Slog - Comments on Awesomeness Never Gets Old http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old Studs Terkel turned 96 today. If you've never read Terkel's oral biographies, start with Working--it's available at just about every used bookstore in the city, for super-cheap--and then read everything else. He's among the last of a breed--I will always regret never being able to meet Mike Royko--of talented journalists who brought real heart to their work. Plus, his name is Studs. And he's 96. That alone is cause for celebration.... Copyright 2008 Fri, 16 May 2008 13:32:02 -0800 Sat, 17 May 2008 17:29:30 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by stinkbug His mind is definitely showing signs of old age (listen to some recent interviews), but he can still bat some old stories out of the ballpark.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026712 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026712 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 13:42:55 -0800 Comment by Uncle Vinny Somebody forced me to read "The Good War" when I was in high school, and I still remember it fondly. It's all oral history of Americans who fought or worked in the US during WWII. Great stuff... harrowing and stirring.

]]> Uncle Vinny http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026732 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026732 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 13:54:37 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Terkel understands more about American life in the 20th century than anyone who ever lived. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. Happy birthday, sir.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026755 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 14:03:17 -0800 Comment by Gurldoggie My first exposure to Studs Terkel was on my Dad's amazing, and now almost impossible to find, "Studs Terkel interviews Big Bill Broozy" recording. He was so gruff and earthy, and yet so knowledgeable. It made a big impression. I finally saw him years later on stage in Washington DC, interviewing Daniel Schorr when Schorr's most recent memoir had just been published. The two old men trading barbs about Nixon and fond reminiscences of Nelson Algren was just a hoot.

Terkel is a national and personal treasure. His own memoir was published at the end of last year, and one of these days I'll get around to reading it. Happy Birthday to all of us.

]]> Gurldoggie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026790 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026790 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 14:23:28 -0800 Comment by C One of the most enriching/depressing parts of being an American is reading Studs Turkel and knowing that is some roundabout way you are part of those stories.

If you do not love him then your head is a little too far up your ass.

]]> C http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026841 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026841 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 14:48:46 -0800 Comment by sprizee I gotta say he's looking a little Jimmy Durante in the picture, so bonus points for that.

]]> sprizee http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026877 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1026877 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 15:08:00 -0800 Comment by E I would also highly recommend "Hard Times", Terkel's 1970 oral history of The (20th Century's) Great Depression.

]]> E http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027026 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027026 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 17:03:40 -0800 Comment by Wolf I co-starred with him in John Sayles' film "Eight Men Out" 20 years ago. He was fabulous then, and still is. I HIGHLY recommend reading "Working" as the script for the stage show.

God(s) bless Studs.

]]> Wolf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027036 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027036 Books Fri, 16 May 2008 17:18:29 -0800 Comment by jim Don't feel bad about neer meeting Royko. From what I've heard (from spending many a night at the Goat) he was a real prick. A bitter drunk. And his politics went to the right as he got older.

]]> jim http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027150 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027150 Books Sat, 17 May 2008 01:01:04 -0800 Comment by Ryan Studs is awesome.

That's all I can really say. Just an amazing storyteller.

]]> Ryan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027221 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/awesomeness_never_gets_old#c1027221 Books Sat, 17 May 2008 17:29:30 -0800