RIDESHY? What memories! As Jr. High teens, we used to call their number and listen to their recorded message. (Over and over and over). Never will forget during the Iran Hostage Crisis in the '70's their tape claimed they were "Boycotting Iranians." I really think cash was the only passport they required.

Every once in awhile when they got busted the local TV reporters would do the report feigning shock and amazement that such a business would exist in the area....

Hugh, if you ever availed yourself of RIDESHY's services, I hope you gave a phony name. They might have tacked on a sir-charge otherwise.

I left KOTV in 1974, so I did not know Mr. Shore. Please clarify, I thought Don Woods of KTUL-TV was a meteorologist.

If any of you foodaholics are interested, Yuma has a Sonic Drive-in, opened last Thanksgiving.

Yes, according to Ma Barker (see the Weather page), Don was a credentialed meteorologist even back in the 50s, as was Harry Volkman. But Gary Shore's success with calling snow in the face of the National Weather Service's contrary prediction made academic credentials seem an imperative to management. I suspect too that in the corporate climate of the day, the prevailing winds were beginning to shift in that direction anyway.

Tonight's the night! (Friday, August 24). CBS and the Museum of Broadcasting combine for a two-hour special on "Breaking the News," 7-9 p.m., Central daylight, advertised as chronicling how the news "business" has changed in 40 (?) years.

For the benefit of our out-of-towners, the three news-gathering stations did a competent job Wednesday night when a spectacular fire broke out on the twelfth story of a St. John Hospital construction project. Three helicopters flew by and over the leaping flames (glad they were piloted by people who knew what they were doing), while newspeople below assured the public that no St. John patients or staff members were in danger. Quite a contrast from the early l950s when engineers dragged a camera to KOTV's roof to show the burning Coliseum a few blocks away! But then, you can do a lot with money if you have it.

Also, A&E Biography profiles Norman, Oklahoma, actor James (Bum)garner at 7 & 11, and OETA replays a Roy Clark special from Branson at 9, I think, including at least one classical number. Good listening, all.

I saw the Cardinals play the Oilers in Skelly Stadium. The teams had to use a different outfield setup because of the short right field. Because of the old Tulsa connection, I still favor the Cards, even over the Rangers and Yanks (two other favorites).

I used to wonder why local TV doesn't broadcast local sports. It is obvious to me now, but on the rare occassions that they have done so, I feel like they did a good job.

I'll be at the Ballpark in Arlington when the gates open at 4pm Friday.

What game am I going to? I can't make the game, but I bought a $5 upper deck ticket just so I can go when the gates open and get my Pudge Rodriguez bobble-head doll. I already got Nolan Ryan.

I hope I don't end up like those beany baby people.

For any Hammond Organ fans out there.

1. Singin' and Swingin', Joey DeFrancesco. This is Frank Sinatra music, recorded at the Capitol Records Studio. It's the first CD I've ever heard that sounds like vinyl. Excellent arrangements, lotsa horns, don't go without it. www.JoeyDeFrancesco.com

2. Oh, I may have mentioned this before, but there is a pretty good funk band up in Omaha, name of the 9's. They just released their 2nd CD. The first one was kinda a Prince/Steely Dan kinda thing, and it was good, but this one shows much more of what they actually do in concert. Much more of what they really are. I've been yellin' all over the internet how cool these guys are, but I'm in friggin Fl, so if anyone in the Middle Midwest is interested in bookings, go to http://www.the9s.com. Dey be good.

3. Tony Monaco. An Amazing Jazz Organ talent. Also a swell guy.

http://b3monaco.com

Hokay next and last. Jimmy Smith has given us a lot. The fact that he thought more was deserved is somebody else's problem.

In any case, "Dot Com Blues" has so many tasty toons, and so many famous players, that ignoring it would be silly.

Maybe we needs a separate venue for music revues?

pda

Jax Fl

I'm no stranger to the talent of Mr. DeFrancesco, since I own several of his CD's, including the one with Jimmy Smith. The 9's have that Steely Dan thing as you said, and your Tony Monaco knocked me out to the extent that I just ordered his CD.

Oops, this isn't very related to Tulsa/broadcast media, is it? Well, it is good music. I'm not sure TTM can handle much more spread of its focus...perhaps you or another reader could start a music site as you suggest?

