I remember when KKUL became KTFX. I remember they were an R&B/Soul station with a short stint as a free-form AOR station in 1975-6. KKUL changed to Top 40 "Superfox 103" around September 1977 (the calls were changed to KTFX in 1978) and quickly stole most of KAKC and KELi's teen listeners. I think KTFX was Tulsa's first full-time Top 40 FM station (KRAV was not - they were "Adult contemporary" and didn't play any hard rock). I used to listen to KTFX a lot back in my high school days because they had a strong signal into Bartlesville and a great night DJ named "Crazy Steve" (whatever happened to him?) who pulled a lot of on-air stunts, including playing Foreginer's "Hot Blooded" for 3 hours straight!

I think KTFX's quick success caused the end for KAKC since they switched to Middle of the Road music in the winter of 1978. KAKC moved back to an Adult Contemporary/Oldies mix later that year before they were bought out and became Christian KCFO-AM in the fall of 1979.

KWEN was a beautiful music station for most of the seventies. They moved to Adult Contempory in 1979 when KTFX became "The Country Fox". In 1980 they moved to a Top 40 Rock approach as "Rock 95" (a really good station) until the summer of 1981 when they became Country "K-95".

Chuck Wheat was a true champion of Tulsa entertainment, he was never afraid to call it like he saw/heard it. He left Tulsa, a major loss when it happened, headed to New York and Time Magazine.

Johnny Martin did a special tribute - send off - show dedicated to Chuck Wheat. Wheat was named to the post of "scribe" in Johnny Martin's royal court (created after Wheat named and constantly referred to Martin as "The King" of Tulsa radio), I think Lionel was also knighted or something as well since Johnny always talked up other local media celebs including Lee & Lionel and later Mazeppa.

Lee mentioned Chuck as an early supporter in his history of Lee & Lionel.

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.

During late '72 to early '74 we went from being Tulsa's Country-politan Giant to Tulsa's Good Music Station 1300. Toward late '73 (I believe) San Antonio Broadcasting came in and purchased KCNW and sister station KMOD (which was not on the air). San Antonio Broadcasting later changed its name to Clear Channel Communications. That outfit has come a long way, too.

KCNW was a great place to work and I count myself greatly honored to have worked with a number of radio-TV legends during those years.

Say it with me.

"How much wheat could a wheat chuck chuck if a wheat chuck could chuck wheat?"

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.

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.

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".

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 (this is a 1953 view of the Akdar Shrine building...webmaster). 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.

More about early KRMG another time.

Chuck Adams

Thanks so much for that, Chuck. I wish we had you back on the air. Did any of the tapes survive?

I remember thinking "So that's where that man lives who sings "Kay-ay-ay Vee-ee-ee Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh" all the time.

Who was that guy anyway? And could they have put a little MORE tape slap on him?

For the 1948 Central "KVOO Days," I was assigned noon broadcast of Johnnie Lee Wills from Cain's. It was, of course, live. Some of you know and most have heard, that a live "goof" became history. Done and lost forever. I had several live breaks selling something or other that adorned lots of "simulated diamonds." I, however, pronounced it each time as "stimulated diamonds."

Later I excused my mistake with "simulated": "SIMULATED!? I never heard of the word 'simulated' and I don't know anyone who has!!" It was just my luck to say that to my old friend Jim Ruddle, who, of course, replied, "I have," and then proceeded to give me the proper definition. I haven't spoken to him since.

A Google search reveals that, to this day, the same mistake is made, but without the extenuating circumstance of being live.

Note the misspelling of Johnnie Lee's name on the 1951 Tulsa Stampede program above. A Yahoo Groups message mentions this common error.

The CD "Band's a Rockin'" (Amazon.com) is the 1949-1951 Wills band, partially recorded at KVOO. Sound samples of every song, plus more info about this CD (and a better price) at Buy.com.

In the olden tyme, before tape and reverbs, the staff announcers at the station, on hiring, were instructed in the proper way to identify the station. It was not "K-V-O-Oh," but a distinct elision of the "V" and the first "O." It came out "K-VO-Oh." Dat's what management wanted, and dats what management got.

About 1960, I received a very nice marionette for Christmas purchased from Brewster's, the only toy I remember getting from that store. I broke it in record time (I think most Christmas toys last at least an average of three minutes) but my parents graciously replaced the broken item a few days later - with a cheaper version.

I loved Chuck Adams on KRMG. He was clever and personable, no whining or agendas to promote, just fun and entertaining.

