Cheers to Studs

Farewell, my friend, who enriched the lives of all who knew him, in even the most tertiary of ways. I wish us all even a portion of such knowledge, passion, and humanism.

-ramon

Ramon wrote:Farewell, my friend, who enriched the lives of all who knew him, in even the most tertiary of ways. I wish us all even a portion of such knowledge, passion, and humanism.

-ramon

I'll second that.

I drank a couple in his honor last night. I drink a couple more in his honor tonight. Farewell to a great human being, who lived every day of his life with curiosity and passion. We'll miss you, Studs, and there will never be another one like you.

This conversation needs a food connection...so I'll point out that during the MikeG-organized julbord celebration at Tre Kroner a few years back, we were seated next to Studs, and he could really pack away the herring, reindeer and lutefisk. A lover of life, a lover of food.

Also note this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=13363

The three or four times I saw him around town, it was always in a restaurant. Which is no great surprise for me, of course, but clearly he loved them too.

Mike G wrote:The three or four times I saw him around town, it was always in a restaurant. Which is no great surprise for me, of course, but clearly he loved them too.

Wouldn't it have been great if he'd written Eating: An Oral (In More Ways Than One) History ?

There are quite a few quotes about Chicago food from Studs here:
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles ... cal-heroes

an example:

What’s the most fundamentally Chicago restaurant?
I don’t want to be too highfalutin, but Blackbird is, like, my favorite restaurant in town. It’s truly a Chicago institution in my opinion. The only piece of art in the whole restaurant is [by] Wesley Kimler, a Chicago artist. And they do all regional organic vegetables and organic meats. If anyone comes into town I send them there. I sent U2 there recently, they loved it. These are just guys from Chicago who had a good idea to make a white-tablecloth restaurant, and it’s really working. I save my money and go there when I can!

-ramon

On one of last winter's coldest days, I stood in line at the Chicago History Museum to have Studs sign my copy of his autobiography, Touch and Go. I'm so glad to have done so. Perhaps Rene G can give some history on Studs' favorite restaurant of days gone by, Riccardo's. Here is what Studs writes in Touch and Go:

"Ric Riccardo appeared in one of the most popular films ever made, though you'd never know it. He was portrayed by Humphrey Bogart as Rick, in Casablanca. Riccardo's spa was the favorite, naturally, of those who spoke truth to power. For that was this man's life from the beginning. He had the bearing of Don Giovanni, say, played by Enzio Pinza and he did very well in that respect. but more important, he was an anti-Fascist who escaped Mussolini's castor-oil treatment. It was a special sort of punishment for dissenters (You may have seen a filming of that in Fellini's wondrous last work, Amarcord.) His very presence afforded the place an openness and ebullience that made it a natural for such as Algren, Cameron, and Royko. . . Riccardo was a most genial host. Often he'd pass through, accompanied by an accordionist and a guitarist, singing songs, not just anti-Fascist, but raffish. Songs resembling those of the Moulin Rouge in nature. What a scene it was in its heyday. There's no such joint today."

Studs goes on to recount how Riccardo ran tabs for unemployed painters during the Depression until their WPA jobs put them back to work and they could pay up. He also recalls that Riccardo's was one of the only places in the Loop to welcome African- Americans (another was the Blue Note Jazz Club). Riccardo's was located next-door to the Wrigley building. Studs writes:

"Word somehow came to P.K. Wrigley that Riccardo was letting blacks in. Ric was still Wrigley's tenant at the time. Wrigley called Riccardo: 'I understand you have a certain element at your place. I think it's demeaning. The property will drop in value and I suggest you be more careful about your guests.'

Riccardo wrote a note to Wrigley: 'I'll have whoever I want as a guest as long as they don't hurt anybody.' He put up a sign in the corridor: ALL MEN OF GOOD WILL WELCOME. He said to Wrigley, 'All are welcome, I don't care who they are. What do you propose to do about it?' Wrigley did nothing. Knowing Ric, today the sign would read: ALL MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL WELCOME."

Farewell, Studs Terkel, you were a Person of Good Will if ever there was one.





:

Just received the following information from Steppenwolf. The sold out show is an indication of the enduring power of Terkel's work and his humanity. I'm delighted that the show will be broadcast live. Thank you Studs and thank you Steppenwolf.

Jyoti

Interest in tonight's performance of Will the Circle Be Unbroken?, a celebration of one of Chicago's greatest storyteller, Studs Terkel, has been extraordinary - the supply of tickets was exhausted within the first ten minutes of availability. Knowing that everyone cannot be with us for this event, we have worked to arrange a live broadcast of this special production at 7:30 pm tonight on WFMT (98.7 FM). Please tune in and celebrate the remarkable life of one of Chicago's much loved citizens.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
By Studs Terkel
Adapted by Derek Goldman
Directed by associate artist Jessica Thebus
Featuring ensemble members Robert Breuler, K. Todd Freeman, Tom Irwin, Martha Lavey and Alan Wilder with Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Anthony Fleming III, Rick Kogan, Keith Kupferer, Ernest Perry Jr., Joyce Piven, David Schwimmer, Michael Smith and Dennis Zacek
Steppenwolf Theatre honors the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, broadcaster and activist Studs Terkel, who died on October 31, 2008 at age 96. Will the Circle Be Unbroken? is an unforgettable evening of song, story and celebration. With a cast that includes both Steppenwolf ensemble members and renowned personalities and performers, the concert-style reading will incorporate music to illuminate Studs' poignant book of interviews on death and dying. Recognizable interviewees portrayed on stage include author Kurt Vonnegut, actress Uta Hagen and Chicago Reader theater critic and AIDS activist Justin Hayford. There are also everyday Chicagoans - parents, medics and teachers - who share wise words and meaningful memories. The result is a vibrant tapestry of life's full process, sure to stir compassion and inspiration.

Great stuff. Riccardo's was an important place for a long time, in part because of its proximity to the papers. The building is now Stefani's 437 Rush.

When I worked at 500 North Michigan I frequently ate at Riccardo's, as it was just around the corner from the office. I also remember the office manager regularly asking me to bring her back lunch and a cocktail. They would put her vodka tonic in two styrofoam cups and she would suck them down at her desk.

That was the only place I knew that would prepare cocktails to go at lunchtime.

Suzy

JeffB wrote:Great stuff. Riccardo's was an important place for a long time, in part because of its proximity to the papers. The building is now Stefani's 437 Rush.

I'll use this as an excuse for posting something interesting I saw yesterday. Google is hosting images from Life Magazine's archives. I searched for Chicago Restaurants and Chicago Restaurant and found several of Riccardo's. (It seems ungoogle-like to get different results when searching with those two queries, but that's what happened..)

Anyway, click for pictures:

Egged on by his wife Jill, Ric Riccardo (C) preparing cafe divavolo for another tableful of artist.

Restaurant owner Ric Riccardo and his wife sitting at their home.

Ric Riccardo (2L), Robert Rossi (L) and the wait staff singing to the restaurant guests.

Radio personality Ralph Edwards hiding around the corner of Riccardo's restaurant before "This is Your Life" program goes on the air.

Great. Look at this one. The couple in the left foreground is like something from Mad Men. Enjoying your Brandy Alexander, Ms. Johnson? How's the steno pool been treating you? Not Missing Iowa, I take it?


http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f? ... e638cc9c9e