Larry's Sorta Fun Stories

Some journeys surprise you not with where they take you, but who you meet along the way. During our 15-day "America's Beautiful Tour," what began as a standard cross-country adventure transformed into a story of coincidence that defies all odds. The early days of our tour carried us from Florida through Atlanta to St. Louis, where we stood beneath the magnificent Gateway Arch, necks...

After an extended break, I'm back to share stories from my days running the Sugar Shack in Chillicothe, Illinois, during the early 1960s. I'm currently writing a book about my experiences called "Rock and Roll Nights: Memories of 1963 at the Sugar Shack." • The Trademarks, a band playing around Bradley University in 1964, asked me to be their manager after performing at the Sug...

Ever wondered how a spontaneous elopement on a secluded island could lead to a heartwarming road trip? Join us as Domenica and I share our journey from Denver to Bozeman, starting with the story of blending our families and meeting my son. Traveling through the scenic landscapes of Wyoming, we marvel at the hay fields, cattle, and oil derricks that define the region. Our stop in the charming town...

Ever wondered how a love story unfolds when two hearts come together in the most unexpected places? Dominica and I invite you to join us as we recount the whimsical tale of our unique island wedding and the quirky tradition we've embraced of celebrating each month of marriage as if it were a year. Our latest escapade? A leap from sunny Orlando to the grandeur of Denver to visit my son, Josh....

Can a simple drive to the airport spark a lifetime of love and unforgettable memories? Join us as we welcome my extraordinary wife, Dominica, to Larry's Sorta Fun Stories, where we share the serendipitous journey that led to our whirlwind romance. From her nostalgic 2023 trip back to her Italian hometown to the thoughtful gestures that transformed our friendship, this episode is packed with h...

I was on my way to Denver to see my son. I had decided to fly because he lives to far away to drive by myself.  Delta Flight 995: Atlanta to Denver is a three and half hour flight. I had just found Gate D10 In Atlanta after taking the underground train from Gate A31. I looked at my printed boarding pass and it said First Class 1C.  This didn’t seem like the seat number I had booked in Comfort Plus...

Here I was traveling again. I’m not on an exotic cruise or an adventure in Antarctica, no I was on another road trip to my home town of Chillicothe, Illinois. I was averaging thirty five miles per gallon and thirty semi-trucks per mile. Chillicothe is a small town just outside of Peoria, Illinois on the Illinois River. It has two railroad lines. One is the old Rocket Island Line with a spur-track...

So, I have lived in the Clermont, Florida area since 1998.    (I know I live in Trilogy or is it Cascades of Groveland, but I still say I live in Clermont.  Old habits never die.) But before that I lived in Melbourne, Florida for two years and I worked in Cocoa, Florida from 1982 – 1984.  Then my wife Meg, my son Josh and I moved to the Chicago area for fourteen years awaiting my final call to com...

Rose Secretan completes her story about being an entertainer in Buffalo, NY. Doc was the owner of the venue and a close friend.  Check out Zee Michaelson Travel to make your travel dreams come true. And for 24/7 music and entertainment, it's Collage Travel Radio . Support the show

Thanks for sharing with me, this year and I will have more fun stories next year. Check out Larry's Sorta Fun Stories for more episodes. And Great music on Collage Travel Radio .   You can now hear Collage Travel Radio on Alexa and Goggle Play.   Support the show

Robert Stuber came into the studio and shared a Christmas Story about harvesting a Christmas tree with a tradition that stared in 1982.  You might be a redneck if ... enjoy. Support the show

Larry reminisces about getting his hair cut my his barber in his small town that he grew up in.  Chillicothe, Illinois.   Support the show

Rose has another story to tell about her days singing in clubs around the Niagara Falls area in the early eighties.  She is writing a book and with each chapter she includes a recipe.  This story has a recipe from DeCamillo's Bakery . Rustic Pizza  DiCamillo’s Bakery  2 lb. Italian bread dough  2 12 oz. jars roasted sweet peppers  3 8oz. Packages frozen Spinach  1 can pitted black olives drai...

