Shep leaves on trip to the Amazon where he travels on behalf of the Ludens company as the result of a contest won by Barry Farber. He returns September 16th. All shows were either pre-taped or re-runs until his return.
In September 1965 Shep was given the opportunity to go to the Amazon. As the story goes, Barry Farber was at a luncheon for Luden's candies during which he won a raffle of 500 pounds of Luden's candy. It was to be donated to his favorite charity. Since he had just interviewed Chief Tariri, the chief of the Shapra Indians, a headhunter's tribe in Peru, he decided to give it to them. Luden's, not wanting to be embarrassed went along with it and arranged for the trip. Barry, not being fond of flying, nominated Shep to go in his place. Shep went and after returning spent the next several shows talking about it.
Barry Farber told the story of how he got Shep to go on this trip many times. One of them was at the "Friends of Old Time Radio" convention in Newark NJ on October 20, 2000.
Shep recalled his visit on several of his shows right after his return. See links below
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Further information:
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Images: |
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Shep with the Natives
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Shep explains the Jewsharp
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Chief Tariri
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Photo Credits |
Photographer Sol Potemkin accompanied Shep on this trip taking many photos like the one above labeled "Shep with the Natives". Sol's son Greg was kind enough to pass this one along. Thanks to Gene Bergmann who interviewed Greg for his book "Exselsior You Fathead - The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd"
Shep explaining the Jewsharp is courtesy Rich B. |
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