The "All-Night Showcase" with Franklyn MacCormack was a late night music, poetry, nostalgia, and conversation format broadcast that aired over WGN in Chicago from 1959 through 1971. It was sponsored by the Meister Brau Brewery on Chicago Avenue, in Chicago.

This program bonded him to the hearts of most Midwesterners back in the 1950's. WGN, a 50,000 watt clear channel station, reached across many state lines and reached the entire midwest and on into the Southeast and the Plains States.

By the time that Frankyn MacCormack came to host the All-Night Showcase on WGN he was already a well-known veteran of radio and stage. Despite a long stretch of adversity early in life, MacCormack rose to become the “golden-voiced” announcer, orchestra star, and beloved poet/companion of late-night radio. Franklyn MacCormack -late night music, poetry, nostalgia, and conversation- broadcast over WGN in Chicago 1959-1971.

Franklyn MacCormack was born in 1906 in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of a railroad engineer. At the tender age of six, the shock from an automobile accident left Franklyn with a severe case of aphasia, the loss of speech. A second tragedy struck the family four years later, when Franklyn’s father was killed in a train wreck. At age thirteen MacCormack’s voice began to come back to him, but still spoke with a stutter until he was nineteen.

With his newfound voice, Franklyn joined a stage company in 1925 and began touring the Midwest, acting and singing baritone parts in “Frimi and Romberg” musicals. Once, while his troupe was performing in Chicago, MacCormack visited a radio broadcast studio and the young actor immediately fell in love with the medium. Franklin soon left the troupe and began working as a staff announcer on a radio station back home in Waterloo.

One fateful night during MacCormack’s shift, trouble arose with the local station’s link to the network and the panicked young announcer was stuck with nothing to fill the time. Atop a studio table he noticed a book of poetry, grabbed it, and simply began reading over the air until the network link could be repaired. The following day the station was flooded with calls demanding to hear more of the readings and within a week MacCormack had landed his first show.

In 1933 MacCormack moved to Chicago to work for WBBM, and in 1939 began freelance work in films and as an announcer for various radio programs. The most famous programs he was associated with were the children's adventure series, "Jack Armstrong the All-American Boy" and "The Wayne King" music program. He was with the Wayne King Orchestra as their announcer and and narrator and together they would record several albums. Their most famous release was the tune “Melody of Love”, which featured MacCormack reciting the Davies poem, “Why Do I Love You?” That one acetate record, back in the 1940's sold over four million copies, which is equal to 800 million copies today -- or any other number you want to give it. It was astromical in reach.

In 1954 Franklyn returned to WBBM to work in television, then in 1959 he moved back to radio to host the Meister Brau “All-Night Showcase” on the 50,000-watt clear station, WGN. For the next twelve years –six nights a week from 11:05PM to 5:30AM- MacCormack would broadcast, his unique blend of old show tunes, nostalgia, and poetry to the late-night legions.

His musical selections and soothing commentary called the listener back to a bygone era, and his warm manner with callers –with only his part of the conversation going out over the air- established him as a gentleman and confidant of the lonely and troubled. His effect on his audience was tremendous; each month an average of ten to fifteen-thousand letters and requests would come to WGN studios addressed to MacCormack!

During his years at WGN, Franklyn was the announce, for a short time, for the child adventure series, "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy," published several volumes of collected poems, and made frequentl stage appearances at the Civic Opera House as well as be the announcer for the Wayne King Orchestra at the Aragon and the Trianon Ballrooms in Chicago. Franklyn met Barbara Carlson at WGN, who became his secretary and whom he would marry in 1961.

On the night of June 12, 1971, MacCormack suffered a heart attack on the air, an hour into his broadcast. He was rushed to the hospital where he died the following morning. To this day there are many, who still remember and miss this late-night “gentleman of the air” that provided his audience a bit of comfort, hope, and companionship through many a sleepless night. And he did the program LIVE, of course, with recorded music.

If you want to listen to more of this masterful voice -- Golden Throat of the Mid-West -- here's what you need to do. Click "Norm's Radio" on the left side of the upper toolbar. Then click "Archives." You'll be taken to our treasure chest of Old Time Radio Shows. There are four selections waiting for you when you click the word, "Listen" but you'll have to find Frankilyn's audio files.

The audio selection you are listening to was done with the Wayne King Orchestra. "I'll Be Seeing You!" If you were listening to Meister Brau's All Night Showcase on WGN in 1958, it would not be any different than this great recitation you hear on this track. MacCormack did the show live -- six days a week for twelve years. And the show was from 11:00PM to 5:30 AM -- Six and one-half hours! He touched the hearts and lives of millions of listeners and received 10,000 to 15,000 letters a month.

