September 12 2010 at 22:32:07 Name:
Gary Chew Topic: Sound Ideas: Hearing Dialogue Email: Northeast of Eden Comments: I can't refrain from saying something about Woodward
and Linder in regard to sound in modern film, today. Both gentlemen have
some very important things to say about it, I believe.
Gawd, I'm always having the problem Lee cites about hearing dialogue in the
cinema. I attribute some of my problem to my age, and the fact that I wore
cans for about 50 years doing radio and recording com'ls and voice tracks.
It does affect the voice frequency envelope-range that hits the ear drums,
I believe. But movies, especially today, seem to really challenge a fellow
to hear what the hell some actors are saying.
Here are two paragraphs from my "Dark Knight" review
in which I rant about sound, music and sounds effects in that---for me---rather
ho-hum film. Here are the 2 graphs...
"THEN THERE'S THE SOUND! Hello, can you hear me? I said, sound. Yes, sound,
that invisible stuff which includes dialogue, music and background noise.
Quite simply, the damned good music heard in 'Knight' is almost always too
loud for the dialogue. I suggest they redo the film and either put English
subtitles in with the inaudible spoken English, or fade the music and wild
sound down a smidgen when there's someone speaking. It's an old trick we
used to do when running a live record show on the radio or putting together
a commercial to air on the station. It's amazing how much better communication
improves with this swell idea.
"Then there's the voice of the non-Wayne character employed in some smooth
digital fashion by Batman, himself. It doesn't sound like the same voice
I hear when Bruce Wayne/Christian Bale is speaking on the soundtrack. I'm
taking a guess that a ghost-voice actor was brought into the looping booth
with his pipes being technically enhanced so Mr. Wayne's onscreen identity
is less noticeable, also, as that of Batman. I think the ghost-voice is Clint
Eastwood's!!! 'Make my day, Joker!' (review out)
A movie that wasn't hot artistically, or at the box office was George Clooney
in Steven Soderbergh's "Solaris" from 2002. The whole damn film takes place
on a space ship...with the usual space ship sounds that always seem to be
humming in low background on the soundtrack. ("Open the pod bay door, Hal!).
Clooney and the other actors never speak in full voice and mostly in whispers
or almost whispers. I guess Soderbergh kept cans on his ears anytime he screened
the film. Fartliness with regard to myself and Mr. Woodward may have a bit
to do with it, but not everything, for sure.
I also have problems with voice that comes into mics that are not as close
to the mouth of the speaker as the mouth of an announcer in a booth who's
working the mic, tightly, when delivering his/her lines. The difference it
obvious to me. TV VOs on spots are very easy to understand. Some film actors
seemed to be miked so loosely that a slight natural echo actually gets in
the 'way' of the solid voice sound waves needed to understand some of the
vowels and consonants being used in the dialogue. The room ambiance of the
set location for particular scenes might have something to do with that.
How 'bout that, Scott? You're the expert.
September 12 2010 at 15:35:01 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Motion Pictures Comments: Annoyed? This is fascinating.
I'd be interested in hearing about your recollection running '2001'. Many
who viewed that film were having a chemically-induced movie experience at
the time. I wonder if the theatre staff were aware of that phenomena?
Also interested in knowing if you were in the booth for 'Romeo and Juliet'
at the Boman Twin and how long that feature ran. I know I saw it several
times just to glimpse Olivia Hussey rolling out of bed the morning after
her wedding with Romeo. Heady stuff in 1968.
Was the Admiral Twin the only drive-in you worked or was there an outdoor
circuit for Local 513?
September 12 2010 at 14:21:27 Name: Scott Linder Topic: Movie Dialogue Levels Comments: Mr. Woodward,
I have information and personal personal thoughts with regard to motion picture
dialogue levels. I will attempt to address this on a technical level in the
near future, and would be interested in hearing of this issue from other
TTM folks who may have shared your experience.
Meanwhile, I feel that many TTM fans may be becoming weary of my various
motion picture remarks, so I will stop annoying them...
By the way, the last name of the 15th and Peoria theatre may have been the
Premier. So, it has at least been known as the Alhambra, Plaza and Premier
until possibly the early 60s. I have no idea of what may have happened after
that!!
Kind regards always,
Scott Linder
Not so for this fan. Keep it coming!
September 12 2010 at 12:39:14 Name: Johnny K. Young Topic: Frougs Back to School Email:
Johnk662561atyahoodotcom Comments: Just saw the Frougs ad below. Man does That ever
take me back!
My folks used to drag me to Crystal City and buy all my back to school clothes
there. I remember the smell of the "sizing" on the clothes and the way the
Jean legs would peel apart as you tried them on. Then of course came the
packs of tightie whities, three to a pack...and socks. Then it was Westward
Ho! Back to Sapulpa and a stop at Harrison's shoe store for leather school
shoes and some P.F. (Positive Foundation) Flyer gym shoes!
Speaking of Crystal City...I got my very first actual suit at Bynum's there
at the Crystal City Shopping Center.
