I just got back from a long early morning road trip. I turned on WFMT/FM for the hour plus drive back to Chicago. They are running a tribute to Studs Terkel that is not to be missed.
Others have posted about Mr. Terkel's amazing life and achievements. I won't repeat.
Anyway they are playing interviews Studs did, memories from local and national figures.
Here's one snippet that took my breath away. Studs was interviewing Leonard Bernstein. Mr. Bernstein was remembering the initial public and critical reaction to West Side Story. Mr. Bernstein went onto relate about the both critical and public reaction to West Side Story in the Soviet Union.
The Broadway play/score was very popular in the Soviet Union as the Soviet media could use the play to demonstrate the massive in equalities existing in the United States. After many years he went to the Soviet Union to participate in sharing his experiences with West Side Story. Apparently he caught all of the Soviet media by surprise when they attempted to criticize the United States by using the play/score. He responded back that the United States was the only place in the world where such a play could be performed. Yes, while it raises ethnic inequity, where else in the world would an artist be able to produce a play with a success inside his/her own country. That silenced the Soviets.
Mr. Bernstein and Studs talk about the seminal problem they see (obviously many years ago) is the increasing gap between people who are educated, want to be educated, seek education and all of those who are disinterested and unwilling to learn. A thought to think about as we approach this election.
Anyway, many people are calling in talking about Studs' famous martini lunchs and the local reporters and media people he worked with up until just about 10 years ago.
As a back drop to everything the station is playing the memorials, Studs' interviews, against a classic broadcast Studs did as he road a Washington D.C. train from Chicago destined to arrive in time for the 1963 march in Chicago.
Enjoy...
I am so incompetent that I do not know how to link.