You are listening to one of the most magnificent voices that ever graced the radio airways. There will never be another Franklyn MacCormack. - Norm Plunket.

Psalm 119:13-14 The Message Bible, Navigator Press, Colorado Springs, CO.

This certainly seems to be an uncharacteristic verse for Psalms -- normally a book of praise.

For 157 years, Americans have had fun with eating conversational candy hearts. "Be Mine, Love You, On Time, With It, Real Cool, ... and the wording is even longer on the quarter-sized hearts. Fifty years ago there were some 25 different ways that expressed one's feelings toward another. In 2004 there are nearly 100 sayings.

Click the link below to have a fun trip to NECCO in Revere, MA They have announced new Sweetheart Sayings for 2005:

“#1 Fan,” “Fit for Love,” “Dream Team,” “Love Life,” “Be A Sport,” “Love My Team,” “Cheer Me On,”  “Be My Hero,” “© Of Gold” and “All-Star.”

Their publicity reads, NECCO TAKES AN “ALL-STAR” APPROACH TO LOVE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY 2005. This season of love the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO®) goes for the gold.  For Valentine’s Day 2005, Sweethearts® Conversation Hearts have 10 newsports-inspired sayings to cheer on that special someone.  While the new sayings, printed above, add a fun twist, the Sweethearts original recipe remains the same.  With only three to six calories a-piece, the candies are sure to hit a home run with that special someone. 

They also have announced a brand new product just in time for Valentine’s Day 2005. Sweethearts™ Gum is the world’s first heart-shaped, blister pack gum with assorted flavors and colors. Sweethearts gum has zero net carbs and is made with Splenda which sure to bring a smile to sweethearts of all ages.  Adding a twist to the iconic candy, Sweethearts Gum features two-sided sweet sentiments like “Be Mine/Be True,” “It’s Love/Marry Me,” “Sweet Talk/Cool” and “Kiss Me/Hug Me.”  Sweethearts Gum comes in five intense fruity flavors including Boomin Berry, Fruit Blast, Juicy Orange, Green Apple and Luscious Lemonade.  The suggested retail price for the 12-piece package of Sweethearts Gum is $.99  The product is available at all stores now.

But that's enough of the NOW. Let's talk about the THEN. How carefully we "handled the little candies with our dirty fingers." We would select a candy heart or hearts that seemed to express a message of our inner feelings toward the one we were giving it to. But we would "simple die" if we knew that the message got through as intended -- at least in grade school.

The infamous candy hearts were floating around in most boy's pockets around Valentine's Day -- along with coins minted in the 1940's, usually a pocket knife, couple of marbles, a rubber band or two and appropirate lint that was always present in a boy's pocket. And the person who was given the candied message from that unsanitary storehouse would read the message, innocently eat the candy, and smile with approval.

This was a sure way to express our embarassed affection for the girls. It was silent, sweet, and clear. Good thing there was a limit on negative sayings that would convey a cool, quiet message of derision to my male friends.

At other times of the year, this same company used the same candy recipe for a nickle sized wafer. They would have denominations on them printed in food color -- denominations of 5, 10, and 25 with a circle on the edge. Some of you will remember and others will be able to say I bought one of those last week since they are still made after 155 years. Packaged in a six-inch waxed paper roll, NECCO wafters were a saple in my diet when I was a boy -- last year.

I used to pretend they were coins but had one in my mouth so often. The corn starch power they had on them mixed with the different flavors was wonderful. There was also a smaller two-inch package that sold for a penny. The large roll was a nickle. I always liked to lick the surface to remove the powder and see the rich color of the wafer itself and a clearer image of the denomination that was printed on it. Sometimes we would put four or five wafers in our mouth and weld them together with our spit ( That's saliva in a little boy's mouth. )

Pastel-colored little candy disks called NECCO wafers first appear in 1902, named for the acronym of the New England Confectionery Company.

As some "sidetrack information" check this out. In the 1930s, Admiral Byrd took 2 1/2 tons of NECCO Wafers to the South Pole -- almost a pound a week for each of his men during their two-year stay in the Antarctic. During World War II, the U.S. government ordered a major portion of the production of the wafers. Since the candy doesn't melt and is 'practically indestructible' during transit, it was the perfect food to ship overseas to the troops.