September 12 2010 at 12:28:09 Name: John K Young Topic: Good news about the Twin if True! Email:
Johnk662561atyahoodotcom Comments: I recently heard from an acquaintance who lives
a block or so from the Admiral Twin that they ARE going to rebuild the screens
and make them insurable this time!
I may be a day late and a dollar short on this news but that's what happens
when you live in AZ and get your news by stagecoach. By the way...also just
heard the Civil War is over and the Yankees won in extra innings. Please
confirm. Have a 20.00 gold piece riding on this...Thanks!
September 11 2010 at 13:51:15 Name:
Lee Woodward Topic: 15th & Peoria Flickhaus
Comments: Scott,
That theater sounds way too big and grand to me; however, my memory banks
aren't that good either. I do know that it was pretty much an "art house",
ala, the Circle Cinema. But thanks for the information.
Let's start another subject that seems to be new to me; that is, The current
correlation between whispering actors and sound recorders who make it even
more difficult to understand dialogue due to the levels of sound effects
and background music. A great example was the Circle Cinema film,
"Winter's Bone." My wife
and I agree that we missed 50% of what was said. I understand that this theater
is not state of the art, but that doesn't matter. I have gone to afternoon
movies at AMC and Hollywood 12, where I was literally the only ticket holder
there - same thing.
I know that some would say, "I'm an Old Fart and just can't hear," but that's
not the case. Let me just put it this way, I never have a problem understanding
a Richard Burton or any actor with a classically trained delivery. An antipodal
contrast would be Clint Eastwood. I rest my case.
September 10 2010 at 11:38:35 Name: Scott Linder Topic: The 15th and Peoria Theatre Comments: Mr. Woodward,
My memories of the theatre at 15th and Peoria are fading. Strangely, I remember
it as the theatre just south of the original Moore Funeral Home there on
Peoria... Is that the one?
If so, I believe that this house was originally built in the 20s as The Alhambra
Theatre. It was quite elegant, and even sported a Kimball theatre organ.
It was renovated several times, the last of which was for the Tulsa showing
of the film Ben-Hur in about 1959. This included new projectors and 4-track
magnetic sound. At that time, I believe it was renamed The Plaza Theatre.
Of course, it most likely went through other names and incarnations in later
years...
Please keep in mind that this comes from my ever-fading memory, and that
I often cannot recall what I had for lunch yesterday...
Others mentioned the Boman Twin in previous posts. It was a really nice house...
very clean with all-new equipment. They had Super Simplex machines with the
first Tulsa installation of either Christie or Orcon xenon projection lamps,
which eliminated carbon-arcs. I recall working a good many opening shifts
there before going to my closing shift at the Brook, or sometimes the Admiral
Twin during the summer. I recall running "True Grit" at the Boman for quite
a good while...
Anyway, I hope the 15th and Peoria info is of help...
September 10 2010 at 11:25:19 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Motion Picture Operator
Comments: Really enjoying your projection recollections. What
is a 'hard ticket' schedule? Guaranteed audience numbers? Pretty impressive
about the single print running 26 months. This video has a glimpse inside
one of the the Admiral Twin projection booths (at about 2:41) and shows some
equipment you must be well acquainted with:
I'm guessing circumstances make this booth not quite as clean as the one
at the Brook.
September 09 2010 at 22:43:36 Name: Scott Linder Topic: The Brook and The Sound of Music Comments: Mr. Lazzaro, I'm sorry that you had a bad
experience at the Brook. You are correct with regard to the long run of "The
Sound of Music". It ran on a "hard ticket" schedule in ToddAO 70mm at 2pm
and 8pm for 26 months. I believe that it was the longest time that I ever
ran a single feature in any theatre.
By the way, we ran the same print for the entire run! We ran a very clean
booth at the Brook and paid a great deal of attention to how we handled prints.
After the first year of screening, the Fox rep appeared, to suggest to the
management that it was time for a new print, to which we replied: "Why?".
He said that our print had to be showing signs of wear, so it must be replaced
at the theatre's expense.
He had shipped a new print with him, so we suggested that we thread-up reel-one
of both prints on each of our machines and compare the quality. We did this,
and changed-over from both machines as an A-B comparison as he watched in
the theatre. After our test, he came to the booth and said that he had never
seen a year-old print in such good condition. We said, "Hey, welcome to Tulsa
and Local 513!!" He went away, and we ran the same print for 26 months.
By the way, the beautiful ToddAO 70mm projectors at the Brook were the the
original Norelco machines with Strong Super135 lamps that were installed
at the Rialto for the premier of "Oklahoma".
I liked working at the Brook. Brookside was great, Lewis Meyer's Bookshop
was next-door, and Tex Meyer's Deli was right across the street.... Oh, and
I liked the balcony at the Delman, too. By the way, they had a pair of Super
Simplexes with RCA 9030 sound heads, and Peerless Magnarc lamps.
September 08 2010 at 21:46:24 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Brook Comments: Mr. Linder,
If you were projectionist at the Brook during the run of Sound of Music I
have a bone to pick with you.
As a squirt I moved to within easy Schwinn Stingray striking distance of
the Brook Theater. 'How cool is this' I thought. Movie independence!
The first film I pedaled over to see was Sound of Music.