When a newbie at TU in '69 - KVOO carried the Cards games and we had so many St. Louis escapees in the dorm at TU - you could hear the Cards games off radios from room-to-room in some hallways. *LOYAL* fans!

I guess most of our communicants are a bit young to remember Gordon ("The Old Scotsman") McLendon's short-lived Liberty Broadcasting System (out of KLIF Dallas) with wire recreations of the majors' games every afternoon and, of course "great games of the past" when all the majors were under the lights that day. He got off a lot of deadpan quips such as references to the "Athletic" supporters in the stands.

I also remember that Harry Caray's pronunciation of Joe Garagiola's name on St. Louis Cardinals' broadcasts changed when Joe joined him as color man following the departure of "Gabby" Street. (It was Ga-RAH-zhe-ola at first, then GAR-a-GEE-ola from then on).

I recently read that back in the 40s or 50s, McLendon bought up a lot of land on the outskirts of the DFW area, and put up drive-in theaters. When the city finally sprawled out that far, McLendon made a killing on the land...which was his plan from the beginning.

Jim Ruddle told a story about McLendon's wire recreation of a ball game at the bottom of The Sports Page.

Up to a few years ago, KWPR in Claremore carried the Cardinals games in the afternoon. I've never been a huge sports fan, but I always enjoyed hearing the games on the radio while I was at work. It made the work day seem a lot easier to deal with.

Was at the doc's office yesterday, reading a month-old Sports Illustrated when I came across an article on why radio was _the_ medium for baseball.

Obviously, Harry Carey doing the Cards on KMOX for DX gasoline among others came immediately to mind.

KMOX was such a blowtorch that I remember getting it in a car at high noon as far away as Joplin. And at night in T-Town, even with summer storms, you could probably get it on your dental work.

Remember Mr. T's 36th Peoria

Lancers, Rajah 1960.....Edison High

Tulsa has always been a Cardinal town. When I was a kid, I used to go to Oilers games with my grandfather. Warren Spahn was the Tulsa manager at the time and they were the AAA affiliate of St. Louis.

Being a huge Texas Rangers fan, I expected in the last few years to be able to find Rangers games on TV in Tulsa when I was there, but all they had was the Tulsa Cable pickup of the Cardinals network.

The word around here is that Tulsa will lose its affiliation with the Rangers soon as the team owner is building a sports complex north of Dallas and wants his AA team to play there.

When Tulsa first got cable, we had KBMA, channel 41 from KC and they had the Royals games. A few years later, Scripps-Howard bought the station and changed the call letters to KSHB.

Fox paid the Rangers megabucks last year for 10 years of rights. At my station, we have the Dallas Fox affiliate, a UHF independent and the local Fox Sports Net affiliate, so we have all the games that don't go to ESPN.

Major League Baseball - any broadcasters carry it in Tulsa? I mean outside of network telecasts?

At one time 8 carried the Cardinals, because I can remember sitting on station breaks in the early '70's before all of the networks carried "Games of the Week". 8 had a lot of transplanted KC/St.Louis expats too. There was some controversy in the '70's about stations retransmitting KC games - maybe on the first KC TV outlet semi-attempt at a super-station, but I can't remember why. I think they were a UHF station that Scripps Howard later bought.

Cox Cable 15-16 years ago in OKC carried the OKC AAA team home stands a lot and it was enjoyable to watch. Way way back when wasn't Tulsa Cable supposed to have carried the Drillers/Oilers - whatever they were then?

Sadly baseball on TV may be more pay per view now or cable-only. I am doing a 4 day feed in Sept. to Australia with West Coast games and have a bodacious MLB list of all games, all transponders on satellites - 95% of all games are scrambled now, too. 20 of the 32 regional game carriers are Fox regional Cable divisions.

I don't believe any of this information is posted on the site and thought you might be interested in knowing some specific details.

Both of the songs made famous by "Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival And Camp Meeting" are available on CD.

"Why Can't This Night Go On Forever" is on
Isham Jones Plays His Own Compositions
Swing Time Productions 2011

Swing Time Productions
24 Fieldstone Drive
Hollis, NH 03049-6564

"Alone In The Rain" is on
The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks
Everything Is Hotsy-Totsy Now
Living Era CD AJA 5199
1996

"Alone In The Rain" is also available on at least one other CD. I saw it when I purchased the above CD, but did not notate the title. However, I believe it was a best of collection with quite a few CDs comprising the collection, which were sold separately.

