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March 28 2012 at 14:41:41
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: RetroOK WKY page
Comments
: This might be of interest to some of you. A history with pix of WKY in Okie City. Go to:

http://www.retrometrookc.org/wky-tv-collection




March 28 2012 at 00:35:03
Name: Jon
Topic: Oklahoma songs
Comments
: Well Mark try not to dream of another "Sons" hit

"Cool, Clear, Water"

Then you'd need to listen to the "Soggy Bottom Boys"




March 27 2012 at 20:42:34
Name: Mark Erdwin
Topic: Oklahoma songs
Comments
: "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma" by The Sons of the Pioneers is a favorite of mine. When the world gets to be too much, an evening spent listening to cowboy songs cures what ails me. (Except, maybe, for my recent affinity for frequent trips to the bathroom during the night.)




March 27 2012 at 08:06:12
Name: Rick Clark
Topic: Oklahoma songs
Email: clarkrick@yahoo.com
Comments: Oklahoma native the late Mel McDaniel has a very pretty album cut titled "Oklahoma, you're still home to me". You can find it on Youtube. I played it regulary on KVOO am back in the day




March 23 2012 at 12:32:13
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: Nuther Okie Song
Email: North Of You
Comments:
Whoops! Almost forgot about Glen Campbell!

"By the time I make Oklahoma..She'll be texting".

Or maybe it was sleeping.




March 22 2012 at 08:30:54
Name: Sonny Hollingshead
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments
: In his song W.O.L.D. Harry Chapin sings:

"So I drifted on down to Tulsa, Oklahoma to do me a late night talk show."




March 22 2012 at 07:44:12
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: Sidebar: I'd mentioned "Red Solo cup...Let's Have a Party..."
Well, somebody's going to have a party. Solo Cup was just bought by Dart Corp.
for ONE BILLION dollars.




March 22 2012 at 06:34:18
Name: Jim
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: "Gotta go to Tulsa, first train we can ride. Gotta settle one old score, one small point of pride..."

Grateful Dead, Jack Straw




March 21 2012 at 01:11:12
Name: Jon
Topic: Oklahoma Theme
Comments
: How about Oklahoma native Roger Miller's Oklahoma Woman

Ribbon of concrete, stretching out far before me
Ribbon of concrete, stretching back far behind
I'm rattling down round the southern parts of Texas
With that Oklahoma woman on my mind

Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, what a day the day was the day that I found her
Oklahoma woman, whoa whoa woman
Oh Lord, I can't wait to get home and put my two arms around her

Well, it's starting to rain and I sure am glad I ain't walking
Yeah the telephone poles go flying by like they're flying
And I'm thinking about a lot of things but mainly
It's that Oklahoma woman on my mind

Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, what a day the day was the day that I found her
Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, I can't wait to get home and put my two arms around her

So, I say come on wheels and roll me on back to my baby
Yeah, keep turning round and head me on down the line
And radio keep on playing songs to remind me
It's that Oklahoma woman on my mind

Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, what a day the day was the day that I found her
Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, I can't wait to get home and put my two arms around her

Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, what a day the day was the day that I found her
Oklahoma woman, whoa, whoa woman
Oh Lord, I can't wait to get home and put my two arms around her




March 20 2012 at 19:44:10
Name: Mike Miller
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: We can't exclude "Oklahoma." "Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain." And, oh boy, does it!

Of course, the song is from the hit Broadway musical "Oklahoma!" which was the first musical written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Opening Night: Mar 31, 1943, St. James Theatre. (2,212 performances.)




March 20 2012 at 11:08:43
Name: Erick
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: "Take Me Back to Tulsa" was, of course, most famously performed by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. I believe Bob also wrote the song.

"24 Hours From Tulsa" is a favorite of mine. Written by Burt Bacharach. Gene Pitney's version is the most well-known, but I think Dusty Springfield and others have covered it.

Another song that mentions Tulsa (and Oklahoma City) is "Heart of Rock n Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News....




March 20 2012 at 09:00:06
Name: Mike Miller
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: Vince Gill's "Oklahoma Borderline" with a great guitar solo and Michael Franks recorded some country songs, including, "King of Oklahoma." Also, when I think of "Route 66" I think of Mel Torme.




March 19 2012 at 23:56:20
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: More OK Lyrics
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments: Thanks to Bobby Troup, but it's seldom sung (2nd verse). I think Perry Como sings the line on one of his records:

"You'll like the aroma of Tulsa, Oklahoma." From, as Si Hawk pointed out earlier, "Route 66," which is a real standard for sure. Yes, Nat Cole...and Bobby Troup, hisself, having fine recordings of this fab song.

Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino, signing off.




