# Sam Memmolo Shadetree Mechanic **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2026, 4:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301 "2026-09-26T04:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Old-Days-Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7feea3/32.png) [@Old-Days-Rick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Old-Days-Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 4:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/1 "2026-09-26T04:00:00Z")
So my favorite radio show was Click snd Clack. I am still very saddened by the passing of Tom. My favorite TV Show was shade tree mechanic which sprnt some time on PBS. The host Sam Memmolo has passed. I learned so much from that show, Sam and hIs cohost Dave, explained stuff in a way that made it seem easy. I miss the 90s, tuning in to Tom and Ray, then watching Sam and Dave. It all seemed so magical back then. It felt like we were living in the future, now its 30 years in the past. I also discovered newsgroups back then, my favorite haunt was alt.auto.repair, there was a guy by the name of Illya that loved the concept of the long lasting Chevy caprice. It was the future! At 2400 baud…maybe by 96 I had 14.4 I can no longer recall. Oh to relive one of those wonderful Saturdays, listening to Tom and Ray, watching Sam and Dave then going and changing a water pump. ---
**Author:** ![Old-Days-Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7feea3/32.png) [@Old-Days-Rick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Old-Days-Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/3 "2026-09-26T19:18:19Z")
> [@old\_mopar\_guy](#): > > You need a psychiatrist Interesting take on all this. I have had my head checked recently and was told there is nothing wrong with me. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, not sure why its upsetting you however I hope your day gets better! ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/4 "2026-09-26T19:22:03Z")
> [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > Nostalgia is a powerful thing Having a firm grasp on reality is also a powerful thing ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/5 "2026-09-26T19:22:47Z")
Things change in 30 years. On saturday i started with local gardener, then money show, then the brothers, then local builders show. During the week it would be bruce wiiliams. Then the networks pulled everything do its only long hair music and splended table shows. Nothing to listen to anymore. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/6 "2026-09-26T20:13:27Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Then the networks pulled everything do its only long hair music and splended table shows. Nothing to listen to anymore. I don’t particularly care what a singer and/or band looks like If I like the music, I’ll listen If I don’t like the music, I won’t listen, even if they’re supposedly the most beautiful people ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/7 "2026-09-26T20:13:39Z")
Sam and Dave’s Shadetree Mechanic was shown on TNN, not PBS. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/8 "2026-09-26T20:41:17Z")
Since you’re talking about Click and Clack, I’d guess that the other shows were on public radio too. Unfortunately, they lost a ton of funding when Congress ended it. With enough donations, they might get some of the shows back, or something like them. Maybe you could donate. I started two years ago when the federal funding was cut. My station (music) is fully funded and the more normal NPR affiliate in the same stable is fully funded too. ---
**Author:** ![Old-Days-Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7feea3/32.png) [@Old-Days-Rick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Old-Days-Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/9 "2026-09-26T20:51:59Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Sam and Dave’s Shadetree Mechanic was shown on TNN, not PBS. I believe at some point they showed older episodes on our PBS station along with Motorweek. I know it was on TNN as well. I didn’t have subscription TV back then. ---
**Author:** ![Old-Days-Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7feea3/32.png) [@Old-Days-Rick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Old-Days-Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/10 "2026-09-26T20:54:41Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > Having a firm grasp on reality is also a powerful thing I am just reminiscing about the good old days. I liked the vehicles better then, I had older family alive back then, I was young and carefree back then even if I didn’t realize it. Those shows back then just hit different as the like to say now. Where am I not having a grasp on reality? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/11 "2026-09-26T21:28:24Z")
No, both local station and npr. When i said local i meant non national npr. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/12 "2026-09-26T22:18:35Z")
> [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > Where am I not having a grasp on reality? On any subject. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/13 "2026-09-27T02:30:36Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Then the networks pulled everything do its only long hair music and splended table shows. Nothing to listen to anymore. You mean long hair music like Willie Nelson, William Lee Golden, Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt, David Allan Cole, Charlie Daniels, Billy Ray Cyrus??? Or did you mean long hair music such as Bruce Dickinson, Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio, Dave Mustaine, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, James Hetfield??? Maybe you would like short haired music much better, such as Sully Erna (Godsmack), Corey Todd Taylor (Slipknot), Phil Anselmo (Pantera), David Draiman (Disturbed), and the list goes on and on and on… So not sure what your comment meant about long hair music??? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/14 "2026-09-27T03:56:28Z")
Orchestra and piano etc. like Bach, and Betovan. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/15 "2026-09-27T15:45:24Z")
> [@bing](#): > > and Betovan From what I have read Beethoven had long hair, however I never met the man since he was a little bit before my time… 😆 _Beethoven is frequently depicted with long, wild hair, which has become a significant part of his identity as a Romantic-era composer. This distinctive hairstyle contributes to his recognizable image in portraits and sculptures._ > [@bing](#): > > Orchestra You mean like these guys??? > **[Gustavo Dudamel](https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/conductor-hair/gustavo-dudamel/)** > > Of the modern conducting pack, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is one of the few to take his hair seriously. His inspiration? Fire. And Sideshow Bob. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/16 "2026-09-29T13:10:12Z")
Long Hair Music is a term pre dating the Beatles, the term meant classical music, ie Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc. I guess I should have read the other replies explaining “long hair music” before posting​😀 We were exposed to that in grade school, a walking field trip over to the concert hall to hear the symphony orchestra. Whereas Jr&Sr high had annual trips to view professional, live theater productions of Shakespeare plays. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/17 "2026-09-29T13:46:07Z")
Dudamel directs the New York Philharmonic Orchestra now, after having the directors appointment in Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/18 "2026-10-04T18:12:01Z")
Scrolling through youtube i was surprized to see an old cut of the pulsating pilgrims. More my style. Out of south dakota and inducted into the sd rock and roll hall of fame. I knew the leader in 9th grade before he moved away, then my room mate ended up playing with them for a while. (I was mistaken about who wrote that song) I have many favorites from the 60s from the twin cities area and southern minnesota. T C Atlantic was great. As a freshman they booked the green men for a mixer. Knew them all. Yeah they had long hair and now mostly bald. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/19 "2026-10-05T13:19:49Z")
A number of bands oddly were named “Green Men”. My memory may be faulty but as I recall, the Green Men were the house band at the Sheppard AFB Airmen’s Club in 69/70. All could count on them playing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”. Back to cars, was amazed at the rust free cars in North Texas. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sam-memmolo-shadetree-mechanic/206301/20 "2026-10-05T21:39:53Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > was amazed at the rust free cars in North Texas I was on a long term assignment in Lompoc, CA in the early 1990s. My rental car was so good that I didn’t want to return it to the rental company for an oil change and lose it. I talked them into letting me have the oil changed locally and give them the bill when I returned the car. While getting the oil changed I met a man getting the oil changed in his perfect red Mustang convertible. I suggested that Central California must be a great place to buy a cherry car like that. He said no, the Pacific Coast was prone to rust. He bought his car in West Texas when he was stationed there.