Tulsa TV Memories Guestbook 211

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May 01 2006 at 12:56:09
Name: Deric Davis
Email: davisderic@gmail.com
Location: Triad
Comments: As far as gruesome local stories, I have only 3 words.

Gary Alan Walker

I grew up in Tulsa later than some of you, so this may be due to my age, but during the 1984 memorial day flood this guy was raping and killing people all over the area including a DJ for K95 FM named Valerie Shaw, I think her real name was Hartzell. He was put to death by the state of Oklahoma just a few years ago.

I was 9 and spent the whole weekend scaring my younger brother into thinking that our house was going to flood or Gary Alan Walker was coming to get us... He still flinches when I say that name. Does anyone else remember this, or that weekend? Or is my memory flawed?


We heard from Randy Hartzell in Guestbook 84.




May 01 2006 at 12:52:21
Name: Deric Davis
Email: davisderic@gmail.com
Location: Triad
Comments: I think that the Channel 2 personality may in fact be sp? Jonathan Dylan. He was heavily promoted for KJRH in the mid 90s and did some morning and mid-day shows. He also anchored a Saturday evening (6 or 6:30) show called the Weekend Show. It was a light news and entertainment show, but focused almost exclusively on Tulsa and local happenings... Was a nice change for a news show. He was in his late twenties, thin, sometimes wore glasses, and defied the plastic newsman stereotype. Then after a few years he simply disappeared... Of course, I could be wrong.




May 01 2006 at 11:32:49
Name: Bryan
Email: bcrain@rsu.edu
Comments: John Hudson passed away before the 'Battlestar Galactica' set. Also, he mentioned being humorous and that was definitely McIntyre.




May 01 2006 at 10:30:33
Name: Erick
Email: ericktul@yahoo.com
Location: Tulsa
Comments: I think Kash may be referring to John Hudson as anchor of the KJRH midday show, who passed away in 1994.




May 01 2006 at 09:48:14
Name: Bryan
Email: bcrain@rsu.edu
Comments: The morning anchor at KJRH was John McIntyre. He and Gillian Kirk were 'let go' in 1996 on April fool's day. True story....




May 01 2006 at 09:20:04
Name: Kristi Stewart
Email: ok-kid@rogers.com
Location: Unionville, Ontario
Comments: I don't know how the Oklahoma "murder/crime" discussion started... but after reading the few comments... it brought to mind a few stories "in the news" when I worked at Channel 2 in the late 70's.

Of course, the Roger Wheeler murder (mentioned earlier). I remember the afternoon it happened...everyone in the newsroom was in shock... and I remember Liz Exxon was the reporter who covered the story and eventually brought to light his "alleged" ties to the underworld. I also remember the CROSSBOW shooting at TJC... the kidnapping of Meteorologist Ross Dixon's son (I later worked with Ross at WKY Radio in OKC) and the young court reporter who was kidnapped at Town West shopping centre in west Tulsa and later found murdered (I apologize, her name escapes me now.. she actually went to school at T.U. the same time I did and worked for a short stint as an intern at Channel 2.)

Also during my tenure at "2"... we experienced that hostage-taking at the then-ALBERTSON's supermarket way out on Memorial... one of our camera men, trained a Tulsa Police officer to operate a camera and he went in w/others to try and apprehend the suspect holding employees hostage in the office. The suspect was demanding he get "air" time. I remember all the channels went "live" with this on the "10" O'clock news and the camera shot was sideways & upside down.. because the officer was operating the cam. The employees were eventually released... I believe the man was either shot... or caught by police. I'm not sure who the "brave" officer was that evening.. but, that was something not soon to be forgotten by all working that night!




May 01 2006 at 00:20:28
Name: Gary Chew
Location: Just southwest of The Donner Party Family Grill
Comments: More Big Tulsa Crime from Yesteryear....(sfx: Hoofbeats and Rossini's Barber of Seville Overture in bg)

Driving I-244, someone dropped a large piece of cement on my vehicle from a overpass. I saw the creep who did it just before it hit the edge of the cowling on the driver's side just above right where I was looking through the windshield of my Chevy. I was going about 60 MPH, I reckon. He got away and I got lucky.

I worked at KOTV at the time. The perpetrator apparently didn't like "Go For Dough On The Early Show." I guess I can't really blame him.

