Flicklives.com

New Jersey

Harper,Shannon

Florida

Shep fan since: 1982
On the Radio

Comments:
Please note that under your cast of characters in Shep's life you have made an error. Georgette Mosbacher was never married to Randy Shepherd brother to Jean. Randy Shepherd was married to her mother until his death. Mrs Dee Paulsin Shepherd. Please correct your mistakes regarding part of my family tree. Thank you

Halloran,Neil
Altamonte Springs
Florida

Shep fan since: 1957
On the Radio

Comments:
I first heard about Shep for my older brother & his friends when I was about 14. Like many others I tried as hard as possible to stay awake and listen on my little radio under my pillow. I only wish I had met him. I couldn't get enough of his TV shows on PBS. Wouldn't it be great to see those shows again.

Great site.

Flick lives.

Tiley,Ed
Apalachicola
Florida

Shep fan since: 1969
On the Radio

Comments:
I got introduced to Jean Shepard by my buddy Bill, whose daddy was the chief engineer at WNEW for years. Bill was living in his grandfather's basement and we'd sit around many evenings and listen to Merle Haggard's Bob Wills Tribute, Grateful Dead's American Beauty, then cap it off with Shep whose shows were rebroadcast (minus commercials) on WETA (Washington DC's public broadcasting outlet).
Bill's grandfather would come to the top of the stairs and yell at us to quit burning "that damn incense!"

A year or two later I found myself in Shep's beloved Signal Corps at Ft. Monmouth, NJ where I could actually hear him live! Oh the nights, my friend, when I would ride around the back roads of New Jersey with some Army buddies drinking Boone's Farm Apple Wine from the bottle and smoking copious quantities of "that damn incense."

Somewhere I have a thirty-five year old cassette tape of Shep telling the story of his drive to Boston(?) when he stopped off at a Howard Johnson's only to find a horse in the back seat of a car.

I'll see if I can find it to share if nobody has that show.

Ed

Burns,Ed
Bellview
Florida

Shep fan since: 1962
On the Radio

Comments:
My first encounter with Shep, was serching the AM band late night with my younger brother, Joe, up in Bucks Co.Pa. Our mom bought us an old Admiral with Green Stamps. We would stay up late with the radio turned down low and listen to his stories. With his great gift of visual story telling, it was more like viewing a movie than just hearing his tale. I credit him with helping me develope my imagination of which I am very thankful. I will miss him. Ed

Manillo,Fred
Big Pine Key
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970

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Lesley,Dan
Big pine key
Florida

Shep fan since: 1977

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Bogart,Walter
Boca Raton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1957
On the Radio

Comments:
Just a note from "The Most Unknown Person in New York City" - about 1958 or so. Inveterate member of his Princeton, NJ audience at the annual show at Richardson Auditorium (I believe.)
Found out recently about the site from another Shep admirer.

Pearson,Jim
Boca Raton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965
On the Radio

Comments:
This is amazing that there would be a website reminding people that Flicklives. I remember writing that on my school book covers 40 years ago. I only knew of two other guys that ever heard of Shep and to see this website is very cool.He made us all feel special with his uplifting stories about what it was life for him to grow up. WOR was awesome back then for letting Shep create his magic.

Brust,Stephen
Boca Raton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1962
On The Radio

Comments:
I grew up in New York City and in 1962 or 1963 I was lying in bed, on a school night, with a transistor radio in my ear. For no apparent reason I decided that I had heard the song, Sugar Shack, enough times that evening and started to spin the dial for something else to listen to.

I came upon this compelling voice and stayed with it for a while. This guy was telling a story about how he, as a young boy, ordered seeds from a mail order catalogue.

I was hooked! I listened to this guy spin his stories for the next six years, five nights a week, and live on Saturday night from the Limelight in Greenwich Village.

I maintain that Jean Shepard is arguably the greatest storyteller this country has ever produced, certainly the most prolific. It's a shame that he isn't more widely known, although Christmas Story has made more people aware of him.

