barbara katz
, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 24, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1957
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1399
|
Comments:
would judge everyone on whether or not he listened to Jean Shepherd
|
stuart midler
adams, Massachusetts |
Joined: October 12, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1973
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1066
|
Comments:
i used to listen to his radio program at night, until i fell asleep.
|
Randy Williams
Amesbury, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 03, 2008 |
|
Shep fan since: 1972
Discovered Shep: Read his Playboy short stories
Guest No: 2799
|
Comments:
Actually, I first came upon Shep in Car and Driver magazine. It's great that this site has all of those archived. I'm watching A Christmas Story with my 16 year old son at this moment and we're both reveling in his wordplay.
I vividly remember an episode of Jean Shepherd's America that's not listed at this site. It's about fishing. It starts with the show's logo and Jean saying the word "Maine" like an incantation. Then it opens with him casting into the Kennebec River as he thinks about his father fishing in an algae-choked pond in Indiana with Gertz and Ernie. Does anyone else recall this one--am I missing it on the list of 13?
|
Tom Warger
Amherst, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 27, 2005 |
|
Shep fan since: 1968
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1501
|
Comments:
Followed link from Garrison Keillor's "Writer's Almanac" page.
Hadn't thought much about Shepherd in recent years but listened to him regularly when I was in high school and living within range of WOR.
We were living in NY because my father had a college-teaching job there, but the extended family were all in the mid-west. Shepherd was a connection to those roots.
I see the same dynamic at work with regard to Garrison Keillor: academic nomads like the "feel" of a story-teller whose theme is "how it is back home." That home doesn't suffer at all from being imagined; we'll never live there.
I guess Johnny Carson, too, had that appeal for a lot of people.
H. L. Mencken, George Ade, Jean Shepherd, Garrison Keillor... Interesting company.
Tom Warger
|
Ray Hender
Andover, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 16, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1141
|
Comments:
I grew up in Glenside, PA and WOR was an easy find on AM radio. I listened to Shep every Sunday night (1st-generation transistor radio under my pillow in the later hours)and most Sat. mornings. I became a fan of R.W.Service, and now my son is, too. One summer (1961?)Shep starred in a summer stock production of "Destry Rides Again" and seeing him on stage was a real treat. Another special memory was when he autographed my first edition copy of "In God We Trust ..." at Wanamakers in Philadelphia (1966). The inscription reads: "to an ex.kid-Ray Excelsior! Jean Shepherd".
|
Howard W. Cohen
Ashland, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 01, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1984
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 319
|
Ted Colocousis
Avon, Massachusetts |
Joined: February 22, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 2001
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 458
|
Derrick Vannoy
Barre, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 21, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1972
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 744
|
Mike Sylvester
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: March 14, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 59
|
Jim Ohm
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 12, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 340
|
Ron & Joyce Della Chiesa
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: February 24, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1960
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 461
|
Pamela Siska
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 16, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1980
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 854
|
Comments:
Your site is terrific. What a treasure trove. Keep up the great work.
Pamela
|
JJ Rassler
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: August 04, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1963
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1030
|
Comments:
I was born in '51. My old man used to love those 'family drives' on the weekend. My older brother was a DJ on college radio in the early 60's and could talk the old man into turnin on Shep Live from the Limelight. This got to be a regular thing and the rights were a little more bearable. The fits story to hit me was teh Great Ice Cream War he told about on the 4th of July. And then all the Army stories. After awhile, I knew Shep's childhood and Army buddies. A guy I met who is a few years older, my brothers age, and I started talking humor and I took a shot..."Ya ever hear of Jean Shepherd?" His eyes lit up like Roman Candles. The stories came racing back and it was like discovering the Ark.
Since then, I've tried aquiring what I can and me and my buddy sit in a car and listem to Shep like we'd done 40 years ago, and it's aged like floor varnish. Thanx for hostin' this site..."Oh I'm the Sheik...the Sheik of A-ra-by"
|
anthony marchesani
boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: October 26, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1083
|
Comments:
great memories
|
James Whynot
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 11, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1092
|
Comments:
A very influential person in my childhood. I listened to him every night while in junior high and high school...