March 19 2012 at 17:31:03
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: Mo Okie Tunes
Email: North Of You
Comments: Redneck Mother - Jerry Jeff Walker

Cherokee Fiddle - Johnnie Lee

Also mentioned in (along with oodles of others) I've Been Everywhere - Johnny Cash.




March 19 2012 at 12:49:23
Name: Charles
Topic: OK songs
Comments: Never Been to Spain. Written by Hoyt Axton, made famous by Three Dog Night.




March 19 2012 at 10:32:29
Name: Mike Tucker
Topic: OK and Tulsa Songs
Email: mikedottucker@tuckerswebdotcom
Comments: I have enjoyed this site since it started. First time I have had anything to add and it's probably redundant. "Take me back to Tulsa (I'm too young to marry)is a Tulsey song that comes to mind. Asleep at the Wheel I think was the artist, probably more.




March 18 2012 at 23:45:38
Name: Gary
Topic: Ike's chili recipe
Email: garylelia@q.com
Comments: Scott , I have finally come very close to a homemade chile that tastes a whole lot like Ike's. The secret is Gephart's chili powder, I read in a blog on another site that Ike's used that brand. I used 2 lbs ground beef, two tablespoons Gephart's chili powder, 3 cups water, only about 4 ounces of tomato sauce and that was it, no cumin or anything else, tastes very much like Ike's chili, not quite but very close. Think the Gephart's brand powder is what did it, give it a try.




March 18 2012 at 14:54:00
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: Great responses!

One I intended to include, but forgot (How can that happen?) was a sort of syrupy number in the late 'thirties called "In Old Oklahoma." For the period, it wasn't too bad.

There must be a bootlegger song somewhere.




March 17 2012 at 23:14:11
Name: Tim
Topic: OK/Tulsa Songs
Comments: Like so many others, my 'recall' isn't what it used to be, but THE song to have for this playlist begins and ends with "Home Sweet Oklahoma" by one Leon Russell.

Other favorites are, in no particular order:
"Tulsa Time" (of course, and your choice of artists)
"Boys From Oklahoma" by Cross Canadian Ragweed
"Oklahoma Blues" by Watermelon Slim
"Oklahoma Swing" by Vince Gill/Reba McEntire
"The Tulsa Shuffle" by The Tractors




March 17 2012 at 22:50:58
Name: Jon Cummins
Topic: Tulsa songs
Comments: I will need some help on this please. About 30+ years back a special on TV was interviewing people on when Louis B. Meyer was in Tulsa for some movie deal in the mid-late twenties and had an idea with his engineer of how to add sound to film. I might be totally off with names, but he found out Roy Smeck was staying at the Tulsa Hotel. He sent for him in the morning on a Saturday wanting him to record some. He went, but to rebel some he only took his Ukulele and didn't wear more than a housecoat and slippers. The track was later stuck on the short and was the first prototype of "Talkies" Like i said I'm unsure of Meyer and Smeck, but the Tulsa Hotel was the one mentioned.


Another story I know for sure is "T-U-L-S-A straight ahead" was written by Leon McAuliff's sideman Jimmy Hall after a gig in Coffeeville, and wanting a pint. Leon had extras for this type of occasion and sold them for inflated prices. Hall didn't have the dough so Leon told him to write a tune for it. It was rainy and looking out the steamed window of the bus he saw a yellow triangular sign saying Tulsa with an arrow pointing up. Within minutes Hall had his "Hooch" and Leon had a hit. I played later with Leon, and knew the guy's on that band who told the story. Jimmy Hall was a good fiddler, excellent singer and great writer, but many were sold or traded like this one.




March 17 2012 at 22:14:29
Name: Scotty Comstock
Topic: Oklahoma/Tulsa songs
Email: scottycomstockatyahoo.com
Comments:
"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" from the movie "Any Which Way You Can"
performed by David Frizell and Shelly West written by Felice and Boudeaux Bryant.
This writing team is also known for Bye Bye Love and All I have to Do Is Dream.

Also a song for the SemiCentenial written and performed by Ralph Blane "Riding into Tulsa"*

*This is based on 50+ years of fuzzy memory.




March 17 2012 at 16:37:50
Name: Si Hawk
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Email: sihawk@HawksHomeTown.Com
Comments: Jim,

I'd place "24-Hours From Tulsa" by Gene Pitney on that list. How about "Route-66" by Nat Cole? Just my 2-cents.




March 17 2012 at 14:53:07
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Oklahoma Songs
Comments: Has anyone ever burned a CD containing as many Oklahoma/Tulsa songs as they can recall?
Samples: "Take Me Back to Tulsa"
"T-U-L-S-A, Straight Ahead"
"Tulsa, Swingin' Down to Tulsa"
"The Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born"
"I'm an Okie from Muskogee"

Of course, we have to include the Rogers and Hammerstein monument,
but there was another "Official State Song" that preceded it, a goofy relic of olden days "Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Fairest Daughter of the West..."

