Editing Larry Lujack

{{short description|Chicago radio DJ (1940–2013)}}
{{Infobox person
| name        =Larry Lujack
| image       = File:Larry Lujack WCFL 1974.JPG
| image_size=190px
| caption     = Lujack at WCFL in 1974.
| birth_name  =Larry Lee Blankenburg
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1940|6|6}}
| birth_place = [[Quasqueton, Iowa]],  U.S.
| death_date  = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2013|12|18|1940|6|6}}}}
| death_place = [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]], U.S.
| occupation  = Radio host, [[disc jockey]]
| spouse      = Gina <small>(div.)</small><br />Judith Seguin<br /><small>(m. c.1972–2013; his death)</small>
| awards      = Illinois Broadcasters Association's Hall of Fame (2002)<br />National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2008)
| signature   = 
| signature_alt = 
| other_names= Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, UncleLar, King of the Corn Belt
| footnotes = 
| alma_mater=[[College of Idaho]]<br />[[Washington State University]]
}}
'''Larry Lujack''' (born '''Larry Lee Blankenburg'''; June 6, 1940 – December 18, 2013), also called '''Superjock''', '''Lawrence of Chicago''', '''Charming and Delightful Ol' Uncle Lar''', and '''King of the Corn Belt''', was a [[Top 40]] [[music radio]] [[disc jockey]] who was well known for his world-weary sarcastic style. Some of his more popular routines included ''Klunk Letter of the Day'',<ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?llklunk1.rm~0:00.0~09:55.3 audio file-Reel Radio-Klunk Letter of the Day Composite-WCFL]</ref> the darkly humorous ''Animal Stories''<ref>[http://www.animalstoriescd.com/history/ Background on "Animal Stories", Lujack and Edwards]</ref><ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?llwls031783.rm~0:00.0~01:19:35.0 audio file-Reel Radio Lujack WLS-AM aircheck-March 1983-includes an "Animal Stories" piece]</ref> with sidekick [[Tommy Edwards (announcer)|Tommy Edwards]] as ''Little Tommy'', and the ''Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report''.

==Professional life==

Lujack came to Chicago to work for [[WMVP|WCFL-AM]]. He spent a few months there before being hired at [[WLS (AM)|WLS]]. While at WCFL, Lujack closed the air studio curtains during public visiting hours.<ref name=Lar>{{cite book |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Chicago-Trib-1979-Mar-About-Chi-Radio.pdf |title=Larry Lujack, Permanent Fave |date=March 4, 1979 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |author=Bridges, Les |pages=39, 41, 54 |access-date=March 9, 2014}}([[PDF]])</ref>
 
His ''Animal Stories'' routine came about because WLS was still receiving farm magazines long after the station changed to a rock-music format in 1960. Lujack started reading some of them and began airing stories from them instead of reading the grain reports connected with the Farm Report.  When the Farm Report was officially discontinued, the feature became Animal Stories.<ref name="Interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.manteno.com/wcfl/lujack.html |title=1985 Larry Lujack Interview |access-date=2010-04-01 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030816121659/http://www.manteno.com/wcfl/lujack.html |archive-date=August 16, 2003 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.qsl.net/n9bat/audio/lujackanimalstories.mp3 audio file-Lujack's own words about how Animal Stories began]</ref> A perfectionist about his work, Lujack would review every word he spoke on the air after each broadcast by listening to an [[Compact Cassette|audio cassette]] ''skimmer'' tape which recorded only when the microphone was open.<ref name=Lar/>