|
Steve Koroskenyi
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 24, 2007 |
|
Shep fan since: 1968
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2318
|
Comments:
Bernard - ARE YOU OUT THERE? You turned me on to the genius of Jean Shepherd when I was only 10 years old. What was I thinking? While my friends were out in the dark getting into trouble, I was glued to my radio. I've been hooked on radio ever since. Today, my kids are all in college, and they can't get enough of the Christmas Story every year, and when I hear his narration in the film, it takes me back to being ten years old in the magical city of New York. It was a simpler time, but guess what everybody - IT REALLY EXISTED! IT WAS FOR REAL. I LIVED IT. THE WONDER YEARS? IT HAPPENED. and BERNARD my Pittsburg Pirate fan for a friend who moved to Brooklyn... I miss you. Where are you? We have a lot of catching up to do.
|
Joel Miller
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 26, 2009 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2854
|
Phil Redo
Boston, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 28, 2010 |
|
Shep fan since: 1967
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2900
|
Tony Shalna
Braintree, Massachusetts |
Joined: June 15, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1956
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 867
|
Comments:
Shep's ham radio career paralleled my own, with many of the same experiences. My most enjoyable memories were his "hurling of the invective." He had a radio silence of 30-45 seconds which gave you time to put your radio on the (open) window sill and turn up the volume to full blast. He would then hurl his invective and then hav emore radio silence to give you time to remove the radio and turn the volume down. The neighbors would then wonder what the hell happened.
One of his better invectives was "It's up to me bloomin' knickers!
Incidentally, I still have a copy of his "I, Libertine" by Frederick R. Ewing. The bio on the cover was worth the price of the book.
|
Andy Tannenbaum
Brookline, Massachusetts |
Joined: October 14, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 260
|
David Fried
Brookline, Massachusetts |
Joined: February 26, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1229
|
Comments:
I was just one of the thousands of young teenagers you mention who spent many nights, from the ages of about 13 to 15, listening to Jean Shepherd, in bed, with my transistor radio pressed to my ear. I particularly loved his Army stories, for some reason. When I eventually saw the Christmas Story, I unfortunately felt that I had heard it all before. I've always wondered if any adults were even aware of Shep's existence--they were watching television. Radio was like an alternate universe for the young then, with people like Shepherd and Long John Nebel, usually with the Amazing Randi.
|
Robert Muellner
Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Joined: August 14, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1960
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1041
|
Richard Cook
Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Joined: August 20, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1973
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1045
|
Comments:
Thanks much for this web site! When will someone put all of Shep's shows on CD and offer them for sale? Shep was on in Boston in the 70's followed by a blind talkmaster named Kenny Mayer, who had a talk show where you could not hear the caller; you could only hear Kenny...and it was great!
|
Tony Cortizas Jr.
Cambridge (formerly of Bridgewater, NJ), Massachusetts |
Joined: November 18, 2009 |
|
Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2880
|
Comments:
I grew up in New Jersey in the '60s and listened to JS when I got my 1st transitor radio, in the mid-'60s. I think I stopped listening once I hit highschool ('67) and got more interested in music (great year, '67). I remember liking the Limelight shows best, probably I was a little too young to appreciate the sometimes more philosophical weekday shows. I got and read In God We trust when it came out and saw him live twice at local NJ highschool performances. My memory is that his live performances were great. I moved to Boston in "69, but by then had forgotten JS and didn't realize he could be heard here.
Now I collect his shows from the web (1,600+) and listen to them incessantly. I am amazed that he could do a show every night.
|
Barbara Katz
Centerville, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 22, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1955
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 576
|
David Wright
Concord, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 06, 2008 |
|
Shep fan since: 1971
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2752
|
Comments:
Listened to Shep almost exclusively on 'GBH radio during high school for maybe two years. Taped a lot of the shows (air checks, I had a cable that could plug into the output of the FM receiver) and gave the tapes to my English teacher, and I hope some of them found their way into circulation. Big moment, getting "Wanda Hickey" signed at the Harvard Coop. "Here you go, poor Dave Wright" were the words he said to me. Never forget him standing on a chair above us worshiping minions, looking very hip with the sideburns and the big aviator sunglasses, dressed in denim sports coat and black turtleneck. Later he commented how "hip" Boston was!
I confess I became very disinterested in him after high school and life started to hand out hard knocks and disappointments, but I'm cheered by the fact he's still here for me, and all of us, thanks to an invention I'd love to know what he'd think of today, the Internet. Thanks to everyone who makes that possible.