Also on vinyl:

The Great Isham Jones And His Orchestra
16 Recordings By One Of The Few Truly Outstanding Dance Orchestras Of The Big Band Epoch
RCA Victor LPV-504

I also have quite a few production albums and went through them hoping to locate "Chase Music" but I don't have it. I'm wondering if there is anyone from KOTV who would have a keen enough memory to recall the title of the production album "Chase Music" was on, or any other useful information that would result in my being able to track it down.

I'm well established at collecting music and if I could just get a bit of concrete info, I might be able to find a copy of that album.

Nice addition to our Mazeppa lore. Stevo also has some comments on the new Rocky Stegman page.

Don Norton jogged my mem banks about a notorious place from the early years. A club named "Pierre's", I believe it was, on South Harvard (3301 S Harvard). They were notorious for having a fast pencil on the check. I remember one night when I had bought about three drinks and the tab showed about ten.

Anyway, they had live entertainment and the owner asked me one night if I would have these comedians that were playing there on TV? I said yes (free drinks). I think I had them on during a break on an afternoon movie (sometimes lasting ten to fifeen minutes). They were delightful and just getting started in the biz. They were Rowan & Martin.

9/25/2006: Give me a few years, and I sometimes come up with an illustration...webmaster

Since our broadcasting web site has been emphasizing food lately, I'll combine the two with a Cy Tuma story that I remember only imperfectly; perhaps Jim Ruddle can supply more information.

While Cy was still on his "first tour" with KOTV news, he made some sort of deal with a local restauranteur and ads began appearing in the paper for this eating place with a picture of Cy and the notation, "Cy Tuma, your host." Naturally, the Corinthian management didn't like it, but the thing that spoiled the whole deal is that Cy started getting on-duty calls in the evening from listeners complaining about the restaurant--the food, the service, or whatever. I've tried to remember the name of the restaurant, but so far I haven't and I'm reluctant to delve back in the old newspaper files--the library has "retired" its readers for microfilm in favor of the ones that do everything including print from microfilm. Maybe some fan out there from the 1950s era can help.

Joy Cooper asked: "Counterculturally speaking, does anyone remember the Head shop very close to Nathan Hale high in the late 60's early 70's?"

You mean Oz and The Emerald City? Both were headshops and owned by the same folks if I am remembering correctly. Not that I ever went there every weekend or anything. Not me. And all I ever bought was incense. No, really.

Welcome back, Deb!

Mike

What is the official anniversary date for this site?

TTM debuted on December 29, 1998, and really got rolling by March, 1999. You can toast this occasion along with the New Year.

The main subject cluster for this site is Tulsa TV/radio/pop culture of the past. Examples: Oiler baseball, restaurants, the Tulsa State Fair, movies shot in Tulsa, movie theaters, haunted houses, RIDESHY, "head" shops, night clubs, music, amusement parks, etc.

Occasionally, there have been sallies into personal opinion about politics or religion. This tends to evoke strong and bitter response. There are many, more appropriate forums for such commentary. Such posts are subject to immediate removal. However, you will find mentions of radio/TV preachers and politicians. That is fine; such comments can be germane.

Speaking of "germane", Guestbook comments are often that only tangentially...which is also fine. Discussions of Griesedieck beer, Black Draught, Dizzy Dean, etc., have sometimes led to a new angle, or were just interesting in themselves.

About editing: I fix spelling and punctuation for readability as needed. When archiving a Guestbook, I may trim lengthy discourses on unrelated subjects (admittedly, a subjective judgment). I edit carefully and sparingly.

Material cut-and-pasted from other sources can be pertinent, but it doesn't take much of it to weary the reader. If the quote is not relatively brief, a URL is better, since the reader can then pursue the topic according to his or her interest. I can convert the URL into a link for you.

I once edited out a clearly hurtful (and potentially libelous) comment about someone sleeping with someone else's wife. There have been pointed criticisms of people who later discovered these comments on the site via Google and wrote to me in distress. After a couple rounds of that, I began to regard remarks in that vein as less than sacrosanct.

