Studs Terkel

Studs Terkel

Louis "Studs" Terkel (May 16, 1912 – October 31, 2008) was an American author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. He received the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1985 for “The Good War”, and is best remembered for his oral histories of common Americans, and for hosting a long-running radio show in Chicago.

Read more about Studs Terkel:  Early Life, Career, Later Life, Selected Works

Famous quotes by studs terkel:

    Socialite women meet socialite men and mate and breed socialite children so that we can fund small opera companies and ballet troupes because there is no government subsidy.
    Sugar Rautbord, U.S. socialite fund-raiser and self-described ‘trash’ novelist. As quoted in The Great Divide, book 2, section 7, by Studs Terkel (1988)

    At a time when pimpery, lick-spittlery, and picking the public’s pocket are the order of the day—indeed, officially proclaimed as virtue—the poet must play the madcap to keep his balance. And ours.
    Studs Terkel (b. 1912)

    Mighty few young black women are doin’ domestic work. And I’m glad. That’s why I want my kids to go to school. This one lady told me, ‘All you people are gettin’ like that.’ I said, ‘I’m glad.’ There’s no more gettin’ on their knees.
    Maggie Holmes, African American domestic worker. As quoted in Working, book 3, by Studs Terkel (1973)

    It’s a hard feeling when everyone’s in a hurry to talk to somebody else, but not to talk to you. Sometimes you get a feeling of need to talk to somebody. Somebody who wants to listen to you other than ‘Why didn’t you get me the right number?’
    Heather Lamb, U.S. telephone operator. As quoted in Working, book 2, by Studs Terkel (1973)

    The demonstrations are always early in the morning, at six o’clock. It’s wonderful, because I’m not doing anything at six anyway, so why not demonstrate?... When you’ve written to your president, to your congressman, to your senator and nothing, nothing has come of it, you take to the streets.
    Erica Bouza, U.S. jewelry designer and social activist. As quoted in The Great Divide, book 2, section 7, by Studs Terkel (1988)