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April 30 2008 at 08:29:13
Name: George Tomek at KTVY, Channel 4, OKC, 1976George Tomek
Topic: Kent Cigarettes & The Hi-Los
Email: mranchor@cox.net
Comments: I've been away from this great website for a while and I'm going back a few pages in the current blog.

I remember back in the heyday of cigarette advertising on TV, Kent cigarettes with the Micronite filter (which was made with process using asbestos, of all things). The Hi-Los did a jazzy commercial. I wonder if it's still around on You Tube or some other vehicle?

Re: Bob Mills. I worked on the Sun Up show right out of TU in 1960. About six weeks later, Bob Mills left to start up the same show at KFMB-TV in San Diego. In January, 1963, I was on active duty with the Navy and got stationed on a destroyer home-ported there. Although I spent much of the next three years off the coast of SOCAL or in the western Pacific, I did get to see Bob on TV from time to time and talked with him a couple of times on the phone. Bill Hyden, of course, replaced Bob Mills on Sun Up and he was great to work with.

After I got out of the Navy in early '66, I worked briefly at KOTV before taking a weekend anchor/reporting job at WKY-TV in OKC. By that time, Bill Hyden had become the 10 p.m. anchor at Channel 6 and was just as pleasant and professional to work with as always.

I have very fond memories of my time in Tulsa. Great city and very savvy media market.


Welcome back, George.

The Randy Van Horne Singers were musical cousins (or closer) to the Hi-Los, and did a lot of work for TV in the 50s and 60s. Van Horne had started a vocal group in the 1950s, the Encores, four members of which went on to form the Hi-Los. The Van Horne Singers notably performed "The Flintstones", "The Jetsons" and "Yogi Bear" themes and many commercials. Read more about him at Space Age Pop Music.

I'm not sure which group, if either, performed on this Kent commercial, but it was a memorable ad campaign. The tune "Happiness Is" (with special Micronite-filtered lyrics) was written by the prolific Paul Evans for Kent. It became a hit for the Ray Conniff Singers in 1965.







April 30 2008 at 00:53:38
Name: Frank Morrow
Topic: Emergency
Email: frankmoratiodotcom
Comments: Maybe the worst thing that could happen in the '50s would be on the night shift and have digestive-elimination problems. In almost every station the bathroom was way down the hall toward or passed the front door. There were monitors everywhere to enable you to hear what was happening on air from any part of the building.

These were the days of 78 rpm records. This meant that your time in the bathroom was limited to three minutes or a little less, portal-to-portal. It was maddening to hear on the monitor the "sssst, sssst, sssst" of the stylus cycling on the record that had finished playing. Oh, the fun of dashing down the hall, trying to pull your pants up! You'd then put on another record and dash back to the bathroom, hoping that another three minutes would allow you to finish the job.




April 29 2008 at 16:34:33
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: This dream thing in a control room
Comments: Funny, no one that I ever worked with is on the shift with me. Like I am training a TV tech crew how to do a newscast IN a live newscast. Amazingly, we never take a commercial break to resolve the issues.

And mid-dream, the control room configurations change, switcher buttons vanish, the intercom goes dead, and talent is either late to the studio or confused...though some of this seems like REAL LIFE nightmare shifts at KOTV back in '76-'77 with the George Jacobs hand-made switcher!




April 29 2008 at 16:34:14
Name: Mitch Gray
Topic: Radio oops!
Email: North of Y'all
Comments: Early in my radio career, I was working at KAZZ in Sallisaw. The station had all the music on 10 inch tape reels (provided from Tanner Dallas) loaded on 4 separate decks.

One evening while approaching the end of a tune, I opened the mike to talk and BAM! all the decks started turning at once and would not stop. For some rookie reason, all the pots were up too! So I was playing 4 songs at once and freakin out! I killed all the deck pots, slammed in a cart of Stairway To Heaven and called the engineer who begrudgingly got out of bed and fixed the problem.

Another time while working at KMUS in Muskogee, we were doing live remotes from all the C.R. Anthony stores at once.

The guy running the board was pretty green and struggling to remember which pot was what store. Needless to say, he had us all on at once. In his frustration he yelped, "This thing is all F****d up!" He did not realize his mike was up and all the Anthonys patrons got to here his expletive! (Sounds like Beth Rengel maybe?) I miss old radio.

Hey Bert, I knew the Nelsons too. LeLe, Nane, Billy and Wesley.