I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Brewster. He always came across in his TV appearances as a really good guy. He had already been honored on this site with the Brewster's Java TV Toys page. I added your comments and others to that page, plus the Tulsa World article about him and his wife.

It was a small trip just to hear Garry Kemp say Billy Parker's name--Beeehly Pah-kah.

And you don't have to be a news guy to miss the days when more than one radio station in a town had a good local news department...but maybe it helps.

Excellent approximation; I can imagine Mr. Kemp's pronunciation exactly.

Later, I remember putting Garrison Keillor on the air in Tulsa. And I also remember Ray, and say hello to him, hoping he's well. But I don't recall the incidents he cites, which, however, I'm sure DID occur. I'd like to say to Ray that I'm sorry he had fear of me. It is pretty funny today, I suppose. I just hope it wasn't as great as that which I held for some of the managers I had to work under when in commercial TV and radio. It was my intention to not let their styles rub off on me as I went to manage KWGS.

Oh, well, just listen to KWGS today (I do when I'm in Tulsa.) It sounds great, especially with those scintillating ID's delivered by Edward Dumit. What a great example he has set at TU through the many years of teaching there. And truly, a pro, as well. In my experience: not an easy combination to find or be.

I'd love to hear feedback from anyone on the film reviews I write that Mike Ransom posts here.

That sounded like a paid advertisement, didn't it?

Great, thanks for that info. Billy also hosts "Sunday Evening At The Memories" on 8 - 10 pm Sunday (of course) on KVOO-FM 98.5. Billy can be emailed from the bottom of either linked page.

With all these great shows to keep track of, I've set my Yahoo Calendar to remind me via email when they are on.

Added all this info to the Tulsa Radio: Yesterday and today page.

Thanks for mentioning that, Casey. KWGS streams its broadcast on the internet, so you needn't live in Tulsa to listen. John Wooley's documentary on Western Swing, "Still Swingin'", is available from Amazon.com.

Courtesy of Si Hawk

Billy Parker and John Wooley did a western swing radio show ("Swingin' Country") on KVOO-AM until shortly after the station was taken off the air permanently and transformed into conservative opinion KFAQ last year (see Guestbook 108). Here is a photo of Billy from 1977, courtesy of Si Hawk.

Got to see some of how much Tulsa's changed in the last 20 years or so last week. Wow! When did the 71st Street thing happen? 21st was "Tulsa's Big Corner" when I was a kid.

Anyway...all these radio topics bring back a lot of memories. Remember that English man who worked at Big Country 1170 AM (KVOO)? They had a lot of power back in the '70's. We used to pick up KVOO's signal on small household appliances.

I also recall a 970/KAKC DJ named Sunny Ray who once asked her listeners to mail transistor radios to KAKC, and leave them tuned in and turned on. (The postal carriers weren't all impressed, as I recall.)

I remember when KKUL became KTFX the public response was mixed...(I don't know what they play now). I also recall KWEN changing formats about 4 times over just a couple of years, including going from light AC to rock. They surprised a lot of folks more than once.

When I left Tulsa, Sapulpa's KXOJ FM 101 had just gone Christian, where they'd previously been adult contemporary all day, and a guy named Kevin Grady would come in at around 6:00pm and play Contemporary Christian music til midnight.

KRMG had John Erling and Arlton J. Dooright ("Maintain"). I noticed Denver Fox is still there, too. On clear nights I can still hear KRMG here in TN, since the 740 frequency here is vacant. (Is Dianna Proffitt still with KRMG?)

Thanks!

That English man was Garry Kemp. He has been mentioned here previously (try the TTM Search Engine). He started on English "pirate" station Radio Caroline in the mid-60s. Hear a couple of sound checks with Gary at The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame.

Sunny Ray paid us a visit here in 2000 (see Guestbook 55). She didn't leave an email address, but maybe she will check back some time in the future and see your note.

Dianna Proffitt was working at KSAL in Salina, KS as of 2002. I remember her as an excellent talk show host on KELi in the late 70s-early 80s.

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.

Thank you for bringing back so many fun memories of Tulsa.

You're welcome, and I also remember that parody ("Dratman"?) Maybe Chuck can tell us more about it and his show.

(Later) I checked with Lee Woodward, and he didn't participate. Chuck told us all about "Dratman" in a later entry of this Guestbook.

I started my broadcast career at the old 14k/92k in 1983. Actually, when I started, the FM was still Sunny 92 and the AM was KELI. But during my run there, it switched to the semi-simulcasted 14k/92k.