Lujack retired in 1987,<ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?llwls87b.rm~0:00.0~25:54.2 audio file-Lujack's Farewell-WLS-AM-August 28, 1987]</ref><ref>[http://www.wlshistory.com/jox/lujack.htm Copy of "Last Day" WLS memo from Lujack to the staff]</ref> shortly after his son John from his first marriage died in an accident.<ref>Multiple sources:
*{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3768383.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103094335/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3768383.html |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |publisher=Chicago Sun Times |date=May 29, 1986|title=Larry Lujack's son John, 22, dies in fall from motel roof. (Boise)}}
*{{cite news |title=Larry Lujack bids dead son farewell |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |author=Gillis, Michael |author2=Franchine, Phillip|date=June 3, 1986}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~idfs/Cems/ch_i-m.htm |publisher=RootsWeb |title=Canyon Hill Cemetery-Caldwell, Canyon Co., Idaho-Lujack, John S 1963-1986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917012515/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~idfs/Cems/ch_i-m.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref>  In 1997, Lujack moved from [[Palatine, Illinois]], to the outskirts of [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]], and, in May 2000, began working again, for then-WUBT ([[WKSC-FM]]) in Chicago, via a remote [[Integrated Services Digital Network]] (ISDN) link from a [[New Mexico]] recording studio, teaming up with [[Matt McCann]] who was based in the Chicago studio. The ratings for the show out-paced the rest of the radio station.  In 2003, he reteamed with his Animal Stories partner, Tommy Edwards (Little "Snot-Nosed" Tommy), on [[WRLL (defunct)|WRLL]] (1690 AM) in Chicago, to broadcast his signature features on weekday mornings. On August 16, 2006, Lujack was terminated with the entire WRLL on-air staff as it was announced that the station's ''Real [[Oldies]]'' format would cease on September 17, 2006.  The broadcast duo were on the air once again as part of the [[WLS (AM)|WLS]] "The Big 89 Rewind" on Memorial Day, 2007<ref>{{YouTube|Imh-HiSPaDE|Video of Big 89 Rewind-2007}}</ref> and 2008<ref>{{YouTube|Jnl8_tdEtA8|Video of WLS Rewind 2008}}</ref> when the station returned to its ''MusicRadio'' programming, featuring many of the former WLS personalities and special guests, other DJs, etc.

Lujack was inducted into the Illinois Broadcasters Association's Hall of Fame in June 2002,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ilba.org/hall_of_fame.php |title=Hall of Fame Award |access-date=2009-02-11 |publisher=Illinois Broadcasters Association |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709233405/http://ilba.org/hall_of_fame.php |archive-date=July 9, 2010}}</ref> the [[National Radio Hall of Fame]] on November 6, 2004,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiohof.org/discjockey/larrylujack.html |title=Larry Lujack, Disc Jockey |access-date=2009-02-11 |publisher=Radio Hall of Fame |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113095210/http://www.radiohof.org/discjockey/larrylujack.html |archive-date=2005-01-13 }}</ref> and the [[National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame]] on April 15, 2008, during their annual convention in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]].<ref>[http://www.nab.org/documents/newsroom/pressRelease.asp?id=1490 National Association of Broadcasters Press Release-Larry Lujack to be Inducted into NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame]</ref>

==Personal life==
Born in [[Quasqueton, Iowa]],  as '''Larry Lee Blankenburg''', the family moved to [[Caldwell, Idaho]], when he was 13.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/us/larry-lujack-a-cranky-radio-voice-that-carried-dies-at-73.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |first=Margalit |last=Fox |title=Larry Lujack, a Cranky Radio Voice That Carried, Dies at 73 |date=December 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Lujack>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14453673/lujack_1984/|title=Superjock|author=Weingarten, Paul|page=192|date=September 30, 1984|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=October 16, 2017|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He later changed his last name to that of his football idol, [[Johnny Lujack]]. He attended the [[College of Idaho]] in [[Caldwell, Idaho]], and [[Washington State University]] and was a [[radio]] [[disc jockey]], starting in 1958, at [[KCID]] in Caldwell.<ref name= "Turn it up">{{Citation |editor-last= Shannon |editor-first= Bob |title= Turn It Up! American Radio Tales 1946-1996 |year= 2009 |pages= 214–220 |publisher= Austrianmonk Publishing |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IOd_Y6_Af8EC |isbn= 978-1-61584-545-3 |access-date= 2010-04-11}}</ref> His entry into radio while a biology major at College of Idaho was a matter of finances; at the time he was looking for a part-time job. He originally intended to go into wildlife conservation.<ref name= "Interview" /> He subsequently worked at several other [[radio station]]s, including [[KJR (AM)]] in Seattle,<ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?llkjr66.ra~0:00.0~10:05.7 audio file-Reel Radio-Larry Lujack aircheck-KJR-July 1966]</ref> but is best known for his antics on [[Chicago]] [[AM radio]] stations [[WLS (AM)|WLS]] and [[WCFL (AM)|WCFL]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110714123752/http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/July%2013%2C%201972.pdf Mr Pop History: Week of July 13, 1972-Larry Lujack joins WCFL-page 4]. Archived from [http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/July%2013,%201972.pdf the original] on July 14, 2011</ref>

