WFMU's Beware of the Blog: The I, Libertine Hoax: "Over 50 years ago, one of the greatest media hoaxes ever was foisted upon New York City and the world at large. Overnight WOR-AM radio show host Jean Shepherd asked his listeners ('the Night People') to go into bookstores and ask for a book that didn't exist. Armed with a fictitious title and author, along with a vague plot outline, the Night People got their hooks in wherever they could. Fueled by bewildered bookstore owners and distributors, I, Libertine eventually did end up as a genuine bestseller. The crazy tale is recounted here in Shep's own words on Long John Nebel's radio show from 1968."
Hat tip to Boing Boing.
1 comment:
Pity so little of it's about Sturgeon and Ballantine, but there's a bit more on them (and Freas's cover painting) in the introduction to the audiobook on the WFMU blog page.
Also interesting to me how much this 1968 LONG JOHN NEBEL SHOW discussion sounded like a Howard Stern show, in form if not in content. Larry King was an inadquate successor to Nebel.
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