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May 16, 2007 7:05 pm US/Central
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Author Studs Terkel Celebrates 95th Birthday
by Derrick Blakley
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Author Studs Terkel was honored Wednesday with a big bash celebrating his 95th birthday. CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports on the party honoring the TV and radio pioneer.
Terkel is quite frail now, and nearly deaf, but the Chicago legend was quite thrilled with all the accolades, and the friendly jibes.
Roger Ebert's wife, Chaz Ebert, read a tribute from Ebert to Terkel, a good friend. Ebert is currently recovering from surgery.
"You know you're getting older when they hold your birthday party at the History Museum," Chaz Ebert read.
But Louis "Studs" Terkel is part of Chicago history, first as an actor in radio soap operas, and later, as star of the groundbreaking, early network TV show, "Studs' Place."
But ABC dropped the show in 1952, after Terkel had been blacklisted for his left-wing politics, which he refused to deny.
"Those of us who were younger took him as a model, as well as Paul Robeson and others," said retired history professor Timuel Black.
After some lean years, Terkel settled in at WFMT radio, where for 45 years his eclectic show featured folk, blues and gospel music along with probing interviews of acclaimed artists and ordinary people.
"The word ordinary is one I hate because ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things," Terkel said.
And later, he focused a series of acclaimed books on ordinary people in Chicago.
"And that will live. He's let that story be told and it goes out to the world," said former steelworkers' leader Ed Sadlowski.
Now, Terkel says, he'd just like to be remembered for his desire to learn a little more about everything.
"My epitaph is a simple one," he said. "Curiosity did not kill this cat."
After spending a lifetime telling other people's stories, Terkel is finally ready to tell his own. His memoir, "Touch and Go" is due in bookstores this autumn.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)