November 03 2011 at 16:54:52 Name: Si Hawk Topic: Steve Epps Email:
sihawk@HawksHomeTown.Com Comments: I wanted to advise those who might have known Steve
Epps from KJRH over the past 35 or so years about his passing. This past
Saturday.
During the 10 years or so back in the '80s when I was the staff announcer,
Steve was the go-to guy who could fix ANYTHING. He was actually hired by
KTEW in the '70s when he started fixing studio cameras that had been trashed
as 'unrepairable'.
Steve was a friendly and thoughtful man whose IQ was somewhere near 10x that
average person's level. He will be greatly missed!
November 01 2011 at 01:08:15 Name: Webmaster Topic: Tulsa Run, 15K (9.3 mi.) @ 10:30:17
am, 10/29/2011 Comments:
My chip time was 1:27:27.
November 01 2011 at 00:19:22 Name: StillUpsetIDidn'tGetonUncleZeb Topic: "Who Has Touched the Sky"
Comments: Thanks, Michael, for the research. It may have been
about OK tourism as opposed to a promo for KTUL.
October 31 2011 at 11:37:40 Name: Webmaster (via Louise Bland) Topic: Bob Barry Sr. passes at the age of
80
Comments:
KFOR-TV
October 30, 2011
NORMAN, Okla.—The NewsChannel 4 family is mourning the loss of one of
our own today. Former KFOR sports director and longtime sports announcer
Bob Barry Sr. passed away at the age of 80.
Barry was found inside his home in Norman after neighbors grew concerned
that he had not picked up his morning newspaper.
Barry was the voice of the Sooners from 1961 until 1972 and again from 1991
until he retired from the radio last spring.
He also was a play-by-play announcer for the University of Tulsa basketball
team and also announced football games for Oklahoma State University in between
stints at OU.
October 31 2011 at 09:55:35 Name: Michael Bates Topic: "Who Has Touched the Sky" video
Comments: Found a video -- the same song used on that KTUL promo,
performed by a multi-generational choir (or just a family gathering?) in
the Philippines:
October 31 2011 at 09:42:37 Name: Michael Bates Topic: "Who Has Touched the Sky"
Comments: To StillUpsetIDidn'tGetOnUncleZeb: I remember that promo,
too, and it's forever linked in my mind to two other promos from the same
period that were either for KTUL or Oklahoma tourism -- one used an instrumental
version of "Everyone's Gone to the Moon," the other used the Sons of the
Pioneers' "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma."
October 30 2011 at 11:39:42 Name: Andy Holthouse Topic: Old Tulsa Tribune column Email:
andyocoregon@comcast.net Comments: Thanks Chuck, but I now live in Oregon and won't
be travelling to Tulsa anytime soon.
BTW, as I recall, Squidgim Skwee had a unique skill in which he could "swallow
himself inside out and become invisible". I guess it was a science fiction
kind of column.
October 29 2011 at 23:03:06 Name: Lazzaro Topic: 3's
Comments: Condolences Mr. Linder.
October 29 2011 at 17:43:29 Name: Chuck Fullhart Topic: Old Trib columns
Comments: Andy--Central Library has the World and the Trib on
microfiche.
October 29 2011 at 01:52:42 Name: John K. Young Topic: RE: Scott Linder Email:
johnk662561atyahoodotcom Comments: Scotty...
Just saw your post. My condolences on your loss.
My wife, Julie, passed away unexpectedly on October 8th. Because of that,
I'm moving back to the Tulsa area around Thanksgiving.
I know it sounds cliche', but hang in there. Sending good thoughts to you
and your family.
JohnnyK
Our thoughts are with you, Johnny.
October 28 2011 at 15:50:09 Name: Scott Linder Topic: Missing TTVM
Comments: I've really been missing TTVM, but I have had a rather
difficult time during the last two months, including three deaths in my family,
and all that goes along with that. It seems many things happen at once, these
days...
All my best to everyone at TTVM. I'll probably be back here to annoy all
of you when things improve a bit in my life.
Kind regards to all...
Scotty
Scott, you have our deepest sympathy. Please come back when you feel up
to it.
October 28 2011 at 15:07:09 Name: Andy Holthouse Topic: Old Tulsa Tribune column Email:
andyocoregon@comcast.net Comments: OK, here's a challenge for all you old geezers,
like me. Way back in the mid to late 1950s, there was a seasonal column in
the Tulsa Tribune that I cannot remember much of other than the star character
was a spook named "Squidgim Skwee". If I remember correctly, it always came
out around the Halloween season and ended before Christmas. As I had just
begun to learn to read, it was quite a task for me to read it aloud, but
I know I enjoyed the column and it played a large part in my appreciation
of creative writing.