The repairs to the car didn't cost much except for the new set of seat covers.




April 30 2006 at 22:26:27
Name: kash
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Comments: There was a news guy on Channel 2 around, I'm guessing, the mid-1990s. I believe he anchored the morning and/or midday show (if there was one) and also provided a commentary segment. Should it help anyone, Channel 2 also redesigned their set around this time to all-black. I think his first name was John (as though that helps), and he had grayish hair. Funny guy. Anybody remember his last name? This guy has piqued my curiosity lately. Thanks.




April 30 2006 at 20:18:35
Name: Lowell Burch
Email: ten.xoc@3hcrubl
Location: Houdini's Water Torture Chamber
Comments: Regarding significant crimes, no one has mentioned the shooting death of Paul Harvey's father, a Tulsa Policeman killed in the line of duty.

Also, another bad crime back in 1972. Someone stole my Sevco eight-track out of my car and two tapes, which wiped out my entire collection!




April 30 2006 at 14:44:31
Name: Gary
Location: Sioux City, Iowa
Comments: Really appreciate your site, and being reminded of the good ol' days in Tulsa town.


Thanks, Gary.




April 30 2006 at 12:59:00
Name: Rich Lohman
Location: Tulsa
Comments: Lest we forget the more recent TPD deaths of Gus Spanos in 1993 and Dick Hobson in 1996. I worked for the Sheriff's office during that period and it still affects me even now.




April 30 2006 at 10:07:57
Name: The Snitch
Location: Undisclosed Location
Comments: When The Snitch's father was a boy, he and his father were working in a field on their farm in NE Kansas when a jalopy pulled up. A sharp-dressed man asked for directions.

Next day, deputies came by with a photo.

"Seen him?"

"Yeah, he asked directions to St. Joe. Who is he?"

"Pretty Boy Floyd."

Well, as Woody G said:

Some men rob you with a gun, Some with a fountain pen.




April 30 2006 at 02:53:52
Name: Richard Eby
Location: International
Comments: And then there's Nannie Doss, pie expert. Joanne Gordon interviewed her and described her as "grandmotherly".




April 29 2006 at 22:30:53
Name: Randy Kindy
Email: rkindy@mac-dot-com
Location: Tulsa
Comments: Then there's the kidnapping and murder of Kendal Ashmore and Kathy Brown, for which Larry Chaney was convicted. Also the killing of Suzanne Oakley on the Riverside jogging trail.

Another that comes to mind is the search for the two missing Sapulpa coaches, Paul Reagor and Jerry Bailey. It turned out Reagor stabbed Bailey to death and stashed him in the trunk of his car. I remember covering all of those in my radio days.

Interesting thing about that last one is that a reporter, Ed Poston of Channel 8, helped investigators by finding the missing car containing the body.




April 29 2006 at 20:53:26
Name: Mike Miller
Email: michaelmmiller@hotmail.com
Location: Houston
Comments: I would add a couple of entries to the Mike Bruchas list of terrible Oklahoma crimes. When I was covering the courthouse in the 70s, there was a gang-rape of a young Tulsa woman in Chandler Park.

Also don't forget Cleo Epps, the Queen of the Bootleggers, reportedly bumped off by Tom Lester Pugh and Albert McDonald. Pugh and McDonald waged their own war of terror, planting a car bomb aimed at a Tulsa judge. District Judge Fred Nelson was seriously injured, but survived.

There were a number of Tulsa police officers killed in the line of duty that made big news at the time. I remember one in particular from the 60s because I covered the shooting and the murder trial. Officer Hugh Greer was shot and killed with his own weapon during an attempted burglary behind a Safeway at 17th and Boston. Another officer, Sgt. Thurman Spybuck was killed during a big drug raid with local and federal officials.




April 29 2006 at 20:29:03
Name: Wade
Email: thegoofandi*at*aol.com
Location: Collinsville
Comments: How about the Lee's Fried Chicken shootings in the early 90s?




April 29 2006 at 18:37:08
Name: Mike Bruchas
Location: East of John Hillis' Hacienda some daze
Comments: Okay - tangent here re crime in OK.

