Only in St. Louis!: The Most Incredible, Strange and Inspiring Tales

by Charlie Brennan

In Only in St. Louis! , Charlie Brennan shares the most incredible, strange and inspiring stories he has come across in his three decades talking about the Gateway City. Readers will Chamberlain was traded in a St. Louis restaurant.Jesus Christ Superstar was first staged in St. Louis, not New York.A St. Louis Cardinal pitcher beat Randy Johnson while drinking vodka.A St. Louis mayor was buried three times.Supreme Court Justices laughed aloud while hearing a St. Louis case.A St. Louis woman woke up when she heard an intruder…who turned out to be a national celebrity.Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s worst moment on stage was in St. Louis.A St. Louis man found $1,200 in his ceiling.J.S. Bach’s personal bibles are in St. Louis.A St. Louis high school name is actually misspelled.Why Kurt Warner listed his name and address in the phone book.The Air Force’s biggest weapon is made in St. louis.John Lennon’s song “Imagine” has a St. Louis connection.The NFL’s “lowest blow” has ties to St. Louis.Twinkies were named in St. Louis.A lost wallet led to one of the best-selling songs of the 1960s. The woman who injected John Belushi with a fatal dose hid in St. Louis.A St. Louis man swam 292 miles of the Mississippi River without stopping.Why General William Tecumseh Sharman could defeat the south but not City Hall.The only company to prepare cocaine for medicinal use is in St. Louis.A St. Louis barista became a billionaire.A man was attacked by a shark in downtown St. Louis.A St. Louis man played basketball for St. Louis Community College, football for Yale and is now a top national journalist.Brennan, host of “The Charlie Brennan Show” on KMOX and provocateur of “Donnybrook” on KETC-TV, curates these and other stories for the first time in one volume.

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2020

Reviews

[Peter Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorable celebrities and ordinary St. Louisans shine in Charlie Brennan’s first-rate collection

On Black Friday 2021, as I was walking from my monthly architects’ lunch to my car, I encountered a street vendor in front of the recently reopened Webster Groves bookshop at 27 N. Gore.

“Well, hi Charlie Brennan!” I recognized the St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame honoree tending a stack of handsome paperbacks bearing his photo beneath the St. Louis Arch on its cover. I grabbed one and was conducted by owner Cheryl Bartnett’s husband Neil to an inside cash register, where I completed the purchase and returned outside for Charlie’s autograph and further conversation.

I had met Charlie on August 6, 2005, the publication date of Dad’s War with the United States Marines, the first of my seven published books. I recall shocking him during my 15 minutes of radio fame with the fact that during World War II, housewives saved cooking fat and turned it over to the local butcher for use in making munitions. Typical of Charlie’s big-hearted personality, on this 60th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, the day’s program on KMOX was being broadcast from a downtown hotel, where he was raising money to send telephone cards to GIs in the Iraq war.

Charlie Brennan has a page turner on his hands: I read the book over Thanksgiving weekend. The immaculately researched and well written story, Only in St. Louis: The Most Incredible, Strange and Inspiring Tales, bristles with Charlie’s humorous and insightful take on local and national celebrities with origins or ties in St. Louis. Moreover, charming sketches by his daughter Linley and 230 footnotes by his son Charles D Brennan, both university students, add charm and authenticity to this handsome volume. I’m proud to own an autographed copy of the first edition.
—Peter H. Green, Author of Becoming an Architect: My Voyage of Discovery

[C. Patrick G. Erker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully fun book packed with factoids and stories from St Louis’ past and present.

Best suited for those with strong St Louis connections or interest, as there are a lot of names and places that won’t mean much to a casual reader.

My mom got me a copy for Christmas and I sped through it. Good stuff, Mr Brennan!

[Ethan West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have lived around the St. Louis area for the majority of my life and I didn't know about most of these stories. It is such a historical city that offers so much for everyone. I especially love the world class art museum and zoo in Forest Park that are absolutely free to the public.

[Bill Seubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. I always loved listening to Charlie’s radio show on KMOX, and his writing is equally entertaining. I learned a ton about people and places in St Louis, even after spending most of my life living in the metro area.

[Joann]

Lots of fun tidbits & stories .
Enjoyable lunch time read.

[Ellie Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and quick read, all tidbits about St. Louis and its history. Good little coffee table book.

[Path731 · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun little tidbits about stories of people with STL connections

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read, especially for those of us who love St Louis and enjoy reading facts and unknowns about St Louis. Tom Cruise lived in Creve Coeur, Mother Teresa visited St Luke’s patient, the National Christmas Tree Association is located in Chesterfield!