Does anyone know who wrote that column or anything about it? I'd sure like
to find some copies of it. Alas, since the Tulsa Tribune long ago went defunct,
I don't know where to turn to find archives.
October 26 2011 at 20:39:58 Name: Mike Bruchas Topic: Norman Corwin
Comments: I met him in DC at the National Portrait Gallery gala
on a radio/TV pioneers exhibit about 22-23 years ago - brilliant but a very
grumpy old guy.
His daughter was his escort and tried to "make him behave".
I worked for NAB at the time and we co-sponsored the exhibit but didn't do
any heavy lifting, the curators did.
Yeah - I was in awe of him, too...
October 21 2011 at 12:02:39 Name: StillUpsetIDidn'tGetOnUncleZeb Topic: "Who Has Touched the Sky"
Comments: Does anyone else remember a promo that aired on KTUL
in the 70s, set to the Anita Kerr/Rod McKuen song "Who Has Touched the Sky."
It was nicely done.
October 20 2011 at 09:32:57 Name:
Jim Ruddle Topic: Corwin Comments: The death of Norman Corwin reminds those of
us who are old enough to remember, that his kind of radio and the kind we
now have are as distant from one another as Hip Hop is from Mozart. He was
a genius with words, as good as anyone writing in any medium of his day.
"We Hold These Truths" and "On a Note of Triumph" should be heard by every
citizen at some point.
(I distinctly recall a PBS special of a radio verse play which I thought
was titled "Why the Devil Hates Chrlstmas" The obits don't mention it.)
October 20 2011 at 08:00:51 Name: Mitch Gray Topic: Radio Email: North Of You Comments: US radio giant Norman Corwin dies at 101.
October 18 2011 at 00:24:46 Name:
Gary Chew Topic: Gaylon Stacy Email: Northeast of Eden Comments: When I was in high school up in Kay County,
Oklahoma..Channel 6 didn't make it in to my town back in the day. Everybody
in town watched channel 5 in Enid... or Channel 4, then WKY in OKC. I remember
Stacy from then. Good talent with a really grounded presence on camera, too.
Other folks I remember from those days at WKY were John Fields and the great
Frank McGee, who went on to fame at NBC News, and was a great inspiration
to Tulsa's Jim Hartz, after Jim invaded NYC and DC
with his bright smile and even brighter mind.
I was a tad too old to watch Danny Wms as 3-D Danny, though.
October 14 2011 at 14:40:38 Name: Erick Topic: Gaylon Stacy
Comments: Tulsa area viewers may know Gaylon Stacy as someone
who frequently hosted local segments for OETA during fundraising drives.
October 14 2011 at 10:41:08 Name: Webmaster Topic: Phantasmagoria for sale
Comments:
Parts of the old Bell's rides, including Phantasmagoria, are on sale and
display today at the Vintage Tulsa
Show.
October 12 2011 at 22:21:29 Name:
Louise
Bland Topic: Gaylon Stacy Email: lbland@tx.rr.com Comments: One of my best friends, Gaylor Stacy, has died.
He passed last Monday.
I had just left Tulsa from KTUL in the early days of television where we
were all superstars in our own right. Gaylor would show the actors like John
Wayne I had interviewed on my "Spotlight" morning show in the early 60s.
We'd laugh and feel special because we had in that day the jump on a lot
of stations because we were the Oil Capitol of the World. Big shows came
to town!!!
October 11 2011 at 16:24:12 Name: Mike Bruchas Topic: KOCO staff fave from the 80s passes
Comments: From Jim Rankin:
Janet Sinclair, originally secretary to then Programming Director Mike Palmer
when I worked there in the 1980s, has passed. She later replaced Mike in
that job; he went over to OETA.
She was a sweet, brainy and an all around great person.
She passed away about 10 days ago. She was 62.
October 11 2011 at 08:27:31 Name:
Jim Ruddle Topic: Obit Comments: Most news sources failed to note the passing
of a wonderful singer--perhaps the last of the WWTwo female vocalists--Kay
Armen. "The Charmin' Kay Armen" sang on numerous radio programs, was in movies
(notably "Hit the Deck" with Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Debbie Reynolds, and
Jane Powell.) She took her professional name from the fact that she was an
Armenian girl from Chicago. She died in New York, Oct. 2nd, and was returned
to Chicago for interment.She was 95. (In England, Vera Lynn survives at 93.)
I was not familiar with Kay Armen, but Vera Lynn is notable to the boomer
era as the singer of the WWII tune "We'll Meet Again" heard at the end of
"Dr. Strangelove".
