ALT.SF4M

  Jean Shepherd

   • s******j@f****.**o.com
     18/10/1999 00:00:000 UTC

     Jean Shepherd, AKA "Ralphie" in semifictional kid form, died at age 78

     on Friday.

     Shepherd was a radio raconteur in the 50s and 60s, wrote books of

     short stories, and had several TV shows and movies made of his mythic

     childhood exploits. The best knows of these is _A Christmas Story_.

     In the late 50s, he planned and executed a literary hoax with the aid

     of the listeners to his late-night call in show. During the day, his

     cadre of "Night People" went to book stores to ask for a non-existent

     book, _I, Libertine_, and to drop seeds of gossip about its eccentric

     british author. _I, Libertine_ soon began appearing on best sellers'

     lists, was reviewed by insiders, and was "banned in Boston."

     After the hoax broke, Shepherd and Theodore Sturgeon collaborated on

     an actual book called _I, Libertine_.

     http://www.spacelab.net/~bkaye/ilibertine.html

     Shepherd's wife and collaborator of 21 years passed away last year.

     (They may be seen in _A Christmas Story_ as the couple berating Ralphie

     for trying to cut the line to see Santa.)

     Cause of death is not known, but it may be assumed that he did not

     shoot his eye out.

     Stefan

     --

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     SeJ@ay-oh-el-dot-com ~ stefanj@eye-oh-dot-com

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       • s******j@f****.**o.com
         20/10/1999 00:00:000 UTC

         On Mon, 18 Oct 1999 22:41:08 -0400, Stargazer wrote:

         >Tis sad news...Rob and I were discussing the sad fate of Spaudling
         Grey

         >yesterday. He's been reduced to playing bit parts on TV sitcoms (he

         >recently played a college professor on some two-bit ABC show).

         Don't be fooled! Grey is actually doing quite well. He still does

         monologues; in fact, he was out here (San Francisco area) doing one
         a

         few months back, and was interviewed on local NPR shows. I believe
         he

         was pitching a book based on the show, too.

         A few years back, Grey got a young lady in trouble. He decided to
         ditch

         the rootless artist thing and settled down in Sag Harbor. Has two
         sons

         of his own plus an adopted daughter. To all accounts he is amazed
         and

         happy about it all.

         As for the sitcom; that's good money for someone who depends on
         readings

         and books. An occasional plunge in the TV cesspool can pay a lot of

         bills.

         Stefan

         --

         +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+

         SeJ@ay-oh-el-dot-com ~ stefanj@eye-oh-dot-com

         http://www.io.com/~stefanj/

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            • Stargazer
              22/10/1999 00:00:000 UTC

              >Don't be fooled! Grey is actually doing quite well. He still
              does

              >monologues; in fact, he was out here (San Francisco area)
              doing one a

              >few months back, and was interviewed on local NPR shows. I
              believe he

              >was pitching a book based on the show, too.

              That's good to hear...

              --Doc

       • Stargazer
         18/10/1999 00:00:000 UTC

         >Cause of death is not known, but it may be assumed that he did not

         >shoot his eye out.

         LOL!

         Tis sad news...Rob and I were discussing the sad fate of Spaudling
         Grey

         yesterday. He's been reduced to playing bit parts on TV sitcoms (he

         recently played a college professor on some two-bit ABC show).

         --Doc