I know a lot of the biggies of the 70s and 80s but whom can add some earlier and later "crimes of the century" or major ill deeds that news covered in OK? Does OK sometimes seem the land of vacationing madmen, hitmen or serial killers? My starter memorable and hideous crimes list would contain:

The OKC Federal Building Bombing
"Osage Reign of Terror" in the 30's
any Bonnie & Clyde or Pretty Boy Floyd robberies/shootings
Edmond, OK PO shootings
E.C. Mullendore murder
Roger Wheeler murder
Locust Grove Girl Scouts murders
OKC Sirloin Stockade massacre
any Henry Lee Lucas "claimed" slayings
any Rex Brinlee-related slayings
RIDESHY

What else would someone suggest or remember as having been major news?


I wouldn't call RIDESHY all that heinous, but memorable, yes.

I guess we can rule out the Tourism Department highlighting this thread.




April 28 2006 at 17:12:49
Name: Mike Miller
Email: michaelmmiller@hotmail.com
Location: Houston
Comments: Mike Bruchas is right about congressional emails not often read by Hill staffers. Members of Congress don't have enough time to read constituent mail or email. Staff will normally respond to regular mail and have the congressman or senator sign it. If the constituent is known to the Member, he or she will usually write a brief note on the reply letter.

The mail AND email is considered important and the total number of phone calls, letters and email for or against an issue is usually reported to the elected officials either in meetings with staff or in a memo. I would think on hot issues like immigration reform, for example, most Members are aware of the percentages pro and con.


As a former congressional press secretary, Mike would know.

He knows many other funny and interesting things which you can read about in his excellent new book, How High Can a Guy Stoop?




April 28 2006 at 11:25:02
Name: Dave
Location: looking for the free stuff
Comments: I am a paid subscriber to the Tulsa World online site and today I was notified by e-mail that as of Monday the entire site will be free to all. They didn't say why, and that's a reversal of a nationwide trend among some newspapers. But I'm not complaining. That should also enable TTM to provide links to some articles that have been behind the firewall for these many years.


I used to link to the World's stories in the early days of this site. When the archive switched to subscription-only, I had to clean up the resulting "link rot" (and I'm sure I missed some.)

But yes, I will frequently link to relevant stories when they become available (I have made note of quite a number of these over the years). The change is welcome, and a good decision, I think.




April 27 2006 at 13:33:36
Name: P. Casey Morgan
Email: p-casey-morgan[at]utulsa.edu
Location
: Public Radio Tulsa
Comments: To Mr. Bruchas and any other curious people: KWTU, 88.7, the classical music station that we put on the air as KWGS' sister station in October 2004, has been HD from the beginning. I'm pretty sure we were the first HD signal in Oklahoma. KWGS will eventually be HD and we're very aware of the capabilities to add on additional programming streams; all are very much in our plans for the future. At least one Tulsa station is already doing this, but can't remember which one, offhand.

And Edward Dumit is doing well.




April 27 2006 at 08:46:39
Name: Joe
Location: from inside the padded booth
Comments: It was great to get to see the old SEVCO commercial. Amazing that someone still has their mitts on it. Is Mr. Pierre still alive?


Ed Colton told us on this new Joe Pierre of SEVCO page that, sadly, Mr. Pierre passed away a year or two ago.




April 26 2006 at 22:11:50
Name: Mike Bruchas
Location: chillin' in VA
Comments: When I worked at NAB 18 years ago - Rep. Markey impressed a lot of us. He also helped PCS phone service come into existence. Re FORM E-mail - I too have sent stuff to VA's junior Senator George Allen and replies never match WHAT I am writing about. Too many congressman do not have staff to often read e-mail - it's viewed as a constituent steam valve but ignored - sadly...If you REALLY care - snail MAIL a note to Rep. Sullivan.


Phone calls make an impression, too. Most of us found out about it so late that the post office wouldn't have had time to deliver a letter.




April 26 2006 at 20:07:53
Name: David Bagsby
Email: dcbatsunflower.com
Location: Lawrence KS
Comments: I appreciate the mention of the net neutrality stuff. I'd never heard of it till this was posted here.




April 26 2006 at 17:43:42
Name: Erick
Email: ericktul@yahoo.com
Location: Tulsa
Comments: The Clear Channel cluster of radio stations are using HDRadio. Not all of them, I think KTBT, KQLL, and KMOD are the only ones going with it right now.