The Topaz Room at the Hotel Tulsa once hosted nationally prominent bands and one, led by Ted Fio Rito, left with a tune the bandleader wrote "Beautiful Topaz Girl."

There must be many others and this is just off the top of my gray head.




March 12 2012 at 16:04:12
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Radio news changes
Comments: CNN Radio is going away - forever.
A low wattage AM used to carry it in DC when I lived there - years ago...

The folks who syndicated CNN Radio - are now helping NBC launch NBC News Radio...

If only they would bring back MONITOR on weekends!




March 12 2012 at 09:55:33
Name: John Durkee
Topic: Radio Greats Being Fired
Email: johndashdurkeeatutulsadotedu
Comments: While I am thrilled at being considered a "radio great", unless you know something I don't, I have never been fired in Tulsa radio for any reason.

I left KRMG in 2008 of my own accord, after 20-years in the ND's chair, I wanted a break. I set out my non-compete clause in the Mayor's office and returned to radio in 2009 at the University of Tulsa.

The closest I came to being fired was at KAKC when the station sold in 1980, but I left before the ownership change took place.




March 09 2012 at 20:48:25
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: "Whatever the Weather"
Comments: You can order it from Anderson's Bookshop in Downers Grove, IL.

$19.95 and I think they said $7 for shipping and handling.

There might be some autographed copies left...

Anderson's Bookshop
5112 Main St
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Tel: 630-963-2665




March 08 2012 at 09:31:22
Name: Chuck Fullhart
Topic: Whatever the Weather
Comments: Jim,
Looks like Harry Volkman is self-publishing his book, at least in the early stage of distribution.
I'm like you, first stop Amazon.
Second stop Google.
This is off the WGN website.

WGN News
Harry Volkman

To order a copy of Whatever The Weather: My Life & Times As A TV Weatherman, send an e-mail to Mr. Volkman. His address is: harryvolkman@gmail.com




March 08 2012 at 08:53:33
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Harry Volkman's book
Comments: Couldn't find the book on Amazon. How can we get it?




March 06 2012 at 21:04:14
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Harry Volkman's book - "Whatever the Weather"
Comments: Bought an autographed copy (no - I missed his signing here..) and it has a lot of neat anecdotes in it.

Like when he went to work at 6 - he worked for free initially.

Or KWTV having the first weather radar in the state - KTUL imitated it years later with a surplus airplane radar. WKY - rented a feed from Tinker AFB's radar to keep with KWTV in the 50's.

Jim Ruddle gets mentioned as the long suffering co-anchor with Floyd Kalber - who did not WANT a co-anchor at WMAQ-TV. Harry worked at WMAQ thrice - I think.

Sent our webmeister some jacket cover images to post of the book.





March 06 2012 at 15:54:24
Name: Scott Linder
Topic: Radio Recorders fire
Comments: There was a fire at Radio Recorders/"The Annex" here in Hollywood yesterday. Only one portion of the the building burned, so we all hope that this classic facility will continue to operate.

The room that burned was Orson Welles' office back in the early days,and the studio was host to many "greats".




March 05 2012 at 19:23:54
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Butch & Ben on KTVY in 1986.
Comments: G.ailard S.artain was a guest and they talked about Hee Haw with him.

He kind of out-comiced the boys - if that is a word.. Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPp-y1fzwiE&feature=related




March 05 2012 at 19:18:00
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Only in America
Comments: One of the Chicago Spanish language stations - now carries FAMILY GUY - in Spanish at 6pm.

Ay caramba!




March 05 2012 at 16:28:36
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Managers
Comments: One, and only one, of the top managers I worked for rates a really big gold star.

When the geniuses in New York found that they had mismanaged the network's finances and its possibilities, they decreed a ten percent cut in all O&O spending. They suggested a ten percent reduction in force.

The guy I'm talking about said he'd cut the ten percent, but wasn't going to do it on employee backs. Instead, he cut out free newspapers, taxi fares where public transportation would suffice, expensive lunches that were supposed to generate "good will" for the sales staff. I've heard that he even said you couldn't get a new pencil unless you brought stub of your old one.

It sounds silly, but it worked. Nobody got laid off and we made the budget. New York hated him.




February 29 2012 at 18:21:32
Name: Gary Thompson
Topic: Radio Greats Being Fired
Email: garythethompson@gmail.com
Comments: Lots of Tulsa radio stalwarts being let go in the wake of budget cuts.

I made this today to honor them.

