Career
He was also well known as the announcer of the long-running old-time radio serial Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy. Foreign many years he was the overnight broadcaster on two of Chicago"s well-known clear-channel radio stations, first on WBBM-TV and then on World's Greatest Newspaper, and thus was heard by listeners hundreds of miles from Chicago. In contrast to the primary sports-and-talk formats of WBBM-TV and World's Greatest Newspaper, MacCormack read romantic and sentimental poetry and played classical, big band and Broadway music
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.
MacCormack"s sotto voce style of reading these poems inspired the Bob and Ray character Charles the Poet, who can never get through one of his overly sentimental poems without breaking up into laughter. During his tenure on World's Greatest Newspaper, MacCormack"s show originated at Uphoff"s Rotunda Motel and Restaurant in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin for two weeks every summer, through the courtesy of local waterski show impresario Tommy Bartlett.
MacCormack became ill during the broadcast of June 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.
2,500 people gathered two days later to honor his passing. Franklyn MacCormack readings.