I sent an email to Rep. Sullivan a few days ago concerning net neutrality, and I just received a generic form letter email that reads as though it was meant to confuse me more than provide me with a legitimate response.


4/26 update: in a House Energy and Commerce Committee vote today, John Sullivan again voted against the Markey Amendment, which was written to preserve net neutrality.

The bad news: the amendment lost 34-22. But the good news: the 4-day online campaign made quite a difference: the previous subcommittee vote was 23-8. This is especially impressive, considering how much time and money the telcos have spent lobbying. And the Senate is a more deliberative body.

This discussion might seem out of bounds for TTM. Politics and religion are topics notable for creating bad vibes. However, since you are reading this, you have a vested interest in the medium not being ruined by special interests.

SavetheInternet.com




April 26 2006 at 15:52:32
Name: Mike Bruchas
Comments: Any station in Tulsey or OKC using HDRadio yet - am told there "can" be usable side channels to this service but most folks DON'T know about all.

"Doctor" Norton - any Ed Dumit updates? I got an e-mail from him several weeks ago but nothing since...

Talked to Tom Roberts and Don Lundy "on the floor" at the mega NAB (Nat. Assoc. of Broadcasters) Convention in Vegas yesterday. They both say - if you want a career in TV - LEARN how to use/edit with Apple's Final Cuts Pro software!




April 25 2006 at 09:00:04
Name: Webmaster
Comments: Contributor Don Norton wrote me yesterday about this pressing issue: the internet itself is now under legislative and corporate attack. You might well not be reading this site and many others in the future if "net neutrality" is not maintained.

Read this FAQ at SavetheInternet.com.

During a recent subcommittee meeting, our House Representative, John Sullivan, voted against a net neutrality amendment, which means in favor of corporations desirous of controlling the internet for their own profit. Let him know where you stand: see the Oklahoma map at that same site.

This is not one of the many hoax and scare notes that go around. This is not about red/blue or right/left. It is a bipartisan issue, in which every internet user has a stake. If it goes the wrong way, these might become "the good old days" of the internet when you could look at any site you wish.




April 24 2006 at 22:36:31
Name: Jeff H
Location: Third Stone From The Sun
Comments: My aunt and uncle worked for Joe at SEVCO for many years. My uncle Ed was the first to work at SEVCO doing repair work. He was really good with electronics, I think he started in the mid 60s and my aunt Lynn went to work at the store a few years later working in the office.

From what I remember Joe was a real firecracker to work for and had a volatile temper. He would get mad about something and would either fire them or they would quit, this happened at least a couple times and then he would call ask them to come back to work since they were such valuable employees.

I only met Joe on a couple of occasions when my dad and I would go by the store to see my aunt and uncle or look at the electronics.

I remember hearing SEVCO stories at our family Holiday gatherings, it was quite entertaining.




April 24 2006 at 19:49:00
Name: David Bagsby
Email: dcbatsunflower.com
Location: Lawrence KS
Comments: FYI: Robin Trower will be in Kansas City July 19.




April 24 2006 at 18:25:04
Name: Ed Colton
Email: ed@rockvision.tv
Location: Castle Rock Colorado
Comments: Actually, this SEVCO spot was shot in the fall of 1982, if I remember correctly. Joe's fashion sense remained pretty much the same for decades - sort of lounge-lizard chic. I don't remember ever seeing him in a pair of jeans.

He was quite a character; a resistance fighter in France in WWII, concentration camp survivor, and a successful businessman in Tulsa for over 40 years. It was his skill in electronics that kept him alive in the concentration camp, and allowed him to start his business career. He was very proud of his motto "We always service what we sell". He used to do the service himself in the early days, then later he provided the opportunity for some of us "boys" to work their way up from retrieving boxes from the attic and sweeping the store to learning a skill like electronics repair. Way more fun to shop at SEVCO than at someplace like Best Buy.


The very PL-112D Pioneer turntable upon which I am now playing Robin Trower Live! was purchased from SEVCO at Southroads Mall on 6-17-77.




