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Touch and Go: A Memoir |
Author: Studs Terkel
Published: 2007-11-01 |
List price: $24.95
Our price: $14.97
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 The Last Word from Studs
As is my habit, I have been running through the oral histories collected by the recently departed Studs Terkel, the premier interviewer of his age. When I latch onto a writer I want to delve into I tend to read whatever comes into my hands as soon as I get them rather than systematically or chronologically. Thus, I have just gotten my hands on a copy of Terkel's "Touch and Go", a memoir of sorts but more properly a series of connected vignettes (with a little off-hand celebrity name dropping along the way), that goes a long way to filling in some blanks in the life story of one Louis "Studs" Terkel (including information on the source of the nickname "Studs" - from the 1930's Chicago-based trilogy "Studs Lonigan" by James T. Farrell, another author who will be reviewed here in the future). For those unfamiliar with Terkel's work this little book acts as glue to understanding a long life committed to social justice, giving "voice" to ordinary people and expanding our knowledge of various musical traditions like jazz, folk music and the blues. Nice work, right?
And what of that life? The more famous second half of it is fairly well-known in Studs role as the ubiquitous interviewer and oral historian. That part is extensively covered through the materials in his various books such as "Working", "The Good War" and others that I have or will review elsewhere in this space and therefore will not spend much time on here. The less familiar first half of his life forms a fairly well-trodden exemplar of a life story from the early part of the 20th century but which today's readers would find hard to comphrehend. Naturally enough, for an early 20th century American story, it begins with immigration of Studs parents to America, New York City as the first port of call, from the Jewish ghettoes of Eastern Europe. Then, later, the also familiar internal migration to Chicago in search of more promising prospects and, ultimately, assimilation of Studs (and his two brothers) into the life of the heartland including the old traditions of hard work, hard striving and hard inquisitiveness.
Studs, like many of the members of his generation, was formed, permanently it would seen, by the hardships and cruelties of the Great Depression that, as exemplified by his oral histories of the times, notably "Hard Times", are his special contributions to the history of that period. I do not believe that those of us from later generations can get a full sense of that history without Studs' work as a companion to the academic histories. That was a time, as a glance at today's' current dire economic and social events may be foreshadowing, where one was forced to get by one's wits, cleverness and sheer "guts".
After a stint at law school Studs did odd jobs around the theater trying catch on a performer. But not just any theater and not just any kind of a performer. This is the period of the Theater Guild and of the WPA which gave cultural workers or those who aspired to such a chance. In short, an engaged and leftist political theater. Needless to say Studs got caught up with the international politics of the period. The struggle against fascism as a "pre-mature" anti-fascist, the fight to save the Spanish Republic and at home the struggle to aid those who were decimated by the Depression. Name a progressive social cause, he was there.
For his efforts, then and later, Studs had some success in his career as a performer first in the ubiquitous field of radio that formed the mass consciousness of the so-called "greatest generation" as a disc jockey and interviewer of various musical figures like Billie Holiday on his shows, the Wax Museum and the Eclectic Disc Jockey. Later, after truncated service in the Air Force in World II, Studs got in on the ground floor of television with the local Chicago success of Studs' Place.
Then the roof caved in as the `'red scare' hit home and hit home hard. This was not a good period for those "pre-mature" anti-fascists like Studs mentioned in the last paragraph. In any case Studs survived by "doing the best he could" and by one means or another got hooked onto his career as an interviewer that one really should get a taste of first hand by reading one of the dozen or so books of his dedicated to that art form.
I have not mentioned thus far much about the specifics of Studs' politics. I believe that he was formed, and ultimately was stuck in, that `progressive' (and capitalism-saving) politics that came to life with President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and was given highest expression by former FDR Vice-President Henry Wallace's Progressive Party run for the presidency in 1948. A perusal of Studs later works, including comments in this memoir only confirm my impression that his worldview, formed in the 1930's, remained about the same to the end.
That, however, is not why Studs has an honored place in the halls of of the allies of the working class. His commitment to the "good fight" throughout a long life was commendable. We are always in need of those are willing to sign something, to speak to some pressing social issue and who do not squawk about it. No movement can survive without those kinds of publicists. The real tribune to Studs, however, will come when those myriad working class people that he interviewed, those downtrodden Chicago people, those poor white mountain people, those poor black migrants from the South get the society they desire and NEED. Kudos, Brother Terkel.
 A touch of the Reality Tree
Studs is a national treasure. That he's a great listener anyone who is familiar with his "Working," "Hard Times," "Race," etc. already knows. His story telling skills haven't diminished a bit as he approaches the century mark. The only thing that I found disappointing was that it ended so soon. I felt like I was paying a visit to a great friend & I had to leave too early. Still, any time spent with Studs is a treat.
His observations, especially in some of the later chapters "And nobody laughed" and "Einstein and the rest of us" remind us that the madness that we're currently experiencing has roots that are both recent and back over half a century. His observations also, to the annoyance of many, refuse to be clouded by the hype from all quarters that we're constantly bombarded with. That Ronald Reagan and his administration's devastating policies still haven't been discovered by the very citizens whose lives have been (adversely) effected the most ("What's the matter with Kansas"), as we currently have presidential candidates falling all over themselves to "out Reagan" each other, don't cease to amaze. The selective amnesia that infests our society doesn't just border on the surreal, but has crossed the line with plenty to spare.
If you frequently find yourself having that uneasy feeling as if you were stuck in a dreamscape conjured up by Salvador Dali during a fit of madness, or perhaps find yourself carrying one of those Bush Countdown Clocks around to remind yourself that maybe there will be a beginning to an end one day, then a strong dose of Studs might offer hope that reality might still exist.
The Keeper of History
This is a stream of consciousness book and not particularly easy reading, but the experiences and stories and recounting of history contained in it is priceless. Studs laments how easily seminal people are forgotten and he has made it his business to let the forgotten ones know that he remembers them and knows of their importance in our country's story.
Anyone who reads this book will be richer for doing so and will be better able to tackle the current election and issues we face.
Studs in Print
Fans of Studs Terkel will love this book. His radio voice leaps off the page: the same rhythms, the same w ay of telling a story. Readers who don't know Studs will be treated to an account of the twentieth century that is at once highly personal and local and at the same time universal in its subject matter. Highly recommended!
Mike's opinion:
I enjoyed the book. It brought back memories of times past, I love Chicago. While not as liberal as Studs, I appreciate his passion, kindness and thoughtfullness for those less fortunate. Studs has always been fun and so interesting. I always feel enriched, after reading his books.
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