Franklyn MacCormack

Franklyn MacCormack was born March 8, 1906, in Waterloo, Iowa, one of five children. Franklyn forsook a college education for the theater. His association with Wayne King, one of the great band leaders of the early days of radio, lasted for twelve years. During this time he recorded his famous "Melody of Love" with the Waltz King, which has sold over two million copies to date. Mr. MacCormack was a member of the WBBM radio staff in Chicago from 1932 until 1939. He freelanced until his return to WBBM-TV in 1954, and then on to WGN. He was an all-night deejay in Chicago in the 1950s and 1960s, best known for reading poetry over schmaltzy instrumentals at four in the morning. He was "your host and companion" of the "All Night Showcase" on WBBM and WGN (720 AM) radio in Chicago from 1959 until he suffered a heart attack on the air, on June 12, 1971, and died the next day. The program was sponsored by Meister Brau and aired from 11:05pm to 5:30am six nights a week. The show was also known as the Meister Brau Showcase and included the Torch Hour. He interspersed moody, contemplative music with readings of poetry. His name is often misspelled as Franklin McCormack or Franklin Mac Cormack or Franklin McCormick.