April 24 2006 at 16:37:03
Name: Webmaster
Comments: Thanks to Ed Colton, here is a vintage SEVCO commercial starring the accented owner, Joe Pierre, circa late 1970s (based on Mr. Pierre's attire). He's a Tulsa TV icon in my (figurative) book. (4/27: new Joe Pierre of SEVCO page)




April 24 2006 at 11:40:29
Name: Erick
Email: ericktul@yahoo.com
Location: Tulsa
Comments: I was sad to hear of the death of the Trust House Jewelers lady. For some reason, her name was familiar to me.

Bad late night movies and cheesy lounge music will never be the same to me.




April 23 2006 at 14:24:05
Name: Lynn F
Email: luckyrrain@sbcglobal.net
Location: Tulsa now - soon back to Calif
Comments: I love this site - all the 'good old days.' Found it by accident and what a find it is - pure gold. All my old friends: Tony T, Bob Saied, all the Daves that made it great in the early days - big groups, small groups - all friends - KAKC and the cheerleading group me and some other girls put together for the football guys 'just because I knew them well.'

Dance Party and the stilted steps taken by all...I modeled for Renberg's also and gee, a teenager and for Renberg's, what a treat - all friends, tho' some gone, but some here - but time has a way of making one forget or lose contact. This medium is so great - thank U for a choice site and U R now on my favorites.

Does anyone remember Bill Pitcock - my best guy - I miss him does anyone else???

And I too say hi to Bob Brown, knew U since we were babes almost and U were the best leading man to my leading lady ever.

Thanks for the memories and thank U, webmaster.




April 23 2006 at 12:01:50
Name: Mike "Dusty" Bruchas
Location: Rainy weekend in DC
Comments: Going thru boxes of stuff not long unpacked and I found my original - bought in Edmond, OK - VHS of UHF - the Movie.

Also found Jonathan Kwitny's excellent but now yellowed,"THE MULLENDORE MURDER CASE" about murder at the Cross Bell Ranch. Sheriff Geo. Wayman was involved as the initial lawman in charge but players besides the Mullendore family - included always controversial attorney and lawmaker Gene Stipe and the FBI. What happened to Chub Anderson - the supposed killer and ranch employee? Is the Cross Bell still Mullendore-owned in Osage County? It was a big KTUL story in the 70s. I think only the KAREN SILKWOOD story, the Locust Grove Girl Scout camp murders, and the Roger Wheeler - chairman of Telex shot at Southern Hills Country Club case - were of similar crime noir. I have forgotten so much....Mike Miller - need your expertise on this stuff!

Also found my old, old reprint of "Tragedies of the Osage Hills" - "As told by The Sage of the Osage" aka Arthur H. Lamb and "published by Raymond Red Corn of Pawhuska, OK". I am sure that Bob Gregory has a copy of this, but so many stories that he told on the "Oil in Oklahoma" series so well in the 1970s - are corroborated in this tome and there's more. I bought it in the now-gone downtown Barnsdall drug store in the 70s. It was a re-issue of a book from the 40s and I treasure it still. I think I mentioned a few years back, that I had bought another author's 80s or 90s paperback on the OSAGE REIGN OF TERROR and other than added pictures - it seemed to have "lifted" the guts of this simple book - as her own "research".

Last but not least - X-15 pilot Scott Crossfield died at age 82 this after a crash in a violent storm. His son-in-law was former KOCO-TV producer/exec. producer Ed Fleming of many moons ago. Ed's second wife - I think she is Becky - is an artist. Ed told us 10 years ago - that Crossfield and Chuck Yeager had become friends finally - though Crossfield HATED "All The Right Stuff". Most of Crossfield's family and wife live here in the DC/Loudon County area. I had always wanted to meet Mr. Crossfield - sounded like quite a gentleman!




April 23 2006 at 08:26:31
Name: Webmaster
Gloria BerkeyComments: (From NewsOK.com) Gloria K. Berkey, 79, passed away April 20, 2006. Born August 13, 1926 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Moved to OKC in 1970 and created Trust House Jewelers along with husband Jim Berkey. Known throughout the state for her Trust House weekly movie shows (Nightowl Movie), Gloria touched the lives of many people both personal and through her business. Gloria will be missed by all those who loved her. She is survived by her husband, Jim Berkey of 38 years, son Gary Korsun and wife Pam of OKC, grandsons Lance and Colby Korsun both of OKC. Memorial services will be held Monday, April 24, 2006 @ 11 A.M. at St. Francis Church, 1901 NW 18th Street, OKC.