Excelsior!
|
Scott Chamberlain
Dover, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 13, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1974
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1137
|
Comments:
Wow, I knew someday I would find something like this. Jean was so great! I was 19 when I first heard him in Boston and It seemed so right to listen rather than watch.
|
Dennis Hanlon
E. Sandwich, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 04, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 626
|
Tom Lucci
Foxboro, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 06, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1113
|
Dave Greenstein
Framingham, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 21, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1957
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 303
|
John Tardiff
Framingham, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 30, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1971
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 797
|
Comments:
I first caught "Shep" on WOR in the early '70's while growing up in southern Maine. The signal wasn’t very strong, so his show - on the rare occasions when it could be heard - was definitely a treat. I remember often having to raise and twist the radio to get just a passable signal. Listening to Jean Shepherd was not a casual thing - it required some effort.
It was my first exposure to a true storyteller, someone who could paint wonderful characters and build an image of an America to which I always wanted to be introduced. My visits to the Midwest have always been seen through a prism he helped create for me, for this I'll always be grateful.
Although I was disappointed that “Jean Shepherd's America” didn't succeed on television, I'm not at all surprised. I believe his magic worked largely with your own imagination, which is why radio was the perfect medium. Television - even PBS - wasn't going to capture what Jean Shepherd could provide. Most people, I’m afraid, just didn’t have the patience for his genius.
I believe Bill Bryson is closest to a modern-day Jean Shepherd. Although he doesn’t do radio, his writing sneaks up on you in watch the same Shep’s does; Bryson also doesn’t translate well onto television. If you haven’t checked out his work, do yourself a favor and pick up “Lost Continent”.
|
David Greenstein
Framingham, Massachusetts |
Joined: January 01, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1186
|
Comments:
Shep was unique. I can't express how much I miss
his reflections on our lives and the world we live in.
Each radio show was totally unpredictable and wildly creative. I think that most of his shows would still be relevant now but we could use his reflections on the world today. I hope somebody writes his biography and includes CD
recordings of some of his shows. I traveled down to Princeton Univ to see his last 4 springtime appearances there. I could never get enough of his ideas and humour. I wrote to him once around 1990 just to let him know that he
had a continuing influence even after he had been off the air for many years. Even though he was a public person and reflected on his personal experiences, somehow I felt that I really didn't know him well enough. I wish I had him as a personal friend. He died too soon.
|
Mike Squires
Gloucester , Massachusetts |
Joined: January 16, 2005 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1425
|
Comments:
Have just received word that my local public library will order all of JS'S BOOKS
|
Joanna Brown
Haverhill, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 19, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 230
|
Joseph Keinberger
Hingham, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 28, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1961
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 760
|
Jack Stearns
Lexington, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 21, 2006 |
|
Shep fan since: 1956
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1734
|
Comments:
I grew up in Short Hills, NJ and I found Shep by accident when I was 10. I always enjoyed the old radio shows of the 50s and when they started to go off, I started to search the dial for similar type shows and ran into Shep. I was immediately addicted and much to the dismay of my parents, would stay up late and listen to his program.
When I went to cllege on upstate NY, I would listen on nights that WOR would come in. The only time I didn't listen regularly was in the late 60s when I went to graduate school in Texas but when I graduated I came to Massachusetts I listened until he went off the air.
I have all his books and all of the LPs, some bought when they were first issued.
My favorite story was the steel mill the time that the hot strip went out of control.
He was quite a story teller and you were never, ever bored! It was the fastest 45 minutes of the day.
|
Craig Kaylor
Longmeadow , Massachusetts |
Joined: April 15, 2007 |
|
Shep fan since: 1984
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1974
|
Comments:
Watching A Christmas Story with my parents was my first experience with the genius of Shep. My parents were both native NYers so my father would tell me of the hours he used to spend listening to Shep on WOR. Thanks to the efforts of all the great fans, I listen to Shep almost everynight just as he used to. Those old broadcasts are amazing. My Dad passed away a few years ago, but his love for radio lives within me -- thanks to all the fans who had the foresight to tape this stuff and thanks for sharing.
|
Michael Morrow
Medfield, Massachusetts |
Joined: March 03, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1967
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 486
|
Mark Parisi
Medford, Massachusetts |
Joined: March 13, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1969
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 507
|
Wes Brodsky
Medford, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 24, 2008 |
|
Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2762
|
Comments:
found site by reference in Bergman's book
|
Frank Harrington
N. Grafton, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 08, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 561
|
Dirck Van Lieu
Nantucket, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 04, 2009 |
|
Shep fan since: 1959
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2855
|
Comments:
Sons of the Whiskey Rebellion guitarist Wiley Sabo was my barber. I was just looking at a picture that appeared in the local paper, one where Wiley is giving me a "Beatle Haircut". It was 1963...
|
Don Sussman
Natick, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 21, 2005 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1488
|
Suzanne Friedley Doig
Natick (formerly Pennington, NJ), Massachusetts |
Joined: October 13, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1956
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1068
|
Comments:
We are so pleased to have found your site! Many thanks!!