Many, many, many months later when we moved from the neighborhood Sound of
Music was still playing. It took Joyce Martel to warm me up to the place
again.
And I preferred the Delman when the balcony was open.
September 08 2010 at 19:13:03 Name: Michael D. Trout Topic: Movie night in Tulsa, September
1966 Email: thinking about it Comments: Scott, please keep feeding us your wonderful information
about the poor Admiral Twin and other places. Nobody wants you to shut up.
I saw many films at the Admiral Twin in the 1960s, including The Pink Panther
and The Longest Day. On advice of counsel, I will neither confirm nor deny
that I ever crawled through a hole in the Admiral Twin's fence to see a film
for free.
The Admiral Twin will always remain the king of all drive-in theatres. Here
in upstate New York, I am two miles from the Jericho Drive-In, still a popular
site. Its single screen is the standard rural block of 4 by 8s mounted on
a few wooden poles, with a rather plain snack bar--although recently augmented
by an extension outside the perimeter, allowing folks to purchase ice cream
without entering the theatre (has custard ice cream ever made it to Oklahoma?).
There are at least four other working drive-ins within a 45 minute drive.
But they cannot match the Admiral Twin.
Are there any photos of the Admiral Twin under construction?
I recently found yet another newspaper clipping from the Tulsa World in a
1960s scrapbook. As usual, what's on the back is a lot more interesting than
what's on the front, which is an 8 x 12 black-and-white photo of Raquel Welch
and Arthur Kennedy zapping a blood clot in the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage.
On the back is part of a mundane interview with Tab Hunter. But there are
also seven display ads for Tulsa movie venues. Some are chopped off and
incomplete, but they are a cornucopia of interesting films and visuals. Here's
what I was able to piece together.
I think this clipping is from 1966, probably very late August or early September.
Fantastic Voyage, which must have had a big publicity drive accounting for
the World's large photo, was released 24 August 1966. I was in upstate New
York as usual for that summer, returning to Tulsa just in time for school.
There was an airline machinist's strike in August 1966 and we had to drive
home, and I probably clipped this from the paper shortly thereafter.
Unfortunately, my clumsy clipping must have omitted the Admiral Twin's ad.
Boman Twin West at 31st & Sheridan ('Finest in the Southwest,' Adults
$1.25, children 50¢):
Woman of Straw (Sean Connery and Gina Lollobrigida; a British murder drama
released in September 1964; 'It's Connery as you like him 'dangerous' 'exciting'
'romantic'; the word 'COLOR' appears to be pasted in the ad).
2nd feature: Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove Or:
How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (Peter Sellers and George
C. Scott; released January 1964; 'the wild hot-line suspense comedy!'; includes
photos of Sellers as President Muffley and Tracy Reed as Miss Scott, both
speaking on telephones, which was a significant subtheme of the film.)
Interesting how two 1964 films were showing in 1966, but I think that was
not uncommon in those days. Woman of Straw may have been rereleased to capitalize
on Connery's James Bond popularity, and Dr. Strangelove, although not a big
hit when first released, had a significant 'cult' status that was growing
even then. I'd first seen Dr. Strangelove, my favorite film, on late night
Tulsa TV in late 1964, I think; I didn't see it on the big screen until the
1970s. There is also a small piece of an ad for a sneak preview; all I can
make out is that it stars somebody whose name ends in man or nan,''in his
latest and most hilarious'.
William Wyler's How to Steal a Million (Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole,
with Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith, and Charles Boyer; a romantic crime comedy
released July 1966). At the top is a small banner ad 'Last 3 Days!' followed
by a movie title that ends in ge, which 'must start next Wednesday.' I suspect
this is Fantastic Voyage, which I saw there.
"Million" actually played the Boman West in 1966. Courtesy of the
Beryl Ford Collection.
Rialto and Bellaire ('51st W of Bridge'; Adults 1.00)
Movie Star, American Style (the title appears as a swimsuit worn by a shapely
brunette; I hope it's not T.C. Jones) or, LSD, I Hate You! (Directed by Albert
Zugsmith and starring female impersonator T.C. Jones and midget Frank Delfino.
Apparently a sex-drugs 'comedy' with a tinted acid-trip sequence 'in hilarious
LSD color.')
2nd feature: Fanny Hill (Russ Meyer and Albert Zugsmith's 1964 sex comedy
starring Letícia Román and Miriam Hopkins; 'The motion picture
they said could not be filmed')
Capri ('On Road to Sand Springs'; Adults $1.00, Child
Free) I think the phrase at the top of the ad, 'First time together!', refers
to these two films, not to Fonda and Sinatra.
The Wild Angels (Cheap, violent 1966 Roger Corman biker gang film with Peter
Fonda and Nancy Sinatra; 'The most terrifying film of our time!'; 'This picture
is recommended for adults')
2nd feature: Fireball 500 (Lame, dull, 1966 film about fast stock cars with
Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Fabian, and Chill Wills; 'They live from
spinout to crack up 'In Panavision and color')
Orpheum ('The Big One: Downtown'; Adults $1.00, Children 50¢)
The Fat Spy (Awfully unfunny 1966 'comedy' with Phyllis Diller,
Brian Donlevy, and
Jayne
Mansfield; 'Hilarious' 'The year's biggest fun hit') This film supposedly
ran out of money, with the final scenes created by panning the camera over
pages of the script.
