Franklyn MacCormack
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Franklyn MacCormack (March 8, 1906 - June 12, 1971) was a Chicago radio personality from the 1930s into the 1970s. He was known for his radio program called "The All Night Showcase".
For many years he was the "overnight" broadcaster on two of Chicago's well-known clear-channel radio stations, first on WBBM and then on WGN, and thus was a familiar voice to listeners hundreds of miles from Chicago.
In contrast to the primary sports-and-talk formats of WBBM and WGN, MacCormack would spend the night hours playing Classical, Big Band Era and Broadway music, and reading romantic poetry. One poem, "Why Do I Love You?" became his signature, the first line of which he would typically use to begin his program:
- I love you not only for who you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
In 1958, MacCormack recorded an album for Liberty Records. The album, The Torch Is Burning, consisted of spoken-word interpretations of classic big band era popular songs backed by a sweet string orchestra arranged and conducted by Russ Garcia.
MacCormack became ill during the broadcast of Friday night, June 11-12, 1971, and was quickly taken to a hospital. He had, in fact, suffered his second heart attack in a nine-month period, this time fatally, as he died Saturday afternoon. His time slot was initially filled by occasional guest host and staff newscaster Clif Mercer.