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/3949/tulsaradiogreatoffice.jpg




February 29 2012 at 14:23:01
Name: Webmaster
Topic: TTM featured in This Land today
Comments:

My article about this site is featured on This Land Press today.





February 28 2012 at 23:50:10
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: Another Musical Coincidence
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments:

I just saw Dan Hicks at Harlow's in Sacramento a few weeks back, too. Good, funny show, there on J Street, as well.




February 28 2012 at 19:30:00
Name: David Worrell
Topic: Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks
Email: david dot j dot worrell at gmail
Comments: I just saw Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica a few weeks ago. Dan's over 70 now but still quite funny and entertaining. His current show - 'the Kollege of Musical Knowledge' - is a chronological history of some of the important songs he encountered on his unique path. Here's a 'sampler':




February 28 2012 at 17:17:05
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: More On Girl Singers
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments:
Following up on Mike Miller's treatise on "An Occasional Man," for the first time in my life, I heard June Christy singing that song on Schwartz' WNYC show today. Didn't even know June recorded it. She wasn't singing it with Kenton's band, btw.

This is Gary Chew, reporting from Carty Counter. And isn't that the counter one finds Town City Shoes, he asked with care.




February 28 2012 at 09:23:45
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Word manglers
Comments: Oh, no! Not the dreaded word manglers and unintended pronunciations!

A fellow at KOME, in its early incarnation in that tall building on Boston (I'm supposed to remember the names of buildings at my age?) hit the copy cold for a business named Town-City Shoes. You got it.

I was always very careful about such things and only made harmless blunders, and the only time I had trouble was when I was accused in Chicago of saying something that I didn't. Thank goodness there was tape of the program and I was proved innocent.

At KOTV, during a 7:00AM newscast, I had an item referring to the prosecutor in Carter County. I said "Carty Counter." I apologized. Tried again, and damned if I didn't say "Carty Counter." Now, getting angry with myself, I almost bellowed "Carty Counter!"

I put the item aside, went on with the newscast and, just before the conclusion, picked up the blasted copy and cooly read "Carter County."

I don't remember who in the studio did it, but somebody clapped.

Working in the West where Spanish names, with pronunciation challenges abound, lots could go wrong. And, even with Oklahoma backgrounds, Native American names were often diabolical to the Anglo.

Noel Confer encountered--again cold copy--the story of a hit and run fatality on a California highway.

"Police report the death of a man who was struck by a car as he walked alongside a highway, tonight. He was identified as Jacob Hoopappy."

Jarred and unthinking, Noel blurted at high volume: "Hoopappy? Hoopappy?'

There are gag reels everywhere of the salacious stuff.




February 27 2012 at 20:21:55
Name: Mike Miller
Topic: Doris Day
Comments: I always thought Doris Day was underrated as a singer AND especially as an actress. However, Alfred Hitchcock liked her enough to play her opposite James Stewart in his 1956 thriller, "The Man who Knew Too Much." The same year, she played an airline stewardess who had to land an airliner in "Julie." "Julie" was another thriller most have forgotten except for me and her other fans. Hard to believe she's now 87.

Gary Chew will, no doubt, remember the difficulty I had on KTUL-Radio introducing something from "Doris Day's Greatest Hits" album. (We played it a lot.) Using very careful enunciation only drew attention. I'll have to admit, it did come out, "Greatest Tits," a few times.

Que Sera, Sera.




February 27 2012 at 02:52:11
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: Girl Singers & Oscar
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments:
Glad to see the girl singer thread still running. I just heard Doris Day, yesterday on Jonathan Schwartz' "High Standards" out of WNYC in NYC play Day singing that very song as posted by Batterson...it was with solo piano accompaniment. Schwartz was falling all over himself with praise. I agree. Yes to Mr. Ruddle on Jo Stafford. She did have one great musical ear. I once owned the Jonathan and Darlene Edwards LP, until someone ripped it off from me over the years. "Great" off-key singing and piano playing on it with Jo and her hubby, Paul Weston. I had a lot of people going with that record over the years. When it would come on with other LPs on my stereo, I'd act to my pals as if I couldn't tell the pair was doing the music terribly. That was fun. Glad The Artist won this evening down in La La Land. Great film, I recommend it to everyone. It's family friendly, as well. Glad, also, that Plummer won for "Beginners," a damned good movie also, btw. See it, if you haven't. I think I have a review of it archived here somewhere.




February 26 2012 at 14:42:24
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: "The Great One"
Comments: JACKIE GLEASON was born on this date in 1916. He died on June 24, 1987.

The kinescopes of his shows - transferred to videotape still are being run - everywhere.

Maybe not as many episodes of Andy of Mayberry - I think someone said - "running every 30 minutes - somewhere on this planet..".




