Jeff Jeff Boarini
Evanston, Illinois |
Joined: January 24, 2001 |
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Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 418
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Dennis Eastman
Forsyth, Illinois |
Joined: December 12, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1961
Discovered Shep: Saw his TV show
Guest No: 1135
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Comments:
When I was very young, my family lived in a neighborhood in Hammond, Indiana and Jean brought back memories of that place to me and my mom and dad. (The belching coal furnace, the bitter Indiana cold, the Mills (My dad worked @ Lever Bros. in Hammond), the diversity of the neighborhood, etc.) This was a happy time for us and Jean kept lovingly alive in our hearts and minds. When "Christmas Story" came out, it was like looking at old home movies of us.
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Patrick Rowe
Glenview, Illinois |
Joined: September 10, 2001 |
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Shep fan since: 1986
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 673
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Laurie Berg
Hinsdale, Illinois |
Joined: September 09, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1982
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1308
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Comments:
I first say "Fourth of July and Other Disasters" when my father made me sit down and watch it as an eleven year old. It was hilarious. I was later introduced to Josephene Cosnowski, and it was spectacular. Growing up 100% Polish made it even funnier as I could identify with the Polish family. What is frustrating is that I have no way of showing these movies to my children as I have not been able to find them on DVD or VHS.
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Steve Coppola
La Grange Park, Illinois |
Joined: June 29, 2000 |
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Shep fan since: 1976
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 135
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Dave Hayes
LaGrange, Illinois |
Joined: February 11, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1968
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1436
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Comments:
I grew up in Whiting, Indiana so could well relate to all of his stories about, "da region." When and where is the next Shepfest?
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Dolores Langlois
Lagrange Park, Illinois |
Joined: January 14, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1424
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Comments:
I have a tape of a talk he gave in Chautauqua, NY that is priceless. It was done in 7/31/84. And of course his movie Christmas Story. I was hoping to get more tapes or CD's
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Kevin Dafler
Lombard, Illinois |
Joined: December 17, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1969
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1142
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Comments:
I'm one of those kids you ention who used to lay in bed in the dark and marvel as Shep spoke to "me" via my sub-pillow transistor radio. A sixth-grade classmate clued me in to not only the radio show, but also "IGWT;AOPC", which I read many times as a pre-teen, and loved completely. I can still vividly picture in my mind, from Sheps wonderful descriptions, the old woman in the Horn and Hardart cafetia with the beet juice running down her chin!
Anyone else remember the "Year One" poster Shep promoted and sold via his radio show? I got it, wish I still had it...
Great site, thanks for rekindling so many great memories!!
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Mark Linke
Morris, Illinois |
Joined: December 31, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1983
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1183
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Comments:
I'm of the generation that wasn't around during Shep's radio days, but of course I was hooked with "A Christmas Story" and always wanted to read the books it was based on. Every year on Christmas for the last decade my Brother-in-Law and I would watch the movie and argue about the location and the exact time of the real story (I said Hammond because of the Goldblatt's and 1939-1940 due to the Wizard of Oz characters)and then I finally read "In God we Trust..." What I discovered through the book and confirmed on this website was that Shep was actually talking about my late Father's elementary school and neighborhood in Hessville, their homes being only 2 or 3 blocks apart (my Dad grew up on Marshall Avenue). While Shep was a few years older than my Dad, they travelled the same streets and visited the same haunts! Now that my Dad is gone and his parents home was sold back in 1995, I have an even greater connection to a time and place I will never hear my father describe again. But it means the world to me that I will be able to hear it through Jean Shepherd.
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Whit Downer
Morton Grove, Illinois |
Joined: June 22, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1491
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Comments:
Not my first time at this site - but I sure do enjoy coming back! Thanks for being here!
Whit
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Larry Williams
Mt Vernon, Illinois |
Joined: March 13, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1978
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 910
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Comments:
Jean Shepherd is one of the greatest storytellers and writer in American literature. I believe he is the Mark Twain of twentieth century America.
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Larry Williams
Mt Vernon, Illinois |
Joined: September 06, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1973
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 1306
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Joe Enochs
Murrayville, Illinois |
Joined: January 15, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1972
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1201
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Comments:
I saw the Phantom Of The Open Hearth when I was a teenager. Later, while watching the Christmas Story I recognized the narrator. Now, at 40+ years, I am still trying to find an affordable copy of the movie The Phantom Of The Open Hearth.
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Sue Ekkebus (Henning)
Naperville, Illinois |
Joined: December 02, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1990
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1105
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Comments:
Read the November 30th article in the Chicago Tribune, and came to this site. My Mom, then Phyllis Livingston, was born and grew up in Hammond and graduated Hammond High, class of 1927. Her Aunt and Uncle lived in Hessville. I, too, was born in Hammond in the late '50s, and grew up in Lansing, Illinois, just across the border from Indiana. My husband's favorite movie is A Christmas Story.
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Keith Kalemba
Oak Park (formerly Toms River, NJ), Illinois |
Joined: October 13, 2000 |
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Shep fan since: 2000
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 258
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stan pedziwiatr
orland hills, Illinois |
Joined: June 17, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1974
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1300
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Bill Carney
Palatine, Illinois |
Joined: November 28, 2006 |
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Shep fan since: 1979
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1841
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Comments:
A friend of mine in 1979 told me about re-broadcasts that were being broadcasted around the time we left the office each day. One listen, and I was hooked. Often I would arrive home and wait in the car to the displeasure of my wife and kids, just to finish listening to his stories. While I am a lot older now, still a music fan, I am always reminded during The Christmas Story or this great story teller. I miss that experience and wish it was available again.
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Ernest Johnson
Peoria, Illinois |
Joined: May 27, 2000 |
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Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 210
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Bob Quick
Peru, Illinois |
Joined: May 18, 2001 |
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Shep fan since: 1963
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 570
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Buz Hodges
Plainfield, Illinois |
Joined: August 14, 2001 |
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Shep fan since: 1982
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 661
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john connell
rockford, Illinois |
Joined: December 27, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 1174
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Comments:
I first discovered Shep in 1966 when I bought "In God We Trust..." as a birthday present for myself. Every year since my 16th birthday I would purchase a hardcover book as a "gift to self". I had read a review in the Chicago Trib and decided that this was a "must read".
While in the army I read his stories from Playboy (why weren't these reprinted?).
Twenty years later a friend from New York told me of Shep's radio program and listened with envy to his glowing praise. Often the Chicago station (WBBM or WMAQ) would air a short commentary.
Then came the movies , the PBS films, an his series for PBS.
Yep, I've been a fan for over half my life! Time well spent!
john
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John Connell
Rockford, Illinois |
Joined: December 31, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 1587
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Comments:
My son recently married a wonderful girl from Australia. To show her family what the typical middle-class, middle-American, family is like we sent them a copy of "In God We Trust..." and "A Christmas Story". We all felt that Shep could explain us better than anyone else!
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Joel Gruizenga
Rolling Meadows, Illinois |
Joined: January 12, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1985
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1422
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Comments:
If you haven't already, you need to read his books. They are excellant.
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Peter Borgia
Sherman, Illinois |
Joined: July 12, 2006 |
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Shep fan since: 1962
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1691
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P M
Urbana, Illinois |
Joined: February 21, 2006 |
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Shep fan since: 1978
Discovered Shep: Read one of his books
Guest No: 1638
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Comments:
Unknown #8 - 'Romantic Music' - 4-29-66 Show
Is from Schwanda the bagpiper
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