Before John Erling and his predecessor, Watson Jelks, KRMG started our day in Tulsa with a pleasant and creative personality, our old chum, Chuck Adams.
...The morning person was a gentleman named Adams, I think, he was very upbeat and had a good sense of humor about everything.
I have spent the past three hours scanning through your guestbooks, and a couple of related websites and have enjoyed every minute of it. Tulsa Radio (and TV) in my era was truly a hoot! It's good to see the names and faces of so many talented people that I either worked with or knew... And of course, saddened to hear about those no longer with us. My time at KRMG (1964-1971) was so special. I consider it an honor to have been a part of such a great radio station in its early days. The stories I could tell about my Tulsa media friends...Ken Greenwood, Ron Blue, Johnny Martin, Vic Bastian, Bob Parkhurst, Freddie Campbell, Troy Gordon, Chuck Wheat, Jack Morris, Clayton Vaughn, Jerry Vaughn, Scooter Segraves, Dick Schmitz, Jim Wheaton... and many others who I've temporarly forgot... Thank you for your site, which has brought back some wonderful memories.
Sincerely,
I loved Chuck Adams on KRMG. He was clever and personable, no whining or agendas to promote, just fun and entertaining.
I got started listening to Tulsa radio in the 5th-6th grade (I think I got to do both of them twice at Lindbergh Elementary), listening to Chuck Adams sing the school lunch menu. (And, "Dan Baxter, KRMG News on the Move.")
During the mid-sixties, KRMG sponsored a treasure hunt where listeners followed clues to locate a hidden chest of cash. My mother, an avid KRMG and Chuck Adams fan, got caught up in the hunt. One of the clues led the family (with Dad driving) to an industrial park somewhere around the old Sinclair and Telex buildings near 41st and Sheridan. Dad got the bright idea of taking a shortcut by driving the family car along railroad tracks that led through the area. Needless to say, the car jumped the track and became stuck. So, there was our family, in the middle of the night; car stuck, Dad angry, Mom scared, and me crying just because of a radio contest. Memories of Tulsa...can you beat 'em?
Started and ended each day with KRMG (Chuck in the AM and Johnny in the PM), the one station that had everything you could want or need. I remember KRMG doing a Batman parody, like an old radio serial, sometime in the 1960s when the TV show was popular, they ran it in the morning. It was very silly and the players included Chuck Adams and, I think, everyone's favorite weatherman Lee W. It would be neat to hear that again.
The KRMG music format was a concept of our General Manager Ken Greenwood. It was by listening to "jukebox" selections at places frequented by our target audience that created the KRMG sound. Additionally our personalities were encouraged to be involved in the community, not talk down to the listener, and have fun.
Chuck created a series of episodes, each featuring a villain patterned after a local figure (usually a politician) or event going on in the Tulsa area. (Anyone remember who the "Snap Dragon Lady" was?) Once a week an episode was recorded at the "Stately Studios" of KRMG, then located at 3rd and Denver (here is a 1953 view of KRMG in the Akdar Shrine building at that address). The cast consisted of most of the KRMG staff along with an invited guest, who played the villain. Each episode was edited and cut into five minute (or so) segments, and aired twice daily the following week. The recording sessions of Dratman were usually quite lengthy, with a lot of ad-libbing and funny stuff. Some of the funny stuff was a little TOO humorous for the tender ears of our audience and of course never made the air. After all, this was during the middle sixties and unlike today four-letter words were pretty much forbidden. Initally, none of us at KRMG (except Ken) knew what we had with Dratman. We envisioned that our volatile audience would dial away, never to return. As it turned out, the listener reaction was fantastic. It's a little surprising to me, that nearly 40 years later Dratman is still remembered. But that's what KRMG was about. While our format was considered musically "middle-of-the-road", it was more than music that made the station popular. It was the personality of the station. Listeners knew what to expect, which was the unexpected.
