Marty Jorgensen
, California |
Joined: December 19, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: Saw his TV show
Guest No: 1568
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Comments:
I was first exposed to Jean in a PBS show from the '70's called The Great American Dream Machine, with Marshall Efron - Jean would do antidotes about living in America and the Midwest - he really hit a chord with me, and I've been a fan ever since.
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Joanne K. Curry
, California |
Joined: September 24, 2006 |
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Shep fan since: 1983
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1742
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Comments:
I never tire of Jean's stories, especially 'A Christmas Story.' The 'feel' of the movie brings back many fond memories of my own childhood growing up in Chicago. I teach at a small private prep school and have made 'A Christmas Story' a holiday tradition for the middle schoolers to watch at our December 'Movie Night.' Kids of all ethnicities and religions arrive in their P.J.'s, pillows in hand...we eat popcorn and drink hot chocolate while enjoying the movie. This is an event that all students look forward to each year and can't wait to attend. Thanks Shep!
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Steve Hotvedt
Alameda, California |
Joined: May 04, 2001 |
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Shep fan since: 1962
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 555
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Dick Applebaum
Antioch, California |
Joined: January 25, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1986
Discovered Shep: Saw his TV show
Guest No: 1215
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Comments:
Great work!
I never heard of any of the old radio shows -- it is wonderful to be able to hear them now.
What a story teller!
My late wife and I really enjoyed the America series... whether he was:
extolling the virtues of "Beer";
sitting a swamp boat talkin' 'bout Pogo and Churchy Le Femme:
recalling when he and his friends went down to the train yard to help
unload a Sears Mail-Order house;
his Dad's old Buick/Chevy/Oldsmobile and the"Rheostats" in his Mother's
hair;
"Whose face is on the $1,000 bill... you probably have one in your
wallet..take it out now."
... so many priceless hours of enjoyment.
We recorded many of these on the VCR, but unfortunately the tapes are lost.
Is there anywhere that these shows are available for purchase?
Or, are the shows scheduled to air again, anywhere?
I (and I think many others) would like to enjoy these again.
Thanks in Advance!
Dick Applebaum
P.S. Did the theme song of America have a name and/or who was the artist.
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VJ Jose
Apple Valley, California |
Joined: December 25, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1956
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1163
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Comments:
My first wife and I used to listen to Shep in the mid 50s when we were students.
Why can't I find his books and short stories in amazon.com?
Where can I buy his short stories published in Playboy?
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art coplin
arroyo grande, California |
Joined: October 19, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1075
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Barry Yancosek
Arroyo Grande, California |
Joined: November 29, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1990
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1360
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Comments:
I was doing a search of my great grandmothers maiden name Zudock. The Zudock character is my great grandmothers brother.
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Peter Kranzler
Belmont, California |
Joined: January 20, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1963
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 788
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Comments:
What a great site!
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Ed Cronin
Benicia, California |
Joined: December 23, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1570
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Comments:
I now enjoy ham radio KG6Oqk
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Rich S.
Berkeley, California |
Joined: July 25, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1956
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1017
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Comments:
I just,with painful nostalgia,read aloud Ole Wortermelon Time, by the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley and fondly remember Shep reading it. I read a story in the New Yorker today by David Sedaris,whom I like and think is really pretty funny, and I said to myself this guy tells a story about as good as Jean Shepard did (and JS did it hundreds of stories a year for decades-astounding). I've also found great success over the years leading "I'm the Sheik of Arabie (without no pants on) " around whatever campfire I find myself at.
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John Reichel
Berkeley, California |
Joined: October 28, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: Read his Playboy short stories
Guest No: 1084
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Comments:
I used to always hear about Jean Shepherd from my dad, who heard him in Ohio in the late Forties, I believe. Tracking down Jean Shepherd tapes, CDs, and memorabilia has been useful when it comes to gift-giving time.
What great stories! I always thought they were 100% true :)
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Paul Luersen
Berkeley, California |
Joined: March 26, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1958
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 1241
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Comments:
brings back memories of my college days, Shep was a true late night friend!
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ronald Oremland
brisbane, California |
Joined: June 15, 2006 |
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Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1677
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Comments:
Wonderful site!!!
Thanks so much.
Shep was truly an avuncular figure for many of us. His narratives instilled the feeling in me that life was often interesting, funny, and downright adventurous if you can manage to see things with open eyes and harbor a sense of humor.
Listening to just one of his old shows brings back memories of some 40 years ago. I was a college student home during the summer and working as a lifeguard at Brighton Beach in Brooklyn. After getting home from the late shift, eating dinner, I would typically go to bed and turn on WOR. I would often fade off in the middle of his monologue, but managed to come back to his endings. I even remember him doing one show where he only played his kazoo for 45 minutes........I think he was getting back at management that night, but what the hay. It was true Shep.
