Sheplives ?>
Main Site Banner
About Shep Database Shep Music Timeline ACS Excelsior Amazon Wanted Flag
Summary
Last Summary Update: None

Jews Harp Virtuosity
Airdate: Thursday - December 21, 1972

WOR Show
Original Airing

audio

First Spoken Line After Theme Ends
This kid wrote to me, Shepherd has it occurred to you. . .
Show Description
[ Courtesy: Lowell Thelin - None ] Listener tells Shep that "with his handlebar mustache," he looks like the kind of guy the posse rides out after Jew's Harp accompaniment with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band selection Pitfalls of buying a musical instrument as a Christmas gift Attempted rip-off by Chinese cab driver in NYC Virtuosity on the Jew's Harp as a religious calling - Shep started at age six Jew's Harp accompaniment to a recording by country fiddler Vassar Clements Explanation of first entertainment money earned at age 15 playing Jew's Harp for the Colorado Cowhands Shovelnose Scott's distinctive sound on the Jew's Harp Fiddle style of Little Davy Greg (sp?) - "came out so natural he didn't know he was playin' it, he was bombed so much" Vassar Clements playing "Wabash Cannonball" as demonstration of fiddle virtuosity (Shep chuckles because there is only guitar on this particular cut - see Notes) Shepherd imitation of Purina "Chick Chow " ad More country music with Jew's Harp accompaniment
Comments
• After "Wabash Cannonball" Shep says to Leigh - "You did it again, Baby, didn't you? You blew that one, Leigh! ...No, you didn't. You never do anything wrong! It's just me. I take full responsibility"  Shep notes that he will be on the Alex Bennett Show tonight at 2 a.m. (12-22-72)
Commercials (Up to date) (All times approximate)
Time Sponsor Notes
• General Tire
Music (All times approximate)
Not Determined yet
Needs to be ID'd
[02:47] fiddle music
Engineers, Staff, and Guests in Booth
Not Determined Yet
Instruments and Special Effects Played During the Show
Instruments Played
Jews Harp
Rating
None Yet
Record: 1427 / ID: 19721221W1427
Airdate History ' - Original' date is earliest known broadcast)
Date Title  
December 21, 1972
Recno: 1427		 Jews Harp Virtuosity Original Airing
More Ways To Hear or Buy It

Mass Backwards

NONE

Shep Catalog
The Best Source for Quality Jean Shepherd Audio

Sorry, Not Available

Fan Archives

Sorry, Not Available
General Info
Database Record Status
Database ID #: 19721221W1427Sponsors up to date: Yes
Record Created: Sources up to date: Yes
Last Update: None
Station ID up to date: No
Show Redated From:
See Dating Notes		   Engineers up to date: No
Music up to date: No Instruments up to date: No
Description up to date: Yes    
Known Recordees
None Known
Notes
Dating Notes
No Notes Found
 
General Notes
No Notes Found
 
Technical Notes
No Notes Found
 
Research Notes
No Notes Found
 
Max / Schmidco
Max's super secret page of shows never played and not on internet - maybe. . .
Max / Schmidco Notes
No Notes Found
 
Replays
Mass Backwards NONE
WBAI Golden Age of Radio NONE
Yesterday USA NONE
Dustbin of History! NONE
Max / Schmidco Notes
No Notes Found
Other
References:
Synd#:
Synd#:
Schmidco Sets - 0 found
Set Name Show # Media File Name Source
None Found
 
Shows Known via Recordings or Lists
(1950 to 1974 Sources 100% Complete - 1975-1977 in process)
6 Known copies from various Sources and Lists (Up to date)
Recordee 1 Shortened Theme: 55 seconds
2 Audibly Dated: By recordee or other
3 Modified Theme: Theme added by Gary Hines
4 Syndicated Intro: Intro broadcast as part of Synd Shows
This copy used for summary time references Inventory File Name coding explained
Source Name Information

Lowell Thelin


Running Time: 44:06



Inventory Name: 1972 12 21_W1427_045 Jews Harp Virtuosity - 14SHEPsc.mp3
Source filename: 14SHEPsc.mp3
Source ref number: 28
Station: WOR

Max - Everything Sets


Running Time: 47:21


Available on Internet



Inventory Name: 1972 12 21_W1427_601 Jews Harp Virtuosity.mp3
Source filename: 1972_12_21_Jews_Harp_Virtuosity.mp3
Source set: Everything Set 20
Station: WOR

FHC / JSP


Running Time: 47:21


Available on Internet



Inventory Name: 1972 12 21_W1427_030 Jews Harp WOR Jean Shepherd.mp3
Source filename: 1972 12 21 Jews Harp WOR Jean Shepherd.mp3
Source ref number: 4, 4c
Station: WOR

Brass Figlagee - Archive.org


Running Time: 47:21



Inventory Name: 1972 12 21_W1427_995 Jews Harp Virtuosity.mp3
Source filename: 1972_12_21_Jews_Harp_Virtuosity.mp3
Station: WOR

Gary Hines




NEED A COPY OF THIS RECORDING Source description: 12-21-72 FH Jews Harp, Santa Claus
Station: WOR

Comments: Not sure which of the 12/21 shows this is - both shows are different and Gary has combined the two titles
Images

David Goldin




NEED A COPY OF THIS RECORDING Source description: 114431. The Jean Shepherd Show. December 21, 1972. WOR, New York City. The House Of Chan, General Tire. Shep starts the show with a Jew's harp accompaniment to what sounds like an Irish folk tune. He says, "You have to be born to play the Jew's Harp." He mentions his handlebar moustache twice. He then plays the Jew's Harp along with a record by Vassar Clements, playing, "The Orange Blossom Special." A good show. Jean Shepherd, Lester Smith (newscaster), John Gambling (psa). 47:21. Audio Condition: Excellent. Complete.
Source ref number: 114431
Station: WOR

 

"Can you imagine 4,000 years passing, and you're not even a memory?
Think about it, friends. It's not just a possibility. It is a certainty." - Jean Shepherd - 1975

copyright © 1999 - 2026 Jim Clavin (Jean Shepherd Historian) - All Rights Reserved - v26.04 [ 03-08-2026 ]
Last database update: 2026-04-16 17:10:50