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I think he really didn't like kids
Date: 01-24-2007
By: chasmo
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I'm 10 years old, see, in Philadelphia in 1963. Down the stairs from my bed room I can hear, drifting up from my Old Man's room, the sounds of this lunatic talking on the radio. I don't get it.
Then the next year, I'm 11, and I start tuning into WOR AM at 10:15 weeknights and, soon, I am hooked. For the next three years, fighting to get a clear signal on my cheap AM radio, I listen every night from 10:15-11:00 as I go to bed -- 10:30 - 11:30 on Saturdays from the Limelight. I learn about Hammond and Flick and Kissel as I fall asleep to Shepherd.
Then, the big day comes. It's 1966, and I'm 13, and Shepherd is scheduled to appear on a live local talk show. Excited beyond belief, I tune in to the show with my mother -- it's day time, and the Old Man is at work -- and the host -- I forget his name and the name of the show -- is talking to Shepherd. It's the first time I've ever seen what he looks like. And, the host says that Shepherd will be taking calls!
And I know just what I want to say. Dashing to the phone, I dial the number. And wait. And suddenly, I'm on the air. What is my question for Mr. Shepherd? And I say into the phone, with all the assurance my adolescent voice can muster, "Excelsior, you fathead!". There's a pause. The host looks puzzled. Shepherd shrugs.
Maybe they just didn't hear me. I mean, Shep will get it. He'll be pleased that I'm so hip to him. I repeat it, louder this time. "Excelsior, you fathead!"
The host is still puzzled, but he's an non-initiate. But Shepherd is shrugging as if he has no idea of what I'm talking about and I'm just some incoherent nut.
I gup the phone. Embarrassed and depressed. I guess he was probably hawking "In God We Trust..." and I didn't say, "Hey Shep, tell about your book and where can we buy it". 13-year olds don't yet understand WHY celebrities appear on these shows, and it ain't to entertain or to compliment.
He heard me,all right.
Chasmo |
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