Video: Local Ebert Tribute Goes Viral

[bitsontherun h4eAr3kL]

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Social media and a little star power are getting a local man’s tribute to movie critic Roger Ebert recognition from coast to coast.

Art Shirley, who draws cartoons for a local paper and website, says he was moved to draw a cartoon after hearing about Ebert’s death. It depicts Ebert and his original televison partner Gene Siskel reuniting.

Through a share on facebook, George Takei from “Stark Trek” posted the image on his page. Since then, the picture has gotten more than 200,000 “likes” and more than 100,000 people have commented on it.

Shirley says, “It’s been very gratifying to know that I could reach people in that way.”

Shirley’s cartoons regulary appear in the “Daily Times Leader” in West Point.