Franklyn MacCormack
Encyclopedia
Franklyn MacCormack was an American
radio personality in Chicago, Illinois
from the 1930s into the 1970s on his radio program, The All Night Showcase. He was also well known as the announcer of the long-running old-time radio serial Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy
.
For many years he was the overnight broadcaster on two of Chicago's well-known clear-channel radio stations, first on WBBM
and then on WGN
, and thus was heard by listeners hundreds of miles from Chicago.
In contrast to the primary sports-and-talk formats of WBBM and WGN, MacCormack read romantic and sentimental poetry and played classical
, big band
and Broadway
music. One poem, "Why Do I Love You?" became his signature, the first line of which he would typically use to begin his program:
MacCormack's gloomy manner of reading these poems inspired the Bob and Ray
character Charles the Poet, who can never get through one of his overly sentimental poems without breaking up into laughter.
During his tenure on WGN, MacCormack's show originated at Uphoff's Rotunda Motel and Restaurant in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
for two weeks every summer, through the courtesy of local waterski show impresario Tommy Bartlett
.
In 1958, MacCormack recorded an album
for Liberty Records
. The album, The Torch Is Burning, consisted of spoken-word interpretations of classic big band
era popular songs, backed by a string orchestra arranged and conducted by Russ Garcia.
MacCormack is cited as a member of the eclectic (and fictional) "orchestra" in The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
's recording, The Intro and the Outro
, where he is credited with playing the harmonica
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio personality in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from the 1930s into the 1970s on his radio program, The All Night Showcase. He was also well known as the announcer of the long-running old-time radio serial Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy
Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy
Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy was a radio adventure series which maintained its popularity from 1933 to 1951. The program originated at WBBM in Chicago on July 31, 1933, and was later carried on CBS, then NBC and finally ABC....
.
For many years he was the overnight broadcaster on two of Chicago's well-known clear-channel radio stations, first on WBBM
WBBM (AM)
WBBM is an all-news CBS radio station in Chicago, Illinois broadcasting on the AM dial at 780 kHz. It is owned by CBS along with WBBM-TV....
and then on WGN
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
, and thus was heard by listeners hundreds of miles from Chicago.
In contrast to the primary sports-and-talk formats of WBBM and WGN, MacCormack read romantic and sentimental poetry and played classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
music. One poem, "Why Do I Love You?" became his signature, the first line of which he would typically use to begin his program:
- I love you not only for who you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
MacCormack's gloomy manner of reading these poems inspired the Bob and Ray
Bob and Ray
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding were an American comedy team whose career spanned five decades. Their format was typically to satirize the medium in which they were performing, such as conducting radio or television interviews, with off-the-wall dialogue presented in a generally deadpan style as...
character Charles the Poet, who can never get through one of his overly sentimental poems without breaking up into laughter.
During his tenure on WGN, MacCormack's show originated at Uphoff's Rotunda Motel and Restaurant in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells is a city in south-central Wisconsin, with a population of 2,418 as of the 2000 census. It straddles four counties: Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk. The city takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a scenic, glacially formed gorge that features striking sandstone...
for two weeks every summer, through the courtesy of local waterski show impresario Tommy Bartlett
Tommy Bartlett
Thomson "Tommy" Bartlett was an American showman and entertainment mogul from Wisconsin. He is most often associated with the water skiing thrill show based in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, known as Tommy Bartlett's Thrill Show. The success of this and other traveling water ski shows led to...
.
Books and recordings
MacCormack edited the 245-page Why I Love You and Other Poems from My Old Book of Memories (John C. Winston Company, 1948), and a paperback edition was published in 1963 by Chicago's Carl Mack Books.In 1958, MacCormack recorded an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
for Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
. The album, The Torch Is Burning, consisted of spoken-word interpretations of classic big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era popular songs, backed by a string orchestra arranged and conducted by Russ Garcia.
Death
MacCormack became ill during the broadcast of June 12, 1971, and was quickly taken to a hospital. He had, in fact, suffered his second heart attack in a nine-month period, this time fatally, as he died Saturday afternoon. His time slot was initially filled by occasional guest host and staff newscaster Clif Mercer. 2,500 people gathered two days later to honor his passing.MacCormack is cited as a member of the eclectic (and fictional) "orchestra" in The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are a band created by a group of British art-school denizens of the 1960s...
's recording, The Intro and the Outro
The Intro and the Outro
The Intro and The Outro is a recording by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. It appears on their debut album, Gorilla . It is not so much a song as a comic monologue, in which the speaker introduces the musicians who ostensibly appear on the recording, and the track fades out before the emcee completes...
, where he is credited with playing the harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
.