April 29 2008 at 13:51:25
Name: DolfanBob
Topic: Joe Riddle
Email: MiamiPhin@yahoo.com
Comments: Big Al Jerkins just announced on the Sports Animal that local Radio personality Joe Riddle passed away yesterday. I just wanted to pass that along.


It was Joe Riddle's dad who passed away, not Joe. I have this on good authority. Our condolences to Joe and family.

Joe is hosting "Humana Radio Theater" (programs from radio's "golden era") Sunday evenings, 6 to 9 pm on 1170 KFAQ.





April 29 2008 at 12:16:34
Name: Lurker for Years
Topic: Dead Air Dreams
Comments: The one I have is: the on-air Talent hasn't arrived for the shift. I'm told he's on tape tonight and the "tape" is in the library. (You can tell I've been having this dream for years...TAPE! I go to the library...and it's full of BOOKS!

No Tape! No Show! The clock has rushed forward several hours, well past the length of the show to begin with,and I'm still rummaging through the library looking for the tape. There is total silence during all this.




April 29 2008 at 09:00:44
Name: Si Hawk
Topic: Hot Spot Dreams
Email: siborg54@sbcglobal.net
Comments: In 1973 when I was working as a jock at KCNW, I found myself in a situation where a fuse blew and power to the turntables and cart machines had failed. I had nothing functional but the console and my microphone. What made the situation worse was this breakdown was taking place on a weekend and I was the only person at the studio. All I could do was read live copy, do the weather and tell stories.

I called the Chief Engineer live on the air and described the issue. He made a beeline to the station and got everything working in less than an hour. This was my first taste of talk radio.

It's funny that over the years I have never dreamed about this experience. My not-quite-ready dreams mostly consisted of not having any 45s ready at KAKC.




April 29 2008 at 07:19:02
Name: Frank Morrow
Topic: Dreams
Email: frankmoratiodotcom
Comments: I hate to tell you young folks this, but in my 75th year I still have those "unprepared" dreams. They are either that I have a newscast coming up in a couple of minutes, but I haven't pulled any news, or that I have a disc jockey show that's supposed to start in about five minutes but I haven't pulled any music. Sitting in front of the microphone, I desperately search the records within reach that have been left there by announcers from previous shifts. Strangely, these dreams occur only at KRMG, never at any of the other stations where I worked---KAKC, KFMJ, and KTUL.

Oh, yes. I still have dreams of having to suddenly go on stage in a Central play, with Miss Ronan carefully watching off-stage, but I realize I don't know the lines.

Fortunately, none of these situations ever occurred in real life.




April 29 2008 at 01:38:33
Name: Barry Robb
Topic: Those Dreams
Comments: Thank God I don't dream about college... That is a nightmare.

But I still dream that the last record on turntable is running out, no cart machines are loaded and I can't find any more records to que up...

Barry




April 28 2008 at 21:04:09
Name: Dave
Topic: Your wildest dreams
Comments: Everybody seems to have those post-college semi-nightmares. For a long time I thought it was just me. It's pretty standard.

In the dream, the semester is nearing an end and I find out during the last week of classes that for some reason I've been enrolled in some difficult course I didn't even know about, there's a final coming up in a class I've never attended and I'm hopelessly facing a disaster. The good news is about that point in the dream I usually say something like, "Well, I'm not putting up with this. I'm waking up." And then I do.




April 28 2008 at 11:19:31
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Bad dreams/Busey
Comments: I graduated from TU in 1973 but started full-time work at 8 in 1972. Duh --my final GPA went down my senior year. I still have dreams of a.) not getting a paper in at TU because I was at work and b.) being stuck directing a newscast "gone bad" at 8, 6, or 5 in OKC. Sheesh!

But the question is - at age 57 - WHY am I still havin' them!

-------

When G.ailard was at 8 so lonnnnng ago, I think Teddy Jack Eddy, aka Gary Busey, may have been there 1-2 times.




April 28 2008 at 11:14:05
Name: Scotty Comstock (via email)
Topic: 1967
Comments: When Oklahoma was 60 years old, this flower display could be seen in Central Park at 6th and Peoria.

This photo was one of my first using a 35mm camera and slide film. The camera was so basic I called my photography "point and hope."


