Sid Collins
Encyclopedia
Sid Collins (July 17, 1922 – May 2, 1977) was an American broadcaster best known as the radio voice of the Indianapolis 500
on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
from 1952-1976. He made famous the term "the greatest spectacle in racing."
, Cahn changed his professional name to Collins for fear of anti-semitism
and discrimination in his chosen field of broadcasting.
. One year after he started at WIBC, he became the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
(IMS) track announcer for the south turn. He became a radio announcer for the track after Bill Slater became ill. He was named the chief announcer in 1952. That year he introduced his "full coverage concept", which replaced a five minute rundown each hour. He sent letters to all of the radio stations on their network, but only 26 stations participated. The next year 110 stations participated and the number grew until it became 1200 by 1980. With live television coverage of the race prohibited until 1986, Collins' radio coverage drew a large audience every year, and his announcing became synonymous with the race itself. He told the world the deaths, accidents, incidents and crashes during the race. Collins received over 30,000 letters asking for a copy of the eulogy that he gave to Eddie Sachs
after Sachs died in a crash on the second lap of the 1964 Indianapolis 500
.
He anchored New York's TVS Network auto racing network broadcasting from Trenton, Milwaukee
, Langhorne
, Castle Rock, and Colorado for two years. He announced national television coverage of the Indianapolis 500 festival parade with Garry Moore
, Steve Allen
and Bob Barker
for Hughes Sports Network. He was the subject of stories in Hot Rod Magazine
and The Saturday Evening Post
.
Collins always signed off by quoting a serious thought or some poetry.
where he was diagnosed with ALS
. On May 2, 1977, at the age of 54, Collins committed suicide by hanging himself in a closet with a necktie. After hearing of his diagnosis, Collins had confided to friend and successor Paul Page
that he was planning on taking his own life. Collins had been scheduled to announce the 1977 Indianapolis 500
.
's Radio/TV School as an outstanding graduate and was named to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 1979.
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network , is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, and the Brickyard 400 to radio stations covering most of North America....
from 1952-1976. He made famous the term "the greatest spectacle in racing."
Background
Born into a Jewish family who owned a convenience store in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Cahn changed his professional name to Collins for fear of anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
and discrimination in his chosen field of broadcasting.
Announcing
Collins worked for WIBC in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. One year after he started at WIBC, he became the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
(IMS) track announcer for the south turn. He became a radio announcer for the track after Bill Slater became ill. He was named the chief announcer in 1952. That year he introduced his "full coverage concept", which replaced a five minute rundown each hour. He sent letters to all of the radio stations on their network, but only 26 stations participated. The next year 110 stations participated and the number grew until it became 1200 by 1980. With live television coverage of the race prohibited until 1986, Collins' radio coverage drew a large audience every year, and his announcing became synonymous with the race itself. He told the world the deaths, accidents, incidents and crashes during the race. Collins received over 30,000 letters asking for a copy of the eulogy that he gave to Eddie Sachs
Eddie Sachs
Edward Julius Sachs, Jr, born May 28, 1927 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, died May 30, 1964 in Speedway, Indiana was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing." He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular."...
after Sachs died in a crash on the second lap of the 1964 Indianapolis 500
1964 Indianapolis 500
The 1964 Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1964. It was won by A.J. Foyt, but is best known for a fiery seven-car, second-lap accident that resulted in the deaths of Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald...
.
He anchored New York's TVS Network auto racing network broadcasting from Trenton, Milwaukee
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
, Langhorne
Langhorne Speedway
Langhorne Speedway was an automobile racetrack in Middletown Township, Bucks County, near the borough of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Philadelphia....
, Castle Rock, and Colorado for two years. He announced national television coverage of the Indianapolis 500 festival parade with Garry Moore
Garry Moore
Garry Moore was an American entertainer, game show host and comedian best known for his work in television...
, Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
and Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
for Hughes Sports Network. He was the subject of stories in Hot Rod Magazine
Hot Rod Magazine
Hot Rod is an American monthly magazine devoted to hot rodding, —modifying automobiles for performance and appearance.-History:Hot Rod is the oldest magazine devoted to hot rodding having been published since 1948. Robert E. Petersen founded the magazine and his Petersen Publishing Company...
and The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
.
Collins always signed off by quoting a serious thought or some poetry.
Death
In April 1977, Collins visited the Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
where he was diagnosed with ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
. On May 2, 1977, at the age of 54, Collins committed suicide by hanging himself in a closet with a necktie. After hearing of his diagnosis, Collins had confided to friend and successor Paul Page
Paul Page
Paul Page is an American motorsports broadcaster who was the lead announcer for ABC Sports' coverage of CART and the IRL from 1988 to 2004. He currently is the lead announcer for NHRA.-Early life and career:...
that he was planning on taking his own life. Collins had been scheduled to announce the 1977 Indianapolis 500
1977 Indianapolis 500
The 1977 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 29, 1977.Gordon Johncock led 129 laps and had a 16 second lead on A.J. Foyt one lap after final pit stops when his crankshaft broke. Foyt became the first driver to win four times. Tom Sneva broke the barrier in qualifying, and...
.
Awards
Collins was awarded nine American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters awards as the best auto racing broadcaster in the nation. He was cited by Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
's Radio/TV School as an outstanding graduate and was named to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 1979.