I was a pre-teen when I began listening to Shep around 1966 or so. I recall using the "earphone" that came with my transistor radio because my father was pretty rigid about bedtimes. I loved the weeknight studio shows but they were quite subdued compared to the Saturday night events, broadcast before a live audience at the Limelight in Greenwich Village. Shep got pretty raucous then. I had never seen a nightclub except in movies, and those all struck me as horribly square places, filled with "adults." I just knew that the Limelight had to be much cooler and I wanted so much to go there and see Shep, which wasn't going to happen for a 12 or 13 year old.

Sometime or other I stopped listening. I presume that was when I went off to college in '72. When Shep made a personal appearance at SUNY-Binghamton while I was there I couldn't believe it. I recall him telling stories in his Hohman character, then breaking the wall and answering questions as Shep. All I can remember specifically is that he called us "kids" in a kind way, and described himself as an actor.

Years later, I heard the Limelight described as a disco and felt sadness at what I imagined was the loss of a once cool place. I never saw it. I have no idea what it was like, at any time.

Like others here, I still own most of Shep's books. Good memories.

-Michael Scully