April 21 2006 at 18:49:19
Name: Thomas Kepler
Location: Way, way out west
Comments: Friday night in the city, case night! Remembering my high school years attending Edison and having the perfect Friday night soundtrack, Johnny Martin on K R M G.




April 19 2006 at 21:29:22
Name: HH
Comments: Must have been ca. 1980. Lee and the King (Lionel is the real King, not Elvis) turned on the holiday lights at Utica Square. Your author had inhaled some vapors illegal, and was flying high as a kite. All of childhood came rushing back: Lee, Lionel, Don, Gusty, Unc Z ... Your author didn't groove on T then, an earthbound misfit as a friend would say --- these TV friends helped one make it through the night. Thanks to one and all.




April 19 2006 at 21:19:38
Name: Wade
Email: thegoofandi*at*aol.com
Location: Collinsville
Comments: Any idea when the Tulsa Auto Hotel was built? I seem to remember an article in the World several years ago about one of the parking garages downtown that had an apartment on the top parking level. Was this the same facility, if anyone knows right off the bat?




April 19 2006 at 11:41:02
Name: David Bagsby
Email: dcbatsunflower.com
Location: Lawrence KS
Comments: Happy Bicycle Day! Some trivia for the CounterCulture page:

Apr 19, 1943 Bicycle Day - Albert Hofmann intentionally takes (250 ug) LSD for the first time. This is the first intentional use of LSD.


Which reminds me of my brush with another CC icon: In May 1984, when I was signing in for a program at Esalen Institute in Big Sur (I am not the author at the link), I did a double-take when I realized that the fellow standing to my immediate left was Timothy Leary.




April 19 2006 at 09:45:59
Name: Erick
Email: ericktul@yahoo.com
Location: Tulsa
Comments: I can understand the Tulsa Auto Hotel being torn down. It is old, and not in very good shape. When I worked downtown, we had to park there for a time, and the homeless would hide out in there, and confront people for money, booze, cigarettes, etc.

If they are building a new parking facility, hopefully it will be more secure and of better quality.




April 18 2006 at 22:22:53
Name: Wade
Email: thegoofandi*at*aol.com
Location: Collinsville
Comments: I saw some photos today of the Tulsa Auto Hotel being torn down. It's been awhile since I've been downtown. Does anyone know any plans for the site in the near future? Seems kinda odd to tear down a parking facility so we can have one more parking lot...




April 18 2006 at 14:11:17
Name: DolfanBob
Email: MiamiPhin@yahoo.com
Location: Broken Arrow
Comments: Holy Cowell. Do you think that it really is Simon posting on our very own TTM site? How coowall would that be. E-mail looks legit. I choose to believe.




April 18 2006 at 00:07:38
Name: Webmaster
Location: Starship
Comments: Space is the Place and Oklahoma is the Base? (link courtesy of Alan Bruchas)




April 17 2006 at 23:25:54
Name: Lee Woodward
Location: Tulsa
Comments: Simon Cowell asked if Lowell's wife was in a "Metropolitan Idol" audition.

In actual fact, I watched a most extraordinary show from England last week, called "Operatunity." It was in fact a take-off of "American Idol" with the grand prize being selected to actually appear with the Royal Opera in a performance of "Rigoletto."

The two women who won were incredible, in that one was a fortyish cashier at a supermarket with no background in this art form. The other lady was a housewife with a husband and two or three kids, with a little music training in her background. The most startling aspect of this lady was that she is blind! But with a voice that showed promise.

They basically had, from start to finish, about a year to achieve their task. It was like watching flowers grow.

That they did it at all is remarkable. To have done it exceedingly well was a great reward in watching them grow and triumph in their efforts.

Just as we watch the same remarkable thing happen every season on American Idol.

Talent will out.




April 17 2006 at 21:48:49
Name: Mike Bruchas
Location: Filing my tax extension
Comments: Was on the road in NC and So. VA this weekend - more towns were shut up after sunrise services Sunday but Wally World was still busy with "heathens". My clerk in Hillsborough, NC said Wal-Mart paid all Easter workers a whole $1 more an hour but no one was to work more than 1 shift. Part-timers got nuthin' extra. I love it!

