It was not such a Happy Halloween for the many fans of the great Studs Turkel. He finally "checked out" at the age of 96.
It is no exaggeration to state that Studs was one of the great genius-spirits of our age. He put the secular humanist in Secular Humanism.
Studs Turkel invented what is now called Oral History. In the mid-1950's, Turkel began a 45-year career as a syndicated radio talk show host. His interviews from these programs, and his later books, constitute a virtual syllabus of the 20th Century. From ruling leaders, writers and artists to the Joe Sixpacks of the world, Studs' sense of empathy elicited amazingly candid and illuminating dialogues and epiphanies.
To understand our nation, from the Roaring Twenties through this day, one need only read Studs Turkel's works and hear his voice. And follow along the life he lived. Born to immigrants; child of the streets; scholar and lawyer; writer and performer; blacklisted by McCarthyism; pioneer of radio and television; creator of a new form of History; honored by Presidents and The People. The phrase 'force of nature' is overused, but it applies so well to Studs. We will never see the likes of him again. Here are some appreciations:
The Tribune link has a good number of video clips and ancillary stories about the great man. Another tribute is delivered by a fellow Pulitzer-winner, Roger Ebert:
And for those who have a little bit of time to devote towards understanding the amazing memory and depth of detail that he possessed to his final day, here is an expansive interview he delivered at the U. of California a couple of years ago. Throughout, be prepared for amazement and a greater appreciation of what America was, is and can be again:
And now for the Quote of the Day:
"I'd like to be remembered as a guy who made trouble when trouble was needed." -- Studs Turkel
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