Lieberman,R.
Boca Raton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965

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Cardella,Mike
Bradenton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965
On the Radio

Comments:
It's great listening again. Like it never stopped.

S.,Jeff
Bradenton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1961

Comments:

Shassere,William
Bradenton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965
Read his Playboy short stories

Comments:
Being from the midwest, Indianapolis, my introduction to Shepard's special talent was through Playboy and later his books and PBS. I often wished I had been able to have had the opportunity to experience Shep's radio days. I did meet Shep druing a special appearance sometime in the 80s, sponsored by the Indianapolis PBS station. During the discussion, Shep claimed as true that his father had been an illustrator and cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune, and his mother had been a school teacher. He said he was an only child. He also seemed to be rather hostile towards anybody even suggesting that they would rahter believe the stories had a real life connection. I just finished E. Bergmann's book about Jean, and have become aware of all his contridictions. Interesting man - unique artist, and one that I still enjoy reading of and about.

CLARK,JIM
CAPE CANAVERAL
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
Read his Playboy short stories

Comments:

Woolverton,Thom
Cape Coral
Florida

Shep fan since: 1962
On the Radio

Comments:
I remember staying up spellbound listening to Shep then discusing the show with my father at breakfast (both of us a little groggy from lack of sleep. The show that stuck with me most was the time he 'quit' on the air and played music for the last 15, 20 minutes.

LaRocca,Diane
Cape Coral
Florida

Shep fan since: 1959
On the Radio

Comments:
Really did have that little transistor radio under my pillow. Couldn't wait to go to bed and stifle my giggles. Went to sleep with a smile every night. I miss him.

Cornacchione Jr.,Michael J
Clearwater
Florida

Shep fan since: 1962

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Hollingsworth,John T
Clewsiton
Florida

Shep fan since: 1956

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Jacobs,Jeffrey
Coral Spings
Florida

Shep fan since: 1961
On the Radio

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Caserta,Mike
Coral Springs
Florida

Shep fan since: 1968

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Greener,Alan
Coral Springs
Florida

Shep fan since: 1956
On the Radio

Comments:
I began listening to Shep when I was about 13 and my livning in Brooklyn. My brother, who was 16 at the time, and I shared a bedroom. We had these beds that one slipped under the other during the day. At night we would roll out the bottom one, which I got because it stunk, and turn on the radio and listen.
At first we heard Shep from the Limelight and after that from the studio. We loved the show.
My favorite shows are Shep's Fu Man Chu stories which no one else seems to remember. What's really cool, if cool is still okay, is that I heard the Christmas story on the air even before it appeared in Playboy. And I knew he'd get hit in the eye all along.
Another favorite was when he told us to quietly put the radio on the window ledge and open the window and turn up the volume. "Help. Help!" he screamed. As you probably know, almost all windows opened on the alleys and other windows. It was great.
Just as Gleason was the "Great One" on TV, Shep should have that honorium for his radio shows.

Long live Flick.

Cavicchi,John
Coral Springs
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
On the Radio

Comments:
My brother-in-law introduced me to Jean Shepherd when I was about 18 years old. I never met anyone else who ever heard of him until I was about 30!

Chabus,Sid
Coral Springs
Florida

Shep fan since: 1956

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Hone,Robert E.
Dania Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1954

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Edwards,Gary
Davie
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
On the Radio

Comments:
I can still remember those nights in the dark in my room listening to Shep and loving every minute of it... Had to put up with Earl Dowds "banana paradise" first!!! The storys were great, and I dx because of JS... That first night I heard him tune into shortwave changed my life...

Scharf,Kenneth Scharf
Davie
Florida

Shep fan since: 1967

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iler,john
Daytona Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1963
On the Radio

Comments:
When will there be a SHEP convention? I would come up from FL for it. My favorite story would be " the army story when someone jumped off the train when it stopped and did not get back on in time when the train atarted rolling again".

L,Howard
Deerfield Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1967
On the Radio

Comments:
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
he still lives!
started listening to him when I was in the 7th grade.
no one else like him.