All the theaters above (Boman, Rialto, Bellaire, Capri, Orpheum) share the
same familiar squashed-Maltese-cross logo; they must have been owned by the
same syndicate at the time.
'51' Drive-In ('3 Miles East of Memorial on East 71st'; Admission 75¢
-- Children Free)
3 On a Couch (Romantic 'comedy' with Jerry Lewis producing, directing, and
playing five roles; Maltin says the straight role is funny and the four 'funny'
roles are unfunny; also starring Janet Leigh and Mary Ann Mobley)
Paris Art Theatre (Adults only; Downtown: 18 South Main; Adm. $1.50) '2 color
films back by popular demand'
London in the Raw (1964 sexploitation documentary; 'Red-hot, Red-eyed and
raw!')
2nd feature: World of Flesh (Actual title Hollywood's World of Flesh; 1963
sexploitation documentary starring Baby Bubbles; 'Filmed in Partial COLOR')
Last day: Bachelor Peeping Tom (Actual title Bachelor Tom Peeping; 1962
sexploitation comedy)
Re the movie, "Wild Angels", I seem to remember it playing at the Twin,
but it was billed as "Wild Angles". Might excite a mathematician. Similarly,
the 1969 Andy Griffith movie was billed at the Twin as "'Angle' in my Pocket".
Sounded painful.
I read Isaac Asimov's novelization of "Fantastic Voyage" before seeing
the movie. Asimov added considerable scientific detail and Cold War mood
to Jerome Bixby's and David Duncan's original framework. I loved it and couldn't
wait to see the movie. When I finally caught it on TV, I was miserably
disappointed.
September 08 2010 at 18:41:58 Name: William Mattson Topic: Froug's Department Store Email: william_mat at yahoo dot
com Comments: I worked at the Southland store for Froug's in 79-80.
It was the corporate office located on the southwest corner.
I would take the mail to the main post office and packages for shipment.
Once a week I would load the company van and tranfer items to and from all
the stores: Southland, Eastgate, Northwood, 71st and Memorial, two across
the river, Ft. Smith, AR.
I would once in awhile take Mrs. Froug around town on errands and other things
for some of the VPs and Chairman. They were a great family to work for.
Courtesy of Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County
Library and the Tulsa Historical Society
September 08 2010 at 17:34:01 Name:
Lee Woodward Topic: Theaters Email: preprandialDotCom Comments: Scott,
Great information on the Twin. As to the theaters you mentioned? I did them
all including the downtown ones.
However, there is one whose name escapes me. It was a small Art House at
15th and Peoria, on the N.E. corner. My mentor and friend, the sculptor Saint
Clair Homma, had a small studio right next door. At that time he was working
on the bust of Thomas Edison, which I assume still resides in the hallway
of Edison High School?
September 08 2010 at 13:29:44 Name: Scott Linder Topic: The Admiral, and other Drive-In
stuff... Comments: It is very interesting to see the photos and
video of the Admiral Twin screen tower, and to recall my memories of working
there as a motion picture operator a few decades ago.
The screen surfaces were indeed made of plywood, and had received many coats
of flat-white paint over many years. It might be of interest to some that
during the glory-days of drive-ins in the 50s, the SMPTE engineers did extensive
work on improving screen luminance and maintenance for drive-in theatre
operators.
The best method was to use bright corrugated aluminum sheeting as the screen
facing. The corrugations ran vertically, using galvanized fasteners. This
prevented rust and "screen-streaking" during rain and winter weather. Then,
this bright metal surface was given a single light spray-coat of white gloss
enamel paint. During the day this surface looked "mottled" and un-even, but
it provided a beautiful picture at night. In addition, it lasted for years
and could be easily cleaned with water before each season, preventing numerous
paint-jobs. AND it was fire-resistant.
As to the technical benefits, the brilliant aluminum greatly improved screen
luminance and the white coat corrected color balance. The vertical corrugations
spread the projected image slightly and made the picture brighter to off-axis
viewers.
In addition to screen treatments, the projectors were equipped with "drive-in"
5-blade shutters that passed more light, even though they increased flicker.
This was considered an acceptable trade-off and the added flicker was only
apparent during fast-action shots. The fastest F-stop lenses were used to
provide best focus. Of course, the largest lamps possible were used and they
were always water-cooled, along with film gates to control film buckling.
The Admiral Twin screen was most likely just a victim of age, although it
will be interesting to know what the fire inspector finds as the cause.
I have other Admiral-Twin stories from when I was working shifts there in
the 60s. Then again, I have stories from when I was running "The Sound of
Music" at the Brook, and "2001" at the Fox and "Man of 1000 Faces" at the
Delman but most TTM readers have never heard of those places, so I think
it's time for me to shut up.
No, it's not! This is great stuff!