Courtesy of Scott Comstock





April 27 2008 at 22:46:31
Name: David Bagsby
Topic: Hale
Email: davidunderscorebagsbyathotmaildotcom
Comments: I graduated from Hale in 78...30 years ago. Only seems like 28.




April 27 2008 at 19:29:59
Name: Jeff H
Topic: Gary Busey and Hale H.S.
Comments: I just wanted to add my two cents on this topic.

Gary Busey graduated from Hale in 1962; another famous alum, Mary Kay Place, graduated in 1965.

Nathan Hale Alumni Foundation has set up a fabulous web site with every senior class listed including a cover shot of their annual, as well as class news and memorials. I've been amazed at the accomplishments of many Hale grads and in particular how many fine musicians are from the school.

I've checked around some and no other Tulsa H.S. has anything that compares to Hale's site, somebody has done a lot of fine work in making this resource available.

Nathan Hale will be celebrating its 50th birthday in 2009 and will have a classwide reunion celebration.




April 27 2008 at 17:08:55
Name: John Keyes
Email: jkeyeser@hotmail.com
Comments: I'll tell my dad to check back in on here to read these comments. My dad went to Hale as well and he remembers Gary Busey as well. David...when did you graduate from there?




April 27 2008 at 13:28:32
Name: Jim Cripps
Topic: Wienerschnitzel, Willow Creek, 'Net Museum, Busey, FM Videos
Email: jimcripps $ yahoo ^ com
Comments: Mr. Bagsby - Hm, Der Wienerschnitzel (TTM link) makes my mouth water. Del City had a new Der Wienerschnitzel for a few months about two years ago, but I didn't have a chance to try them out.

Mr. Brashear - When we lived at Willow Creek apartments in the 70s (71st and Harvard), there was a veritable forest with a wonderful maze of paths and small creeks. On foot, it would take about 30 minutes to walk through it from the complex out to the streets. It was a Shangri-la. Some older kids tried building what amounted to a shack in it, and scared us in order to protect it. Now that whole area is full of houses - so sad.

Mr. Bruchas (and others) - Retro Internet Museum = Fun.

Gary Busey scares me.

How about a true Tulsa TV memory now? I remember vividly watching a music video show on KOKI Saturdays called FM. Without cable TV at the time (didn't have it yet), I looked forward to that show each week. It had a voice-over narrator, and some swooping graphics over something like a city, very reminiscent Friday Night Videos. The show only aired the classic 'videos', like Santana, Yes, and Cream. I thought it was syndicated, but I haven't found any information about it on the Internet. Does anyone remember that show?


Willow Creek is at 68th and Yale. I'm pretty sure of that, because I lived in a condo there for a lot of years. The area southeast of it was still forest-like in 1982 when I moved in, but was mostly houses by the turn of the millenium.





April 27 2008 at 12:19:37
Name: David Bagsby
Topic: Gary Jack Eddy
Email: davidunderscorebagsbyathotmaildotcom
Comments: Gary Busey went to my high school, Hale. A coach/history teacher there told us he remembered him and his band, 'The Carps'. Saw a pic of him somewhere with a Teddy Jack Eddy shirt on playing guitar that looked like it was from that period...may have been on this site; hard to remember where I see these things sometimes.




April 27 2008 at 12:09:12
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Retro Tulsa Internet Museum
Comments: I loved the link posted here. What a great law firm to do this! But go to the home page for the firm and read STRANGE BUT TRUE. It is a litany of craaaazy lawsuits from Oklahoma. You will laugh!

BTW - Happy Easter to any Greek or Russian Orthodox readers today!




April 27 2008 at 12:06:57
Name: Rick Brashear
Topic: 15th & Deliverance Road
Email: downby theoldmillstreamatdoglegdotbang
Comments: Banjo Boy,

If you know their names, write them on the back of a $100 bill and mail it to me.

The actual fun at the creek and woods consisted of building forts, fishing from clean water, being chased by bees, playing "Army", swinging on and smoking grapevines, setting off VERY powerful home made firecrackers, shooting guns, dodging snakes, riding dirt bikes and generally enjoying the scenery and being a kid. There was a big tree we called "the tittie tree" because of two large knobs. We'd stash cigarettes, Playboys and any liquor swiped from a parent in a hole in the trunk. Now all that's left of Mingo Creek is a concrete drainage ditch and a few trees where bums leave trash. We would meet at the graveyard at the dead end and then go off to do whatever would take up the day. Yes, I do play the guitar and no, I won't go into the woods with you unless I get the shotgun.