The New England Confectionary company, popularly know as NECCO, was founded in 1847. Each year there is a press release telling the public that NECCO is still manufacturing the wafers and hearts we all love. Home base has been Cambridge, Massachusetts since 1902, when it started making conversational hearts that are available between Christmas and Valentine's Day -- even though production of the hearts goes on all year. Today, three plants turn out 100,000 pounds of candies EVERY SINGLE DAY! That translates into 26 million pounds a year.

This familiar candy that symbolizes love, has a shelf life of three to five years. With nearly 10 billion conversational hearts being sold at this time of the year, it's the single largest selling Valentine based product on the market, according to NECCO.

If you plan a special event for next year's Valentine Day be aware that you can order your own hearts with any custom sayings you select or write. Wouldnt that be fun with friends? By the way, to do that you must have a minimum order of 3,600 pounds.

Many of the sayings have been popular for over a hundred-years and are still used today. You can't improve on "Be Mine," or "I Love You." But each year, out of date sayings are discontinued and new ones added. One of the latest is "Fax Me."

So when you pop one of the conversational hears in your mouth this Valentine's season, pause and think that you are not unique. 8.5 billion others are being popped into mouths just like you.

I want to share a love story with those readers that might not be familiar with the incredible life and marriage I had for 44 years with my "Sweet Nancy" or how she gave me the chance for a second miraculous love. This is how a newspaper reported wrote the story in our hometown newspapeer.

July 17 2003

By Jeanne Wieland ~ Staff Writer ~ WAUWATOSA NEWS/TIMES

In nearly 44 years of marriage, Nancy Henning Plunkett gave her husband many gifts -- three wonderful sons, the best German cooking and a complete dedication to her family and her faith.

But before Nancy died June 18, 2002, the man she met on Cedar Street when she was just 18 years old would receive one more gift from her -- the gift of a second chance at love.

Norman Plunkett still remembers the first time he met the then Nancy Henning. It was 1955 and he was a 20-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Home at his parents' house on Cedar Street, Norman was coming up from the basement when he saw a beautiful blonde with his sister.

"I thought, 'Who is that?'" Norman said.

His sister introduced them, and in 1958 they were married at Northwest Baptist Church. Both were graduates of Wauwatosa High School; he in mid-semester 1954, she in spring of 1955.

GOOD TIMES, TOUGH TIMES

Their union set them on a path to building a life together. Norman was called to the ministry and became a Southern Baptist. Nancy joined him in his interest in faith, and together they started a family.

Norman Jr. was born in 1959 in a difficult labor that almost took his life and Nancy's. Norman Jr. was born with special needs, so the couple decided to wait a few years after his birth before welcoming sons Jonathan in 1967 and Christopher in 1969.

Caring for the family was Nancy's primary concern, and she was good at it. "Nancy was an amazing person, such a caring person. I never knew a woman quite like her," Norman said. Settled in Atlanta, the family blossomed.

Then, in January 2000, with the boys now grown, Nancy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. For more than two years, Nancy fought the disease with all the backing and support of her family and network of friends.

Throughout, Norman worried and prayed, but he was immensely proud of his wife.

"We carpe'd every single diem," Norman said. "And she gutsed it through the whole time."

By January 2002, the fight had become very difficult. Some days were really tough, and Norman did his best to provide distractions for Nancy.

FRIENDSHIP BEGINS

He had started working on a Wauwatosa High School alumni Web site, raider-room.com, so he used that to share little stories with Nancy about the whereabouts of old classmates and such. One day, Norman received an e-mail from Mary Osgood, the girl he sat behind in seventh-grade homeroom at Hawthorne Junior High. Mary thanked Norman for his work on the Web site and shared with him how much she enjoyed it. She never really expected to hear back from him, but a week later, she did.

At first Mary and Norman exchanged e-mails about a classmate and mutual friend who had recently died. Norman read the exchanges to Nancy, who always had suggestions for other things to include in the letters.

Soon a three-way friendship grew, with weekly telephone calls and e-mails sent from Atlanta to Mary's home in Denver.

Mary thought it all was great fun, and especially unusual because she and Norman had not been close friends growing up, but sometimes it sure felt that way.

"All I remembered was that he was such a nice guy," Mary said. "In school he didn't get so involved in the social scene, and that was my whole life. But our letters were like we had been best friends forever."

While Norman and Nancy were building their lives with their three boys all those years in Atlanta, Mary had been married twice and raised her three girls - Kris, Suzy and Lynn -- mostly on her own. She received her degree in child development and taught for many years. Eventually she went back for her master's degree in special education and officially retired from teaching in 1998. She had been single for 30 years and enjoying life in Colorado, but also loved to travel, be with her grandchildren and create works of art.