September 07 2010 at 17:07:37 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Dwelling on the Admiral Twin Comments: Mike
You mentioned something about the structural integrity after 60 years in
this post:
'In my mind, the Twin's screen had been doomed for years. The only surprise
to me was that it lasted so long in such a condition. The painted-over tiles
were poor light reflectors, there were holes in the structure, and it seemed
to be inviting a tornado to knock it down or rip it apart from the inside.
It was hard to imagine any way the 60-year-old, 9-story structure could stay
intact much longer. The Hampton Hotels' award of $35,000 didn't manifest
itself on the screen (mentioned in GB 179 five years ago).'
The screen certainly looked rough but the interior was rather stunning as
evidenced by this short video that includes a look inside (September 6th
entry):
I wonder if an architectural plan of that fantastic timber structure exists
somewhere? I'd pay to have a look at that.
You've got a point. If it stood up to all the weather that has come at
it in 60 years, it couldn't have been that flimsy.
September 07 2010 at 16:48:18 Name: Shirley Speechley Topic: Dick Clary Email: pat_shirley@cox.net Comments: Got a message from Rick Clary this morning that
his father, Dick Clary, passed away this morning. Dick had an advertising
agency for years. I worked with Rick at KVOO Radio for years. He was sales
manager.
September 06 2010 at 18:51:00 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Admiral Twin Comments: Jan LeMoine posted:
31 September 04 2010 at 10:24:32
Name: Jan LeMoine
Topic: Save the Admiral Twin drive
Email: ok_lemoine at yahoo dot com
Comments: Great pic and spot-on observations, Mike.
Less than 24 hours since it went up, the Facebook "Save the admiral Twin"
page has close to 13,500 supporters.
23,808 now and growing.
Interesting details Mr. Linder. I'd never heard of the dusk-to-dawn Halloweens
let alone the projector specs.
September 06 2010 at 16:08:23 Name: Scott Linder Topic: The Admiral Twin Comments: I was so sorry to hear of the fire at the Admiral
Twin. Before platters and single-projectors, I often worked the east side
as a projectionist in the 60s. The booth had two Motiograph AAs with water-cooled
Ashcraft Corelite water-cooled lamps, and the standard Altec sound.
My favorite shift each year was the "dusk-to-dawn" Halloween marathon that
ran from sundown to about 6:00am. It featured many of the Universal monster
classics as well as many others. We had no room on the booth reels for all
of these features, so we ran them right from the cans off of the exchange
reels, without checking the prints. It was scary, but fun!
Even now, I remember everything about working at the Admiral, and I have
many stories. The photos of the screen-tower burning made me very sad. I
can only hope that this Tulsa landmark can be rebuilt.
September 04 2010 at 21:49:01 Name: Dana LeMoine Topic: Admiral Twin's land Email: d4wdw@valornet.com Comments: I swear that I once either read or was told that
the Admiral Twin's land could never be used for anything but a drive-in.
September 04 2010 at 19:53:20 Name: Webmaster Topic: The Twin a phoenix? Comments:
September 04 2010 at 10:24:32 Name: Jan LeMoine Topic: Save the Admiral Twin drive Email: ok_lemoine at yahoo dot
com Comments: Great pic and spot-on observations, Mike.
Less than 24 hours since it went up, the Facebook "Save the admiral Twin"
page has close to 13,500 supporters. Mike & TTM's Admiral Twin page gets
an excellent mention & link in the comments from Mr. Horton, so we may
see a surge of new TTM fans directly!
A benefit concert is planned at the Rose Bowl Event Center (7419 E. 11th,
of course) at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10th. And Bigfoot Prints of Owasso is offering
"Save the Admiral Twin" Shirts for $10.00 - you can even customize for and
additional $10 - and 100% of profit goes to the Admiral Twin. Call 918-805-0543
for order info.
September 03 2010 at 19:22:53 Name: Wesley Horton Topic: Admiral Twin Email: okc_rn@yahoo.com Comments: Hello Mike and All,
My wife and I became aware of the tragedy as it was unfolding this afternoon
around 2:30 or so. Got there in time to take a few pics. From the looks of
your picture, we were on the highway above you taking pictures...
Since the original screen is now gone, I will dig out the remaining pictures
I have of the screen under construction in 1951, and tell the story of the
drive-in, who took those pictures and how the story was uncovered. If you
will, post them, I will be happy to supply them.
It looks like there is going to be an effort to rebuild the theatre. Efforts
are here:
Looks like I will be donating time and money to the effort. I hope others
will as well.
Kindest Regards,
Wesley Horton
American Institute of Drive-in Archaeology
September 03 2010 at 18:29:47 Name: Gary Chew Topic: Says Boo-Hoo Comments: I've been online with my daughter in Tulsa.
She just told me about the tragic Twin conflagration. I sped pronto to this
site to find that our Web Maestro has got it covered. Good job, Mike and
Gaye! Maybe you guys should do news wagon reports like we used to do at KELi.
Let's raise a toast to the venerable Admiral Twin...where "Psycho" first
scared the hell out of me. I actually think I screamed a little bit when
Norman's "mother" was wheeled around in her basement rocking chair. Damn
that Hitch.