Bert,

I don't know those names but I did know the Nelsons, Bohns & Cleavelands. The Community Center was a good hangout in the summer when bands would play there and offer free food. I saw Gary Busey and his rock band there one time back when he was skinny.




April 27 2008 at 11:47:18
Name: Jeff H
Topic: Southland and Walgreens lunch counter
Email: Picking up my KAKC top 50 from Jenkins
Comments: I remember Walgreens' lunch counter and the long row of windows. If you were on the outside walking by and you were hungry, every thing looked good; if on the inside, it was a great people watching spot (cool in the summer, warm in the winter).

The best thing they served ala blue plate special was turkey and dressing including all the trimmings for less than two dollars, served by a lady in a uniform with a corsage. Two dollars gets you about a half a gallon of gas today, that reminds me of Consumers gas stations...

Good Day!




April 27 2008 at 08:54:20
Name: David Bagsby
Topic: 15th
Email: davidunderscorebagsbyathotmaildotcom
Comments: To Mr. Keyes, I'm afraid I don't know any of the folks you mentioned. We went to school at St. Pius which sort of isolated us from the rest of the neighborhood.

I was in town briefly last week to see Sheryl Crow at the Brady (which was great), and noticed that John Paul Jones elementary is back. Went to kindergarten there but only remember Mrs. Boner (I swear that was her name).

In response to Mr. Cripps, I got to eat at that grill at Southland a few times when I worked at Elephant Trunk back in the day. It seemed like a throwback even then. Good burger but not as chic as Der Wienerschnitzel and you had to be well-heeled to eat at a place like Diamond Jack's...or so it seemed at the time.




April 26 2008 at 21:13:13
Name: Jim Cripps
Topic: Southland Walgreens
Email: jimcripps $ yahoo ^ com
Comments: Well, believe it or not, I found it, my own response to my own post below:

Retro Tulsa Internet Museum, page 150

A lunch counter inside Walgreens at Southland.

I feel good.

Thanks, Mike. Excellent post and response time!




April 26 2008 at 20:08:01
Name: Jim Cripps
Topic: Southland
Email: jimcripps $ yahoo ^ com
Comments: Hello, all, and "Webmaster". Long-time reader, first-time poster.

For some reason, I've been thinking lately about one of Southland's peculiarities, and so far, no one that I've asked can help me out 100%. Southland and Southroads were my favorite two malls in the 70s to mid-80s, Southland for being open-air, and Southroads for its interior design (the ceiling and the fountain and the expanse of it all - and for its Cinema).

Anyway, there was a store at Southland, that was either a pharmacy-like store, or five-and-dime, that had access from the 'inside' and 'outside.' What fascinated me about it, was a little restaurant that was nestled to the side of it. To get in, you had to first walk into the store. It had a long counter with barstools, and booths along the windows facing the inside of the mall. The panes were pretty floor to ceiling, so you could walk about 60 feet along, watching people eating, or looking back at you. I can't really remember if I ever ate there, but I do remember the decline of its clientele, and the infrequency of its customers. Eventually it was closed, and used for storage by the store.

If anyone remembers, it will be great, and will rest my wandering mind!


Welcome, Jim. Look for a Southroads Mall Cinema ticket in this jumble. Here is a link to an anecdote of mine about a gross movie I saw there.





April 26 2008 at 17:36:12
Name: Terri
Topic: Oiler
Email: areyoufourosutwoatmsndotcom
Comments: OK...I'll take a guess at the identity of the Oiler, and say Bobby Pfeil.




April 26 2008 at 10:54:52
Name: P. Casey Morgan
Topic: Singing groups
Email: p.casey.morgan at gmail dot com
Comments: I wondered when someone was going to mention the Boswell Sisters.

I've loved them since I discovered them 15 years ago on a vinyl album we were selling in a surplus sale at KWGS. You can watch them do "Heebie Jeebies" and several other songs at YouTube and you can read their amazing history at Bozzies.com. A number of their albums are now out on CDs. (e.g., Shout, Sister, Shout!)

They did all their arrangements themselves, seldom wrote any of them down and are widely credited with inventing vocalese. Ella Fitzgerald always said that Connie Boswell was her main influence.