Brooks,Bernie
Deerfield Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1958

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Zanger,Bob
Deerfield Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964

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Triglia,Billy
Dunedin
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
i have been fan a long time ifirst heard him on wor radio i lived in n.j. at time and yes the limelight every saturday night my mom would get me his books for christmas gifts and i read most of his playboy stuff a very funny man

Abshier,Rick
Fernandina Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
Ah,the transistor radio hidden under my pillow listening in Northern New Jersey to WOR in the mid 1960s. A fellow ham....KQ4Y

Scharf,Kenneth
Fort Lauderdale
Florida

Shep fan since: 1967
On the Radio

Comments:
I 'discovered' Shep when I was in High School. I saw him in person at two book signings (Wanda Hicky and Ferrai), the overseas press club (for J.S's A.) and one live performance.
Got him to sign my book copies as 'K2ORS' (his ham call) and
gave him one of my QSL cards.

Holzhauer,Laura
Fort Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 1983
Saw One of His Movies

Comments:
I feel very close to the stories of Jean Shepherd. I was born and raised in Hammond "Hessville" Indiana. My family and I lived on Kenwood Street which is 3 blocks from his childhood home. My Father tells of stories of his childhood in Hammond and it is so familiar when I watch a Christmas Story. I am so proud to have hailed from Hessville and now I feel most proud when people comment on how they love A Christmas story and I can say, "this movie is based on my hometown." When I discovered Jean lived in Sanibel, I almost fainted. I live 15 minutes from Sanibel and got married at Sanibel Harbour Resort. Funny how small the world is.

Morrell,Helen
Fort Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 1955
On the Radio

Comments:
My husband and I listened to him every night and my children also listened to him as they grew older. We loved the man and I was so sorry that I didn't know that he lived right here in Sanibel Island and died in Lee Memorial Hospital, a few miles from my home. Helen Morrell

Belanger,Bill
Fort Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
Read one of his books

Comments:
Jean Shepard grow up on Cleveland Street in the Hessville section of Hammond, IN. My parents moved to Cleveland Street in 1946 or 1947. I lived at at 3017 Cleveland St. Directly across from us was a vacant lot that was soon to become the home of Jack Flickinger, owner of Flick's at the corner of Kennedy and 165th St. My dad often spent time at Flick's. I will eat my hat ifThe Christmas Story is not about me. I never did get that Red Ryder bb gun and even today I still want one. I onetime asked Flick if he really knew Jean Shepard and he never really answered.

Cane,Marilyn
Ft Lauderdale
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
I loved listening to Jean Shepard. Indeed, I would have that radio under my pillow. No wonder I was a wreck in the morning, I had stayed up all night listening. It was well worth it.

kooyker,valerie
ft lauderdale
Florida

Shep fan since: 1959
On the Radio

Comments:
Ah radio! ..back in the days when people seemed to have something really worthwhile to share, and others took notice and listened...man, I do miss it!

I was an early fan of Jean along with Bob and Ray and Mystery Theater way back when listening to radio under the bedcovers was an artform. My sister and I would somehow prop a tent out of our sheets so we could sit and listen and either giggled ourselves silly or enjoyed freaking out over Peter Lorre's creepy voice.

Years later, Jean kept me good company while I drove the commute home from night classes at Fairleigh Dickinson in NJ, where he would appear on occasion. What never ceased to amaze me was how he could expound on a seemingly insignificant subject, such as KP duty, going off on many tangents, and manage to bring his tale to a full resounding climax, just as the strains of the William Tell Overture could be heard in the background..what an amazing storyteller!!

Later, as a young career woman in NYC, hanging out in the Village with all the 'cool people', I was thrilled to be able to go see Jean perform live at the Limelight..he didn't use notes, he just talked freely, laughing at himself a lot at himself, and this time, I really felt he was aiming his stories right at me..he had piercing eyes that looked right through you..I was completely mesmerized!

What a terrific website!!..I just wish more young people could be exposed to what was a glorious time of the art of audio communication. Jean, you will always live in my heart.

