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Tulsa TV Memories Guestbook 205 TTM main | What's new on TTM? | GB Archive
The first location of the Italian Inn was at 1604 S. Main. There's a picture of the restaurant in the book TULSA TIMES "COMING OF AGE". This is a three-book set produced by the Tulsa World. If you enjoy Tulsa history you would really like this set. I think Steves Sundries still sells them. There are also pictures of Bishop's and the Louisiane's original location on 18th and Boston.
So, if I understand it, the Italian Inn was originally at a house on 15th, but later located to London Square at 61st and Lewis, correct? I could use a glass of chianti after all of that.
The cheese dip was too terrific!
Those were the days a night of fun for less than twenty bucks.
The menu was pretty extensive, and the prices were reasonable. Yes, it was a good "date-on-the-cheap" place for those of us who were struggling with finances at the time. I would often stop-by for dinner about 8:00 on my way to the Rubiot on weekends. Speaking of dates and the Rubiot, did anyone else make use of those dark, narrow roads east of Peoria on the way to or back from the club? I seem to recall several jazz-and-booze-inspired times of passion in my '55 Chevy on those dark wooded roads. I even remember my partners and fellow "jazz-lovers", but I shall withhold their names in case they might be visitors to this website or may be seeking child-support after all these years...
Also, don't miss "Uncle Laff's Legacy", about the 7' "U-Control Monster", orderable from the back of a comic book. Kirk has also made a live action DVD of this one, and it's excellent. Watch the toon at Kirk's Secret Fun Spot.
Back to the cheese dip...easy recipe: cream cheese, catalina dressing, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
Johnny Martin interviewed by Channel 6 with lattice and plastic grapes in the background, probably at the Italian Inn.
I ran across a guy a couple of years ago who traveled around and bought abandoned "park trains" from the 50s and 60s. He had a couple of real steam trains that ran in parks. One was built in early 1900s.
Our motto was "To Get To Iola...You've got to pass Gas."
The Italian Inn was one of the places Johnny Martin did live spots for. Food was pretty good, his descriptions sotto voce were better. Was it the cheese spread that was the draw there? It's only been about three decades, I'm entitled to lose a few neurons, but I think that's what Martin hawked. At one time, some of my relatives lived in Gas, Kan. (The old abbreviation is the best in this instance.) Some may still, for all I know. If I recollect correctly--and I may well not--it seems those in the know in Allen County referred to is as "Gas City." I could be wrong about that, but I'm rock-solid sure there were two very good drug store soda fountains in Iola circa 1957, that allowed a young'un respite from great-uncle Milford and Aunt Ethel. Milf was a printer and publisher, and I may have gotten a little ink in the veins from him. He didn't need a Nielsen rating to tell him whether folks were reading the paper--he got vast amounts of market feedback between the shop and lunch at the Brown Hotel.
One of the great things about elementary school at Tulsa Public Schools in the 60s was the trips to Philbrook. Seeing art that one had only seen until then in books, and you could walk right up to them and examine brushwork, etc. Made me an addict to art ever since, and my life has been richer for it. And how about trips to The Old Lady on Brady to hear Tulsa Philharmonic, directed by the great Franco Autori. I was an apprentice geek even then, and listened to Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on KVOO, and to hear Puccini in the real ... Heaven. They don't make life like they used to.
I grew up just NW of the Admiral Twin drive-in, anyone remember the swings and train that ran just in-front of the screen? I helped build Zingo at Bell's Amusement Park. And remember the Trojan chain fights in Woodward Park, when trash cans were worn over our heads for protection? Graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1968. Great site, I hope it stays forever. Again, thanks for the trip down memory {what's left of it} lane. The 60s were a time past, but full of memories.
All I could really locate was Gas' entry on Wikipedia. There is no mention of the pollution rate in Gas.
On one of these excursions, I stifled the urge to pass Gas and stopped just in time to pull of the road at a Historical Marker. It seems that a(n) helium well was discovered in the general vicinity of Gas, KS. I found this rather more prosaic than some connection to Phillips 66 (although on second thought, the geographical proximity of Gas to Bartlesville might make that a possibility as well).
Joe Henderson, who was the PD at KELi, called himself Joe Kelly. He was on from 6 to 9 am. That was in the early 60s, as I remember. KELi was at its transmitter site: 56th Street North and Lewis. Lovely Turley. That's when I was doing my impersonation of Jack Webb, and called myself Pete Kelly. (after the Jack Webb movie, "Pete Kelly's Blues") Management didn't like Gary Kelly. Only time I used an alias on air.