As Casey and I once noted, Maria Muldaur's third solo album from the mid-70s, "Sweet Harmony", has a cover of the Boswell Sisters tune, "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye", featuring Maryann Price (of Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks fame), arrangement by Benny Carter, with Plas Johnson (the "Pink Panther" soloist) and Basie mainstay, Sapulpa's Marshal Royal (NYTimes obit) on alto sax.

Here are the Boswells themselves with the "Heebie Jeebies":







April 26 2008 at 09:30:28
Name: Jim Ruddle
Topic: Singing groups
Comments: Hi-Los, Four Freshmen, etc. all good, but go back to the 'thirties and find that the Boswell Sisters could wail with the best of the later day. In fact, I'd say their rendition of "Heebie Jeebies", without multi-tracking or echo chambering, is on par with the best of any era.




April 26 2008 at 09:11:35
Name: Mike Pierce
Topic: Tuffy and Edwin
Email: micpierce atmac dotcom
Comments: I just wanted to check in and tell you how much I enjoy this site. Having grown up in Tulsa and been a cameraman in most of the 70s in Tulsa, I can hardly believe there is a site that actually celebrates Tulsa TV. I found it very interesting to live, and it's great to see it documented here after all these years.

I have to comment on the passing of Tuffy Johnson and Edwin Fincher.

Mr. Zing and Tuffy the great kids show of the 60's Wayne was a great TV director who had to become a welder to make a living cause TV in Tulsa just didn't pay much. He was the first director I ever worked and I learned a lot from him. He was as sweet a man as Tuffy was a tiger.

Edwin was a major creative talent who was the original rebel and defiant son. He fought Authority and it always won. His show, "Maintain" (very brief on 8 '73), was so out there and creative, the rest of the world still hasn't caught up. He put video feedback to music. There's not a day goes by running a camera, that I don't remind myself of something Edwin taught me about operating a camera.

Though I haven't seen them in years, they will be missed and thought of fondly. So please add me to the list of people how have checked in and let everyone know I'm still hanging in there with them.

Much Love to all of you,
Mike Pierce
KOTV '73-'74, Sheltervision '74, Tulsa Cable '74-'76, KTUL '76-'79
Los Gatos, CA


Mike was the cameraman and editor on this 3 minute piece about the Ma-Hu Mansion.







April 26 2008 at 00:43:53
Name: Banjo Boy
Topic: 15th and Memorial
Comments: Rick, your remembrance of "Tales Of Mingo Creek and woods" conjured up memories of the movie "Deliverance", sounds like a book or movie deal. Of course we will change the names of the guilty because we know who they are and what they did.

My people will call your people to take a meeting at the crick.

P.S. Do you play a stringed instrument?




April 25 2008 at 22:12:39
Name: Rick Brashear
Topic: 15th & Memorial picture and area people.
Email: okw40ataoldotcom
Comments: I know that scene very well. I lived at 8916 E. 15th for 20 years.

When the place on the left was a U-Totem, there was a manager named Loren who would lag quarters with us up against the back cooler. He also sold us beer. Before it was a U-Totem, it was an old two-story wooden building that had a store on the bottom floor and the owners lived on the top floor. The floor was bare wood and there were glass candy counters a few feet in and to the left of the front door. The place had that great antique wood smell.

For half of my time in that area, Memorial was gravel. I tried to beat a semi one day and got a knee full of rocks for the effort. Oh, the tales I could tell of Mingo Creek and the woods.




April 25 2008 at 15:22:49
Name: Bert Keyes
Topic: 15th & Memorial picture and area people.
Email: blackdogalaskaatalaskadotnet
Comments: I lived at 15th & Memorial for 25 years or so. My grandmother gave the church the land to build it on. She was Bertha Graves. Many of the area residents had her for a teacher in grade school at Ross and Lindbergh. I saw a post by David B. We probably know many of the same people, perhaps the Quick brothers, Evelyn Taylor, Mike Bruce??????

If you wish, contact me and we might chew the fat a bit. I also lived at 8303 E 15th for a couple of years.


15th & Memorial circa 1960s-early 70s
Courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa




We heard from Bert's son, John, in GB 245.





April 25 2008 at 10:47:33
Name: Amee Pruitt
Topic: Do you know who this is???
Email: acptexas@yahoo dot com
Comments: I was going through some of my aunt's old photos and ran across a picture of a baseball player for the Tulsa Oilers. I was wondering if anyone could identify him. I will email the picture of him or if there is a way to put on here I will do that. Just not sure how.


Yes, please email it, and I will put it out here.




