Speaking of Jim Hartz - former Tulsa KOTV, long-time NBC Space Coverage, Today Show, and Washington, DC WRC-TV anchor - he's alive and kicking here in Alexandria, VA and lives about 3 miles away from where I write this.

He had a P.R. firm (Hartz/Meek International) and still consults. He was talent at Nostalgia TV - now GoodLife TV - for several years. I first met him there and mentioned our common TU backgrounds. Have enjoyed working with him. He also spent several years anchoring "Asia Now" for PBS out of Seattle - flying from DC to Seattle but most often Tokyo to anchor with NHK staff several weeks a month. "Asia Now" had producers and reporters all over Asia with cultural news type stories and was on both PBS and foreign outlets. I think someone else took over the anchoring chores, but he has a lot of contacts in that part of the world I guess.

The last time I saw him, he said he and his wife loved living here in Old Town in a classic house (I think not far from Katie Couric's). He also shot an episode of the series he did for several years on PBS ("Discover"?) in Alexandria from his Colonial home.

I think he is a deacon or warder at the famous church here that George Washington attended. Great guy to work with. Us Tulsans are everywhere!

(from Guestbook 106) Jim Hartz said:

While reading some of the notes about the high school TV shows in Tulsa it dawned on me that the first time I was ever on television came on Channel 8 - a program I think was called Odyssey.

This was a University of Tulsa production, supervised by Ed Dumit. Channel 8 donated the time, on Saturday mornings, and the university broadcast/journalism students produced the shows, if my recollection is clear.

Maybe Ed can reinforce my memory. On the other hand there are a couple of shows I have been trying to forget for about 40 years.

(from Guestbook 106) Edward Dumit said:

Jim Hartz did indeed gain his first TV experiences at KTUL, Ch. 8, on "Galaxy" ("Odyssey" was almost right, Jim). At the time, he was a pre-med major at TU while announcing on KRMG radio. It was spring of '62, Jim's senior year. Ye gads, almost exactly 40 years ago! I could tell you the dates of his first appearances if it weren't for the fact that my only missing grade book is for that year (weird . . . ).

For eighteen seasons, from fall of '57 through spring of '75, KTUL-TV most graciously provided for our students in my Television Fundamentals and Television Production classes (Tom Ledbetter's classes during '68-'69) the opportunity of two semesters of lab experiences once a week in their Lookout Mountain offices and studios. Each week in the fall, our students met with a different executive or department head, who explained the functions and responsibilities of his or her area and answered all questions.

In the spring, the main studio, control room, and announcer's booth and Ch. 8's state-of-the-art equipment were turned over to us on Saturday mornings for set-up, dress rehearsal, and LIVE telecast at 11:30 or (after the arrival of videotape equipment) live on tape for airing early Sunday afternoons. Throughout spring, students were rotated through all production positions from floor manager, camera operator, booth announcer, cue card holder, and talent, to technical director and director. While a member of the Ch. 8 studio crew supervised the students in setting up sets and lights and generally stood by in the studio in case of crisis, I put in a lot of mileage racing up and down stairs; but I spent most of the time in the control room, also in case of crisis.

During the week preparation took place of diverse programs of the director's choosing, such as plays, jazz and classical music, dance, discussions and documentaries related to the arts, history, political science, business, social issues, etc.

After the first few seasons, the last five minutes became "TU Telenews" as a lab for Bill Hays' Broadcast Newswriting class with student reporters and presenters. Film stories were shot throughout Tulsa.

"Galaxy" (actually "Galaxy '58," "Galaxy '59," etc.) ended with the completion of New Kendall Hall on campus with its own tv studios and new equipment. (Galaxy '70 can be seen at the bottom of this 1970 Tulsa TV schedule, Channel 8. 1 pm Sunday...webmaster)

But what an invaluable experience KTUL provided for so many fledgling broadcasters! It would be great to hear from more of you guys through Tulsa TV Memories.

Jim Hartz in the Amazonian rainforest, 2002

(from Guestbook 104) Jim Hartz said:

There have been several nice observations since I first posted my comments on this website, but I have to set the record straight about one. And add a comment on another...

My recollection is I have been in only one motion picture. And to confirm that I am probably right, I get a residual check from only one: “Power.” It starred Richard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, E.G. Marshall, Fritz Weaver, Kate Capshaw. Sidney Lumet directed it.

Anyone would have predicted that a picture with such stars and director would have been a huge hit. Instead, it was a titanic flop. It opened and closed in New York in one week.

For the record, it was a pretty good film, as testified to by its continued sales in many markets: cable, overseas, etc., more than 15 years later. (See residual check above. Rent it and see.)

Another reader mentioned my brother Herb, who was the assistant chief of police in Tulsa. I thank you for remembering him. A drunk driver outside Las Vegas killed him several years ago.

Lastly, I will add an addendum to Frank Morrow’s delightful recollections about the Easter Pageant. I narrated it once. My recollection is not nearly as detailed as his. In fact, I don’t even remember the year I did it, much less who played Jesus, etc. I do remember reading it with great feeling by dawn’s early light. I was speaking into a microphone from inside a school bus turned into a sound studio. I also remember that I had been inside that bus many times before, as the announcer for drag races at Tulsa North Airport on other Sundays.

Webmaster: I mentioned to my mom that we had heard from Jim Hartz. She recalled living in a duplex at 710 N. Quaker as a kid/teen. Directly across the street was a church pastored by Jim's dad, who was friends with John and Leona McCormick (right) of McCormick Cleaners, where my grandmother, Elva Enlow Hammond (center) worked for years. Mom remembered Jim as being the youngest in his family, and as a very likable guy.