Jean Shepherd - "The Phantom of the Open Hearth" - Leg Lamp

[musicmandon1]

Funny as all get-out. I only wish the audio could have been higher. Even with headphones, I had to ask my wife not to talk while I listened to this, and I don't like having to do that. She's fra-gee-lay, in more ways than one, and needs more gentleness than most. Her one weakness is she doesn't like "A Christmas Story," which has made me wonder what planet she dropped from. Every year I say I will take her hostage and make her watch it, but I never do.

[artboy41]

I've been sitting here watching "The Phantom of the Open Hearth" and belly laughing out loud. I haven't seen it since I was a kid, and my old man sat me down to soak it up. I've been a Shepherd fanatic ever since... Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading to the Orpheum to exchange these gravy boats!

[artboy41]

This, to me, was the definitive "old man" performance... Darren McGavin gets all the credit, but James Broderick had more of the "every guy" the role demanded.

[alphacontrol]

@artboy41 I whole-heartedly agree with you. James Broderick was the definitive Old Man to me as well. I felt Darren McGavin was far too old to portray the father of such young children. He was more like a grandfather, especially in contrast to the (too) much younger Melinda Dillon as Mom (in the cult classic "A Christmas Story" movie).

[peterann1]

i'd sit in bed late at night listening to Shep and Long John.  Took years to get ham license and a career. 73s de Peter, WB2SGT ck 73. FFFF ten year old 'extras' and ,lettum get ZAPPED!

[mcfortner911]

Excelsior, you fathead!

[keytoothed]

I'm just now discovering Shepherd. Love him.

[Caterpillarjon]

Fra-gee-lee!

[peterann1]

@Caterpillarjon FRA GEE LA

[stanxy314]

Flick Lives!

[robmck52]

Long live Hohmann, Indiana!

[Molly9094]

thank you for a great video. It's just hilarious and truly a classic from PBS. By any chance do you have any clips of Olie Hufnagle's Vacation that was also on PBS?