Valerie Kooyker

Carlip,Harry
Ft Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 1956
On the Radio

Comments:
Am an avid Robert Service reader as a result of Shep. His Shepard Pie series was very important to me while it evaporated to friends wanting more Shep.

He was very important to me as a swimmer before goggles. I was blind for hours and used the early hours to listen and study after regaining vision. My first car was a Triumph and have hurled invectives my whole life.

Great site was after theme and it fulfilled and exceeded expectations.

Thank You

Harr

Morrell,Lynn
Ft Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 1950

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Millican,Susan
Ft Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 1983
Saw One of His Movies

Comments:
Thank you, thank you, for having a site honoring Jean Shepard. I saw a Christams Story in 1983(?)which has left me, forever a fan. My family can't put on a coat without whining,"I can't get my arms doooown".

I would like to know if anyone knows where to find his books.I have searched high and low.

sue

Seitler,Sunny
Ft. Myers
Florida

Shep fan since: 2001

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Miller,Barry
Gainesville
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965

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Davis,Bill
Grand Island
Florida

Shep fan since: 1958
On the Radio

Comments:
Listened to Shep from 1958 to 1963 when I got drafted. Shep was GREAT....Excelsior, you fathead!

Grinnell,Larry
Greenacres
Florida

Shep fan since: 1971
On the Radio

Comments:
Great site! My work commute is roughly 45 minutes each way. I have loaded tons of old Shep shows onto my iPod, and so I have something to listen to that is not South Florida radio!

Anyone know the source for the very weird William Tell Overture he often used in the early 70s (sounded purposely sped up), and another tune (perhaps from the same source) that he used for "salutes", with a "singing duck" as part of the tune?

I used to listen to him on WKAT-AM from Miami Beach. They played a week's worth of shows from midnight to about 5AM and called the show "Saturday Night, Which Is Really Sunday Morning".

Again, wonderful site. I can truly appreciate the amount of work needed to put something like this together.

Feilich,Gary
Hollywood
Florida

Shep fan since: 1966
On the Radio

Comments:
It's 40 years since I saw Shep perform on New Year's Eve at the City Center in NYC. Few moments are rarely remembered with such a joy as this night I spent with some dear friends as we laughed and so enjoyed a master at his craft. The void left with his passing has never been filled. He was (and will always remain) light years ahead of his time.

Davellis,Gus
Hurricane
Florida

Shep fan since: 1922
On the Radio

Comments:
Thank you for the great annual calendars I was able to download from your site which I found on a Google (don't be evil) search for "1988 calendar". That was a great year for me and probably Shep too.

I didn't know Shep before. Thanks for the neat-o website.

Gus

lamy,jay
indialantic
Florida

Shep fan since: 1969
On the Radio

Comments:
How I discovered Shep -- not exactly so. I first heard him at a convocation at Union College in Schenectady in (I think)1969. I also saw him at Worcester Tech perhaps in 1973 or 74. alas, he gave essentially the same speech at both. I used to listen to him on WGBH in Boston in the early 70s and HAVE A FEW PROGRAMS recorded to which you are welcome if you don't already have them. How do we determine this? Oh yeah, i also subscribed to Playboy. For the articles, of course. Shepherd's articles.

Sarka,Michael
Jacksonville
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
Loved hearing his stories. Got in trouble staying up late to listen to him.

Scudder, USN,CDR Richard P.
Jacksonville
Florida

Shep fan since: 1966

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DeLeeuw,Paul
Key Biscayne
Florida

Shep fan since: 1963

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Guzma,Kim
Lake Worth
Florida

Shep fan since: 1976
Saw his TV show

Comments:
I would love for Phantom of the Open Hearth to be made available on DVD. I have been searching for it for years. More and more info is appearing on the internet, but still, we can't buy it. Maybe PBS can show it again?

