The Brass Figlagee

we grew up in a time when people had conversations. People spoke to each other vs at each other. I think its because the people were in the same studio with each other so it mitigated impolite behavior. Now with satellites commentators are relegated to little boxes on one screen and can be as rude as they wise without a thought to getting into an altercation. It was better the other way: civil discourse on a wide variety of interesting subjects. Thats what Shep, Long John Nebel,Barry Farber,Candy Jones, Barry Gray, Alan Colmes and others presented to the listener. Im so grateful to be able to hear Shep with Long John unedited. God bless them all.

I have been a talk radio listener for decades, and I always regretted not having listened to Jean Shepherd when I could have as a kid. I remember getting little radios as gifts and never having anything that I wanted to listen to. Being able to fill the time with honest, fun stories that are in some ways still relevant is almost therapeutic. Great podcast.

I’m exceedingly happy that so many of my radio listing cohorts have rediscovered Jean Shepherd as adults. Although, I think he would have been a little disappointed that so many would relish the program out of nostalgia. I’ve seen a number of his social predictions come to pass and most of Shepherd’s commentary remains pertinent today. Almost all of his thumbnail plot sketches have become movie plots, ie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. In short his is a multi-talented voice that speaks to us out of the night still.

Growing up in the 90’s I started watching reruns of “The Wonder Years,” and I was drawn to the vivid narration that Kevin (the main character) gave during each episode. Little did I know that Christmas Eve ‘98 I would again find that style of narration in a feature film called “A Christmas Story.” It turns out that the creator of the feature film inspired the style of narration I fell in love with. Good ole Jean Shepherd! Over the last two decades I’ve poured over articles, listened to radio shows, and watched tv shows with the content or commentary that Shep creates. I feel a connection to this man and his work unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Thank you for creating this podcast. Shep doesn’t get the recognition he deserves in popular culture today. He is more than the segment of a book that has gained America’s love and adoration. I’m glad you’ve helped chronicle his contributions during his life. He deserves to be well known. Excelsior!