I first started appreciating his work when I was a young girl and an avid reader of Western Horseman. When our 5th (or 6th?) grade art class got to take a field trip to Philbrook to see him in person, it was a huge thrill for me! He gave a wonderful talk, even to a bunch of elementary kids! I'll never forget that day, and I'll never forget Brummett Echohawk.
He always enjoyed show business, telling us about working as a boy with Pawnee Bill at his Old Town in Pawnee. His art and articles appeared in Oklahoma Today and Western Horseman magazines, among many others. He was a force in the American Indian Theater company. As an actor he had roles in many TV shows and films, such as "Oklahoma Passage". He was always proud of helping preserve the traditions of his people.
I believe you're describing "Bill's". I think it's still going strong.
Here is a liquor-by-the-drink card for the Chianti Club, part of the Italian Inn, in its day a favorite of the late Jim Back and his wife-to-be.
Seriously, about the subject of hamburgers...what is the name of that little dive next to "Thelma's Bar" behind the I-244 & Utica McDonalds? I went there once about 10 years ago and had what was probably THE best cheeseburger I've ever put betwixt my lips!
When the Webmaster (all hail) and I were but young sprouts, Mr. Swiss out by ECHS was all the rage. Great shakes (the memory Randomizer has set in: How about Shake-a-go-go on E. 11th, if I'm not too senile and recall correctly). Is TTVM da bomb or what?
Today, more of a stink bomb.
This VFXWorld article tells some of their Tulsa story.
Bwaha! I am actually writing to inquire about some Tulsa radio history. When did KMOD-FM first hit the airwaves? I've tried scouring the internet, and I believe it may have originated as KTUL-FM on 97.1 in the late forties, but I can't find more information. Any thoughts?
Former Tulsa mayor Terry Young worked at KOCW in 1967. It became (oleaginous announcer here) "K-MOD, sounds for groovy grownups" around 1968-9.
It looks to me that there is a conspiracy afoot to poke fun at the Wheat State from somewhere inside the Sooner State. The answer is breaking in the wind.
This new topic may rival hamburgers and chili.
Instead of passing Gas, stop at the 54 Drive-In Theatre, but keep the windows rolled down.
His columns were the absolute antidote to much of the brainless material that infests ordinary publishing. I can't think of anyone else who so consistently made sense. Although written in 1957, his book Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science is still in print and should be on everyone's required reading list--particularly for every journalist. When you read about the Mexican clinic that was "treating" Coretta Scott King at the time of her death, you realize that his voice is still needed. As for John Hillis and Wolf Brand Chili: I was never able to go for that. I think it was because I had to pass the Vigo dog food plant nearly every day when I was a youth.
Do a few Nathan's Famous dogs on a well-seasoned flat cast-iron grill or in a heavy cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Place a can of Skyline Chili (available on-line) in a small sauce-pan and heat...do not boil. Meanwhile, finely chop a medium white onion. When the dogs are heated-through and glistening, lightly steam the appropriate amount of fresh white-bread buns in a steamer-basket or metal colander over a small amount of boiling water in a large sauce-pan or pot with the lid on...this takes only a few moments. Have French's prepared yellow mustard standing-by at room temperature. When all ingredients are ready, assemble as follows: Place a dog in the steaming-hot bun, apply the mustard to the dog and on each side next to the bun, add a layer of chili just covering the dog, then add the onions with a fork, pressing them into the chili. A sprinkling of fresh-ground pepper and a dusting of cayenne are recommended. If you must, a topping of cheese is OK...but use ONLY thin pre-shredded cheddar to maintain the proper taste. OK, I'm gonna have lunch now......
Tulsa's Coney Island, courtesy of Mike Bruchas
Anyhoo... Just catching up here...I don't have a chance to view guestbooks as often as I'd like, but a snowy evening (and figger skating on the NBC) is a good excuse to curl up with a big, thick, steamin' bowl of Wolf Brand Chili (actually my own brew, mostly cow but the odd wolf now and den) and the old laptop. In reference to a previous query, I can't say as my mother ever mentioned where KGG-and-F was on the dial when she worked there in the late 30's. I think the move to the mighty 690 had taken place by that time, but Mom, rest her soul, had to have help to tune a radio. Just one of those non-technical sorts. This is also funny because later she worked for the Atomic Energy Commission--as she said, she just had to type it, not understand it. On the subject of U.N.C.L.E., I can stir the pot with one more conspiracy theory: that the Iowa Scuba Affair was actually the IOLA Scuba Affair, a tribute to Dean Hargrove's home town in Kansas. Misplaced consonants being what they are, the "L" was relocated to the Hollywood sign, as a precursor to the witness protection program. (Iola was also a 1976 Bob and Ray radio bit, where they pitched the Allen County seat as "The Bicentennial City." One of the selling points in the B&R pitch, as I recall was Iola's proximity to Yates Center.) Alternative reality theory--U.N.C.L.E. HQ was somehow connected to Bob Cummings's motel empire in Joplin. What was in that chili? I gotta find the Old Ranger.....or Schultzie...