February 25 2012 at 21:32:45
Name: David Batterson
Topic: "When I Fall In Love"
Email: OldKWGS-FMGuy@OutWest.com
Comments: Jim, it was the great Doris Day. Hear it here, with some old photos someone posted with it.




February 25 2012 at 10:57:50
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Humor in popular music
Comments: Thanks, Mike.

It troubles me--but not a lot--that I can't recall all the names. One thing that does bother the hell out of me though is that popular American music somewhere along the way decided that humor no longer had a place. Country and Western still uses humor (Red Solo Cup...Let's have a party) but the old standards frequently were accompanied on the radio with something offbeat and funny. This goes all the way back to the beginnings of recorded music with people like Billy Murray singing "The Prohiition Blues," or "You Tell Her. I Stutter." A lack of PC, to be sure, but what the hell. Or Jones and Hare with "Old King Tut" or "My Cutie's Due and Two to Two." And people closer to us like Phil Harris, or even, Sinatra with something like "High Hopes."

But I ramble.

Webmaster on 'Austin City Limits, taped in 1991

That's one of the many things I've liked about Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, since I first caught them on "The Flip Wilson Show" in 1972. A strange amalgam of jazz, Hawaiian, Western swing, Tin Pan Alley and more.

I was lucky enough to see them live and in person on "Austin City Limits" in 1992. Even got my mug (and ridiculous shorts) on camera several times.

The video below is from the 1972 show.

A new edition of Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks is currently active.







February 24 2012 at 22:30:09
Name: Mike Miller
Topic: An Occasional Man?
Comments: "I've Got an Island in the Pacific" also known as "An Occasional Man" was recorded by several artists including Julie London. But Jim Ruddle, I'll bet you are more likely thinking of Jeri Southern or Rosemary Clooney.

I got an island
In the Pacific
And everything about it
Is terrific

I got the sun to tan me
Palms to fan me
And
An occasional man

My favorite part of that song was the chorus:

"When I go swimmin
I am always dressed in style
'Cause I go swimmin
Wearin' just a great big smile."


Webmaster: Sorry for my prolonged absence. I've had to devote full resources to the new job.

I first heard this song relatively recently in this charming version from the group, Don Tiki:






February 24 2012 at 20:49:07
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Female singers
Comments: Somebody recently wrote on this blog that Jo Stafford deserved mention. She deserves much more. The woman was phenomenal. She had perfect pitch and perfect interval--that's how she and husband were able to produce the Jonathan and Darlene Edwards material wherein she uncannily contrived to sing just off-key enough to make your nerves vibrate.

McRae was marvelous. I downed more drinks than I should listening to her "In Love in Vain." And we have shunted some talented people aside because they became TOO popular. Dinah Shore is one. Given the right material, she could sing.

And who can enlighten me? Who sang "I've Got an Island in the Pacific," and who massaged "When I Fall in Love."? Of course, I can go back a lot farther but who wants that?




February 24 2012 at 18:06:36
Name: Mike Miller
Topic: Joanie Sommers
Comments: Quickly downloaded via MP3 Rocket, "So Nice" aka "Summer Samba" and Gary's right, Stacey Kent does remind one of Joanie Sommers (The voice of the 60s.) A bit more up tempo version of "So Nice" compares Stacey with another fine singer, Basia (Trzetrzelewska) who came along 20-years later.

I've got many songs of both to help me through my daily eight mile bike ride. Thank goodness Joanie Sommers burst onto the scene while Gary and I were music jocks at KTUL-Radio in the late ‘50s-early ‘60s. Joanie was the good-looking girl next door but with a sexy voice not unlike the sensual Julie London. Julie, however, always sounded liked she had just smoked a couple of packs of Camels. (Perhaps recording right after an wifely encounter with Jack Webb.)

KTUL Radio played both Joanie and Julie because of the album covers as well as the terrific recordings inside. Joanie always seemed to have a great West Coast Jazz band backing her. You may recall her popular Pepsi commercials, particularly, "For those who think young."

I'll now run and download some Stacey Kent sexy vocals. Thanks for the heads up, Gary.


I love that tune, "So Nice", especially as performed by Walter Wanderly and Astrud Gilberto.

Stacey does a unique version of "Dreamsville", too.





February 23 2012 at 19:11:37
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: Girl Singers: Cont'd
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments: Thinking back over these long years, I've come up with another girl singer I really dug, along with my old b'cast bud, Mike Miller, who if I remember correctly, turned me on to her. She didn't get mucho popularity, but could sing like a little bird. Joanie Sommers, that's her name.

There's a new girl singer who sounds a bit like her: Stacey Kent.