We remember Shep's asking all listeners to put the radio on the window sill and turn the volume UP as LOUD as we could. Unbeknownst to our folks, we did it a few times! We listened to Shep every Sunday night on WOR. We have a signed program from his performance in "Destry Rides Again" at the Lambertville Music Circus--what a guy he was. He lived in Princeton and we lived in the next town over. Always meant to drop him a note--but regretfully, never did.
We're thrilled about your website. I've told my 13 year old sons about Shep so often and decided to try to find old radio recordings so they could hear a program. Found your site tonight. Think we have some old reel to reel tapes of programs. Will have to search deep in the family "archives"
and let you know.
Many thanks for the site. It's great to connect w/other fans.
|
John Zawislak
North Attleboro , Massachusetts |
Joined: April 09, 2006 |
|
Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1654
|
Comments:
I grew up in a small town in NJ, just outside NYC. I was about 11 when I first heard Jean on the radio. Too young then to become a regular. Eventually, I got a "6 Transistor" radio, with an antenna that spun around. It was a birthday present when I was in Jr High. It sat at my bedside. First on Sundays, then on Weeknights, I would delight to the musings of this wonderful storyteller.
Now, years later, after enjoying the annual "Christmas Story" fest, and after telling my son about those great programs, he surprised me with the CD's. I can't believe my ears!
I have to say that the fidelity of the cd's is so much better than what came over that old AM radio. I actually made the audio worse on the player, just to try to re-enact the glory of those AM radio broadcasts.
Thanks so much for bringing back the best story-teller I have ever had the privilege to hear. Keep up the good work.
John Zawislak
|
Steve Pritzker
North Reading, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 27, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1961
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 315
|
Steve Pritzker
North Reading, Massachusetts |
Joined: August 19, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1961
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1292
|
Comments:
Thank God for 50,000 watt staions. Growing up in Providence I was able to listened to Shep every night on WOR throughout most of the 60's. Finally went to a Limelight show in 67 when I was old enough. Incredible night. My girlfriend, who grew up in NY but never cared for Shep, fell in love with him that night. Thanks for the site and the memories.
|
Tony Sannicandro
Northboro, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 25, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1960
Discovered Shep: Saw his TV show
Guest No: 1018
|
Comments:
a great man!
|
Bob Bourque
Northboro, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 24, 2008 |
|
Shep fan since: 1971
Discovered Shep: Saw his TV show
Guest No: 2793
|
Comments:
I was about 12 years old and home sick from school. I turned on the tv to channel 2 and saw this guy telling this story on a train, loooking out the window as he told it, about being on a troop train and having this guy go and buy some beer as the train was taking off. The story was only about 15 minutes, but it made an incredible impression on me.
I remember telling my dad about him, we looked for more of his shows on channel 2. Couldn't find them. I kinda forgot about Shep until 1984(?) and went to the movie theater to see The Chrismas Story, I laughed so hard at that movie! I was hooked again.
Everything on radio or tv pales to Shep. Howard Stern isn't even in the same league as Shep. Shep has class.
Thank god for the people who had the foresight to tape his programs in the 60's and 70's.
Bob
|
Robert Chrusciel
Norwood, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 17, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 644
|
Bill St. James
Osterville, Massachusetts |
Joined: February 12, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 439
|
Doryann skomro
Palmer, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 09, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1998
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 850
|
Comments:
A friend told me about this site didn`t browse through it yet
|
Larry Kratka
Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 08, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1057
|
Comments:
Like thousands of other Shep fans, I discovered him yacking away on WOR one winter evening in 1964 when I couldn't sleep. This was in New Britain, CT and I remember turning on a transistor radio, hiding it under my pillow and finding Shep on WOR. I was hooked like a trout. I would wake up blury-eyed the next morning and head for school with Shep's Kazoo ringing in my head. His tales of amateur radio led me to eventually become a ham myself (KA1OKH)and his radio shows influenced me to make radio a life-long career. In fact, I talked to Shep one day on ham radio. He was talking from his home at Sanibel Island, Florida. I knew his voice in an instant and even through he said "bye" to his contact and was shutting down for the night, I yelled into the microphone for him to talk. He did. With a heavy sigh, He acknowledged my callsign and we chatted for a few minutes. I consider it an honor to have talked to Shep. He never did send me a QSL card. Oh well. I now have some cassetts of the WOR days recorded on the FM side. They were given to me by a friend at the radio station I work for. Shep will never be forgotten in my mind and thousands of others like me.