September 03 2010 at 17:49:09 Name: David Bagsby Topic: Admiral Twin Comments: What a drag...the last films I saw there were
'The Devil's Rain' and 'Embryo'...sopapilla flag to half mast.
September 03 2010 at 17:12:25 Name: Webmaster Topic: The last picture show at the Twin Comments:
Gaye and I were near 17th and Sheridan this afternoon when we got the news.
We drove over and parked just off Admiral Place and walked to the entrance
(the access road was blocked by a police car). You can see what we saw below.
We were there last Saturday for what I guess was to be the "last picture
show" for the Twin. Our first choice had been "The Expendables", but there
was a problem with the projector on the east side. So, with qualms, we went
with "The Last Exorcism" on the west side.
We bought hot dogs and nachos and a big pickle from the concession stand.
I brought some Miller High Life in a cooler to wash it all down. We also
brought a Milky Way candy bar and some already-popped microwave popcorn.
(I had diligently used the Admiral Twin Drive-In Checklist
on this site.)
The weather was nice enough to sit outside the van on folding chairs.
As had been the case for quite awhile, the screen was so dark that we missed
some of the details. That was just as well with "The Last Exorcism", as it
creeped Gaye out. Soon, our neighbors with kids left the theater, probably
for the same reason.
Gaye didn't last much longer. We skulked out of the theatre after finishing
the snacks. I think that is the quickest I have ever left a drive-in since
my family drove out of the Twin in disgust with "Bye Bye Birdie" in 1963.
(Our family wasn't big on musicals).
In my mind, the Twin's screen had been doomed for years. The only surprise
to me was that it lasted so long in such a condition. The painted-over tiles
were poor light reflectors, there were holes in the structure, and it seemed
to be inviting a tornado to knock it down or rip it apart from the inside.
It was hard to imagine any way the 60-year-old, 9-story structure could stay
intact much longer. The
Hampton
Hotels' award of $35,000 didn't manifest itself on the screen (mentioned
in GB 179 five years ago).
Now I read that it is unlikely that the Twin will return due to the cost
of a replacement. I'm not sure what else could be done with that land; maybe
become a part of my old elementary school, Mitchell, or a park, if the city
had funds to do it (also unlikely).
I grew up just a couple of blocks from the Twin. It was only two years old
when I arrived in the world, but I've outlived it.
Photo courtesy of Gaye Brown. Sorry for the goofy look on my face,
but what else was I going to do?
September 03 2010 at 16:59:33 Name: Mitch Gray Topic: Admiral T Email: North Of You Comments: Reports say that the screen was NOT insured.
I hope the screen gets rebuilt somehow.
Perhaps a donor drive?
Maybe Matt Dillon would contribute.
I would.
September 03 2010 at 14:26:29 Name: John Shepelwich Topic: The twin Email: jeshepelwich@aep.com Comments: Tulsa World story:
"Tulsa
landmark Admiral Twin Drive-In burns"
Sad day. Good memories.
September 03 2010 at 14:18:59 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Admiral Twin Comments: Dang.
September 03 2010 at 13:52:05 Name: DolfanBob Topic: Admiral Twin Email: DolfanBob@lycos.com Comments: The Outsiders Drive in has burnt to the ground.
A very sad day in Tulsa. I hope they rebuild.
September 03 2010 at 13:39:18 Name: Rose Bowl Bunker Commander Topic: Admiral Twin Comments: According to newspaper report, the screens
at the Admiral Twin have been destroyed by fire this afternoon.
September 03 2010 at 13:04:22 Name: P. Casey Morgan Topic: KAKC documentary on KWGS Email:
p-casey-morgan@utulsa.edu Comments: Slight change of plans: because the antenna replacement
at KWGS is continuing through tomorrow night, there might be some dropouts
and blips in the airing of the KAKC documentary tonight. Therefore, part
1 will play tonight at 8 AND next Friday night at the same time; Part 2 will
be on Sept 17. You will still be able to hear the documentary online.
September 03 2010 at 08:46:49 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Middle Path Comments: Tim,
Funny you should ask. I discovered TTM by accident 5 or 6 years ago (not
sure what the blog page count was at that time - 150-ish maybe?) but I did
just that - I went back to the beginning at post one and read forward through
the whole thing over a few weeks. Have tried to keep up since. This place
is remarkable. So many things I had forgotten spring to life again on this
site. Steve Housel and Middle Path are a couple of examples.
I remembered your post from way back but Steve's last name had slipped my
mind. It slipped back in recently and hence the update and another take on
the character of the good Doctor.
Haven't seen or spoken to him in over thirty years but maybe he'll catch
wind of this and post that chowder recipe!
Hive is right.
September 02 2010 at 21:11:35 Name: Tim Sawyer Topic: Middle Path Email: sawyer_tim at cox dot net Comments: Lazzaro, I appreciate your devotion to the TTM
GroupBlogs!! Were you working your way from Blog #1 all the way to current,
when you stumbled upon my eight-year-old query? Or just browsing Tulsa restaurant
memories on Mike's amazing web site? At any rate - Thanks for the update!
