The Howard Stern Signed Shirt
Hey Now, Here's the back story
This website was built to share the journey of this shirt. It started quite innocuously and kind of took on a life of its own.
I got the shirt in honor of Artie’s Movie and wore it to the the Beacon Theater show, November 6th 2009.
My nephew and I got there early and went around to Columbus Avenue, the back of the theater for a drink at one of the many bars.
As we round the corner he taps my shoulder and I hear “Hey there’s High Pitch”.
We drank a few beers with High Pitch then went inside. In the lobby we ran into Double “A” and Hook Nose Mike. All crowded in the lobby before the show, maybe me or somebody else suggested that THE Wack Packers sign the Artie Shirt. First Erik signed then Double A and then Hook Nose Mike. We went into the show and Artie killed.
When we came outside we went to the back stage door. My nephew and I saw the crowded sidewalk and hopped into the street to make our way to within 20 feet of the tail end of Artie’s Limo. When he stepped out of the stage door the crowd surged up to the barricades with programs and books for Artie to sign.
Artie stepped away from the crowd and off the curb towards his double parked limo and my nephew n’ me. Flanked by Triple B’s (Big Black Bodyguards) he walked towards the opened limo door.
I handed my jacket to my nephew and with Sharpie in hand I made my way towards the limo. I blurt out “Hey Now Artie”. The flanking guards shifted to blocking position.
I pulled at the front of the shirt. Stretching and displaying the text of The Shirt “Ed’s Bar and Swill”,
I walked towards him. A big fleshy arm reached out to block……… but Artie says “hey it’s cool, it’s OK…….,” as he reached for the Sharpie.
I bent back, he signed.
He said “great shirt......., saw the shirt”,
Who knows what I said… Ralph Kramden “humina humina humina” most likely……
Artie was actually signing the shirt!!!
Artie handed back the Sharpie, turned towards the limo door as his guards rejoined ranks. One last wave to the crowd, the door, duh-dunk, shuts and Artie's limo pulled away…..
There I am basically in the middle of the street …. Should’a been mist and all kinds of effects… but It was just me and the Sharpie. My nephew calls out, I turn, I see headlights..... I walk over to curb and let the cars pass.
Surreal….. but real.