Needless to say, flaming isn't welcomed.

12/15/2005: Tulsa TV Memories will celebrate its 7th birthday in a couple of weeks. I'm surprised at how infrequently there have been problems with anything other than spam. Thank you for that, and for your participation, which has sustained this site over the years.

Growing up in Tulsa, I got into my fare share of trouble and was not always on the right path. Particularly, in junior high school I was constantly getting into trouble and getting kicked out of school.

It wasn't that I was a juvenile delinquent! I was a reasonably intelligent kid, but I was also an artist and I had no outlet to explore or nurture my innate talent. It was more from being bored to death from the normal school curriculum, that I ended up acting out and getting into trouble.

This was all soon to change, when Tulsa became the first city in this country to initiate a voluntary integration program at the high school level. The school was Booker T. Washington Senior High School!

In the spring of 1973, when I was a Freshman at Byrd Junior High School, representatives from the Tulsa Board of Education went on a campaign to get white students to volunteer for this new and controversial program!

I was one of the first students to volunteer, with promises of a unique educational experience and that Washington was going to receive the best of everything. They even recruited the best teachers in the city to go and teach there.

This was a pivotal point in my life, for had I not gone to Washington, I may not have even graduated from high school, let alone gone on to get two college degrees.

YES! Attending Booker T. Washington was one of the best decisions I even made in my life!!

The greatest thing that happened the first year was the school built a video studio and they got Rocky Stegman and Dino Economos to teach the class. They both had a monumental effect on me and changed the course of my life forever. They planted a seed within me that is still growing strong today!.

The primary reason attending Washington was such a great experience was the faculty and students were there because they chose to be!

A heartfelt "ATTA BOY" to Don Norton.

Hey, now, wait a minute, Don! If I hadn't fueled up on a few Jim the Greek Coneys, I never would have had the strength to look up all the great websites on Ms. J. Jones. Anyhow, thanks for mentioning the A&E program. I really enjoyed finding out more about her.

A note on the Phylis Isley/Jennifer Jones A & E produced Biography Saturday: Edward Dumit called me last night to mention that Ben Henneke told him once he had directed Phylis Isley and Bob Walker in a radio play. Probably that was in the KOME period, circa 1939.

Or are we too fixated on food to care?

(Crunch, crunch, gulp!) Whadjasay? (mmpf, mmpf, glumpf!)

Growing up in Tulsa has added greatly in my growth as a person and actor. I loved watching Mazeppa and attending Booker T. Washington HS.

Signed,
Riley G
Actor - Stuntman
www.RileyG.com

Has anyone seen or heard from Dino Economos? We were classmates at TU and later worked at KRAV and KOTV together. The last I heard he was doing voice over work with Dick Schmitz, Irving Productions. Would appreciate any info. Thanks.

Jenks' and TTM's Robert Stemmons "The Whistler" has the featured letter in Dear Abby's column today! Here is his web site: www.thewhistler.com. An international whistling event, Puckerama 2001, will be held here in Tulsa, October 18-21.

Yes, Schlotzky's has blessed my area with a single location as well, but I'm thankful for it just the same. I've also eaten at that sole-surviving Ike's during my last several visits, and it is indeed as good as ever.

Dropped by Ike's on the way to the airport this past Wednesday. The downtown location's long gone, but the one on Admiral between Yale and Sheridan is still going strong, at least for lunch.

It was definitely a 3-Way Day. Only saw one bowl of chili in the whole house, which was packed at 11:45 in the A.M.

The chili hasn't changed a bit...

Ike's Chili House was established in 1908, according to the menu (prices may not be current). Ike's is sounding pretty good right about now...

As Paul Harvey would say, This...is Saturday.

I had a quick and brief visit to Tulsa a couple of weeks ago, I got in late, but in time for the 10 o'clock news, and thanks to the miracles of Ch. 53 and PAX, was able to watch all three back to back.

I don't think they have as much fun today as we did twenty-leven years ago, though when I had the chance to drive by 302 S. Frankfort, I was floored to see 4 or 5 live trucks out in the parking lot. What do they use 'em all on?

It was interesting to see how little the parts of T-town that were in my orbit have changed. OTOH, the view on cresting the hill on Sheridan after 61st is considerably different than I remembered!