Lujack had three children from his first marriage and a stepson from his second. 

Away from the job, he was a [[golf]] enthusiast. After triple [[coronary artery bypass surgery]] in 1991, Lujack marked his calendar for the date his doctor told him he could return to the sport. Not just a "fair weather" golfer, Lujack suited up in [[winter clothing]] and [[snowshoe]]s to play Chicago area golf courses in winter. On January 23, 1985, he played a full 18 holes at [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois]]; the temperature was 27 degrees below zero with a windchill of -75 degrees. Lujack collapsed afterward.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/12/11/chicago-place-assists-disabled-shoppers/ |title=Chicago:Winter Golf Hotbed |date=December 11, 1991 |author=Hanley, Reed |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref>

Lujack, a heavy smoker, died December 18, 2013, at a [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]], hospice of [[esophageal cancer]].<ref name=Lujack/><ref name=Trib>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-larry-lujack-dead-20131218,0,3056121.story |title=Larry Lujack, legendary Chicago DJ, dies |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=2013-12-18 |access-date=2013-12-18 |first1=Michelle |last1=Manchir |first2=Robert |last2=Channick}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.suntimes.com/24467978-418/legendary-superjock-larry-lujack-dies-at-73.html |title=Legendary 'Superjock' Larry Lujack dies at 73 |last=Hoekstra |first=Dave |work=Chicago Sun Times |date=December 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217003935/http://www.suntimes.com/24467978-418/legendary-superjock-larry-lujack-dies-at-73.html/|archive-date=February 17, 2014|access-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref><ref name=SFGate>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Famed-Chicago-radio-host-Larry-Lujack-dies-at-73-5078403.php |title=Famed Chicago radio host Larry Lujack dies at 73 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2013-12-19 |access-date=2013-12-19 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220062901/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Famed-Chicago-radio-host-Larry-Lujack-dies-at-73-5078403.php |archive-date=2013-12-20 }}</ref>

