fields, journalism has been hard hit by AIDS. Jeffrey Schmalz, assistant national editor of the New York Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle's Randy Shilts (see card 103) are reporters with AIDS who are able to continue working, but the disease has ended many other careers, especially in performing-arts journalism.

Barry Laine (left), who was the editor of Stagebill, was born June 25, 1951, in New York City, graduated from Cornell (1973), and received a master's degree at the University of North Carolina. Besides his work for Stagebill, he wrote on music and dance for such publications as the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Dance Magazine, and The Advocate and helped to set up the Glines, a gay theater and arts center in New York. He died of AIDS-related pneumonia September 19, 1987.

Robert Jacobson (right), who wrote several books on music, was the editor of Opera News (1974-1986) and Ballet News (19791986), both published by the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Born July 28, 1940, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin. From 1963 he wrote for Musical America, Saturday Review, and After Dark before joining Opera News. He was a regular radio broadcaster and appeared on Live from Lincoln Center TV shows. He died of pulmonary complications of AIDS on May 9, 1987.

Among other journalists who have died of AIDS was Belinda Mason (see card 32). Stuart Greenspan, a writer and editor of Art & Auction, died in 1990. In 1992, AIDS claimed William Chafin, publisher of QW, and Juan Suarez Botas, who provided covers and illustrations for Time, Vogue, Interview, and Playboy.

Next Card 29: LIBERACE: Pianist, Entertainer

BARRY LAINE/ROBERT JACOBSON