Shed a tear until the ducts are empty, an immortal named Stan Brooks has passed from our midst after a half a century…. fifty years “this is Stan Brooks of WINS radio 24 hour news radio…”
II
What manner of a Clark Kent persona is this Superman of the Bronx and the U.S. Army. His sweetheart wife and mother to his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a hero to ordinary mortals justifying their existence, in the worst of times and the best of Cyber Space, leaving avarice greed and denegation in the dust, “this is Stan Brooks, senior correspondent of WINS radio, all news radio” signing off (two three weeks before the holidays 2014
Richard Starus’s “In Twilight” ,( at age 84) Jessie Norman’s octaves smashing the metronome.
“This is Stan Brooks of Wins, all news radio” beleaguered by the Angels, escorting his soulful voice to the far country.
III
Could Ed Murrow broadcasting from the roofs of London,during Hitler’s blitzkrieg, have inspired “this is Stan Brooks” growing up, have inspired Stan. Or Winston Churchill’s own voice, his mother born and raised in Brooklyn Heights.
“I’m the luckiest man on the face of the Earth” said Lou Gherigas he cherished his career with the New York Yankees,broadcasting his affirmation…a gift from Heaven….as he physically could no longer play first base and bat clean up behind Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak of 54 games comes to mind as “this is Stan Brooks of WINS radio” perpetuated the airwaves thru Thanksgiving and those divine moments of the forthcoming holidays.
IV
How could we have known growing up that the Lone Ranger and his “kimosabi” Tonto…the Green Hornet and Kato….the Shadow (“Lamont Cranston (Victor Jory) and Margo” were the tinsel wrapping on our imaginations, transporting listenersthroughout our minor planet and into the incorrigible corridors of outer space, the shuttle, and space walks.
Could “This is Stan Brooks of WINS radio, all new radio” have done more ? Graduating from Syracuse University…toiling for Newsday on Long Island for a decade, then into WINS all music radio, when the station manager called him into the office.”Arethe ratings falling?” asked Stan, his neurons begging the question. “Let’s change the format to all news 24 hours seven”.
V
Searching for twenty voices through the nation, Stan entrainedSanta Fe from Grand Central to Chicago, his ear to the radio..The Union Pacific to Los Angeles listening . And thenfrom Terminal Annex back to Chicago, changing trains for the City that never sleeps.
Fifty years ago, the all news 24 hours a day was born, Stan morphing thru the Attica Prison riots, Woodstock, the blackout of the ‘70, Shea Stadium darkening, the ensuing riots ……9/11.
And the current global horrors…..
To think prohibition was a blight on the nation’s ambitions of the Founding Fathers, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Segal of Brooklyn’s Brownsville, entertained the mob…betting, numbers, murders. The worst in human callousness and consciousness.
”This is Stan Brooks of WINS, 24 hour news radio…”
VI
Mayor “Bloomy” in one of his lasting moments of his twelve years Mayoralty, gave tribute to Brooksie”, recognizing “this is Stan Brooks….”City Hall’s Gracie Mansion becoming “Thisa is Stan Brooks” new room.
“An honorable man,” said Mayor Bloomberg, naming the newsroom for the Wins radio Senior Correspondent and in a larger sense a public servant, giving solace and paying tribute to another, who followed him for a scoop during Bloomy’s 12 year tenure and Brooksy’s 50. … the Wins 24 hour news radioSenior Commentator for over half a century till a few weeks before the 2013-14 holidays.
VII
Given their individual karma, who’s to say “this is Stan Brooks of Wins 24 hour radio” that our Bronx born “Superman” on being greeted by the High Llama at his retiring 125 years at Shangri-la. “We’ve been waiting for you Stan.”
“This is Stan Brooks, senior correspondent of WINS radio 24 hours a day.”
December 28, 2013 The City that never sleeps.
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