Jean Shepherd :Forget the BB gun. I want to see explosions!

[WhiskeyRebel]

One of the things that has become a Christmas tradition of sorts is repeated broadcasts of Jean Sheperd's "A Christmas Story". Every year it makes me think the same thing. Where can I get a hold of Shepherd's show about the Fourth of July? It was on PBS in the eighties and was - unless my memory deceives me - even funnier than "A Christmas Story". But, it does not seem to be offered for sale.

Any of you folks got a copy?

[OvenMaster]

I didn't know Shepherd had a Fourth story; I bet it was a riot. I always loved his work, and was first exposed to his wit when he used to write for Car and Driver magazine. I still miss him.
Tom

[Markw]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084022/

I grew up in the late 50's and early 60's listening to Jean Shepard, 10:15pm M-S on WOR. One of the last, great storytellers. His type is what made AM radio worthwhile.

When I first saw "A Christmas Story" I had no idea what it was about. As soon as I heard that voice, some of the character names and some of the narrative, I knew this was a movie made from several of his radio shows. It was truly a deja vu experience for me.

It truly captured what I visualised listening to him as a kid.

FWIW, I saw the second movie you're refering to and it doesn't hold a candle to "A christmas Story", IMHO

[corporalcripp]

Jean Shepherd had a show,Shepherd's Pie,that was on New Jersey public tv in the '70s.Not up there with his WOR work but quite funny at times.The show's theme was Jersey Bounce,performed by The Garden State Tuba Ensemble.-Bob

[huskerdu60622]

The fourth of july show was great. When i worked in a video store i tried to order it for the store. I checked the filmographies of a few of the actors and none listed it as a credit. I was tempted to contact PBS but never got around to it.
You would think they'd show it some fourth since it has some famous people in it.
Maybe someday...

[dr*audio]

I think I read the story you are talking about in one of his books. It was about the town drunk who had a humongous firecracker or fireworks rocket he lit that ended up under his porch and blew his house up!

[Bogframe]

The story you're referring to is Lud Kissel and the Dago Bomb from In G-d We Trust All Others Pay Cash. The movie was The Great American Fourth of July. I have it as well as a few other Jean Sheppherd movies on VHS, but I have no way to copy them for you. If one comes up, I'll be happy to oblige. I grew up on the WOR show too, and got some of the biggest belly laughs from it. Sheppherd was a master storyteller and is sorely missed by anyone who's read/heard him.

[Infinitoid]

Is that the Drum Major Kissel who's baton hit the power lines and darkened all of Gary? I read all of his short stories in Playboy back in the mid 60s. Laughed 'til I cried. Christmas Story is an annual event here. It combines several of his stories in one neat package, but I would like the Fourth of July show as well.

Greg

[LBPete]

I was a huge Jean Shepherd fan as a kid. I used to listen to his radio show on WOR almost every night. He also broadcast live from the Limelight in Greenwich Village on Saturday nights. His show ran for more than 20 years.

He was the first person I every heard refer to New York as the Big Apple. Shep was a lifelong radio ham in addition to being a storyteller. It was enormously appealing to an 12 year old boy like me to listen a guy that wrote for Playboy, was in the army signal core, talked about working in steel mills, and building radios from scratch. He instilled a love of electronics in me that lasts to this day.

His old radio shows are still broadcast on WBAI in New York. You can download them from the MASS BACKWARDS (http://www.flicklives.com/Mass_Back/mass_back.htm).

The fireworks story is called Ludlow Kissle and the Dago Bomb that struck back. It is one of the chapters in his first compellation of Playboy articles called In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. You can find the audio for it through the link above.

The story that was the basis for the movie A Christmas Story is called Red Ryder Nails the Cleveland Street Kid. The audio is also available through the link.

I could go on all night but just remember that New York is a summer fist fight, Flick Lives and Excelsior you fathead!

- Pete

[Bogframe]

Lud Kissel was Kissel's father, Wilbur Duckworth was the fascist drum major that sacrificed his prized baton to black out half of Indiana. Excelsior Fathead, indeed!
When does BAI broadcast the shows, Pete?

[LBPete]

Max Schmid airs a classic Shep show on Tuesday mornings at 5:15 AM. Set your tape machine or download them from the Mass Backwards link in my earlier post.

- Pete

[shrinkboy]

there was also a film called Olly Hopnoodle's Summer Vacation. if you ever heard one of shepard's stoies on the radio, you were hooked.

[Markw]

A friend and I were discussing shep and we did a search and found this site.

Check out the "movies" tab. You might be surprised.

http://www.flicklives.com/