Mike Royko:
The Man Who Wrote Chicago
A one-hour television documentary from TMW in association with
the Duncan Group
Click on image to see an interview clip from the documentary now in production.
"Joo read Royko? was often heard around Chicago from September 6, 1963 until March 21, 1997. It would be translated around the world.
Mike Royko’s column appeared in more than 600 newspapers. In thirty years, he wrote more than 8,000 columns. He had a fan club in Japan. When he died, a newspaper in Australia ran a special section about him as a tribute.
“It’s not the Pulitzer Prize, which Royko won, or the many other official journalism tributes,” writes columnist John Kass. “The most important award is the refrigerator prize. We readers cut out Mike’s columns and put them on our refrigerators, at home and in workplace lunchrooms, for everyone to see.”
Mike Royko:The Man Who Wrote Chicago is a documentary that traces the life of Mike Royko from his flat-above-the-tavern youth to becoming one of the most read writers in history.
Through family photos, interviews with Royko family and friends and the sights and sounds of Chicago unfolds this portrait of an American journalist.
Mike Royko:The Man Who Wrote Chicago reveals how he:
Bob Royko, Mike’s brother, has asked Triangle Media Works to pursue a documentary about his famous brother. We collaborate with Doug Moe, author of The World of Mike Royko. Not only is Doug a newspaper columnist himself, he knows more about Royko’s life than anyone outside the family.
Potential interview subjects
Bob Royko, Mike’s brother
Eleanor Cronin, Mike’s sister
Dorothy Zetlmeier, Mike’s sister
Hanke Gratteau, Mike’s friend and assistant at three newspapers
Doug Moe, Author of The World of Mike Royko
John Kass, columnist for the Chicago Tribune
Sam Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and Mike’s friend
He was the best newspaper columnist in America. When he died, second place wasn’t ever close”
John Kass
Columnist for the Chicago Tribune
© 2009 Triangle Media Works, LLC