Mystery Oiler
???





April 23 2008 at 14:35:37
Name: Sonny Hollingshead
Topic: KRMG Promo
Email: sonnyho1955@yahoo.com
Comments: Answer to Rick Clark about the KRMG weather promo...I think the reporter's voice on the promo is Paul Crockett. Does sound a lot like Brian Gann though.




April 23 2008 at 09:46:49
Name: Judy Miller
Topic: Title of song and the artist
Email: jlm47_98 at yahoo dot com
Comments: I am looking for the title and artist who sang a country song about the Turner Turnpike. There is a line in it that is 99 miles on the Turner Turnpike - some say it's 102. If anyone knows the artist and/or title please let me know. Or if anyone has a copy of the song I would like a copy. Thanks.




April 23 2008 at 08:46:48
Name: Webmaster
Topic: New book by Larry Burnett
Comments
:

Larry Burnett, former Tulsa TV sportscaster, has co-authored a new book with Olympic gold medalist, three-time MVP of the WNBA, and first woman ever to dunk, Lisa Leslie: Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You: The Making of a Champion.




April 23 2008 at 08:23:50
Name: Terry Stout (via email)
Topic: Livin' It Up In T-Town
Email: terry_d_stout athotmail dotcom
Comments: Hi!

I have lived in T-Town for most of my 45 years and I wrote a song called T-Town about growing up in the 70s. If you want, you can listen to it from the link below.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6190466


I see in this morning's paper that Oklahoma is looking for a state rock song (OklahomaRockSong.org), so here is a nominee.





April 23 2008 at 06:54:20
Name: Rick Clark
Topic: KRMG
Email: clarkrick@yahoo.com
Comments: KRMG has been running a promo about their storm weather coverage with snippets of reporters voices. One reporter is heard mentioning "blown transformers" & I could swear it`s Brian Gann from KFAQ. I worked with him for a few years at the wonderful old KVOO so I know his voice well. Has anyone else noticed this or am I just crazy?




April 22 2008 at 21:23:48
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: "It's so easy when you use LESTOIL!!!!"
Comments: Knocked over a container of coffee grounds a few minutes ago. Lovely.

Looking under the kitchen sink for paper towels - I found a spray bottle of very ancient Lestoil floor cleaner. Don't think it has been made in a lonnnng time. Do any of you remember the jingle for Lestoil?

It was a fine product of Noxell Chemical of Noo Jerzee - now known as Noxema if we are using facial stuff!




April 21 2008 at 11:47:39
Name: Kim Elmore
Topic: KOME and Bob Elmore
Email: cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal dot net
Comments: I just found Jim Ruddle's comments on Bob Elmore, the engineer at KOME who pulled Sunday morning shift during the radio revivalist shows.

I'm Bob Elmore's son and he told me quite a lot about those shows as I was growing up. He pretty much loathed those guys and thought that most of them were nothing more than crooks. He related that when they got mail at the station, they'd check it only for cash and coins, and discard the rest of the contents. He also told me once of doing a live broadcast at what amounted to a tent revival and how, at the end of the show, the revivalist showed his wads of money and seemed interested in little else.

Sadly, both my Mom and Dad passed away last summer. It has been wonderful to read the bits about my Dad here, though, and to look back on the days of TV and radio that shaped my youth (60s and 70s).




April 20 2008 at 13:08:50
Name: Webmaster
Topic: Lowell and Edwin
Comments:

Here are a few photos from the foyers at the services for Lowell and Edwin yesterday. I apologize for the quality; it's tough to hold a cell phone camera still enough for available light.

Thanks to Alan Lambert and the presiding Unitarian minister, the words of Lee Woodward, John Hillis, John Boydston, Mike Bruchas, the webmaster, Anne Pace and Sara Fincher were heard by all at Edwin's service.

Lowell and Susan, Edwin and Tami, and I and my wife Gaye got together at Casa Bonita in early 2003. I wish we could have done it one more time.



Emmanuel Baptist Church

Some of Lowell's memorabilia...that's a Louis Armstrong figure in the center



Emmanuel Baptist Church

An LP by Lowell and Susan (both excellent musicians), a "Maltese Falcon", and an antique cornet



Emmanuel Baptist Church
Lowell's prized AMX car was seen here in GB 51. What looks like a Lester Tyler and "Willie" ventriloquist's dummy was wearing a Popeye cap. I was blown away when I saw the cap. As a massive Popeye fan in the late 1950s, I frequently wore one of these. So at some point, at least two goofy kids in Tulsa were running around with this headgear. Mine was replaced with a real sailor's cap from the Army-Navy Surplus store east of Admiral and Sheridan.



