Is KTUL running Jimmy Kimmel?

What's up with the guy from B.A. who dosen't know who Leon is?

I found alt.culture.lounge on Google Groups. The oldest messages posted go all the way back to 1997. This is one of the old Usenet newsgroups, whose archives Google has taken over.

Here is an excellent Tiki group, Tiki Central, which moved off Yahoo Groups to its own bulletin board.

There was about a 5 year gap between the end of Mazeppa on 8 and the beginning of Plenty Scary Movie. I don't exactly remember the reason for the eyeball opening on PSM, but I remember producing it. I think it was my idea, and I know I still have the 2 inch master tape of that open in a cardboard box in my garage. I really don't think there was any thought put into the kind of movies run with the eyeball open. If the type of movies changed about the same time as the open, it was a coincidence I'm sure. Carl did the Sherlock Holmes open, and I think it was operations manager Gary Ricketts who was dressed up like Sherlock.

Also, David Letterman's late night show did not begin till 1982.

There was a Pig Stand in Pawhuska, west of town, at least up until the 1990s. I don't know if it's there anymore. They had great food, but it was a tiny old school fast food place (with seating for maybe seven people). I think Bad Brad's Barbecue, which has now become a Pawhuska tradition, gave them a run for their money.

I don't think there was a real replacement for The Uncanny Film Festival when they were kicked off of Channel 6. Shortly after that period I woke up out of childhood and became addicted to music. I remember always trying to catch Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, which came on Saturday nights after the Channel 6 late movie, but it was always so late that I'm thinking they may have run some other programming, like an hour-long rerun ("Suspense Theatre?" - which were old Twilight Zones), then the movie, then Don Kirshner. Don't laugh; that's where I discovered the New York Dolls.

I don't have any memory of "Maintain" at all, which is unfortunate because I'm sure I would have loved it! I sit around listening to Yes albums looking at psychedelic screensavers today. I was under the impression that the Uncanny Film Festival was was replaced on Channel 8 by the "Plenty Scary Movie" (I remember a montage commercial that showed clips of all the major Universial monsters that I think predated the more famous Uncle Zeb promo creation). Then after "Plenty Scary" (or as we used to call it, the "Plenty Universial Movie") there was "Sherlock Holmes Theatre" then "Charlie Chan Theatre" and somewhere there was the revamped "eyeball" opening of "Plenty Scary" featuring Pink Floyd's "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict" as the theme music. The eyeball version seemed to have more Hammer and color horror movies.

Everything gets a little jumbled because of Channel 2's bizarre programming policies from the era. Tulsans missed the first season of "Saturday Night Live" because Channel 2 simply did not play it. We finally got caught up via reruns, but when they finally started showing it, as the second season began, it was delayed for an hour so they could play a rerun of "The FBI" (and just a note: Chevy Chase left after a few shows during the second season). If memory serves correctly, SNL was followed by "Starlight Theatre," which was a movie slot, THEN "Classic Cliffhangers." Like "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert," it came on whenever the movies ended, so if you didn't care for the movie, you had to keep flipping back to see if the show had started yet. I really think the show would have had a bigger following if it had come on at a precise time.

I also remember that Channel 8 countered SNL with classic films for awhile - that's when I first saw "Citizen Kane."

Ironically, Channel 2 really got radical for awhile when "Starlight Theatre: started going all night; "Twisted Brain," "Plan 9 From Outer Space," and every other B-Movie ran all night on the station. That period seemed to come to an end when Channel 2 took off David Letterman and replaced him with Alan Thicke's "Thicke of the Night," which tanked. After Thicke was canceled Channel 2 experimented with going off the air at midnight, rather than show Letterman, except on Fridays when they showed "Kung Fu Theatre" (we are up to the early 1980s here folks). I remember the petitions to bring Letterman back on the air that were circulated at TU when I was a student there (1980-1984).

I also remember that Channel 2 threatened to take SNL off the air in 1981(?) when the cast was revamped and the now-forgotten Charles Rocket used the "F-word" on the last show of the season. At that point (pre-Eddie Murphy) no one really cared whether they took it off or not. Jack Morris did a commentary on it on the news, and for once I prety much agreed with the decision; Rocket's comment had more to do with immaturity than satire, which was the major problem with SNL at the time. Eventually Sherman Oaks started the "Creature Feature/Groovie Movie" on 23 and all was right in Tulsa for a couple of years.

Then I got my first writing job and never got to watch telelvision again.

I found this menu on eBay today. Bidding is open until June 5...you can still be the wiener!

Wasn't that hosted by Josef Hardt on Channel 2?

Speaking of things going and gone, Burgess Hardware, on SW Blvd., has two weeks to sell what they can, and then they lose their lease, and have to move elsewhere.

Burgess has not been there as long as Swinney's has been in Whittier Square, but if you really need something, and nobody else has it, one of the two of them will have it. I think Burgress has something like 40 years or so in the same location, while Swinney's goes back a little further, or a lot further depending on which end you are looking from.