The fast friendship that formed between the three took Mary by surprise because she wasn't sure how she would feel about the e-mails and phone calls if she were in Nancy's place. But Nancy embraced her to such an extent that Mary was invited to visit the couple in Atlanta in August 2002. Unfortunately, Nancy didn't make it to see Mary. She died in June of that year, shortly after Father's Day.

Nancy chose to be cremated, and Norman and his sister were driving to pick up the remains when Norman's sister shared some life-altering news. Norman had been talking about Mary, how close they had become and how odd he felt about it now with Nancy gone. His sister quickly stopped him.

"Don't you realize what's been happening? Nancy encouraged that whole thing. She told me she thought Mary would be good for you," she told Norman.

Norman could hardly believe it. Nancy wasn't just showing interest in an old classmate; she was guiding Norman toward life after she was gone.

NEW ROMANCE

Knowing he had Nancy's blessing, Norman and Norman Jr., who lives with his dad, went to visit Mary in Colorado in August 2002.

"My sister said, 'Go meet her for the first time in 50 years,'" Norman recalled. "It was awesome, like I'd always known her."

It wasn't long before Norman and Mary knew they were in love. They were visiting each other frequently, meeting families and extended families. They were warmly welcomed by everyone, including Nancy's family.

On May 30, 2003, Norman proposed to Mary on Jekyll Island on the southern coast of Georgia. Mary said it still surprises her "every day, every minute" that this relationship, started with an innocent e-mail of thanks, has turned into love. She is grateful to Nancy for thinking of Norman's future.

"Nancy was a very special person," Mary said. "I cannot get over how she has played such an important role in my life."

Norman, always a man of faith, sees not only the hand of God in this relationship, but Nancy's, too.

"This has been unbelievable," Norman said. "I've been blessed with two true loves in my life. Some people don't even get one.

"Can you believe the incredible gift I have been given?"

They had the very best prizes inside the carton, “between the cardboard and the protective wax bag liner that protects the quality of Kellogg’s PEP! The prizes were mainly pin buttons. I have a collection of comic strip characters like the ones I used to wear on my “propeller, beanie cap.”

Seeing myself in that cap through movies and photos was cleara evidence that I looked quite dorky in my pre-adolescence days. Man, that dumb hat was so ugly, -- I thought it made me so tough and there was nothing better. It was a brown beanie complete with the jagged edges on the vertical brim. The pins included full color pictures of Superman, The Phanton, Perry Winkle, Sandy, Minnie Gump, Henry, Flash Gordon, and on I could go.

Back in the 1940's, cereal buying pivoted on the premium inside the box and the material printed on the box. (So what's changed in 60 years?) There was a time when cereal eatin came to a crisis in our home. My brothers and I were buying Kellogg’s Pep every chance we had but we ate Shredded Wheat, Puffed Rice (shot from guns, of course), puffed wheat, and Cheerios.

One day, Mom found the stash. “WHAT’S ALL THIS KELLOG’S PEP HIDDEN IN THE BACK OF THE PANTRY?" During the cereal eatin recovery days and mid course correction of the "overbuy" we got so sick of Kellogg's PEP.

In 1972, arbitrary remodeling was done that removed the school's tower and the "plastering over" of the WPA murals in the main entrance lobby. Our friend, Ray Py, whom has been featured many times in Norm's Ramblins, did some investigating and discovered that the murals were not removed before plastering but just covered over with a half inch of the stuff and the wire that holds everything in place. In addition, drywall covered the beautiful art deco tile and a dropped ceiling covered the stunning multi-level ceiling and the gorgious sunburst where the original chandelier hung. Wonder who got that?

Ray Py began agitating, which he is an expert at doing, and three years ago began the movement to remove the plaster and restore the artwork. It's a great story you might be interested in reading. Use the link below to go to the Web site Peachtree Media does for my old high school. The home page of The Raider Room has an article that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that gives an account of the last year of discovery and restoration of the mural.

The Dedication of the Mural Restoration will be Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate. That might be a good opportunity for a "cross-class" mini Tosa reunion. Afterwards, everyone could go to a local restaurant for coffee, an adult beverage, and good conversation that would allow "everyone"there to catch up on "everybody" there.

I also suggest that, while you're there, you click the TOSA ALERT button to learn about the events as they happened -- there are several monthly ALERTS that are written by Ray Py. Ray is a retired investigative reporter for UPI and was based in D.C. for many years. It will be a fun trip for you and an exciting one for those interested in art.

If you click the photos, you can get a larger view and really examine the detail.