I recently read the novelization of Strangelove by Peter George, interesting
in that the author wrote the original straight thriller the movie was based
on ("Red Alert"), then wrote this version that stuck closely to the movie.
Very little humor, despite word-for-word dialog in many places.
October 10 2011 at 22:40:44 Name: Webmaster Topic: Happy Binary Days!
Comments:
Today (10/10/11) and tomorrow (10/11/11) are back-to-back
Binary
Days. Yee-ha!
October 10 2011 at 21:37:31 Name: David Batterson Topic: Roger Williams Email:
david@stillaliveandkicking.com Comments: I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Williams
for KWGS back in the '60s. As I recall, it was after his show at the Old
Lady on Brady. He was a good interview, with a down-to-earth persona.
October 10 2011 at 18:06:23 Name: Mike Bruchas Topic: Roger Williams - staple of MOR radio
passes...
Comments: He died Saturday at age 87 from Pancreatic Cancer.
BORN FREE and The AUTUMN LEAVES were his biggest hits.
If you worked at an MOR station or "beautiful music" format in the 60s-90s
- he was on a playlist.
October 10 2011 at 16:31:56 Name: David Batterson Topic: Dale Robertson Email: Contact Wells Fargo San
Diego Comments: According to his imdb.com page
(www.imdb.com/name/nm0731783/), Dale Robertson was the narrator and star
of the TV series "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957-62). Also, it shows he was
in some episodes of "Death Valley Days" in 1969-70.
October 10 2011 at 09:59:41 Name:
Jerry Pippin (via
email) Topic: Podcast: Tulsa TV/radio with Mike Miller
and Gary Chew Email:
jerrypippin@sbcglobal.net Comments: Mike Miller and Gary Chew
will be guests with Peter B. Collins. I think they are going to discuss old
Tulsa radio and television days -- plus a little about God knows what else.
The podcast will be available tonight late on
PBC's website or at iTunes.
Gary went on to become Northern California's king of Classical Music announcers
and Mike left TV for the world of politics, working for some very conservative
folks in the Senate and the House as Press Secretary including a brief
stint with Senator Jim Inhofe when Inhofe
was still a congressman.
Gary Chew is doing a weekly movie review heard on several sites and we will
be featuring one this week since it is a review about a political movie.
His work for us can be found here, as well as his movie review when it is
available later this week, plus Mike Miller's political interview:
October 06 2011 at 08:56:37 Name: John Topic: 'My first car' blogsite
Comments: I've been reading TTM for years but have never commented.
I have actually answered three or four people's queries on the site about
cars and car dealers though. Helped a couple of people with Corvette questions
relating to Wilkerson Chevrolet, and actually had
an article/photos published in the Vintage Chevrolet Club International magazine
which was reprinted in the NCRS [National Corvette restorer's Society] newsletter
because of correspondence with folks asking Tulsa-specific car questions
on your site. So I should stop and say "thanx" for printing people's car
questions on the TTM !
I have started a little blogsite about first cars where I encourage people
to talk about their first car and show photos. Most car people have a soft
spot for their first car, and hence, we usually like to tell stories. The
site is my first car.
The "welcome' and "welcome pt2" posts kinda give an idea about what we're
doing.
Being a Tulsa native, I really enjoy your site and the features therein.
I am especially interested in radio, and of course, all things Mazeppa. Thanks
for doing the site and keep up the good work.
Thanks, John. I contributed my story, which I see is already up!
Future webmaster's 1964 Chevy at OU's Cross Center, circa 1974. Click
for larger view of setting.
October 05 2011 at 07:13:54 Name: Sonny Hollingshead Topic: Accountability For All
Comments: Accountability Burns sighting! I saw His Einsteiness
early yesterday afternoon at 15th and Denver. Perhaps this time we can draft
him for president!
Excellent idea! Why just shoot the moon when you could shoot
Mars?
September 28 2011 at 15:49:40 Name: Si Hawk Topic: Okla Actor Email:
sihawk@HawksHomeTown.Com Comments: If I'm not mistaken, Dale Robertson was one of the
hosts of the long-running 'Death Valley Days' TV series. Other hosts of note
include President Reagan. I believe Robertson discussed his roots in Oklahoma
quite often on the talk-show circuits.
September 23 2011 at 05:37:51 Name: David Bagsby Topic: Time machine/interstellar travel
Comments: FYI: physical demonstration that superluminal (faster
than light speed) travel is a reality. A bit off-topic but worth a mention.
Article
in Scientific American: some neutrinos have been observed travelling
minutely faster than light. Very interesting result. We'll see if it is confirmed
elsewhere and if so, how it fits into the theoretical picture.
