Jean Shepherd - "Robert Service"

Jean Shepherd reads from the poetry of Robert W. Service on WOR Radio, from October 31, 1969. [Audio is public domain. Photo © by Fred W. McDarrah.]

[@99RiverSt]

I've gotta marvel at all that Shep has turned me on to, since my father turned my teenaged ears on to him, in 1963. From Ham Radio, marching bands, steel mills and piano factories, and an endless array of history to contemporary social commentary, and now, Robert Service? Thanks Shep for expanding my world. And, thanks for this post.

[@frankchiarello5745]

B

[@barrybogart5436]

I grew up listening to Shep on WOR with my brother Dave. These Service poems impressed me so much I finally moved to Canada. And I have been to Lake Labarge. Dave met Shep and his dixieland band was used by Shep here and there. RIP Shep and Dave. Excelsior!

[@barrybogart5436]

and sure enough, at minute 6 the Sons of the Whisky Rebellion play... Dave was the ivory tickler.

[@markheller1382]

I was just a kid and it was my chore to clean the kitchen after family dinner. Listening to Jean as I worked made the whole thing fun. I’ve been a fan ever since. A great storyteller and a raw window into the 70s and of course his childhood in the 40s. So glad here’s here on KZbin!

[@waltglow6396]

Back in the late 70's I purchased a cassette of Jean Shepherd reads Robert Service I ran this into the ground.

[@justinegillen6068]

He read Service so eloquently I had to find books to read more. I can't find the poem of the ice worms though.

[@zootzallures7044]

This guy is the best story teller I have ever heard,can't hear enough .Thank you for these

[@jeastwood2737]

I used to listen to him all the time, and then I lost touch... and he went off the air...about the same time... I said on another "comments" that I had been looking for him for the past 40 years... I couldn't agree more : )

[@steverau5777]

Used to listen to him when I was a kid in the 70's. I met him at the book signing of Wanda Hicky's night of golden memories in Chatham N.J.

[@johncerutti3940]

@@steverau5777 did he frequent the area? I’m over in madison

[@cobra6853]

This story was my first introduction to Jean Shephard, tho I heard the broadcast sometime in the early 70s. From my dorm room at Ursinus College in suburban Philly, WOR reception was not great. But his voice and style totally captivated me. I became a committed fan. He later appeared at Ursinus and I was front row. Probably the funniest evening in my life. There was this one story about Exlax …

[@markoberacher8191]

This guy is a G.

[@fr2ncm9]

I have to wonder if the date for this is correct. I'm pretty sure that I learned about Robert Service from Jean Shepherd; however, I was 3 in 1969. Maybe he referred to him in some of his later shows.

[@greenteablend]

Shep read Robert Service's poetry or mentioned him multiple times. I ran a search on the FlickLives.com database and it came up with twenty-three shows: www.flicklives.com/index.php?pg=227&XA=%2F&findit=robert+service&Search=submit He also put out a vinyl LP in 1975 entitled, "Jean Shepherd Reads the Poems of Robert Service." Used copies may be found on Ebay and Amazon.

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

Some Neanderthal guy beat that cave record.