The first house we bought, off 51st between Memorial and Mingo is still standing and the neighborhood looks resonably good. $32,500 for that 3-bedroom in 1977, with a monthly mortgage of $194 (though monthly take-home was maybe $500--they weren't all good old days).

Saw the boarded up Mayo was thought sadly of the Tulsa Press Club there and the less-than-glorious grub and drink, and does memory play tricks, or was the Coney Island in the building that now houses Orpha's and not the old Downtowner motor inn? Nelson's looks better than it did in recollection, and a ride out east on 66 led me to the Coney I-lander mentioned a few entries down, just up from Pie Land U.S.A.

Blew the diet and had a couple of chili-cheeses for auld lang syne. As I chowed down, the ladies behind the counter probably looked at me quiZZically as I mouthed "6 locations in Greater Tulsa, NONE in lesser Tulsa."

A Prilosec later, I was airborne.

Coney Island (started by Christ Economou in 1926 as "Coney Island 5-Cent Weiners") was indeed located next to Orpha's Lounge from 1946 until it crossed the street in 1995, providing a good view of the shenanigans going on at Orpha's.

The Coney I-Landers were sold to other members of the Economou family around 1975 when a brief stab at out-of-state franchising didn't work out.

The Tulsa World carried a detailed article about Coney Island yesterday.

Check out photos taken by Mike Bruchas of Coney Island in the Photo briefcase.

Combat! Grew up watching the show. My Dad loved it but as a Pacific vet always felt THEY were never shown accurately on tv.

Last night I saw the pilot to the show now episode #1 - set in England as the boys get ready for D-Day.

Never knew it existed. Seems more Bill Mauldin-like than the show became. Harry Dean Stanton (young and near blonde) is the semi-psycho stressed out GI who doesn't make it to the beach. Ain't he been psycho too long?

Cage - the heroic Frenchman ain't so in the pilot and they pass him off as Cajun.

Sgt. Saunders (Vic Morrow) and then SSgt. Hanley (Rick Jason) who we knew at a Lt. thru the series (he got promoted in the crank-up to series I guess)are more relaxed, more plain old American guys. Funny how things change from pilot to airing show!

I thought I sent this info earlier, but apparently it failed to process.

Anyway, the message I offered was that the Crosstown Grill, in both its locations, was owned by the Coman family, and managed by Jerry Coman.

Before McDonald's, Coman's (along with Frank's Pig Stand) supplied thousands of Tulsans with French fries and ketchup, with Frank's offering the world-renowned "curly-cue" variety.

The original Crosstown, at Fifteenth and Peoria, was notable because the men's restroom (and perhaps the women's, although my knowledge of that is zero) was outside the main building in a small structure detached from the restaurant proper. Drunks could get lost making the trip.

I once found a dear relative covered with snow in the back of an open model-T Ford convertible that was parked on the Coman's lot.

A couple of notable fights occurred in and around that location, as did many a cheap date.

Mike, I also miss that simple but delightful Sonic drink, as does my Washington-born wife, who got hooked on them during a couple of visits there. Sonic is creeping closer in this region as well, with two Idaho locations, but no telling when/if they'll ever make that last leap to the NW coast. Other local outlets much missed are Bill and Ruth's Subs, Taco Cabana, Blackeyed Pea and Ci-Ci's "all you can eat for $2.99" Pizza. Oh well, absence makes the heart grow fonder...and the midriff stay thinner.

What I really miss here in DC - is a "very sweet cherry limeade" from Braum's or Sonic. Can't find 'em here. If you are downstate VA - Sonic is creepin' into SW VA and NC, but that is a mighty long ways to drive!

Is Sonic's TV ad slogan still "Service with the Speed of Sound"??

Phylis Isley, who attended Tulsa's Monte Cassino school and later became world-famous as the beautiful actress JENNIFER JONES, is to be profiled on A & E's Biography this Saturday night (August l8). Check Cox Cable Channel 28 at 7:00 p.m. and/or 11 p.m., Central Daylight Time.

Don, you are exceptionally well informed.

Hey, "Scream In The Dark" fans! Check out the image at the bottom of this page, courtesy of Mitchell Holt!