Emmanuel Baptist Church

Closer shot of the cornet...look for the "Lost in Space" robot




Edwin at the Science Fair; childhood and high school photos




Derick Snow (right) put together a display of some of Edwin's video work. I saw Uncle Zeb talking with Derick about his great Tulsa Public Schools Channel show for kids, "Quick Draw Derick" (Google Video), for which Edwin helped to design and light the set. Zeb and I agree that Derick has a load of talent.





April 19 2008 at 17:17:12
Name: Alan Lambert, Big Band Saturday Night, 89.5 FM
Topic: Edwin Fincher's memorial service today
Email: bigband@kwgs.org
Comments: My thanks to so many who paid their respects today to one of early and current Tulsa televison's lighting and camera wizards: Edwin Fincher. His memorial service was held today at the Mark Griffith Memorial Funeral Home on South 33rd West Avenue here in Tulsa. The chapel was full of family and friends. The lobby held a display of his many TV creations.

I wish his wife Tami (I have known her since she was born) and his entire family... peace and healing.

Edwin was a unique broadcaster that always approached his every production with passion and a vision of the future in televison. He was driven to find perfection in his work.

Also,I wanted to say thank you to Tulsa TV Memories' main man: Mike Ransom for attending today's services. Edwin was well known on these TTM pages. He both entertained and enlightened.

Goodbye Edwin....you were one of a kind.

Alan Lambert
Big Band Saturday Night*, Public Radio Tulsa
(*Edwin was a regular listener I am told...and that's fun to know.)


Thanks, Alan, I join you in wishing the best for Edwin's extended family. His service was the best I've ever seen for bringing in personality and character.

My wife and I were able to make it to the visitation for Lowell Burch today, and she tells me that his service, like Edwin's, was full of personality and music (they were scheduled at the exact same time). I'll have more on both later. Our deepest sympathy to Susan and sons.




April 19 2008 at 09:31:39
Name: David Bagsby
Topic: Passing the torch
Email: davidunderscorebagsbyathotmaildotcom
Comments: I tip my glass to Edwin and Mr. Burch. It is fortunate that this site's guest book archive offers a place where their minds can live on.




April 18 2008 at 16:11:17
Name: Kenny Bolen
Topic: Mr. Burch
Email: kwerks@comcast.net
Comments: Very sad to hear of Mr. Burch's passing. Our prayers and condolences to the family.




April 18 2008 at 14:42:49
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: Lowell Burch
Comments: I am so sorry to hear of his passing - he has been a great "read" here on the site.




April 18 2008 at 11:42:57
Name: Dave
Topic: Lowell Burch
Email:
Comments: A full obituary of Lowell Burch is online in the World at http://legacy.com/TulsaWorld/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=107852136:

BURCH - Lowell, 56, of Tulsa, passed away April 16, 2008. Survived by: wife, Susan, of 28 years; sons: Bob, John, Scott, Phillip; parents, Robert L. and Ruth Burch, all of Tulsa. Graduating with the McLain class of '69 and continued his education to earn a Master of Education Administration from OU and a Master of Biblical Arts. Lowell spent his life giving to others through teaching and his Christian ministry. Most recently noted, after a world wide search, as the chosen composer for the Lake Erie College fight song. He enjoyed life's passion with music, art, comedy, mysteries and people of all ages.


There is a guestbook at that link, too.

Lowell last visited here in GroupBlog 262. Characteristically, he was thinking of others: he talked about Gary Shore who had recently passed away, and he presented a video of his sons and their music.





April 18 2008 at 10:05:22
Name: Webmaster
Topic: Lowell Burch
Comments:

I can't believe this, but another good friend has passed away, Lowell Burch. He had been here since the beginning of the site, and always something good to contribute. When I needed a balanced and understanding opinion of some site-related matter, I turned to Lowell. We will miss his gentle humor and his friendship very much. Our heartfelt condolences to Lowell's wife, Susan, and all of Lowell's family and friends.

From yesterday's Tulsa World:

Burch, R. Lowell Jr., 56, educator and minister, died Wednesday. Memorial service 2 p.m. Saturday, Immanuel Baptist Church. Floral Haven, Broken Arrow.