Maybe they are slipping through one of those curled-up braneworlds discussed
by physicist Lisa Randall in Tulsa a couple
of years ago.
September 22 2011 at 06:19:03 Name: John Topic: jukeboxes Email:
johnrichardziegler@gmail.com Comments: I have a unusual Question. Does anyone remember
from the 1970s what brand and or model the the Jukebox in the Juniors Department
of the Southland Mall JCPenney was, also what was the Jukebox at the Shotgun
Sam's pizza Palace at 1785 S. Sheridan?
September 17 2011 at 13:49:42 Name: Scott Linder Topic: Our Webmaster and Big Brother
Comments: Mr.Webmaster, I'm pleased that you and your wife enjoy
Big Brother. It seems that you will have another season to view us next year.
I really enjoy working the Thursday show with the live audience, and you
and your wife are most welcome to attend if you're in LA next season. I'll
make sure that you have good seats, and it would be great to meet you!!!
Yes, I did speak with Iris. She's a classmate of mine from Will Rogers High
School in Tulsa, class of 1966. Thanks for the note....
September 16 2011 at 17:27:28 Name: Scott Linder Topic: Big Brother
Comments: Not that anyone cares, but I just finished the Big Brother
live show season on CBS this week. It seems as if we have been picked up
for Big Brother 14 next season.
Sometimes, TV works OK for me.
At least two more people care: my wife and I. We wouldn't miss it. Had
a hunch that Rachel would pull it out this season. I feel that I've learned
a lot about human nature (and myself) from both "Big Brother" and "Survivor".
If you ever run short of folks to fill out that studio audience, let us know.
By the way, Scott, Iris sent a message for you down a few entries from this
one.
September 16 2011 at 13:46:51 Name:
Lee Woodward Topic: Okla Actor Comments: Jon writes about an actor with Oklahoma
connections; I believe he speaks of Dale Robertson, not Cliff.
Dale did indeed wind up with a ranch in Blanchard, Oklahoma. When I was the
announcer on the first tee at Cedar Ridge C.C., I recall introducing him
a couple of different times during Roy Clark's Golf Tournament.
September 15 2011 at 11:04:43 Name: David Batterson Topic: Cliff Robertson Email: Use the Pony Express! Comments: I'm surprised nobody (including most of the obits)
mentioned the excellent film he produced/directed and starred in, called
"J.W. Coop" about the rodeo biz. Parts were shot in Tulsa and OK. I saw it
when it came out in 1972. One of Cliff's best, and definitely worth renting.
September 13 2011 at 22:50:48 Name: Jon Cummins Topic: Cliff Robertson
Comments: I met Cliff Robertson in 1982 when he was part of
celebrities native to Oklahoma honoring Oklahoma's 75th anniversary of statehood.
I think he was living in Blanchard, but I don't recall if that was his hometown.
It was amazing how many big names grew up in OK. My father and I was killing
time and had a great time with the actor Ben Johnson who took a liking to
us and invited us to come to his ranch in Pawhuska and gave us his number
and directions. Sadly we never got that visit.
September 11 2011 at 09:45:54 Name:
Mike Miller Topic: Picnic Comments: Gary, Holden had a specific job in mind at
the Mayo.
I remember the Tulsa theater audience laughed out loud when Holden said he
was going to Tulsa to get a bellboy job at the Mayo. Seems everyone (except
perhaps William Inge) was aware all Mayo bellhops at that time were African
American.
September 11 2011 at 01:23:34 Name:
Gary Chew Topic: Alan Benson Email: Northeast of Eden Comments: Alan Benson was the character Cliff Robertson played
in the 1955 film, "Picnic," written by Independence, KS native, William Inge.
Cliff died at 88 earlier today.
BTW, the film had William Holden, Kim Novak, Susan Strasberg and Rosalind
Russell in the cast. And there was that great music by George Dunning and
Steve Allen, too. The film was shot on location in Halstead, Nickerson, Sterling,
Salina and Hutchinson---all in Kansas.
Holden's character, at the end of the film, hops a freight going SE to get
a job at the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I got "Picnic" in slo-mail out
of my Netflix queue yesterday. Wow!
September 07 2011 at 15:38:51 Name: Iris Topic: Scott Linder
Comments: Would Scott Linder please check out
wrhs1966.com?
Thank you.
September 04 2011 at 23:20:44 Name: Mike Bruchas Topic: WGN MDAA coverage in Chicago Comments: Oklahoma's BART CONNER is one of the guest
studio anchors tonight on the MDAA telethon on WGN-TV.