February 22 2012 at 03:34:58
Name: Jon Cummins
Topic: Kiddie show
Comments: As I was looking at this piece of history I noticed a name from my past. Gordon Shryock who was on the outskirts of the "Tulsa Sound" back in the mid 60s as a musician who seemed to be well liked by other musicians. He was one of several I can think of that followed the lead of Russell Bridges aka Leon Russell and left for the West Coast. After several years he was back in Tulsa and starting a studio and focusing on the business end of music. Some musicians I worked with were worried to have dealings with Gordon and afraid he might steal any original tune that wasn't copywrote. Later in the 80s he started a big studio at 13 and Detroit called studio 1 and it's still there as studio 2.

I was with some guys who was the first to record for Gordon there, and I was really impressed with him and felt nothing that the rumor mills had done to poor old Gordon. He didn't deserve that! A lot of his "friends" would tease him about his speach impedament or stuttering, which seemed wrong, but he just took most of that as an endearment. I think the picture shows a lanky kid with curly hair second from the right, and that is probably him. RIP Gordon




February 20 2012 at 16:47:20
Name: Daniel Presley
Topic: Tulsa kids' shows
Comments: Here is a good pic and a page from an old Tulsa TV News about KOTV's Kids Karnival show from the 50's (called Kiddies' Karnival by the Tulsa TV News). The page has a legend of the names of the kids in the talent portion of the show (seen in the big pic). If anyone knows these people, you might let them know about the picture.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ewild/KathyKaneWilson2ndgirlfromrightatKOTVstudios.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ewild/KathyKaneWilsononTVguidepage2ndgirlfromrightinbottompic.jpg




February 20 2012 at 11:42:35
Name: Bryan Crain
Topic: Pop Shoppe
Comments: The Pop Shoppe was at 17th and Yale in the shopping strip just north of target. It had the refillable bottles of various flavors.

The 51 drive in lot (poles intact) is still there.. sans the screen(storm took it out in 93 or so). If you go to bing.com and use the 'birds eye' view you can see it.




February 19 2012 at 20:14:58
Name: John
Topic: Motorcycle TV
Email: myfirstcardotorgatgmaildotcom
Comments: As the keepers of all local TV knowledge, does anyone here remember a locally produced show called "Motorcycle 75"? It may have either lasted into 76 or begun in 74 ; cant remember. Seems to me it was on channel 2, but as i was usually a channel 8 kind of guy, it may have been there. Or channel 6... :)

Anyway, it was a 30 minute program on Saturday afternoons about local races and other two wheeled events. Would love to know what anyone here knows/remembers about it and to know if any footage still exists. Several area racers I know would enjoy seeing copies.




February 18 2012 at 20:19:32
Name: Dave
Topic: 51 Drive-In
Comments: The drive-in on 71st Street was indeed the 51 Drive In. It's profiled on this site at 51drive.html. It was so named because 71st Street was originally the route for Oklahoma Highway 51. The Broken Arrow Expressway took became Highway 51 inn its place when it opened in the mid-1960s and 71st Street was no longer had the highway designation, but the drive-in kept the name anyway.




February 18 2012 at 15:46:46
Name: Scott Linder
Topic: Jeffery's Tulsa memories
Comments: Jeffrey, I believe that the drive-in you mentioned was the 51 Drive-In and was perhaps also called the Broken Arrow Drive-In at one time.

I seem to recall that my Operator friend Corky Coble and I went there on a service-call back in the 60s. The couple who owned and operated the theatre were very nice. The place needed a lot of work, and Corky and I spent several days there.

To think the booth had a pair of Simplex E7s with 5-blade shutters, RCA 9030 sound heads, Altec amprifiers and Strong Mighty Ninety lamps.

Of course, that was over 40 years ago and my memory isn't what it used to be, as other TTVM folks can tell you!!!




February 18 2012 at 14:34:28
Name: Charles
Topic: Weathermen
Comments: Bryan: Don't know about one by BA. But there was one on Admiral between Memorial and Mingo called Favor Flavor.




February 18 2012 at 11:33:33
Name: Michael Miller
Topic: Sing went the strings of my heart
Comments: If the debate over great voices is not limited to Black female vocalists, perhaps overlooked are some who might not attract as much media attention as Whitney Houston. (I agree with Scott Linder. I suppose sudden death. At a young age, with a drug history has something to do with all the news coverage.)

Not sure where I'd rank these ladies, but deserving of honorable mention I believe are: Barbra Streisand, Eydie Gormé (incredible range as demonstrated in "I‘ll Take Romance"), and Karen Carptenter, (whose underrated voice was much fuller than her stomach.)