My disagreeable description was based on a thirty-year-old memory (worked
with Steve at the "7th Floor" in 1972) and may have been filtered through
a childish and drug-encrusted mind. Plus, I may have been picking up on his
disgust at having to work as a waiter in a ptomaine palace when he was really
a radio personality!
The opinion dropped from my thoughts many years ago (however, the mind has
actually achieved new heights of childishness!)
Pretty impressive what Steve has accomplished (would be proud to call him
"one of my friends") - however, I have always been disappointed that the
Middle Path restaurant closed down. I really enjoyed the food there and thought
that the corn-potato chowder was delicious (see if you can get Steve to post
that recipe?!)
Again, this is one of the coolest things about this site -- a scattered community
drawn together through the sharing of happy and cherished memories - truly
a "hive" mind!
September 02 2010 at 14:50:39 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Middle Path Comments: A question from Guestbook
99:
January 09 2002 at 12:36:03
Name: Tim Sawyer
Location: Tulsa
Comments: There was a previous comment about the ownership of the Middle
Path, aka Golden Drumstick...I once worked with a guy at the "7th Floor",
a restaurant at 51st & Lewis. He was a waiter there named Steve (somebody).
He was a tall, thin character with long blond hair, a rather snobbish
pseudo-hippie. As I was eating at the Middle Path a couple of years later,
the person I was with told me that Steve was now part or full owner of the
Middle Path. I'm throwing this out to possibly jog someone's memory.
The name is Steve Housel. I don't share your 'snobbish pseudo-hippie'
opinion/description of him but I never worked at the '7th Floor'. I found
him to be an extremely nice guy. He is now
Dr. Housel at
Rogers State University.
September 02 2010 at 10:16:26 Name: James Clarke Topic: TEX the Movie Email:
greasersocproject@yahoo.com Comments: A Facebook page has been started for the film TEX
which filmed in Bixby, Broken Arrow and Tulsa in the spring of 1981. Some
never-before-seen photos, articles and links pertaining to the film can be
found here.
September 02 2010 at 09:53:27 Name: P.Casey.Morgan Topic: KAKC doc on KWGS website Email:
p-casey-morgan@utulsa.edu Comments: The KAKC documentary will become available for listening
to on our website at the same time the documentary is airing, so Part 1 will
be there Friday night, starting at 8 p.m. CDT.
September 01 2010 at 22:09:42 Name: Webmaster Topic: Uncommon obituary Comments:
The most unusual obituary I've read: a self-penned one by Tulsa attorney
and bon vivant
Charles
Rabon Martin, aka Debonus Dementis, Uptown News writer.
September 01 2010 at 20:39:29 Name: Dave Topic: KAKC documentary
Comments: A question about the KAKC documentary to be presented
on KWGS: will a recording of it be posted on the website after it airs live
for the benefit of those who can't tune in or log on at 8 p.m. Friday?
Drop your iPod or iPhone into the pocket at the end to create a private movie
theater on your head. Use in bed, on camp-outs, in flight, when feeling
anti-social, and for watching rude stuff.
You will turn heads with your style, though you won't see it happen. Kids
will have fun hitting you over the head with an inflatable mallet and running
away. Death row inmates are asking for TV Hat instead of a blindfold and
a cigarette.
Not recommended for use while driving, or near elevator shafts, manholes
and mining areas.
Order one for every member of the family, and one for the horse you rode
in on!
asseenontvhat.com
Webmaster: My guess is that director David Lynch wouldn't endorse
the TV Hat. Then again, maybe
it would change his mind about watching movies on iPhones! (Language not
safe for work.)
August 31 2010 at 20:52:31 Name: P. Casey Morgan Topic: KAKC radio documentary Email:
p-casey-morgan@utulsa.edu Comments: This is what I get for not proofreading: I meant
to say "KWGS Operations Director, Steve Clem" has worked on the KAKC doc
for the last year and he's done a great job. We at KWGS are also talking
to the great folks at the Tulsa Historical Society about a KAKC exhibit,
possibly in Spring of 2011.
If you have anything we could borrow for such an exhibit, please contact
me directly with details. We have lots of old surveys - but maybe you have
ones we don't have. We're also interested in other KAKC memorabilia.
Thanks, Casey. Listeners can also hear it
online at
KWGS.
August 31 2010 at 20:13:13 Name: P. Casey Morgan Topic: KAKC radio documentary Email: p.casey.morgan at gmail.
com Comments: Fans of the old KAKC 970 am will want to tune in
to KWGS, 89.5 fm, this Friday night at 8 for
the first part of our documentary about the Rockin' 97. KWGS Operations Director
Steve Clem has been working on this two-part documentary for the better
part of a year and we think you're going to enjoy it. Part 2 follows on Friday,
Sept 10, also at 8.
August 31 2010 at 18:41:47 Name: John Hillis Topic: Skandar Comments: Our ringside folding chair is at half-staff
in memory of one of the great "heels." Another reminder that Life is a one-fall,
time-limited match.
For some of us, it's a midget lumberjack grudge match.