==Radio stations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Station !! City !! State !! Dates !! Notes
|-
| [[KCID]] 1490 || [[Caldwell, Idaho|Caldwell]] || [[Idaho|ID]] || {{dts|1958}} ||
|-
| [[KGEM]] 1140 || [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] || [[Idaho|ID]] || ?<ref name= "Turn it up" /> ||
|-
| [[KJRB|KNEW]]<sup>*</sup> 790 || [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] || [[Washington (state)|WA]] || {{dts|1963}}<ref name= "Turn it up" /><ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?llknew63.rm~0:00.0~02:49.7 audio file Reel Radio-Larry Lujack aircheck KNEW-July 1963]</ref>||
|-
| KPEG 1380<ref>[http://spokaneradio.philcobill.com/kpeg/kpeg.php Spokane radio-history of KPEG]</ref> || [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] || [[Washington (state)|WA]] || {{dts|1963}}<ref name= "Turn it up" /> ||
|-
| [[KRPL]] 1400 || [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]] || [[Idaho|ID]] || ?<ref name= "Turn it up" /> ||
|-
| [[KFXM (AM)]] 590 || [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] || [[California|CA]] || {{dts|1963}}<ref name= "Turn it up" /> || Morning Drive, All Nights
|-
| [[KJRB]] 790 || [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] || [[Washington (state)|WA]] || {{dts|1962}} – {{dts|1963}}<ref name= "Turn it up" /> || evenings {{efn|KNEW and KJRB refer to the same radio station.}}
|-
| [[KJR (AM)]] 950 || [[Seattle]] || [[Washington (state)|WA]] || {{dts|1964|04}} – {{dts|1966|09}} ||
|-
| [[WMEX (AM)]] 1510 || [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] || [[Massachusetts|MA]] || {{dts|1966|09}} – {{dts|1966|12}} || as "Johnny Lujack"
|-
| [[WCFL (AM)]] 1000 || [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois|IL]] || {{dts|1967}} || four months; all-nights
|-
| [[WLS (AM)]] 890 || [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois|IL]] || {{dts|1967|08}} – {{dts|1972|7}} || afternoons, then mornings
|-
| [[WCFL (AM)]] 1000 || [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois|IL]] || {{dts|1972|07|03}} – {{dts|1976|03|16}} || afternoons {{efn|After WCFL switched to ''[[beautiful music]]'' format in 1976, Lujack remained on staff, as he had a high-paying contract.  When WLS made him an offer to return to work there, the two stations each paid half of Lujack's remaining WCFL contract.<ref name= "Interview" /><ref name= "Turn it up" />}}
|-
| [[WLS (AM)]] 890<br />[[WLS-FM]] 94.7 || [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois|IL]] || {{dts|1976|09|16}} – {{dts|1987|08|28}} || mornings; then in 1985, afternoons {{efn|WLS continued to pay Lujack for five years after his 1987 departure to keep him from competing with them in markets where ABC had local radio outlets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14453938/lujacks_contract_bought_out_1987/|title=Network buys out Lujack's contract|date=July 23, 1987|work=Journal and Courier|page=19|access-date=October 16, 2017|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>}}

|-
| [[WKSC-FM|WUBT]] 103.5 || [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois|IL]] || {{dts|2000|05|25}} – {{dts|2001|01|10}} ||
|-
| [[WRLL (defunct)|WRLL]] 1690 || [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois|IL]] || {{dts|2003|09|08}} – {{dts|2006|08|15}} ||
|}
{{notelist}}

==Works==
* {{Cite book |last1=Lujack |first1=Larry |author-link1=Larry Lujack |last2=Jedlicka |first2=Daniel A. |title=Superjock: the loud, frantic, nonstop world of a rock radio DJ |year=1975 |publisher=H. Regnery Co. |location=Chicago |isbn=978-0-8092-8302-6 |oclc=1500182}}
* {{Cite book |title=Uncle Lar' & Li'l Tommy's best of animal stories |last1=Lujack |first1=Larry |author-link1=Larry Lujack |last2=Edwards |first2=Tommy |year=2007 |publisher=Animal Stories |location=Lake Forest, IL |oclc=232150780 |url=http://www.animalstoriescd.com/}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Rhof|id=230|name=Larry Lujack}}
* [http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS80/ Scott Childers' The History of WLS Radio] The Rock of Chicago, the 1980s. Read about Lujack in the context of WLS history.
*{{YouTube|c_PEjXMp54M|Audio of Larry Lujack and the end of Rock on WCFL-March 15, 1976}}{{Dead link|date=November 2022}}
*[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?egend79.rm~0:00.0~16:15.0 audio file-Reel Radio "The Legendary Lujack" Composite]{{Dead link|date=November 2022}}
*{{YouTube|AYS6mFTmIT0|Video of WLS-AM "Animal Stories" Promo featuring Lujack and Edwards}}
*[http://www.wlshistory.com/audio/lujack_firstday_1967.mp3 audio file of Lujack's first day on the job at WLS-1967]
* [http://www.realoldies1690.com/main.html Real Oldies 1690 AM WRLL.] Through Sept. 17, 2006, hear an automated version of the station where Lujack and Tommy Edwards (Little Tommy of Animal Stories) hosted mornings from October 2003 through August 15, 2006.
<!-- moved Animal Stories online link to "Works" -->

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lujack, Larry}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Buchanan County, Iowa]]
[[Category:American radio DJs]]
[[Category:College of Idaho alumni]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Chicago]]
[[Category:People from Palatine, Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
[[Category:People from Spokane, Washington]]
[[Category:Washington State University alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer in the United States]]