February 17 2012 at 20:24:56
Name: Bryan
Topic: Soda
Email: theweathergod13@yahoo.com
Comments: Does anyone remember a refillable bottle soda pop company located in Southeast Tulsa, Broken Arrow area?




February 17 2012 at 20:21:13
Name: Bryan
Topic: Weathermen
Email: theweathergod13@yahoo.com
Comments: Missing the days of Gary Shore, Don Woods, and Lee Woodward doing our local weather.




February 17 2012 at 00:19:53
Name: Jeffrey L. Bennett
Topic: Lost Tulsa and Memories
Email: jeffreytuls@aol.com
Comments: I can clearly flashback to the 1970s, 1980s and even the early 1990s when there was more in Tulsa that is no longer in existance today. There was a small family-owned drive-in theater on 71st street right before you ran into Broken Arrow. I can't remember that name of this business but I do remember seeing the movie "LA Confidential" there back in 1991 right before it closed. I also remember the Italian Inn Restaurant being located in the London Square Shopping Center. The food could not have been better. There was a Godfather's Pizza at Admiral & Memorial which is now gone. Yes I do remember the waterslide at 48th & Yale. I went down that slide with my family when I was visiting in Tulsa. There was once a Chi-chi's Restaurant at 71st & Memorial Drive. It was later Raphels then the Yucatan Liquor Stand and the building has been demolished. I am glad to see that Charlie Mitchell's, Jack In The Box, Schlotsky's, and A & W Restaurant have all been brought back to Tulsa.




February 17 2012 at 00:12:23
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: Female Song Stylists
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments: Ah, singers. Well, Ella is not really beatable. But there are some who get real close to what that marvelous lady had.

I was fortunate enough to have caught Carmen McRae near the end of her life at the Concord Jazz Fest in the Bay Area. Mag-oh-niff-i-scent she was. But singers can be very "this or that" in terms of the tastes of those who listen to them: I've never enjoyed listening to Sarah Vaughn in her mature years. Nancy Wilson also grates on my ears. I'm more toward singers like the late, marvelous Suzannah McCorkle who sang in NYC venues lots. Her story ended quite sadly.

Billie Holiday is a one in a million, for sure. Ms. Houston I've hardly listened to. The less jazzy but still pop singer of today really doesn't cut it for me.

American Popular Song lovers, if they don't already, should check out Jonathan Schwartz on XM Radio via WNYC in, as Jonathan says, New Yawk. Son of Arthur Schwartz. "High Standards" is the show title. Starts noon-time at my house in CA. It's on EVERY day. Ch 4. I would be surprised if he didn't do the gig from his bedroom in the Apple. Another great female singer of the past was Jo Stafford.




February 16 2012 at 15:50:01
Name: Scott Linder
Topic: The real vocalists
Comments: Mr. Ruddle, I certainly agree with you.

You and I could probably make a very long list of the vocalists who built the sound of American music LONG before those who now have the audacity to stand before the mic.

It's always nice to hear from you.




February 16 2012 at 09:10:31
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Female singers
Comments:

Vaughn was an impressive talent, but I'd like for someone to tell me what female vocalist--whatever the time or the tempo, year in or out--was superior to Ella.




February 14 2012 at 18:58:15
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: Singers
Email: North Of You
Comments: Houston and Vaughn were both born in Newark New Jersey,although 41 years apart.

Personally, I'm a Sade fan.




February 14 2012 at 16:28:33
Name: Scott Linder
Topic: The Whitney Houston hype
Comments: So, what is all the media hype about the death of Whitney Houston? Of course, I'm sorry that she passed but I don't recall this same coverage when Sarah Vaughan died. Her voice was far beyond this Houston gal, as well as many other vocalists. I don't get it.




February 12 2012 at 15:17:44
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: Fotos
Email: North Of You (Maybe)
Comments:
While browsing through some old photos the other day I came across a photo envelope with the Fotomat logo.I had forgotten about that kiosk chain that offered same day developing.

Fotomat once had about 4000 locations at it's peak and now has gone away along with the Kodak products that it offered.




February 10 2012 at 15:07:04
Name: Erick
Topic: 1979 Brookside Shorts Day
Comments: Soon, KOTV will be abandoning their long-time home at 3rd and Frankfort for new digital state-of-the-art digs in Greenwood. As they inventory their video archives, they're airing occasional gems on the news and posting them to their website. Here's a link to a story from occasional TTM visitor and Channel 6 Eyewitness News reporter Rex Daugherty about 1979's Shorts Day in Brookside.

http://www.newson6.com/story/16901754/from-the-vault-shorts-days-flops-for-tulsas-brookside




February 10 2012 at 14:13:53
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: PBS
Email: Look For Dead Snake On Fence...Turn Left
Comments:
Coming soon!

