Robert Bryan

These stories about plain people sympathetically caricatured are universally enjoyed, although they just wouldn't work as well set anywhere else than in Maine. The unmistakable Down East Maine accent enhances the stories on the companion CDs and audiocassettes, while the book contains Mark Andres's wonderful pencil sketches.

Most of the stories in this book took place in Missouri when it was, spiritually, a very dark place. It was run by superstitions, fear and ignorance. Demonology and witchcraft were rampant at that time and many worlds were crashing together. The weird, the supernatural, and the darkness seemed to be fighting for dominance.Growing up in this environment presented many challenges, especially for a young boy who was homeless at the age of 13. The stories that "Papa" told to his children, and later his grandchildren, were exciting and riveting. Some were very, very dark and disturbing. Some were full of "Hillbilly" humor, but others were absolutely terrifying. Finally "Papa" gave in to the Holy Spirit's urging and committed the stories to paper. Sometimes that was more traumatic than actually living the event itself, but it was necessary for his own healing and restoration

Since his boyhood days watching test pilots roar through the sky over his Long Island, NY, home, Robert Bryan was fascinated with flight. Add to that his love of a good story and his vocation as an Episcopal priest and you have the three great themes of his life. After his graduation from Yale Divinity School—where he met Marshall Dodge and the two created the immensely popular storytelling duo “Bert and I”—Bryan became a minister to the remote settlements of Quebec’s North Shore. In the mid-20th century, the best way to reach parishioners was by bush plane, so Robert rose to the task. He went on to spend 50 years as a bush pilot and minister, logging more than 12,000 hours at the controls. This endearing memoir traces his life and adventures during that time and weaves in his experiences performing and recording with Dodge.

Marshall Dodge and Bob Bryan began swapping funny Down East stories when they were students at Yale in the 1950s. Their fascination and appreciation for Maine and its people triggered the production of several “Bert and I” records, from which 14 stories were selected for the first edition of this book. Now, eleven more have been added for this expanded second edition. Dodge and Bryan were groundbreaking in their appreciation of the oral tradition and paved the way for contemporary storytelling icons like Garrison Keillor, Tim Sample, and Tom Bodett.

Collects many of the classic Down East stories told by Bert and I, as performed by Marshall Dodge and Robert Bryan, in print. Dodge recorded five humor albums as Bert and I or as himself and starred in a regional television show that aired on public television in the early 1970s.

"The Best of Bert and I: Celebrating 50 Years of Stories From Down East" CD features the best routines selected from the four original "Bert and I" CDs, plus stories taken from "Bert and I on Stage" and "The Down East Smile-In" television show featuring Marshall Dodge. All tracks on this commemorative CD have been digitally remastered for clarity. These thirty-four stories wonderfully capture the ground breaking, iconic brilliance of Dodge and Bryan, and include: "Bert and I", "Which Way to Millinocket?", "Set 'er Again", "Gagnon", and "No News".