Billy Corrigan of Smashing Pumpkins is also stepping in - said he's watched
the Telethon since he was a kid.
==================
The new 6-7 hour format of the Telethon seems to be more appealing to local
stations - rather than staffing an all night event in these tougher revenue
times...
September 02 2011 at 14:05:05 Name: Mike Bruchas Topic: Bob and Jack and similar ilk FM Comments: We were told in a TU Irish Lit/Theatre class
in 1969 or 1970 that whatever was the rage in NYC got to Oklahoma 25 years
later.
Bob and Jack type programming on radio probably hit the US radio markets
5 years ago, so I guess "culture" is creeping up on Oklahoma faster.
In some markets, the Bob formats has gone away.
No one here seems to mention Ed Volkman, Harry's son and I thought TU alum,
who was a "boss jock" at CBS in Chicago...hjxp
September 02 2011 at 11:57:37 Name: John K. Young Topic: Re: BOB.fm Email:
johnk662561atyahoodotcom Comments: Thank you for the memory refresher. I THOUGHT I
had heard of that station/format before and couldn't place it. I did a search
before I posted and couldn't find "Bob.fm"...sorry about the redundancy.
;)
I usually have no trouble find things on this site, but it took some doing
this time, so I know what you mean.
September 02 2011 at 11:37:50 Name: Webmaster Topic: "Rumble Fish" event tonight
downtown
Comments: "MOTORCYCLE BOY'S NEVER COMING BACK"
Friday, September 2 · 8:00pm - 10:30pm
BENNY'S BILLIARDS
13 EAST BRADY - BRADY ARTS DISTRICT
Tulsa, OK
Created By
Lee Roy Chapman, Zachary Matthews
This Land Press and Gitwit Creative
present Public Secret #13
"MOTORCYCLE BOY'S NEVER COMING BACK"; an autonomous installation
Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film Rumble Fish, based on the novel by SE Hinton,
was filmed in downtown Tulsa. The characters in the film hang out at Benny's
Billiards, a poolhall owned by Tom Waits' character, Benny.
An installation at 13 East Brady, the same location as Benny's Billiards,
will show the connection of Coppola's cinematic vision as it pertains to
the work of two Tulsa photographers, Larry Clark and Gaylord Herron. Herron's
behind-the-scene photos will be shown to the public for the first time. Video
installation and artwork provided by Gitwit Creative, Peter Bedgood, Zach
Matthews, James Galleger and Gaylord Herron. Curator - Lee Roy Chapman
Circle Cinema will be showing Rumble Fish Friday September 2 at 11:00 pm
immediately after the opening. Tickets to the film are $8.50.
From James Clarke:
Rumble Fish Meet and Greet at Caz's Chowhouse 18 East Brady Street on the
patio across from Benny's Billiards starting at 6pm. September 2.
September 02 2011 at 11:08:41 Name: Erick Topic: Bob/Jack/etc
Comments: The BOB and JACK concept stations were designed to make
radio stations more relative in the age of the MP3 player. In Tulsa's case,
"BOB" is supposed to be a guy, and you're basically listening to random songs
on shuffle from his iPod. Occasionally you'll catch local nuggets like "BOB
remembers when he was on Uncle Zeb". There is also a "Bob FM" in Oklahoma
City, but it doesn't take this approach, and is really a straight-ahead Classic
Rock station.
Jack FM stations are a brand that is owned by a corporation and distributed
nationally. There are other copycats of these "name" stations. Philadelphia
has "Ben FM" (for Ben Franklin), Indianapolis has a country version called
"Hank FM" (for Hank Williams, I presume) and even OKC has a country version
called "Jake FM".
On the stations that are formatted similarly to Tulsa's BOB FM, you will
never hear a DJ.
September 01 2011 at 05:09:57 Name: David Bagsby Topic: Radio
Comments: Kansas City's version of BOB is JACK
August 31 2011 at 12:39:50 Name: John K. Young Topic: BOB.fm??? Email:
johnk662561atyahoodotcom Comments: I'm cruising through some of my Tulsa radio stations
and instead of KBEZ, I find something calling itself "BOB.fm" at the old
92.9 spot on the FM dial! "BOB"?? They actually named a radio station, "BOB"?
Ooookay. Anyone who can help me find "Phred.fm" would be greatly appreciated.
We discussed the arrival of Corporate BOB in Tulsa a little over a year
ago in GroupBlog 312.
August 31 2011 at 09:45:46 Name: Webmaster Topic: Previous GroupBlog link
Comments:
Jim Ruddle
Gary Chew
Louise
Bland
Lee Woodward
Mike Miller
Archived