Where is Mel Meyers? He was my program director there. He started at KMOD and moved to 14k/92k. I owe him a debt of gratitude and I'm long overdue. If anyone knows where to find him, let me know.

As a 13 year old, my experience at 14k/92k was like pulling the curtain back on "OZ". I was only there for a year and a half, but that experience fed a career. Mel took in a wide-eyed music junkie barely in his teens and gave him a shot at the "big time". Dave Michaels was another huge inspiration. But it was Mel who believed...or rather, was just dumb enough, to allow me to hang around the station to learn the tricks of the radio trade.

While answering request lines on weekends, Mel allowed me to practice "air-checks" in the news studio. He couldn't pay me, because of my age, and instead compensated me in albums and concert tickets.

After about 6 months, he gave me my dream shot...my own Sunday morning show on 14k. My "show" consisted of running "Rick Dees Top-40 Countdown" with an hour on each side to do my own thing on-air. I still remember my first break coming out of the song "Everybody Wants to Rule The World"... "It's 6:30...no, it's 7:30 in the morning. The sun is shining, the birds are singing. If I'm up, you need to be up too. Here's a little "Rebel Yell" to get you up and going on 14k!".

Two-minutes later, the phone rang, and Mel was on the other line. He proceeded, in a polite yet firm tone, to inform me that "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol might be a little too much for early Sunday morning risers. I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life.

I'm now the host and Co-Executive Producer of a TV show called "Country Music Across America" on GAC (Great American Country). In 20 years, I've worked with CNN, Westwood One, TNN, and "Access Hollywood".

Radio has always been my first love. And Tulsa's 14k/92k gave me my first break. I'll never forget Mel, Dave and the rest of the gang for giving a snotty-nosed teenager a shot. These days, it just doesn't happen.

Thanks Tulsa, and thanks to this web-site for letting me take a few moments to share my own, albeit boring, story about my little part in Tulsa's broadcast memories.

Storme, thanks for the story, and congratulations on your success. Mel Myers and Dave Michaels are both at Star 103. I thought I remembered Mel spelling his name "Meyers" just as you have it, but the link shows it as "Myers"; did it change?

Later: Mel did get in contact with Storme. His name is spelled "Myers", and has been from birth!

I saw Mr. Fripp and his League of Crafty Guitarists at TuCCA downtown...when was that, late 80s? (later: it was Nov. 4, 1990)

Several members of the Irish band, Horslips, visited after appearing at Cain's. Later when 3 of the staff went to Europe they hooked up. I think one of the band married/co-habitated with one of the clerks from HJ's and may live in Tulsey now...

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 Schmidt, Jim Wheaton... and many others who I've temporarly forgot...

Thank you for your site, which has brought back some wonderful memories.

Sincerely,

Chuck Adams

Thank YOU, Chuck, I was a faithful listener to your morning show for years.

I remember his wife's name was Lurleen...

(3/7/2006: Chuck Linn wrote in that the monkey's name was Everett.)

Jack Stephens was closely linked to the late Bob Doubleday of KATV Little Rock fame. When I was news director there, the station had just moved into the old bank building owned by Stephens.

Two Cain's stories from my mid-70s days. One of my rare on-air reporting appearances was a Johnnie Lee Wills appearance one night at Cain's. That may have been the event that convicted me that I was far better off behind the cameras. Didn't even need Mr. Vaughn's encouragement to know it, though he certainly believed that way as I recall.

And speaking of convictions, there was the ruckus when the Sex Pistols with Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten played Cain's. (Some dim remembrance says Elvis Costello opened, but I'm guessing that's a misfiring neuron on my part. Edwin may remember.)

A reporter who can own up to it if he wants to was part of one of the groups picketing the Pistols' performance.

Even back then, pre-renovation and not withstanding Messrs Vicious and Rotten, Cain's was a pretty cool venue, if you could overlook the restrooms.

As for the haunts of the Mayo, those may not be ghosts, just some leftovers from the days when the Tulsa Press Club was upstairs. Some of them were pretty spectral even when (allegedly) alive...

After talk of the Horn Brothers Country Music Show (aka the "Longhorn Wingding"), we heard from Pam Van Dyke Crosby, who sang on the show and is today a fine jazz singer.

The tragic Girl Scout murders of 1977 were recalled. Lee Gideon (aka Tulsa radio's "Modell Phipps") passed away and was remembered here.

Koolees, Icees and Zemis (frozen drinks), and the tag end of Tulsa State Fair talk started the just-archived Guestbook 148.