,Art
Largo
Florida

Shep fan since: 1974
On the Radio

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Coughlin,Joseph
Loxahatchee
Florida

Shep fan since: 1988
Saw One of His Movies

Comments:
My wife and I love "A Christmas Story" and the summer "sequel" which seems to have two different titles.

roll,ted
lutz
Florida

Shep fan since: 1969
On the Radio

Comments:
I listened to his shows in D.C. When I was a very young man. I would turn on WEDU late at night and fall asleep listening to his great stories, untill my ol' man would tell me to shut that radio off! I went to a book signing of Wanda Hickies When I was 12 yrs. He is missed greatly! He was such a part of my growing up. Actually buying Playboy mag. to read his stories! Ted

Nash,Fred
Lutz
Florida

Shep fan since: 1960
On the Radio

Comments:
There is nothing like "shep" then or now. I miss those shows that were filles with tales of flick and schwartz and anything that would pop into that fertile mind. Excelsior!!!!

Celeste,Celeste
Lynn Haven
Florida

Shep fan since: 1969

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Farnham,Sutton
Mandarin
Florida

Shep fan since: 1973

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ervin,john
marco island
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
I still listen to him from tapes and still laugh. He was so intelligent and humorous.

Forman,Don
Miami
Florida

Shep fan since: 1951

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Silverman,Richard
Miami
Florida

Shep fan since: 1966

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Greenwood,Douglas
Miami
Florida

Shep fan since: 1950

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Stanard,Bill
Miami
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
I believe it was Boyd Britton and I who first brought Shep to Princeton to give a concert in 1966 or 1965. We both worked at WPRB, the local college radio station, and contacted him for an interview... but at a price: we had to get him a concert date at the college, which we did, at Alexander Hall. As I remember, he lived in Princeton. I was happy to read that the Princeton concert had become a recurrent event. Do I remember correctly?

Lipps,Kecia
miami
Florida

Shep fan since: 1999
On the Radio

Comments:
www.kecialipps.com model website

Raisen,Joshua
Miami
Florida

Shep fan since: 1973
On the Radio

Comments:
DecoHello --

Quite the nice site.
My first exposure to Jean Shepherd was nearly 30 years ago. The old man was
driving the family up from Miami to Cape Kennedy for I guess it was the
Apollo Soyuz launch. I figured it had to be 3 AM on the deserted blue
highway, but maybe it just seemed that late to an eight-year old kid and it
was in fact earlier. My two kid sisters beside me in the back seat are
sound asleep, as is my mother in the front seat next to my Dad, so it's just
me and my dad, not talking, listening, to the engine, other cars, the AM car
radio. He's got something funny on the radio, something funny that I in my
7-year old kid brain soon realizes is SOMETHING FUNNY, some lunatic hipster
going on about "pernicious jepip" or some other such unlikelihood. . . . .
Still not sure whether that was my father's first exposure to Shepherd or
not, but I know it was mine. After that, my father found an AM station in
Miami (WKAT) that played his shows, and he began inviting me into his late
night lair, his den, where he studied, read, watched TV, etc. until
incomprehensible hours of the morning, to listen to the radio shows. I
listened to I'm sure of over 100 of Shepherd's shows in that crowded den,
and thus became both a lifelong night owl, and a member of the dimly
realized cadre of cognoscenti who could claim familiarity with Flick,
Brunner, Grover Dill, and Scott Farkas. . . .
But then I got older, didn't see my old man as much, found other, more
modern, outlets into hipster ramblings. Sure, I recognized the voice in a
Christmas Story, but for the most part Jean Shepherd had faded into the
background, and even his death in 1999 barely registered.
Perhaps that is changing, though. This past weekend, my girlfriend found
at a Borders or some such chain, a copy of "Shepherd's Pie, Slice Seven:
Scut Farkas and the Murderous Mariah" and everything came flooding back.
I've listened to it through three times now, and this morning I fired up the
browser to see what the phrase "murderous Mariah" might bring up.
Of course it brought up your site, and in between counter sales and faxes
and everything else today at work, I've managed to read "Grover Dill and the
Tasmanian Devil"
Although I haven't been over your site with fine tooth comb as of yet, I
would hope that when I do, I would find the two shows I most remember:
1)the State of the Universe Message and 2) the one about the footprints on
the ceiling (were they Flick's?)