|
DON COLE
RANDOLPH, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 30, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1975
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1180
|
Comments:
I RECALL SEEING 2 OR 3 OF "SHEP'S" PBS FEATURES .THE CHRISTMAS STORY ,IS OF COURSE , A CLASSIC NOW.AFTER READING "WHO IS JEAN SHEPHERD" I NOW REALIZE THE CONNECTION WITH CAR AND DRIVER AND REMEMBER THE NAME THERE. THE GUY WAS A GENIOUS !
|
Alan Foulds
Reading, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 30, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 242
|
Joe Hedio
Salem, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 10, 2005 |
|
Shep fan since: 1973
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 1531
|
Comments:
Actually, I first found out about Shep from reading his columns in Car & Driver when I was a kid. Looking back, they were a lot more interesting than the cars that were featured back then (Shep LOL). Anyway, I didn't know that much about his radio career until I found this website. I appreciate this website, which is one of the few good things about the Web.
|
Jim Plummer
Salem, Massachusetts |
Joined: November 04, 2006 |
|
Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1817
|
John Cryan
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts |
Joined: June 16, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1971
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 984
|
Comments:
I was in high school--my younger brother and I shared a room. Lights out was at 10:30, but after 11:00 we'd quietly tune to WOR and listen to Jean spin endless and entertaining stories completely outside the realm of our experience...Holman, Indianna; steel mills; the lost era of the 50's. Whenever I hear his voce=over on "Christmas Story" I'm 15 again, knowing we're just getting to the good part.
|
william mcclymont
so dennis, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 10, 2005 |
|
Shep fan since: 1955
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1551
|
Comments:
First found my radio hero in 1955 while going around the radio dial.As a young guy I had no idear what i was in for.I inlisted in the army and was out of the country for a couple of years,and to my great joy he was still on when I returned shep was still there for me.I lived in new york from birth untill may of 1990.I listened every night to jean on WOR untill he went off the air.I loved him and his program.I had my wife and son doing the same.Shep Bob and Ray Where always and still on my A list. Many people dont know how and what shep was about,but I am spreding the word.I have all his books and let some of them read them.Some would not understand and some would care. FLICK LIVES GOD BLESS BILL MC CLYMONT
|
William Desmond
South Boston, MA, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 22, 2008 |
|
Shep fan since: 1976
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2777
|
Comments:
SOUNDS HEARD OF A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
I was hospitalized as the result of a gnarly motorcycle
accident. An early Autumn storm was pelting torrents of cold
rain on the draft prone window behind my bed. The meager
lighting of my ward hung the room with gloom. I turned on
my portable radio to catch some news/weather reports. Just
missed them by seconds.
What came on at that moment was this curious 'Theme',
followed by this strangely compelling and yet familiar voice. It took me a minute or two to remember where I had
heard it before. "Good gravy that's Jean Shepard" said I!
I recall him from an outstanding commentary/comedy LP ("Jean
Shepard and Other Foibles") I had heard years before.
"What's up with this", I mused?
It turned out to be part of an all too short run of re-
broadcasts of Shep's WOR radio show. They ran (I believe)
commercial free on WRKO680-AM. The night I tuned in Shep C wove this verbal tapistry of a Halloween scare story
that chimed perfectly with my dreary surroundings and the
howling storm without.
I was hooked, gaffed and landed that very night! One way
or another I was on board then and thereafter for all the
years to come!!!
More (on this) later...
So happy to have found you,
Bill D.
20/September/2008
|
Brian Swartz
Southborough, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 981
|
Comments:
I used to listen to broadcasts of Shep on WGBH-FM in Boston. I would go to bed at 11:00 but keep my radio on to listen to the stories of Fleck, Schwartz, Zudock and all of the references to Ocky Dildock.
I wish his PBS shows from the early 70s and mid 80s were available.