But Burgess Hardware for those of us that like things that beep and carry things on our belt that make noise and that you can fix things with, is the sort of place where you can meet people who understand what you are talking about and will help you find it when you ask for the 3/8 left handed back threaded heat treated disyllinoid backthrasher that comes with the heated component that will only click twice when you hook it up to 120 v. or 6 v., depending on what you are working on.

And they would usually have two of them, made in the USA, and at a fairly decent price, with three of the older model on the back shelves in the upstairs area, if that one didn't fit the model you were looking for.

They are going to try and find a smaller place in West Tulsa, but it's kind of sad to see something like an old friendly place like that have to move.

While Mazeppa and Woodward were on Channel 6 and Mr. Zing, Uncle Zeb, and eventually Mazeppa (again) were on Channel 8, the major contribution to Tulsa pop culture on Channel 2 during the same period was by Josef Hardt, of "Fantastic Theater," the Saturday Night Serials, Oktoberfest, and (Christopher Lewis's) "Blood Cult" fame (and I think "Fantastic Theater" came before all of the above except for Lee). I've tried to talk to Mr. Hardt to get his take on Tulsa television (but without success).

When "Infinity Press" was around we actually wanted to strike a balance between all three stations. We started with the Mazeppa piece (Channels 6 & 8) because Mr. Sartain designed the Mayfest poster that year (2001) and then we continued with Uncle Zeb (Channel 8 & cable) and Lee & Lionel (Channel 6). Following up with a piece on "Fantastic Theater" was planned, but obviously never happened. We could have a very nice Channel 2 page if Mr. Hardt would grant an interview. With hope, that will happen sometime in the near future.

I grew up watching Dan Threlkeld when I lived in OKC, and I'm glad he finally has a chance to shine as a chief meteorologist. Unfortuantely, they don't have near the quality of equipment as 6 or 8 to this point. They are improving, though.

I believe Keith Isbell works for Broken Arrow Schools (?) in some capacity.

The co-anchor on the morning news with John Hudson was Gillian Kirk. She has since married, so her last name has changed. She works for a station in east Texas now.

Here is a good bio of Leon on his site.

I am a die hard KJRH fan. I never watch anything else if I can help it. I got hooked in 1984 on a stormy Sunday morning in May, I think. The atmosphere felt ominous, more so than I have ever experienced since. Even as a nine year old, I knew that it was to be a tornadic day. I spent the day watching Planet Of The Apes on channel 2, "NewsCenter2", and was mesmerized by Gary Shore's warnings and weather interruptions as Prue and Mannford were hit by the tornados.

4/29/1984 Mannford tornado, courtesy of Erick Church

Since then, as an avid amateur weather fan, I have always felt that 6 and 8's weather was lackluster compared to 2, although I do appreciate the Team of Dick Faurot & Jim Giles on 6, Channel 2's weather has always seemed to be a step ahead through the Gary Shore and Jeff Lazalier years. Some people have doubts about Dan Threlkeld, but I like him. He came from the same family of meteorologists that KJRH has enjoyed in the past of Gary Shore, Jeff Lazalier, Mike Morgan... etc. Now they are installing a new radar which is sure to be an amazing piece of technology to add to their tradition of good meteorology. Does anybody remember Bruce Dunbar, he came onto 2 in the eighties for a new 5:00 newscast, I think. Keith Isbell? Dierdre Davis? I remember when she left she told the Tulsa World that since she was married, and her husband was a corporate executive, they were moving to NY, because there were no corporations here. Remember Todd Whitthorne? Jay Rickerts? Who was the female morning cohost with John Hudson when he passed away? I would love to see a graphic of that fat rounded 2 from the eighties... After being such a fan, I will have to admit, I am not a fan of the "2 Works For You" business....

Re the disparity in KTUL video vs. other stations, it is strictly a question of availability. What I have to post is from KTUL and KOTV; I don't have any KVOO/KTEW/KJRH video available to me (other than the 1999 clip about Tulsa TV and this site, which itself included no Channel 2 video, only Channels 8 and 6).

Re the URL you posted for the KJRH "Hello Tulsa" clip in the previous Guestbook...it is not considered appropriate among webmasters to grab clips from other sites or link directly to them (the latter is termed "bandwidth theft", which I unthinkingly committed by converting the URL text to a link). I have amended the link to send readers to the page at The '80s TV Theme SuperSite containing the clip; that is definitely OK. I have also added that link to the top of the Channel 2 page.

Of course, this site is not strictly about actual video clips; if it were, it could be done on one page rather than hundreds.

The Tulsa Ice Oilers played in Sam Avey's downtown Coliseum until it caught fire years ago. Mack Creager did a lot of broadcasting from that venue on KAKC-FM, I believe.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Channel8Rules/

Bud LaMarche and Freckles Little were brave men to play their position with no facial protection. A big defensive enforcer was Nick Knott; a superb, stick-handling "scatback," Clair Dillon, ran the show; and Gus Mortson was a big goal scorer.

I sometimes would take the bus downtown at night to the games, but only after the start of the third period, when you could get in free. It was usually difficult to find a good seat.