It's been a pleasure writing this letter, I hope you had a quarter as much
pleasure reading it.
Thanks again for your wonderful site on the only American with whom
comparisons to the genius of Mark Twain might plausibly be made.

Gunther,Chuck
Naples
Florida

Shep fan since: 1967

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Housman,Damian
Naples
Florida

Shep fan since: 1962

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Housman,Jennifer
Naples
Florida

Shep fan since: 1999

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Trudnak,Steve
Naples
Florida

Shep fan since: 1961

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Duda,Tony
New Port Richey
Florida

Shep fan since: 1968
On the Radio

Comments:
I grew up in New Jersey. I loved lying in bed at night listening to Shep on WOR radio while a kid. Later, when I attended Rutgers, Shep did a live show on campus at The Ledge circa 1975 and I went and loved every minute. My funniest recollection is when he said Indiana was miles and miles of farmland surrounding a basketball court. I went with a girl who never heard of him and didn't get a lot of his stories about his childhood. But I did and consider this night one of the best entertainment events of my life.

Bermudez,Angelo Bermudez
New York/Orlando
Florida

Shep fan since: 1993

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gardner,van
north miami beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1960
On the Radio

Comments:
i recently was searching the net for a book to purchase and came across "excelsior,you fathead". i then did a google search and came across this great site. i used to listen to shep on wor.am radio as a kid growing up in brooklyn,before they gave brooklyn away to the hordes. anyway, i used to listen to him at 10p.m or so in bed with my brand new transitor radio with genuine imitation leather case with holes in it so you could listen to the radio right through the case.i used to love listening to his flick and friends stories. later,when the hippie day's were in full bloom i would often listen to wbai and marshall effron or someone like that. wbai had constant telethons even then. i miss those day's and was pleased to find this site that,for me,is like a time machine.i plan to purchase some shep tapes on my next buying spree.

Smith,Sue
Ocala
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
Read his Playboy short stories

Comments:
Years ago I read the story Delbert and the Bumpus Hounds in playboy, then took it over to my Dad to read, see what he thought. Well, he wasn't TOO thrilled, I guess you could say. He IS Delbert Bumpus, his Dad had beagles, and they lived in Hammond, Ind. So, he wasn't real happy about the way his family was depicted in the story (and then the MOVIE!!) But, life goes on. And for me, Christmas Story is one of my favorites! I don't know if Dad has ever watched it, none of us ever mentions it around him! Merry Christmas! (Don't shoot your eye out!)

Notaro,Rosemarie
Orlando
Florida

Shep fan since: 1963
On the Radio

Comments:
I was a fan of Jean's since my preteen years. I listened to him regularly and was enchanted by his story telling. When I was 18 I went regularly to the Limelight and got his autographed copy of "In God We Trust All Other pay Cash".
When he left WOR was the last time I listened to him and had not kept up with other of his turns in his career.
In 2000 I learned he had died in Florida not far from where I live and maybe I'll go and leave flowers (but I think he was cremated).
He was a big influence in my life and I will always be grateful to him.

Koenig,Don
Orlando
Florida

Shep fan since: 1960

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Beach,Dan
Orlando
Florida

Shep fan since: 1962

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Self,Herb
ormond beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
On the Radio

Comments:
I listened to Jean's radio show on WOR off of the ionosphere on AM radio while living in Virginia. I thought at the time that he was the most original and entertaining story teller that I had ever encountered. He still is.

Horne,Rick
Oviedo
Florida

Shep fan since: 1973

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Boxer,Hylan
Oviedo
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
On the Radio

Comments:
I would listen to him for hours...and got paid for it! I was a board engineer for WKAT AM Talk Radio in Miami Beach in the early 70's. A wonderful story teller, with rich humor and amazing insight. An absolute national treasure.