I once caught a show of his at the Limelight. He was in the middle of his monologue and tried to pull a transition that didn't quite work. He started saying something like.."they're all after me...get away, get away" while waving his hands. The audience didn't quite get the connection, so it fell entirely silent and Shep paused. Breaking the ice, I let out a very feeble, high pitched "Banzi."
The audience laughed, and then came Shep's retort from the stage: "There is nothing worse than hearing someone cry banzai with a Fordham Road accent!!!!"
The audience roared! I knew I would only get in deeper if I replied that I was from Brooklyn.
Some time later, I atually got to meet Shep and Leigh. They came down to Univ. Miami in early 1969 I believe , while I was just starting grad school in oceanography, and before I got called up for military service in the navy. He gave a great show as usual, but he was a bit on thin on any NYC fans that down south. I did chat with Leigh, and it was real obvious se adored Shep very much. He was a lucky guy in that respect.
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Doug McIntyre
Burbank, California |
Joined: March 16, 2000 |
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Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 62
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Neil Mazur
Burbank CA (formerly Spring Valley, NY), California |
Joined: March 07, 2000 |
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Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 49
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Bill Morgan
Calistoga, California |
Joined: December 28, 2005 |
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Shep fan since: 1970
Discovered Shep: Read his Playboy short stories
Guest No: 1580
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Comments:
Actually, I found Shep in the pages of Car & Driver, not Playboy
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Jack Carone
Canoga Park, California |
Joined: December 14, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1960
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1383
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Comments:
Every reminiscence of Shep I read tonight includes a transistor radio under the pillow---exactly my m.o., with the covers pulled up over my head--what a time!
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Laura Peduto
Capitola, California |
Joined: July 26, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1281
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Comments:
So wonderful to find the site dedicated to Jean Shepherd.
I used to listen to him 10:45 each weeknight on WOR in Brooklyn NY during my college years and "welcome to the real world" years throughout the 60's.
In 1969 or 1970 I introduced my husband Ralph to Jean at a Booksigning which I believe was at Marboro books on Times Square. I know that Jean single handedly inspired Ralph toward his radio dj years and onto being a comedic writer himself. I know I have some tapes of Jean's shows
because I couldn't bear the weekends without his stories.
I even entered one of his contests. You had to get the word Cinzano (one of his sponsors) on a postcard as many times as possible. Mine were handwritten in the teeniest tinyest print I could create with our new ball point pens. I WON! I received a tiangular shaped Cinzano ashtray wrapped in all sorts of stuffing. I have it to this day (35 years later) in the bottom of my lingere drawer.
I was thrilled when the Christmas Story came out to entertain the next generation. Our children love it so much that they created the famous "leg lamp" for me for a surprise Christmas gift in 1988. We enjoy it to this day.
It's like having a piece of Jean with us. He became to our family like a great uncle who sent letters from his world travels. Each one of his books and stories and movies we were sure were written especially for US. Now we are reading them to our grandchildren! We love him and miss him. Great memories from a great man.
In today's world I can't help but continue to be inspired by Jean and think : WWJD (What would Jean Do)!
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jean holloway
carlsbad, California |
Joined: September 11, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1966
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 1311
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Comments:
At the Overseas Press Conference Q&A,I kissed him.Excelsior!
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Kenneth Ade Ebi
Carmichael, California |
Joined: August 17, 2000 |
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Shep fan since: 2000
Discovered Shep:
Guest No: 158
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John Mitchell
Cathedral City, California |
Joined: March 16, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1951
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 915
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Comments:
Great site! Brings back many pleasant memories.
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Ed Wick
CedarpinesPark, California |
Joined: June 09, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1964
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 863
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Comments:
In the mid 60's I got a small transister radio from the Sinclair gas station which was shaped like a gas pump. I would listen to it at night before falling asleep. This is how I first discovered that voice which had me glued to Shep's show from then on. Listening every night under my covers, my mom would still hear me laughing and I'd be in big trouble!
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Dan Mosiello
Cerritos, California |
Joined: March 11, 2003 |
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Shep fan since: 1957
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 909
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Comments:
Your site brings back so many happy memories of the many nights I lay awake listening to shep as a young teen in New York. Thoughts of Fred Frecklebottom and Herman J. Fignewton still dance in my head.
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Marc Edson
Chico, California |
Joined: October 25, 2004 |
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Shep fan since: 1994
Discovered Shep: Saw One of His Movies
Guest No: 813
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richard fogel
chino, California |
Joined: March 24, 2009 |
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Shep fan since: 1965
Discovered Shep: On the Radio
Guest No: 2838
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Comments:
used to listen with my dad. i am buying his books for my dads birthday april 15th.
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