We had an uncle who was sent to dry out -- there were mental hospitals that had units where you'd go to do this.

And when he came out, there was no AA and no sponsor. He was probably considered what was called a "dry drunk" in AA terms.

Hazelden was around since the late 1940s - I think Roger mentioned it ( his friend who now "only drinks beer")? Duck's background is still widely unknown though, so who knows if/when it'll ever be addressed out loud. Did you notice in the last episode, at Don & Betty's dinner party, Duck twice opted for non-alcoholic drinks? My sense is that it wasn't talked about openly back then, especially at the office.

Does anyone know of really good movies during the late 1950s/early 60s dealing with alcoholism? (Lost Weekend was 1945) I've noticed the writers like to weave in themes from popular movies of the time.

The most famous of all was "The Days of Wine and Roses" with Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, directed by Blake Edwards. I think it came out in 1962.

Great movie, great acting. It deals very frankly and honestly with the subject of alcoholism. It was also a great advertisement for AA. Jack Lemmon's character goes to AA, sponsored by Jack Klugman, and gets better. Lee Remick's character keeps on drinking and Jack Lemmon refuses to let her back into his life until she stops.

The movie ends with the daughter asking Jack Lemmon "is mommy going to get better?" And Lemmon's response is "I did, didn't I?"

Prepare yourself for a good cry!

There were no rehab clinics in the 60's. You got sent to the mental ward to dry out. And then they let you go. Drunkeness was something to be ashamed of back then, it wasn't applauded the way it is now.

There were sanitariums. Comparable to fat farms.

As mentioned above, being a drunk was shameful back then, a symbol of lack of control over yourself.

hope everyone has seen days of wine and roses already. *spoiler alert* by @gailklein. LOL.
it is a great movie though.

duck drank after he sent the dog away. he's maybe closet drinking & teetotaling(sp) in public.

back in the day most AA contacts were made by hospitals, instutions. you got picked out in the hospital, connected with a man who told his story and offered the solution of AA to you. more than likely, that man became the sponser to take you through the 12 steps.
not like today were people are open about their problems and may meet a drunk they could tell their story to at work, kid's school, etc. & then take them to a meeting.

In 'Six Month Leave' Roger mentioned that his podiatrist went to Hazelton - came back a new man with great stories - only drinks beer now.  Assume he was referring to what is now advertised as Hanley-Hazelton - drug and alcohol rehab.

Don and Roger drinking while discussing Freddie 'crossing the line', and then toasting to 'making a night of it' was great dramatic irony.

Talk about the pot(s) calling the kettle black!!!

Moto62: Sorry! I didn't mean to be a spoiler! It is a great movie, though.

And we don't know if Duck took a drink after he released Chauncey. As with everything else in this show, it's very ambiguous.

In the early sixties GENERAL HOSPITAL had a character whose name I cannot recall who was an alcoholic. I think he played Kin Shriner's dad way, way back in the day. Was character's name Lee something or other? Anyway - this was my first recollection of AA since the character was always going to meetings. I was in fourth grade and used to walk home from school to my aunt's sometimes and she was a total GH fan. There was even a closet attempt by Audry Hardy trying to get artificially inseminated because for whatever reason, hubby Steve could not seem to get the job done. But yes indeed there WAS AA and the year was 1964!

OK, I'm still grieving for Chauncey, and someone mentions him again! Excuse me while I wipe away a tear (with the theme from Lassie the TV show playing in the backround)!

Duck's a Dork...

Chauncey, where are you?

I think Freddie would go to the VA hospital.They made mention of his being a vet and the VA did and does have a big alcohol program.

It would be interesting to see a MM episode (possibly the finale) where they present the cast members say in the late 1970s or 1980s. How many of them would be in AA, or have lung (smoking related) problems? Or who would still be doing OK?
Kinda like they did with 6 feet under...

Lee Baldwin!

I wonder what the rate of alcoholism/cirrhosis was in those days?

Naltrexone is a medication that is supposed to aid in the treatment of addiction. Doubtless that many would go so far as to get personal loans to help with their addiction to shopping and credit cards. Naltrexone has already shown efficacy in trials in treating alcoholism and other drug addictions. Some people would definitely get installment loans to get naltrexone.

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