Studs Terkel Lives On

Studs Terkel died on Friday in Chicago at the age of 96. He was too young. But then, whenever he ended up dying, he'd be too young. I'm not quite sure I believe that he actually has died, though. Studs was unique and not given to ordinary convention. And dying is just so not him.

There will be articles of deserved praise for his long, remarkable, outspoken, vibrant life - his voluminous books, his Chicago radio show on WFMT for 45 years, his career as an actor in the early days of television, and so much more. All will touch on why he was fascinating, although it unlikely that anyone can really summarize such a soul. It had to be experienced, and even then. Studs lived in Chicago, Studs worked out of Chicago, Studs was the heart of Chicago, but if anyone had dual-citizenship with the world, it was Studs Terkel.

Years back growing up in Glencoe, I was in the kitchen, reading a newspaper article on Studs, when I noticed him mention that he had been given his start in radio by "that ad man, I.J. Wagner."

I quickly sat up. I.J. Wagner was my cousin, who passed away before I was born. More to the point, however, he's who I'm named after. Isadore James Wagner. Look at my name above, at the top of this article -- I have always specifically used the "J." when I write as an homage to him. He was one of the originators of radio jingles back in the 1930s, though several of them lasted for decades -- his most famous being "What'll you have? Pabst Blue Ribbon" and the sing-songy, "'Mommy! "What is it, dear?' 'I want a Salerno Butter Cookie!'" I was always honored to be named after I.J. Wagner. But believe me, knowing that "Iz" was responsible for giving Studs Terkel his start in radio has always made me even more proud of the "J."

After reading the article I went racing into my mother's room to tell her what Studs Terkel had said about Iz. I was expecting great surprise and excitement equal to my own, but she wasn't at all. "Oh, sure," she said nonchalantly. "They were very close. Studs spoke at Iz's funeral."

Years passed, and I was working a summer job for the Ravinia Music Festival. I had reason to speak briefly to Studs, when he called the office. And I was finally able to tell him about Iz Wagner. He was gracious, charming and Studs. It remains one of my happy memories.

Today's news is a sad loss, but what a life. And what a record he leaves behind that will live on. And y'know, I suspect there's a good chance he's living on, still.

Comments

[jbgnyc]

Loved your opening lines. Studs at 97: still too young. Years don't make someone old, refusing to listen and hear and learn is what dries out the heart. Studs loved to listen. Sure, it kept him youthful, but his skills at "hearing" taught legions of us "new" journalists to move past the spin and find truth.. Thank you, Studs. For everything.

[alkamm]

Studs and Molly Ivins will be with us for the Obama victory. Unlike so many of our appointed journalists, they stood up and called liars liars, cheaters cheaters, fixers fixers, and war criminals war criminals.

[Agentlady007]

Gorgeous sharing inner self writing for such a special friend of yours. I admire your personal integrity.

[dontomas]

My late father, a blue collar guy never said much about politics. He only had one hero being Studs Terkel. After I became an adult I read Studs and realized why. Studs Terkel with his gritty realism and stories of life on the street and stoop, unlikely heroes rising up from the Depression. After a read of a Studs Terkel book you come away realizing we really are all in this together and you will see it in the corners and cracks away from the maddening crowd and over stimulated media.

[RRonin]

When I was a kid Terkel was on a PBS series, based, I seem to recall on his book about the Great Depression. I loved that show and I fell in love with Studs Terkel. Here was a MAN!

[twofish]

Holy crap, I could sing you that Salerno butter cookie song. The Pabst song, too. They may have been written for radio, but probably made it to Chicago tv in the 50's, since we watched tv but didn't listen to much radio.

I've never read any of Studs' books, but I got to listen to his radio show for years. He was one of the world's great talkers. Usually, talkers aren't so good at listening, but he did both. He listened to people the "important" people (especially in the media) didn't think deserved to be listened to, and fed us back that sense of worth. Not the faux populism Sarah Palin tries to deal, the "you're better than them city slickers" stuff. That and his life-long insistence on the need for progressive politics, were his gift to me, and I am grateful. Now, how do we pass it along to another generation?

[cylindar]

Studs is alive and well in all of our hearts.

[loril]

One of the more thrilling moments in my life was the evening I was able to shake the hand of Studs Terkel and tell him how wonderful he was. He spoke at a conference I attended and was the highlight of the event (to put it mildly.) I have been a fan of his writing and commentary throughout my life. I am proud he is a midwesterner and one of the most gentlemanly and learned examples of a midwestern populist. Studs Terkel is irreplaceable in our public dialog.

Oddly enough, I fell asleep Thursday night thinking about Studs Terkel. I checked his latest book out of the library a few months ago but went through a hectic period and was not able to even crack the cover. I was thinking that I needed to go back and get the book. I also reminded myself to look up his name online and see what he might have to say about the current election cycle.

I cannot explain it other than that Studs Terkel was very much on my mind. I thought about his age...but like R. J. Elisberg...I thought/hoped he would be with us for at least 100 years if not 120. The man was history. He had seen and done it all but retained the passion and flexibilty of a young soul.

[Pagon]

His passing is loss to all humanity.

Of all the public figures I can think of, Studs is the one who I always wished I could chat with for a few hours. I would thank him for the pleasure and insights he gave me. Mostly, though, I would thank him for the way he expressed and explained his love of our country and the the ideals it was supposed to represent.

As it happens, I'm about half-way through his "Hope Dies Last".

What a guy!

[Bitsko]

In 1963, Studs broadcast a great interview with the then unknown Bob Dylan on his Studs Terkel"s Wax Museum program. Mr. Bob tells some mighty tall tales about himself.

http://ryanssmashinglife.blogspot.com/2008/05/bob-dylan-1963-interview-and-live.html

[CitizenE]

The American Voice. More relevant than ever. Bless his soul.

[pfc1369]

One of the last of the great genuine Americans.

A real one; not a fake real one.

[NamelessGenXer]

I am too young to remember the heyday of Studs Terkel, but I know that my favorite writer and one-time NYC radio personality, the great Jean Shepherd, was a big fan of Studs. RIP, to both of them.

[anon004]

My introduction to Studs Terkel was reading "Working" when in was an undergraduate in the late 1970s. What an amazing book. He was one of the few journalists who recognized that ordinary, real people were worth talking to and hearing from. Nothing sentimental, just straight reporting of people's experiences. In an election featuring pseudo-people like !Not!Joe!The!Not!Plumber!, it's wonderful to think of Stud Terkel's real concern for real people just trying to live their lives with a small amount of dignity. So long, Studs, you wll be greatly missed.