"No button" is a high security, low intelligence "feature". We're back to the numbers and letters code WITH button.
Did you know that Tulsa launched Dr. Phil's career? Well, indirectly: "McGraw won a football scholarship and played as a linebacker for the University of Tulsa, but when he was injured he quit and transferred to Midwestern State University. He graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 1975, and went on to get his PhD. from the University of North Texas in 1979." Also, Martin Gardner, long-time "Mathematical Games" columnist in Scientific American, was born in Tulsa, was a reporter for the Tulsa Tribune pre-WWII, and now lives in Norman. Here is a 2005 interview in PDF format (I noticed that one of my OU math professors was present during it.) (P.s., I was able to get rid of the number/letter code required for Guestbook posting, so it will be a little easier.)
I simply want to see if Marj would like to take up an email, phone or letter friendship. I am writing a book "based on reality" (Forest Park) where the Monks ran the fire department in the 70s. We shared stories. It was a blast! Thank you for any help you can give. In response to the webmaster's flippant query as to whether she referred to the John Monks family: (P.s., No, they were real monks who painted icons, raised llamas for pets and baked bread to sustain them. I heard that eventually they got enough attention with their "Brother John" bread that a con artist(s) bought them out at a fraudulently low figure. They finally had to move "back north" with all their belongings in and on an ancient truck or car.)
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the bogus "Mesa Frozen Entrees Enthusiasts Club" site (the poor design is integral to the plot) contains an image I scanned for TTM years ago: a Swanson TV dinner (I then thawed it and ate it.) This scan has really gotten around; Boing Boing also used it last year at the passing of the inventor of the TV dinner. NBT is a "mockumentary", somewhat in the vein of "Best of Show" or "A Mighty Wind", but guaranteed, this iconoclastic movie will offend some. So check out the web site first and don't shoot the messenger. The movie's star/writer/director Sean Anders emailed me:
"Needless to say, finding art for the old entrees wasn't easy. Much of it we created ourselves. We tried to get a hold of Swanson but that turned out to be harder than getting a hold of the president."
"At the tender age of eighteen, Vivian Jones left her home in Independence [Kansas] for Tulsa, Oklahoma and became Vivian Vance. In Tulsa she performed at amusement parks and speakeasies before moving to New York in the late twenties." I found this to be very interesting.
It sure is. Then she must have performed at Crystal City Amusement Park in west Tulsa, home of the first Zingo.
Anyhoo, Ed hired me 25 years ago today. I am still gainfully employed, now with CBS in Sacramento, and wanted to thank him. I have been with this company, here and at our sister station KMPS in Seattle, for almost 18 years. Yes...there must be something WRONG with me to be so steadily employed...but, I love this job. I just wanted Ed to know that he made the right decision. This is a fun site! Too bad the KELi spaceship is gone. Bummer...
A friend told me that he once fell asleep on mike while reading the noontime stock report.
Probably KWON.
Re Mr. Norton and radio wackiness: here, the first Wednesday in January at noon, Bonneville axed their pop station, moved 60-year-old commercial classical WGMS to another frequency, shut down their Fed News Radio AM, moved flagship WTOP to WGMS' slot (engineers say was best frequency in market) and dual-illuminated WTOP on another FM frequency other than their low-power FM repeater located out by Bro. Hillis. Whew - add to this WTOP on AM and FM in Frederick, MD and announcing in March that one of the WTOP dual FM's and their D.C. AM will become "Washington Post Radio" - run with the Post to do an NPR-like longer form news service - more talk with Post reporters and 3 of the stations will have new call letters like WTWP AM & FM. By the way, the staff at the pop station were all axed and the frequency changes midday caused a lot of car radio button reprogramming. WTOP-FM is the #1 rated station in DC and WGMS is like #8 - so initially a lot of listeners were cornfused! But the "WTOP radio network" covers the town on about 6 frequencies! Better than canned satellite stuff fed in from outta town!
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One of the promo images in the
Spot is from Flash-powered web toon "The Phantasmagoria" by TTM reader Kirk
Demarais. He sent the 
Gary Chew
(via Channel E to webmaster)