PBS on Pay Per View!

Actually I've come across some Nova episodes on Netflix so I guess it's already happened.




February 10 2012 at 11:12:49
Name: David Batterson
Topic: Crazy Busey?
Email: CitizenCain'sBallroom@whoknows.com
Comments: It was interesting, to say the least, to watch Busey on "Celebrity Apprentice" a while back. Even Trump said at one time that he wasn't sure if Gary was just crazy or a genius.




February 10 2012 at 09:06:56
Name: Chuck Fullhart
Topic: Gary Busey in song
Comments: Re: Brother Bruchas's post on Teddy Jack Eddy singing to his newborn: Seems like anything Mr. Busey gets noticed for is always a little surreal. I'm pretty sure that a lot of that is a very carefully cultivated image, backed with a lot of talent. When I have seen him interviewed in the past, a lot of intelligence comes through.




February 09 2012 at 15:56:40
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: Way West of Mitch
Email: But Northeast of Eden
Comments:
Mitch, I worked at OETA for about 2 years. Don't get me started on the (uh, sorry can't use that word in this venue)...anyway...guys who want to gut noncommercial radio and tv programming. I think there'll always be, at least, a few of them around. It's not a perfect world, I've heard.




February 09 2012 at 14:02:00
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Tech Wail
Comments: MIKE, You can always store your audio tape with your Kodachrome.




February 08 2012 at 21:17:16
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Tape Recorders a la school days
Comments: At my first semi-broadcast job at a new high school FM radio station in Downers Grove, IL - we had Wollensack mono recorders - "just like the AV department had". The square mic and flashing white light to let you know if you were over-modulating when recording.

WDGC later had a Roberts (aka Akai) higher end home stereo recording deck.
Several Viet Nam vets - whom I knew - brought back the same behemoth reel-to-reel.

When Wollensak came out with their stereo version - the school system almost bought us one.

Segue to 88 year old guy whom I am HCPOA for - he was a teacher at a local high school and is a hoarder.
Cleaning out his apartment last June - for a move to assisted living - I found that he had a "new in box" Wollensack mono AV deck from circa 40+ years ago. He had forgotten about it - I'll inherit it and a like "new-in-box" Nikkormat 35mm slide projector of equal maturity.

Though the future of recording tape is doubtful.




February 08 2012 at 21:03:30
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: "Teddy Jack Eddy"
Comments: Gary Busey was on TMZ Tuesday night - singing to his newest child...was a bit surreal till you saw the baby.

Also it looked like he was parked in a handicapped zone.

His image is in an article on music for the Celebrity Wife Swap show music.

http://reelchicago.com/article/sonixphere-cues-enhance-abc-s-reality-show-characters




February 08 2012 at 18:51:40
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: No Dough
Email: Way East Of Chew
Comments:

(CBS) Gary Busey is not doing so well in the financial department. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Tuesday, reports TMZ.com.

On another topic, It looks like certain Oklahoma politicians want to defund OETA again.




February 08 2012 at 16:19:59
Name: Gary Chew
Topic: Gracious Savior
Email: Northeast of Eden
Comments: Mr. Ruddle: I think that, after seeing fleetly moments of Ms. Grace's Ranting/Hand-Wringing "Reality" Show on my, now, undone cable feed that her last name is an unfortunate misnomer.




February 08 2012 at 16:05:59
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Cop Show
Comments: Viewers thought it meant saving Nancy Grace, and nobody was interested.




February 08 2012 at 13:51:52
Name: Aitchpee
Topic: Cop Show
Comments: That female cop show set on OKC was called "Saving Grace" They ended it last year, even had a series finale.




February 04 2012 at 16:57:33
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: GRIMM on NBC
Comments: Started to get addicted to this vampire/monster/unknown semi-cop show.

Set in Portland OR, they intermix a lot of location shots from there with what must be Vancouver.

What happened the the Holly Hunter cop show - supposedly set in OKC? Was on one of the bigger cable nets.




February 03 2012 at 14:24:32
Name: John K. Young
Topic: Buddy Holly Movie (NEW)
Email: johnk662561atyahoodotcom
Comments: Looks like the book, "Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganamede" is being prepped for the big screen....or at least to DVD.

http://youtu.be/OmQpZ7iYDo4




February 03 2012 at 12:13:46
Name: David Batterson
Topic: Best Movies I Saw in 2011
Email: DB@FarWestGeezers.com
Comments: Gary, you forgot "The Help." I knew after seeing it, that it would get some Oscar nominations. I hope Viola Davis wins the Oscar (after getting the SAG award).




February 01 2012 at 20:24:17
Name: Webmaster
Topic: Previous GroupBlog link
Comments:

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