April 17 2008 at 22:26:25
Name: Webmaster
Topic: Edwin Fincher's memorial service on Saturday
Comments:

The memorial service for Edwin Fincher will be on Saturday, April 19th, 2008, at 2 pm. It will be held at the Mark Griffith Memorial Funeral Home, Westwood Chapel, at 4424 S. 33rd W. Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma. All are welcome.

Donations may be made to the Little Lighthouse, 5120 E. 36th Street, Tulsa, OK 74135.





April 17 2008 at 16:38:53
Name: David Bagsby
Topic: Dick West again
Email: davidunderscorebagsbyathotmaildotcom
Comments: Here's an article about the Dick West Gallery.




April 17 2008 at 16:31:16
Name: Kenny Bolen
Topic: Beach Boys
Email: kwerks@comcast.net
Comments: Not that I'm a big fan of the Beach Boys but like a few of their songs, let's not forget Jan and Dean and some of the "Guitar Surf" music of that era.....great stuff.




April 17 2008 at 13:36:01
Name: David Bagsby
Topic: Dick West
Email: davidunderscorebagsbyathotmaildotcom
Comments: FYI: Dick West's art is displayed here in Lawrence, KS at the new gallery at Haskell Indian College.




Lee April 17 2008 at 09:45:29
Name: Lee Woodward
Topic: Four Freshmen
Email: AnonDahCom
Comments: Finally; We can't let it pass...The influence the "Four Freshmen" had on the sound of the one and only, "Beach Boys". Brian Wilson had a variant on the sound, but the Freshmen sound came through nonetheless, and, they're still using it today.







April 16 2008 at 23:20:22
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: The BIG WLS 89 - no more
Comments: Sad to say that it has given up news and reverted to talk; at night, a fair amount of "hate talkers," sadly. Why does this isolationist hatred stuff draw an audience? I would not be buying radio spots on a station like this. Meanwhile WGN is talk, but information and almost NPR-like features. Really more talk you can use and you can always find something of interest on WGN 720 AM outta Chicago.




April 16 2008 at 21:11:08
Name: Terri
Topic: Hertz
Comments: "Good Neighbor Sam". Now that was quality entertainment!




April 16 2008 at 13:26:42
Name: Mike Bruchas
Topic: WBBM at midnight in Chicago/WiFi radio
Comments: This outfit buys an hour at midnight on 780 WBBM to air and hawk old radio shows. Check out: WhenRadioWas.com.

Listening to CBS radio last night and heard the overnight C. Crane radio ads; I think I am gonna buy one of these: CC WiFi radio.




April 16 2008 at 10:35:07
Name: Jeff H
Topic: Hertz and the Hi-Los
Comments: The Hi-Los have a bit part in the movie "Good Neighbor Sam", singing the Hertz jingle as an ad agency tries to film the commercial where the man is lowered down into the drivers seat with much technical difficulty. The commercial doesn't work but the Hi-Los are spot-on.

"Now that's real coffee!"


Is that so! We saw "Good Neighbor Sam" at the drive-in when it came out in 1964. I'll never forget all the casserole that Jack Lemmon had to down to keep his wife happy. I remember the very funny Hertz scenes, too, now that you mention them.





April 15 2008 at 21:39:49
Name: John Hillis
Topic: Hi Los make some dough
Comments: Hear them for Hertz (RealVideo or Windows MediaPlayer), and watch people fly into cars from on high.

Of course, loyal Tulsans would rent from Avis, since world reservations HQs was here.


The same commercial is also on YouTube.





April 15 2008 at 20:54:10
Name: Webmaster
Topic: Previous GroupBlog summary
Comments:

Archived GroupBlog 264.

There, vocal harmony groups (e.g., The Hi-Los, The Anita Kerr Singers, The Four Freshmen) were discussed. Dick Schmitz of Irving Productions, formerly KAKC DJ, was written up in Tulsa People magazine. DJ Barry Robb discovered that a number of former Riverbend Apt. dwellers remember his weekend guitar playing. Another DJ, Michael Trout, wrote a mini-memoir about his career and experiences. Several writers recalled TG&Y stores.

Edwin Fincher, a friend and longtime contributor to this site, unexpectedly passed away on 4/9. We heard from his family and many friends in GB 264.

Edwin's last message to us was at the top of GroupBlog 263.





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