I had a poster from his 70s show -- the 49 stars and one cowboy hat -- above my bed for thirty years, until I got married. Long live Jean Shepard
|
Brian Swartz
Southborough, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 28, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 982
|
Comments:
I used to listen to broadcasts of Shep on WGBH-FM in Boston. I would go to bed at 11:00 but keep my radio on to listen to the stories of Fleck, Schwartz, Zudock and all of the references to Ocky Dildock.
I wish his PBS shows from the early 70s and mid 80s were available.
I had a poster from his 70s show -- the 49 stars and one cowboy hat -- above my bed for thirty years, until I got married. Long live Jean Shepard
|
Brian Swartz
Southborough, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 16, 2006 |
|
Shep fan since: 1969
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1655
|
Comments:
I listened to re-broadcasts of Shep's WOR shows on the Boston public radio station. I loved ending my high school days listening to his shows. I look back on his show as something I will carry with me the rest of my life. I wish he had made more series on PBS. The show in the early 70s was outstanding, as was the one in the 80s. I have that Cyclops article from Life Magazine (?) tucked away in a drawer, and once every few years I read it as I search for something else. Shep was tuned in to the treasures of mundane life. Long live Shep!
|
David Modzelewski
Springfield, Massachusetts |
Joined: June 16, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1968
Discovered Shep: Read his Playboy short stories
Guest No: 869
|
Comments:
I heard Shep at Boston's Symphony Hall in the mid eighties. He did a piece on his H.S. algebra class that I would love to get a copy of, if one exists. My calls to Symphony Hall came up empty.
|
Peter Bradley
Springfield, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 10, 2007 |
|
Shep fan since: 1971
Discovered Shep: Read his Playboy short stories
Guest No: 2261
|
Comments:
I first discovered Jean Shepherd as a graduate student at UMass (1971-1972). I was the student representive for Umass to the New England Student Film Festivel which was being held at MIT. During this time I was staying at a friend and his wife's apartment in Brockton, Mass. Laying on the couch one morning I came across his short story in Playboard entitled "The Mole People Battle The Forces of Darkness". I don't think I've ever laughted so much. I've been hooked evey since.
|
Richard Chamberlain
Stockbridge, Massachusetts |
Joined: August 01, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 2003
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1026
|
Comments:
Lois Nettleton co stars Richard Chamberlain in the Stillborn Lover, just found great information about the play on the Tribute to Richard Chamberlain website,
enjoy: http://www.richardchamberlaintribute.com
|
Alan Edmonds
Stoneham, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 14, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 541
|
Alan Edmonds
Stoneham, Massachusetts |
Joined: September 21, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1963
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 694
|
Jim Sadler
Sunderland, Massachusetts |
Joined: March 01, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1962
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1232
|
Comments:
I was just starting high school in Springfield, Mass and became friends with a co-member of the track team, Richard Grey. My career as a track star was about as stellar as might be suspected from a budding Shep fan, but Dick became a good friend until he graduated and moved on. Early on, though, he discovered Shep one night on WOR and we both became hopelessly addicted. My gratitude to him for that is eternal.
And I'll always have a soft spot for that little black with gold trim, fake leather, portable transistor radio that I used to beat the crap out of every night trying to keep the signal coming from waaaaay down there in New York City. After all, this was still AM, my radio was cheap and to me Springfield must have been the last frontier for receiving the bits and pieces of signal that made it to my antenae.
How many nights would I lie there in a dark room huddled around my radio hooked on a story like the great frog invasion, only to have the signal fade. The positions me and my radio took trying squeek out enough signal to finish the story would make a Yogi weep.
Luckily, Shep followed me out of high school, into college and beyond. In Boston, I lost the signal much to my horror and I'm not quite sure when he left WOR, but I think perhaps sometime in the late 60's. To make up for it, though, he landed on public radio occasionally and my design teacher had been in New York and was a great Shep fan and had even participated in the I Libertine event as I recall.
Shep followed me to St. Louis as a regular feature on public radio there (rebroadcasts of old shows). And when I returned to Boston, one of my children's theater students became a cast member of that incredible PBS story about Shep's teenage romance - one of the funniest films I've ever seen.
'The Christmas Story' was the cherry on the cake, since finally I could talk about Shep with just about anyone without having them go cross-eyed on me. AND I could share a bit of that experience with my kids, for which I am ever grateful.