One evening a friend of mine and I found empty seats on the front row to the side of the rink and nearly parallel to the goal. The protective fence was only about three feet above the floor and about five feet above the playing surface. As the action got heavy in front of the goal, I heard a loud "Frump!" sound just below me as I hung over the rail. I looked down and saw the black smudge and imprint of where a puck had hit the fence just about a foot directly in front and below me. A foot or two higher and I would have been beheaded. I never sat there again.

It is funny though, and worth a visit.

I had a similar nervous breakdown during an exclusive radio interview with Hope, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Someone tipped me he was staying at the Mayo Hotel. I called his room from the lobby and a sleepy Hope asked me to call back in half an hour. I did and again woke him. A third call and the still slumbering Hope said, "You’re not going to give up are you? Come up, but don't tell anyone I'm here." After interviewing the famed comedian, I checked my tape recorder and to my horror, discovered the fifteen-minute conversation did not record. Hope graciously offered to redo the whole thing, saving my rear.

Thanks for the memory, Bob!

This is Gary & Jake Busey's official site.

You should check this site out... hilarious, especially the comparison between Nick Nolte & Gary Busey.

This reminded me of the undistinguished (and sustaining) radio programs the networks fed their affiliates on Sunday mornings to help them fill time in the late 1930s and early 1940s. One I remember was called "I am an American" and involved the Immigration Commissioner interviewing some foreign-born resident who had achieved success in the U.S. One Sunday I tuned in to KVOO (an NBC prime affiliate then) and found the guest was Bob Hope--who promptly broke up the commissioner with his trademark rapid-fire joke approach. What made me remember this was the network's policy then of nothing but "LIVE" shows--no recordings of any kind even if the program failed and the net had to fill with a piano interlude (not entirely unknown)! Bob was then appearing on Broadway so he obviously had to give up some Sunday morning sleep to do the show.

And that reminds me that a little-known but determined Phyllis Diller, booked in some little Tulsa club back in 1960 actually got up to be on Bob Mills' "Sun-UP" show on KOTV at 7 a.m.!

Bob Hope's determination also showed when he matched, step for step, Jimmy Cagney's dancing in "The Seven Little Foys."

Happy Birthday, Bob--and "Thanks (a Million) for the Memories!" (And just because the candles now cost more than the cake doesn't mean you're getting old!)

Thank you so much for the memories of everything T town.

One question...

We used to listen to Johnny Martin talk about the movies at the Boman Twin and other movie theaters.

If memory serves were they the "family theaters" or some such? He didn't play a commercial but talked about each movie and you could almost smell the popcorn when he was done. And, he was the only radio channel you heard on car radios parked late nights on "look out mountain" if you know what I mean;)

Also, Zingo was our favorite ride at Bells. Anyone remember those "I rode ZINGO" stickers??

Anybody remember the Tulsa Oilers hockey team? Now that was a good time downtown in the old days.

Tip of the hat - excellent web site.

If some of you remember 20-30 years ago he was in NRA magazine ads - he WAS a national champion target shooter in his later years - think with shotgun and clay pidgeons not with a Tommy gun...and as previously mentioned here - in John Ford's "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" - he and Ken Curtis ("Whirlybirds" but the definitive FESTUS HAGEN in "Gunsmoke") were part of the serenading choraleers in the movie. Either Matt Bunyan or Doug Dodd and I saw that when running the movie at KTUL and about laughed ourselves to death.

I believe that Stack also a lot of v.o. work on documentaries post-Untouchables but that role kinda typecast him till UNSOLVED MYSTERIES. Somebody said that no one remembers 5 or 6 good movies that he was a supporting actor in - prior to THE UNTOUCHABLES....

And don't forget his comic turn in "Airplane!"

I think I mentioned it before here - but I believe the Southroads Cinema - had the special smoking lounge section - something theatres tried in the 70's - a separate smokers section with extra ventilation.

In the 7 years I lived in OKC - went to the Continental there about 5 times - mostly for second run or foreign films then the Will Rogers in OKC became THE foreign film house.

I borrowed "Alice's Restaurant" from the library and watched it for the first time recently. The vignette portrayed in the song "Alice's Restaurant" is duly enacted, but it is a real movie with a dark side to it, not the hippy-dippy mess I was expecting.

It was interesting to see the name of George Sisco in the guestbook. I worked at the Forum Twin and the Fontana 4 during the mid to late 1970's and remember many of the union projectionists......they were an interesting group. In fact as a tie-in to the Circle Theater talk, somewhere I have a section of the old screen from the Circle that one of the projectionists gave me.

The Fox Theater at 51st and Harvard is now a discount department store.

A query (with photos) about the Oklahoma Cowboy Band was put into play. The "Chocolate Cowboy", a Tulsa area musical entertainer in the 60s, was remembered. The Tulsa TV Icons were honored at the Tulsa Press Club, and we saw photos of that event. We also saw a photo of Eddie and the Ecclectics from David Bagsby, a member of that late 70s-early 80s stage group.

We saw a 2003 photo of Kazuo Gomi in Tokyo; he was an intern at KOTV in the mid-1950s! Jim Ruddle's daughter is also seen in this picture.

These are some of the exciting contents of Guestbook 132.