Allen,Steve
Palm Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965

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(Schwartz) Lang,Susan
Palm Beach Gardens
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965
On the Radio

Comments:
When it's the Christmas season, Shep comes to mind (wonder why?) and this year I decided to go find him on the Web. I never realized how popular he was and is! I haven't checked out this site yet, but I'm delighted to find it.
I met Shep once in N.J. after a show he did at centenary college in Hackettstown. He sat with us on a street curb, listening to my friend's tremendous problem and offering a suggestion or two of help. A few years later I met him again after a show he did at C.W. Post college on Long Island. He remembered me before i could even get a "hello" out and asked about my friend. I truly did not expect that. i mean, all the many people he'd met in-between....
But then, that was Shep.
Excelsior!

Baumgartner,Scott
Panama City
Florida

Shep fan since: 1981
Saw One of His Movies

Comments:
His old man and mine were so alike in the movie that it soon became my all-time favorite movie. I have since read the books and listened to many of the radio shows. For some inexplicable reason his work makes me nostalgic for a time I never knew. Thank you for the website

Goldstein,Roger
Pompano Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1967
On the Radio

Comments:
Only a few of my comrads appreciated Shep even a little. I was hooked the first time I tuned in. I once went to Yankee Stadium to see Shep play in a 2 inning pregame for radio & tv celebs. He got a clean single to center. On his show that night he said that Yogi Berra mistook him for the new rookie.

Buckland,Skee
Pompano Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1960

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deriesthal,andy
pompano beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1970
On the Radio

Comments:
I grew up on long island; early in the 1970s I discovered a very entertaining radio show on WOR. Every night I would be caught up in the adventures of jean shepherd & tales of an Indiana childhood. Shep was the king of story telling, he was able to capture our imaginations with his depiction of characters and events Jean Shepherd's voice became my internal monologue

Excelsior, You Fathead

Seelye,Evie
Port St Lucie
Florida

Shep fan since: 1980

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VanTine,Fred
Punta Gorda
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

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BESHEER,MATTHEW
PUNTA GORDA
Florida

Shep fan since: 1959
On the Radio

Comments:
I WAS BORN IN 1951 IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK. BEING THE YOUNGEST OF THREE CHILDREN AND HAVING SEVEN YEARS BETWEEN ME AND MY BROTHER, I SPENT ALOT OF TIME BY MYSELF. I RECEIVED AS A PRESENT A WESTINGHOUSE 7 TRANSISTOR RADIO AND WENT TO BED EARLY EVERY NIGHT.
I WOULD STAY UP LATE WITH THE RADIO UNDER MY PILLOW AND LISTEN TO JEAN EVERY NIGHT ON WOR AM RADIO IN NEW YORK. HE CAME ON FROM 10:15 TO 11:00PM. I ENJOYED ALL THE STORIES AND LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT JEAN SPOKE OF. MY LOVE OF TALK RADIO COMES FROM JEAN. HIS DISCRIPTIVENESS AND USE OF STORIES HAS STAYED WITH ME EVER SINCE.
MY JOB CARRIED ME TO ALL POINTS OF THIS WORLD AND REQUIRED ME TO WRITE LONG AND COMPLEX REPORTS. JEANS INFLUENCE ON ME MADE THIS EASIER AND MY REPORTS ENJOYED BY ALL. I WAS IN MALAYSIA WHEN JEAN PASSED AWAY AND READ ABOUT IT IN AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPER. THIS NEWS SADDENED ME KNOWING THAT HIS VOICE WAS NOW SILENCED. JEAN WILL LIVE FOREVER IN ALL OF US THAT HAD THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM OVER THE RADIO WAVES.
GOD BLESS YOU FOR DEVELOPING THIS SITE FOR ALL OF JEANS FANS.

