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Last Page Update: 11-17-2022
Radio Shep's History at Station

International Jawbreaker

1976 - 1977

Formed by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, Laurie and Herb Squire. They distributed a syndicated version of "The Jean Shepherd Show" from April 76 through about April 1, 77. Leigh Brown was Shep's producer and later in life became his wife. Herb Squire was an engineer for WOR and was Shep's engineer from the late 60's to 1977 when Shep left WOR. Herb's wife Laurie was Shep's producer for a couple of years, initially just the syndication duties, and then she produced the WOR show until its conclusion in 1977. These were 30 minute formats of earlier 45 minute WOR shows. The commercials were removed and some of Shep's dialog edited to make the 30 minute package. According to the contract stations would receive 2 30 minute tapes per week at $8.00 / week for the first 13 weeks and $10.00 / week thereafter. Lost tapes would have to be paid for by the stations at a rate of $3.50 per tape and $9.50 per mailing container. Laurie Squire relates the process: "To enable the most content for IJ syndicated shows the source material (WOR 45-minute ones) had to be edited down as much as possible to yield an approx. 30-minute version. Editing out spots and...shortening the opening theme. I am guilty as charged;) I knew how to edit tape and Herb told me the trick to wielding a razor blade on a specific sweet spot of the theme. After the trumpet call, there's the musical "bum"--breath--"bum"--breath. The surgical procedure was carried out during that second breath, tossing out a lot of the middle theme portion and then picking it up at the second go-around for bum...bum. We focused on college stations and NPR--WBUR and WRUR come to mind".

"Can you imagine 4,000 years passing, and you're not even a memory?
Think about it, friends. It's not just a possibility. It is a certainty." - Jean Shepherd - 1975