However, nothing will ever top those sweltering summer nights, holed up in that crappy cave dwelling of an apartment building I called home during my high school years in the early sixties, groaning and contorting with that little black box that provided entrance to a whole new state of consciousness...banging and rattling, working the knob like a seasoned safe-cracker, until I could hear those three words that made life right again...Excelsior! You fathead!
|
Peter J Reilly
Sutton, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 25, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1967
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 208
|
jon kiessling
Taunton, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 23, 2004 |
|
Shep fan since: 1986
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1394
|
Comments:
I am looking for a movie that was made with Ralphie as the main character again. If I remember correctly it was about the gang and them having tops or marbles. I have seen this movie only 1 time in the mid 90's. Don't know the name of it though. Can anyone help. I don't even know if it was by Mr. Shepherd.
|
David Maddox
Tisbury Mass., Massachusetts |
Joined: January 02, 2007 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: Saw his TV show
Guest No: 1888
|
Steve Zaya
Wakefield, Massachusetts |
Joined: October 11, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1968
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 257
|
Dick Holden
Watertown, Massachusetts |
Joined: June 19, 2005 |
|
Shep fan since: 1959
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1490
|
Comments:
I worked at WGBH Boston beginning in May 1973 and got to know the crew that taped the Shepherd series for PBS: Fred Barzyk, director, his assistant Olivia Tappan, Aubrey Stewart and Karl Lorencik, engineers, and the cameraman, my friend the late, great Greg MacDonald. As a Shep fan from 10-15 years earlier, I was very interested to hear stories of the shoots (which were technologically revolutionary)...
|
Leo Jeghelian
Westford, Massachusetts |
Joined: February 03, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1955
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 870
|
Comments:
I fell in love with the guy the first time I heard. I was then living near Boston, It was difficult getting good reception from New York, but Jean was worth the hassle of testing a plug-in radio for the best reception in all the plugs in the house. That method usually brought forth some of his wonderful words; his priceless humor. In 1961, I listened to him often and clearly while I was a grad student at Rutgers. Those were the days. I hope that this web site(which I haven't fully explored as yet) will offer his recorded genre for purchase. Jean's unforgettable stories and humor. One of my favorite stories that appeared in Playboy is A Pocketfull of Fig Newtons.
I am very happy to have tapped into Google which brought me to this master humorist and story teller.
|
David Lenson
Whately, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 26, 2010 |
|
Shep fan since: 1961
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2899
|
Comments:
Jean changed my life through a mono transistor radio headphone.
|
Ross Hochstrasser
Whitman, Massachusetts |
Joined: May 09, 2001 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 562
|
Peter Q. George
Whitman, Massachusetts |
Joined: August 02, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1977
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1027
|
Comments:
Greetings!! My name is Peter Q. George (K1XRB). I was very happy to learn that Shep (K2ORS) was a big Ham Radio enthusiast. I used to listen to his shows nightly on WBUR-FM in Boston, in the late 1970's. I've been a ham operator for nearly 18 years and Shep really peaked my interest in it, while I was listening to one of his radio shows. He was a fascinating and well-rounded person both with radio and his storytelling. I'm a big fan and I'm thankful that he left his legacy on tape for all to enjoy. 73 de K1XRB.
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts
|
Matt Marian
Williamsburg, Massachusetts |
Joined: December 29, 2003 |
|
Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1178
|
Comments:
I was in first or second grade, the year is slightly vague.
I do know that when I was in the 4rth grade a buddy of mine and I were talking, and shep came up and we hade both been listening for "YEARS" (what ever that means to a 9 year old.)
But we both grew up in queens and listened religiously every night before falling aslep. The second I hear his voice I am right back there in the attic in bayside wondering just what a Bugatti was and how to spell it ! Lord I miss those days.
|
Howie Levitz
Williamstown, Massachusetts |
Joined: July 25, 2008 |
|
Shep fan since: 1957
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2768
|
Comments:
His humor may have been a bit over my head at 10 years old, but like Ernie Kovacs and others, the uniqueness was infectuous. Every night the transistor radio was under my pillow and I often made it though Long John Nebel as well. Of course my grades suffered and I am now a bum, but at least I have an MP3 player and can relive those good old days when someone told me a story before I went to sleep. Got pillow?
|
Brian Nelson
Worcester, Massachusetts |
Joined: April 21, 2000 |
|
Shep fan since: 1972
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 93
|