I’m 14 years old and it’s Saturday just about noon time and my dad’s car needed washing.  Of course, the reason I wanted to wash the car was because I could turn the car radio on and listen as I was washing the car. It wasn’t the music I wanted to hear.  It was Paul Harvey , News and Commentary at noon time. My mind was focusing on being behind the microphone and communicating the day’s events tha...

Chillicothe, Illinois .  2:16 AM – Tuesday Morning 1962    I was sleeping in my bed in the back bedroom and heard the sound of wooden front door open. It was so quiet at that time at night. You knew when the door opened and when it closed. It had that certain memorable sound.  It was my father dragging in . . . sneaking in from his Monday night rehearsal with the Orpheus Club in Peoria .  The Orph...

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It all started last Christmas when my sister came to visit for the holiday. My sister is an avid reader.  Every time she comes to visit, she will bring several books with her to read.  Last Christmas she brought a couple of John Grisham’s books.  And I got hooked when she introduced me to Ford County. It was his first book of short stories.   In the 1990s, I had read most of his earlier books, but...

Larry received a letter well over 16 years ago and he read it to music.  He didn't even remember recording it.  A friend of a friend sent to him the other day and thought you would enjoy hearing it as well.  It's about the small town in Illinois that Larry grew up in.  Chillicothe, Illinois. Just a little note, this podcast is sponsored by Collage Travel Radio dot com.  Travel insights a...

Since this is Larry’s Sorta Fun Stories I like to share with you some of what happened in my life and today I am going to introduce to you an old friend from my younger days.  Gene Grover wrote a book called Growing UP in a Small Town in Illinoi s.  I did an interview with Gene several years ago for Zmax Radio … let’s join this interview.  Chillicothe, Illinois.  Now I want to interject here, that...

A friend of mine actually heard one of the earlier episodes of Larry’s Sorta Fun Stories and she contacted me.  It’s Dorothea (Johnson) Jensen Dorothea Jensen is proud to be one of a very few people who has boarded a pirate ship and attacked a dragon-powered Viking vessel manned by real, horn-wearing Vikings.  She is also the author terrific books about the American Revolution.   Dorothea was born...

I had just started working at WMBD-TV in Peoria as a part-time Floor Director in early 1965. I was scheduled Sunday night, but I couldn’t stay away from the station weekdays as well.  Television production had got into my blood. I was hanging out at the station and skipping Dr. Smyth’s English 102 class in the afternoons at Bradley University. Thus, I still don’t know ‘to’ from t o o.  After gradu...

The other day I needed to get new razor. I’m not sure about you but I can usually get a razor blade to last about thirty-five days or longer.  Not really counting but knowing that I don’t purchase a new razor every time I go to the store. I was shocked at the cost when I went through the checkout line. Shaving for me started when I would sit in the bathroom on the stool next to the sink patiently...

Rose came back for a second episode to share more personally about her family and what the owner of Mother's the nightclub meant to the family. Part one of the First 50 Years of Mother's concludes on what transformed the club.  Rose took a "hiatus" from the club.    However...once again….things would change a few months later in July… Tune in for Act Two of “Mother’s-the First...

When I was younger, I had an establishment called the Sugar Shack in Chillicothe, Illinois and I hired young bands.   And I love hearing the stories of talented friends.  Rose brought her guitar with her to the studio and shared about being you performer at Mother's in Lockport, New York when she was younger.  “Mother’s” was furnished with antiques. An eclectic collection of charming décor to...

Last week’s episode was a story of how I got to Lincoln, Nebraska and one of my directing assignments was directing Cartoon Corral and Diane Simard was on the Cartoon Corral when she was celebrating her 5th birthday and I was directing the program. I wanted to share with you more about my interaction with Kalamity Kate.   For me, the Cartoon Corral was an interruption in the production schedule of...