Max Schmid's Jean Shepherd Tape Catalog Page One

Updated 11/7/99

October 29, 1999

Dear Shep fanatics and valued customers, current and future;

Since Jean Shepherd's passing on October 16, the media coverage has brought many old fans to these pages.  Since then, I have been inundated with orders ranging from a tape or two to many sets at once.  Each day's mail brings the equivalent of a week's worth of orders of calmer days.  Right now I have two months worth of orders on the waiting list.

For those of you who haven't read the fine print, normal turn-around time has been about three weeks.  As of this writing, that has about doubled, or roughly 4 to 6 weeks for audio cassettes, and 6 to 8 weeks for video tapes.

 I fill the orders in the order they are received, but if I have your set on hand, it may go out sooner.  The Vast Schmidco Empire consists of only myself, working on my days off from my real job.  I will try to get a leave of absence for a few weeks, and if I can get some time off without risking my job (and possibly the jobs of others), this will ease the situation.  Keep watching this space for updates.

For the last two years, the Christmas rush has started in mid-November.  As of right now, I can not guarantee Holiday delivery of any new video orders, and the cut-off for audio tape orders will be Thanksgiving weekend (on or around November 25) and that may be pushing it.  Starting November First, I will not cash any checks for Video orders until I am within two weeks of filling those orders.  I'm sorry to have to do this, but I can only make 3 to 6 tapes a day, and have back orders for about fifty already.  I'll be adding another pair of decks, but most of the videos require tracking adjustments and changing masters in order to preserve the quality of the originals.  Yes I could remaster the tapes to make it easier, but I found that the generation loss is unacceptable.

As to audio tapes, these can be made more quickly.  Please order whatever sets or tapes that you want, but be aware that the most popular sets can probably be sent quicker, as I will be making those tapes more often.  This week's favorite sets include 100G, 65-1 to 65-5, LL1 and LL5, and 1960 Set 1. 

For those of you who don't know what to order, our web host Jim Sadur put together a sampler of favorites that includes a mix from two periods of studio shows and some Limelight shows.

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Ordering Tips:

Since you surfed in here, you have an e-mail account.  Please include your e-mail address (legibly) with all orders.  This way I can alert you of unforeseen delays, or ask questions about your order, which is sometimes necessary.  Phone numbers are nice, but e-mail is faster and cheaper, and I keep odd hours.

Please write your order and your mailing address on a piece of paper other than your check or envelope (preferably not post-its) - once the check goes into the bank, I no longer have your address written down!  This could delay delivery until you contact me threatening lawsuits for stealing your money.

Pet Peeve: Please do NOT staple your checks to anything - this ain't the IRS! Use a paper clip if you must, but staples damage checks.

Finally, thanks to you all for bearing with me in this unusually busy time. I hope to get through the Christmas Season intact and keep everyone happy. Perhaps by February if and when things slow down a bit, I'll be able to release some new sets for you long-time customers, who have been patiently waiting.  Shep's death has brought not only new customers, but also new leads on collections of airchecks and even studio masters, so there should be plenty of new shows coming your way in the future. 

And special thanks to Jim, Bob Kaye, Rudy, Joe, Lou and all the other keepers of the flame!  Excelsior You Fatheads!

Time to clean off the kitchen table - there's work to be done!

Max Schmid, CEO and janitor, VSE (Vast Schmidco Empire)

THE LATEST JEAN SHEPHERD RELEASES FROM SCHMIDCO
NOVEMBER 1998

1965 Set One Jan to March	1965 Set Two March to May	1965 Set Three Australia Trip	1965 Set Four Summer
1965 Set Five The Amazon Series	Shep 100 Series Groups G & H: 1975	Limelight Shows Set #5	Release Summary November 1998

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5 12-tape sets from 1965
and 2 more of the 100 Series (Groups G & H)

1965 shows - FM recordings, Dolby B NR.

Overall terrific quality - the main problems are caused by the age of the tape and the old equipment used to make the original recordings.  I have done my best to adjust constantly changing speed problems on some tapes.  On occasion tape edge scalloping causes unavoidable softness and dropping out of the full signal - this is usually at the beginning of the show, and goes away after the first few minutes.  The hum seems to depend on what studio they are using on any given night, and I haven't really worried much about it much except to note it.

    All that said, I have done everything possible to eliminate the problems, and you may not even notice them.  You will certainly forgive them once you start listening and are swept up in the show!  Huge thanks to Rudy for taping these over the years, and passing them along for us all to enjoy!

And now, the goods!


Ordering Info

1965 Set One - Jan to March

Twelve 90 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $60

Ordering Info

1965 Set Two - March to May

Twelve 90 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $60

Ordering Info

1965 Set Three - Australia Trip

Twelve 90 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $60

Ordering Info

1965 Set Four - Summer

Twelve 90 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $60

Ordering Info

1965 Set Five - The Amazon Series

Eight 90 min. Tapes & Four 60 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $50

Shep Series 100, Groups G & H

These are from AM airchecks, and so they are inherently in lesser overall sound quality than the FM shows.  My masters are probably fourth generation - the original masters were recorded on the notorious squealing tape formulation of the 1970s, but were rescued using the equally notorious water cure (by my experience this causes the tape to slow down). As with all of my tapes, I have taken every care to correct the speed variations and restore the sound to the best possible quality - even so the sound varies from day to day.  All shows are quite listenable and some sound great.  However due to the lesser sound quality overall compared to the FM shows, I have priced them a bit lower to make up for the problems. Big thanks to Ken for moving away from NY and having these taped every day!

  

Ordering Info

Series 100, Group G

Twelve 90 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $55 pp.

Ordering Info

Series 100, Group H

Twelve 90 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $55 pp.

Same pricing as before: $55 per 12-tape set, or any 12 100 Series tapes for $55 in bookshelf folders.


Summary of November Releases:

Grand Set, November 1998

• 1965 Set One - $60 (12 tapes)
• 1965 Set Two - $60 (12 tapes)
• 1965 Set Three - $60 (12 tapes)
• 1965 Set Four - $60 (12 tapes)
• 1965 Set Five - $50 (12 tapes)
• Series 100 Group G  -  $55  (12 tapes)
• Series 100 Group H -  $55  (12 tapes)

Total for all the above November '98 releases:  $400
Order them all and get additional 10% plus discount!
Only $360 for all 84 new cassettes!

Note: Three sets of 1963-1964 shows will be added shortly, as well as the rest of the 1965 shows, once I sort out a few dates to my satisfaction.

LIMELIGHT SET #5

Six 2-hour programs on 12 60-minute cassettes - $40 pp.

PLEASE NOTE: With the releases of November 1998, all new Limelight shows are offered in sequence along with the daily shows for continuity.  The first four shows in this set will be included in the three forthcoming 1964 sets. The last two shows are also included in 1965 Set 5 - The Amazon Series.  I have included them as a set here for those of you who seem to want only Limelight programs.

Ordering Info

Limelight Set #5

Twelve 60 min. Tapes - Dolby B
Set Price $40 pp.

Additional November release (not included on the "Grand Set" above):

• Limelight Set #5 -  $40  (12 tapes)

Ordering Info

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Ordering Info

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