Russell,Richard
Redington Beach
Florida

Shep fan since: 1974
On the Radio

Comments:

DRAUGEL,JACK
ROCKLEDGE
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
I FOUND THIS SITE FROM READING GERALD NACHMAN'S BOOK
"SERIOUSLY FUNNY", WHERE IT IS MENTIONED IN THE CHAPTER RE:
SHEP AND BOB & RAY.
I WAS A "SHEPHEAD" BACK IN THE SIXTIES AND USED TO TRAVEL
THE SUBWAY FROM MY BROOKLYN HOME TO THE LIMELIGHT IN THE
VILLAGE ON SATURDAY NIGHTS.
I BELIEVE I HAVE SOME PHOTOS I TOOK THERE, IF I CAN FIND
THEM I WILL TRY TO GET THEM TO YOU.

Dunn,Tom
Safety Harbor
Florida

Shep fan since: 1958
On the Radio

Comments:
Knew Nancy Prescott in Clifton, NJ

Bartholomew,chris
Sarasota
Florida

Shep fan since: 1965
On the Radio

Comments:
I first heard shep over my cub scout crystil raido set. living out side of philly. WOR was so strong a signel i had no trouble picking it up,under my covers with the headphones on waiting for the theme music to lead my into another night of wonder and magic through his show.

Browne,Chris
Sarasota
Florida

Shep fan since: 1967
On the Radio

Comments:
I was turned on to Jean Shephed by an older friend, a jazz enthusiast. The first blast was free. I quickly became addicted and then got all my friends hooked on him. Eventually I got to meet him, in the 1970's, at a party at my folk's house in Connecticut. He held court, drink in hand, telling stories in that great voice. But there was something sad about him. Best wishes, Chris Browne

Burn,Bob
Sarasota
Florida

Shep fan since: 1957
On the Radio

Comments:
Thanks for an enjoyable memory boost and much information I did not know about before. You did a very nice job. Well done! I was watching "A Christmas Story" with my wife, Cyndy and I wanted to know more about Jean. I remember listening to him while I waited to pick up my Dad outside of Con Ed's East River plant at 14 St. in NYC.

Eddy,Mike
South Daytona
Florida

Shep fan since: 1959
On the Radio

Comments:

Luhrs,John
St. Augustine
Florida

Shep fan since: 1950
On the Radio

Comments:
A fabulously special man one who I listened to for years and will listen to for years to come.

Faulkenberry,Joel
St. Petersburg
Florida

Shep fan since: 1984
Saw One of His Movies

Comments:
Liked movie,just was curious,about year it was taking place.Judged it to be 1939-40 by the references to Wizard of Oz,and the Red Ryder BB gun which was first produced in 1938 and was discountinued 42-45.

Gamble,Robert
StPetersburg
Florida

Shep fan since: 2000

Comments:

Wolters,Bill
Stuart
Florida

Shep fan since: 1964
On the Radio

Comments:
I should have known... My first night after the Mexican honeymoon, back in NYC. A married man. 1974. Lights out. It's 10:15 p.m. What else, needless for me to ask all of you? Clock radio on, set to WOR, automaticaly to turn off 45 minutes later.

New wife asks, "Why is the radio on?". We all know the answer. "Shep". Turning the radio on at 10:15 is what I had done six nights a week for the last 10 years.

"Turn it off", she said. She was beautiful. I was in love. I did.

Believe it or not, we remained married another 21 years. Can't believe it myself.

I've read through all the postings here, haven't seen anyone comment on what was key to my Shepherd radio experience. As the clock ticked down towards 11:00 p.m., (not via LEDs, but by little numbered tags flipping over as each minute passed by), I would get more excited that this night indeed, for the first time in history, I would be witness when Shep DID NOT segue back to his opening storyline. He started talking about current events, then onto Mr. Gruener crawling up the gravel driveway, and now at 10:58 he is so far afield he will NEVER GET BACK IN TIME! 10:59, how did he do that? Night after night after night he succeeded.

Brady,Chris
Stuart
Florida

Shep fan since: 1969
On the Radio

Comments:
Does anyone remember his short story about the Rockne automobile?One of my faves.his dad said that it had a transmission"made out of balsa wood"