Re country TV in Tulsey way back when - I aired at different times - the same Porter Wagoner Shows on 8 - later on 6 a few summers later! Syndication - ha!

We all loved the syndicated Marty Robbins Show and his faux denim piano.

I think BOTH 8 and 6 aired the syndicated Sha Na Na series when it went off network. It had been on ABC in the 70's as a summer fill-in. I have worked with "Bowser" several times - not so genteel in real life.




April 17 2006 at 18:36:20
Name: Simon Cowell
Email: simon.cowell@fox.com
Location: Los Angeles
Comments: Lowell: was that audition for Metropolitan Idol?




April 17 2006 at 01:05:37
Name: Lowell Burch
Email: lburch3atcoxdotnet
Location: Nose bleed section with cotton in my ears.
Comments: According to the Met web site, all of the Oklahoma radio stations "stream" the Saturday Met over the Net. I'm guessing you can avoid broadcast problems by using your computer to pick up the caterwauling. I usually enjoy a Cavender-flavored snack, or a tidbit liberally spiced with Tony's, as I listen to opera classics.

My wife, Susan, auditioned for the Met one time. Three judges evaluated her singing. One judge liked her high notes but not her low notes. The next judge liked her low notes but not the high notes. The third judge said her dress was too short. Explain that one!




April 16 2006 at 22:24:28
Name: Lee Woodward
Location: Tulsa
Comments: In an earlier post about FM radio in Tulsa, I said I would check out KOSU-FM at 107.5 to see if they carried the Met Opera at the same time as KWTU-FM; happily for me they did as I had to switch to them Saturday as KWTU had more drop-outs than a Senegambian High School; some as long as a minute. I don't know what that was all about but it ruined my recording.

What's a Mother to do? Cable FM?




April 14 2006 at 19:57:55
Name: John Hillis
Location: E. Lightning Rod, Va.
Comments:

I've just finished Mike Miller's book (ordered via Amazon thru TTM), and it's a cracking good memoir for anyone who is interested in the history of television news, particularly in Tulsa. That is probably everyone reading this site (with the exception of the Hanson boys).

Mike's courage in describing his life, warts and all, is remarkable, and there are some priceless descriptions of characters we've all known and "loved."

Speaking of the old days, if you've got satellite TV or are a subscriber to Mediacom Cable, which I think is still in Ponca City and environs, you can return to the old days of Saturday afternoon country music shows on RFD-TV. Let me particularly urge you to tune in this weekend at 2:30 AM Friday Night/Saturday Morning or 9:30 AM Sunday for a episode of "The Porter Wagoner Show" circa 1967 "in color" with guest star George Jones. It's old enough that Jones has a flat-top haircut and Dolly Parton hasn't had her, um, surgery. A real alternative to today's canned hat-act country.

There, I've just promoted two things that won't make me a dime. As King Lionel told Tom & Jerry, "ars gratia artis." Or something.




April 13 2006 at 17:55:09
Name: Webmaster
Comments: Archived Guestbook 210.

Larry Ellis Reed sent a link to the "Ripley's 'Believe It or Not!'" cartoon for April 3rd, featuring a sketch of Don Woods and noting that "Gusty" is Oklahoma's State Cartoon Character.

A Molly Murphy's Employee Reunion is set for September 8-10, in and around Oklahoma City (links provided). Erick gave us a link to five pages of Oklahoma broadcasting photos (including early KTUL) at the Oklahoma Historical Society website.

Tulsa's Mary Kay Place is a regular on new HBO series, "Big Love" (reviewed by Gary Chew on this site). Her handprints are still at the old Peaches Records location at 51st & Sheridan (see link to LostTulsa photoset). When she made the imprint in the late 70s, she was promoting the album with her song, "Vitamin L" (Amazon link).

Leon Russell's Birthday Bash was held this month; Steve Todoroff sent pics from the 1986 Bash, which he promoted. Gailard Sartain's "Hee-Haw" colleague, Buck Owens, passed away at age 76. We saw a photo of Buck with his look-alike son, Buddy Alan.

As usual, these are only a few highlights of Guestbook 210.




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