Yep, it was the Crosstown where the bar hounds would sober up.

Counterculturally speaking, does anyone remember the Head shop very close to Nathan Hale high in the late 60's early 70's? First of its kind that I can recall, I used to go in to buy incense and drool over the owner. And there was a record shop on 15th I think that was the first to offer non-top 40 music...Dr. Johns or something similar does anyone recall that? It was at that record shop where I first laid eyes on anything about Leon Russell...that wonderful piercing stare from a poster declaring him The Master of Space and Time which he was and still is in my opinion.

My counterculture liked to "drop" and go to the airport and look at the pretty blue lights and feel the rush of the airplanes when they landed...once a friend and I sneaked on to a plane empty for cleaning and we ran amuck only to be politely but firmly escorted off...would have been gunned down today.

Also recall a teenage hangout called "The Machine"...very psychedelic with black lights, strobes, melting butter on the walls...no booze though but I was easier to please in those days! Keep the Tulsa memories coming Webmaster, thanks!

Joy, the record store was probably Honest John's. Our own Mike Bruchas was involved with that business...try "Honest John" or "Foutz" on the TTM search engine for more.

Remember when KVOO radio went country/western? The first DJ was Billy Parker. He and a gang of C/W types held court at a cafe on, I think, 11th Street towards downtown. Anyone remember the name?

Another quiz! There was an old style ice cream parlor on Third St. Gaylord Herron did a story on it for KOTV and I took my future wife there as a special treat, only to find out that it was her family's favorite hangout. She forgot the name, does anyone remember it?

The Crosstown Grill was owned and operated by Jesse Garin back in the late '50's to early '60's. My mother, Martha Byram, was the main cook (back then, they didn't call women 'chefs'). I spent many a day in the backroom, because Dad worked at the Mayo and Momma worked at different places in Tulsa, those that could afford her and not tick her off, and being out of school for the summer, I was shuttled from one to the other. (I learned to be quite the young apprentice chef). That was back in the day when the African-American customers had to eat in the back, far away from the white folks. I guess growing up in the kitchens of Danner's Cafeteria, Mayo Hotel, Crosstown Grill, and Borden's gave me a clear insight to what it meant to be different, as most of the kitchen help was African-American. An education a lot of people could use.

Danner's was the one in Utica Square, by the way.

OH! That wasn't me that broke the Crown Royal bottle (see-Liquor by the Wink) at that hotel where Dad worked at in '59, I would never be attracted to such a pretty velvet bag for my marbles, now would I?

Let's take a poll! How many out there raised chickens for their 4H project and was treated to a chicken dinner at the Mayo when we had to meet our sponsors? Everybody else left the banquet hall by the main doors. I was the one that had to wait in the kitchen. Got extra dessert!!

Jerry's at 15th & Boston had some pretty surly waitresses.

They were all over 100 years old if I remember right.

I got yelled at one night because everyone else at my table wanted apple dumplings and I wanted something from the menu.

I think the Crosstown Grill was at 15th and Peoria, across from the Plaza Theater, also gone, and was until manager Jerry Something opened a new place just south of downtown--l5th and Boston?

Could Joy Cooper possibly be referring to Bishop's restaurant, a downtown stalwart until the mid-60s, 24-7 and renowned for a "Brown Derby" with Sauce Diablo? I don't remember any surly waitresses, though. Maybe it's just my age showing (again).

Archived Guestbook 88.

In it, newcomer Joy Cooper asked about the Crosstown Grill, which I believe is now defunct. She fueled a continuing discussion of food, clubs and fun places such as the Rose Bowl and "Scream In The Dark", a haunted house (aka "the Ma-Hu mansion") across from the old Oertle's building (soon to be a TV/Radio hub for Clear Channel). The image below is courtesy of Mitch Holt.

Channel 2 is down to the finalists for the host of their coming midnight show, "World's Worst Movies". We heard about the new wave club "Bleu Grotto" from folks who performed there in its heyday. Lee Woodward, featured in a new article by Wilhelm Murg on this site, checked in with a story.

Artist Stevo Wolfson reminiscenced about Tulsa counterculture of the late 60s/early 70s. His comments were illustrated by the webmaster, and will serve as the nucleus of a full feature on the subject (with a little help from the readers).