What You Don't See On The Radio

It was Shepherd at his best, revealing a New Jersey as only he could see it. From Rayco Instant Seat Covers to "preserving Carvel for posterity: while sadly noting, "Great Eastern is gone, friends."

"The town I come from makes Bayonne look like Palm Beach," he said, referring to his early years in northern Indiana. Shepherd, now hails from "embattled New York," the hub of sundry activities.

Weaving his wild tales, he proceeded to bring to life personable characters, well known and loved by his fans. They included: Duckworth, the drum major; Kowalski, the five foot one sergeant from Scranton, Pa.; and Lieutenant Cherry of signal corps Company K.

He told of his escapades as a Sousaphone player in the high school marching band and a fateful Thanksgiving parade in northern Indian when Duckworth, the drum major, executed his senior year "catastrophic capper."

As legend has it, his batons landed on the streetcar power lines high above the parade route, ionizing transformers for miles around.

Shepherd dazzled the audience with a proficient demonstration of marching band routines saying, "See, that's the stuff you don't see on the radio!"

Of himself, Shepherd said, "I wish I had a clean mind. I could have been Merv Griffin."

Of his stint in the jungle: "Heat rash became a hobby."

Of the Holland Tunnel: "There's no day or night, just yellow light bulbs, just like purgatory - suspended between heaven and hell."

During this session it was learned that Shepherd is basically an actor who finds radio confining. Shepherd's first acting job was in a revue written by Woody Allen during their over-looked years.

We also learned he prepares some of  his radio programs up to three weeks in advance. They can be heard weeknights on WOR 710 at 9:15 p.m.

Shepherd is the author of three books, including  The Ferrari in the Bedroom,  In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. His fourth book will be published in the spring.

Shepherd has an almost patronizing way of saying "friends." He says it in a way one would only let a friend say it-without feeling patronized.

Indeed Shepherd is sincere in calling us "friends" but he's not here to bend an ear, just to share a funny story and make us feel good. After all, what are friends for?

During one of his Army stories, Shepherd strayed to other funny things but returned to the exact place he had left off.

The audience sighed in amazement and approval to which he said, "Folks, you are dealing with a total professional."

All we could do was agree.

11/26/1975 - ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW: 'What you don't see on the radio' /by Anthony Buccino and Dawn Buccino - Belleville Times News

For more on Jean Shepherd, Flick Lives