Direct download: JB12a.mp3
Jean Shepherd was the screenwriter and narrator of the classic holiday film "A Christmas Story," as well as a best-selling author, commentator, and television personality. But to a small legion of dedicated fans, he will always be remembered for his radio show on WOR, which consisted of Shep bending his listeners' ears with a seemingly endless and fascinating collection of stories from his childhood, his days in the army, and his observations on modern society. Jerry Seinfeld grew up listening to Shep on the radio; so did U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, who once said that he couldn't imagine growing up without Jean Shepherd. On what would have been his 85th birthday, we salute Shep with this retrospective, which includes an interview with Eugene Bergmann, author of "Excelsior, You Fathead! The Art & Enigma Of Jean Shepherd," which examines Shepherd's life, career, and legacy as one of America's pre-eminent humorists.
For more information on Jean Shepherd, we recommend reading "Excelsior, You Fathead: The Art & Enigma of Jean Shepherd," by Eugene Bergmann, and visiting the Flick Lives! website for a wealth of Jean Shepherd resources.