I'm pretty sure the Dragon Lady was Christina from the "Christina's Flower Shop" fame. She was a funny old gal who did her own spots on KRMG. When she died the place turned into an audio recording studio for a short time. Oh yeah, I believe it was on 10th or 11th & between Main & Denver.
After seeing Chuck Adams' comments I started fondly remembering those years in Tulsa. At KCNW we were honored to have some great air talents: Chuck Adams was our Program Director, Sam Stewart was a member of our news department along with Don Stubbs, Kitty Roberts, Terry Stafford and Mark Boyce. On the program side included Dave Boyd, Gary Chew, Dave Jones, Sid Wood, Michael (White) Day, Howard Lane, Charlie Derek and me.
I was going through a bored period at KRMG and signed on with the news team at KVOO-TV (soon to become KTEW) headed up by Jack Morris as anchor, Ron Franklin as our sports guy and I had the weather slot. It seemed a great move at the time, especially when management assured me this would be a great place to develop my sparkling personality (as I had in radio). It didn't quite work out that way, as I soon tired of my few minutes in the Six and Ten PM news blocks and doing the breaks in the Perry Mason reruns from 10:30-11:00. Program management cut the weather from its scheduled five or so minutes to no more than a minute or so. Upset by the limitations placed on me, I was pretty vocal about it. I remember Jack Morris discussing the situation with me, and telling me not to worry because as long as he was there I had a job. It wasn't too long after that that I was back in radio! Don't misunderstand, Jack and I remained good friends. But for anyone who is as naive as I was, if you hear "as long as I'm here", et cetera...better get your resume updated!
Not only did Chuck Adams do weather for KVOO-TV, but a few years later he hosted a movie show (along with Mother Adams) on KOTV. I was impressed too, that Chuck ran for a Tulsa City office.
Chuck Adams also did a Saturday afternoon bad movie show on KTUL for a while with comedy bits sandwiched in between. Always remember him citing news from "the Daily Glom" when he noted something in the paper on air.
Thanks to Si Hawk for reminding me of some past adventures. After a couple of years she went on TV doing commercials. Doenges Brothers Ford, Froug's and Farmers and Merchants Bank come to mind. The television crew and I always had a lot of fun doing Mother Adams. Mother took on a personality of her own by cracking off color remarks, off camera of course, which was out of character for her son. Mother started on KVOO-TV with the commercials, then got her spot to shine on KOTV.
I grew up in Tulsa a few decades ago and can still monitor things well enough from NW Ark. Does anyone know or recall things about the following? -- Chuck Adams' feud of sorts with Mayor James Hewgley on the KRMG morning show. He liked to take relatively gentle gigs at the mayor, prompting Hewgley to say something to one of the newspapers about putting up with "a smart-aleck disc jockey."
How absolutely delightful to read the words of Chuck Adams. KRMG was indeed this bigger-than-life institution in Tulsa, and Chuck's morning show was the way to start your day. I can now admit to being better off for all that forced listening to KRMG, the only station allowed to play in mother's kitchen and in the both cars. There was something unique and special about KRMG back then because the DJs seemed more like friends who cared about their listeners and about Tulsa. Well, guess my Tulsa pride is showing.
On radio, yeah, I loved the rock guys (the KELi's, Scooter, etc.) and U-Need-um, but how about Chuck Adams? No offense, Erling, but really hated to see that guy go. He was great!
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Now, about "Dratman"... This was of course a parody of the popular
TV series "Batman", and was another brainchild of Ken Greenwood. Ken
employed the writing talent of Chuck Wheat, who many may remember
wrote a daily column in the Tulsa Morning "Glom".
(from Guestbook 149) Si Hawk said:
Having not checked out TTM for awhile, I
was perusing through Guestbook 151 and came across some stuff about Channel
2's numerous weather people. Wonder if anyone remembers that I was one of
the many for a brief spell?
(from Guestbook 154)
Si Hawk said:
