Past events
Chicago legend Studs Terkel hosted a radio show for over 45 years and
wrote several books, but his greatest talent was not in using his own
voice to tell a story, but listening to others and providing a forum
to broadcast their voices. On May 16, 2012 from 5:30-8:00 PM, the
Studs Terkel 100th Birthday Party will be held at the Newberry to
honor Studs' memory and celebrate the ways his legacy lives on.
As a part of the Studs Terkel Centennial Celebration, the Jane Addams
Hull-House Museum has set up a phone line to record stories about
listening and stories about Studs.
Call the hotline! (559) 546-1661
Everyone is encouraged to participate -- those who knew Studs
personally, those who were influenced by his life, and those who have
experienced how profound listening can be.
If you have an anecdote or story you would like to share about Studs,
please tell us.
If you would rather contribute by telling a story about listening,
consider the question:
When has listening changed the way you thought about the world?
We have asked a diverse group of Chicagoans to help get you started by
recording their own answers to these questions, including Gwen Macsai
of Re:Sound, journalist Rick Kogan, author Rich Cahan, and historian
Timuel Black. Their answers will be included in the outgoing message
for the hotline on a rotating basis.
Here is how YOU can participate:
1. Consider the questions: What did Studs mean to you? Do you have a
story about Studs? When has listening closely changed the way you
thought about the world?
2. Call in to the hotline: 559-546-1661
3. Leave a message with your story!
Some tips for a successful story and a successful recording:
• Think through your story and jot down some notes about what you want to say.
• Practice telling your story once or twice so you feel comfortable,
but don't feel like you have to read from a script or be completely
rehearsed. Stories sound best when you tell them as though you are
talking to a friend or neighbor.
• Keep it short! You only have three minutes to tell us your story on
the hotline, and short stories are often the most compelling.
• Go somewhere quiet. A closet, an office, and a bedroom are all great
places to record your message. It will sound best without sirens,
wind, or street noise in the background.
• Above all else -- just do it! We all have great stories, and this is
a fantastic opportunity to share one of yours. It won't take very
long, and it will be fun!
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This event is being planned by Paul Durica of the Pocket Guide to Hell
Tours, and is co-sponsored by the Newberry Library, the Jane Addams
Hull-House Museum, Haymarket Brewery, the Illinois Labor History
Society, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, and The Chicagoan.
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* All views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, or the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Architecture and the Arts.