August 30 2010 at 16:11:01 Name: K. Bolen Topic: Car AC Email: bojoker@att.net Comments: Just to piggy back what Mr. Woodward had mentioned
about the first car AC's that used to hang on the passenger side window,
they're the rage here with many of the East Coast Low Riders using them (and
they work!) on their custom rides - I think I remember the first time I saw
one was in an older Chevy bolted under the dash - Nice memories.
August 30 2010 at 12:13:21 Name: Mike Bruchas Topic: Evaporative coolers Comments: Guy Atchley's late Dad used to repair them,
as I recall. I originally thought the coolers to be old window air conditioners.
The first time that I had been in a house with coolers was when I visited
Guy at home in Sapulpa and met his wonderful sister. They lived near the
Frankoma plant.
August 30 2010 at 11:55:10 Name: David Bagsby Topic: Skandar Comments: Hats off to the tenacious one.
August 30 2010 at 11:13:36 Name: Si Hawk Topic: Skandor Akbar Email:
sihawk@hawkshometown.com Comments: I am very sorry to hear of the passing of the 'General'.
I spent a lot of time visiting with Skandor Akbar and his 'army' during the
'80s when the Championship Wrestling folks did a good deal of their pre and
post production at KJRH-TV in Tulsa. A lot of the wrestlers (Andre the Giant
and Mr Pogo for example) did not really like to talk very much. But General
Skandor Akbar was friendly (when out of character) and enjoyed conversation.
Wrestling will never be the same!
August 30 2010 at 08:08:05 Name: Sam Childers Topic: Skandor Akbar Email:
sam.childers@sbcglobal.net Comments: I'm a Tulsa native who has lived in Dallas for the
past 20 years and thought I would let TTM readers know that I read an obiturary
in The Dallas Morning News for Jimmy Saied Wehba, better known to wrestling
fans of the 1970's as Skandor Akbar. He was 75 and lived in Garland, TX.
Thanks for letting us know, Sam. I'm sorry to hear it. I liked Skandar
Akbar because sometimes he seemed to have trouble keeping a straight face
during his threatening addresses to the camera. Here he is at the top of
The Rasslin' Page.
"Skandar" is short for "Iskander", the Arabic variant of "Alexander".
"Akbar" means "great".
August 29 2010 at 14:16:12 Name: Lazzaro Topic: Swamp Cooler Comments: Ah, water-coolers. My first stitches came as
a result of dangling like a monkey under a water cooler at age 4 or so and
causing the big cooler to disengage from the window frame and come crashing
down on me. Nice cut just under the eyebrow. It took a few years to understand
that chicks dig scars. Thanks for the evaporative memories.
August 27 2010 at 21:19:45 Name:
Lee Woodward Topic: Swamp Cooler Companion Comments: Michael,
That's a great story about your mom's sit-down strike.
Your family retained your cooler a long time if you still had it when we
were on the air. We retired ours I would say, in about 1946.
As my father was a doctor, he utilized a great portion of the upstairs in
our two-story home for his practice. There were two recovery rooms. You might
imagine that recovering patients would suffer during the summer months. I'm
sure they did, but perhaps not as much as they would in their own home. The
reason: we had ceiling fans in almost every room. These silent wonders made
life a whole lot more tolerable, even without A/C. or evaporative coolers.
I remember at night we sometimes would sprinkle water on our sheets and pillow
cases as a further aide in comfort during really hot spells.
Lionel and I hope that we were able to take your mind off the heat for at
least a little while and perhaps bring a bit of laughter to your family.
August 27 2010 at 19:02:50 Name: Michael D. Trout Topic: Replacing the swamp cooler Email: michaeldtrout at earthlink
dot net Comments: Today, the progress of technology has many of us
almost continuously thinking of getting rid of something and replacing it
with something new. Years ago this was not so common, and the decision to
replace something usually involved a careful consideration of the cost.
My mother was of Scots descent and my father was from the Kansas wheat fields,
so such decisions were infrequent. Money was tight, and if something was
still working?
One horribly hot summer Sunday in Tulsa, our family had as usual attended
morning worship at Sheridan Avenue Christian Church. As the services concluded,
we all got up to leave.
Except my mother. She sat in the pew as if glued there.
While we kids looked on in puzzlement, my father gently reminded my mother
that it was time to go. She replied, very calmly, that she was not leaving.
My father asked why.
"I'm not going home until there's an air conditioner in our house!"
The church, of course, had installed air conditioning a few years previously.
I don't remember the details of the conversation that followed, but it was
clear that my mother had stated her case and that was that.
I also don't remember how my father obtained a new window air conditioner
and installed it, without my mother being home. The details of going to Sears
and dealing with baby-sitting four kids seem like a scheduling nightmare.
But it was done, and my mother arrived home to a cool, dry house, and our
barely-useful swamp cooler was gone. The change in our house was astonishing
and we all agreed that, whatever the ethics of the tactic my mother had used,
the end result was most impressive.
One night later, everyone in our family almost certainly sat down to watch
Lee and Lionel in our nice, cool house. We were all huge fans, and we will
never forget the smiles they put on our faces night after night. Had we only
known, we could have called Lee for pointers on why our swamp cooler was
mostly just adding humidity and noise. However, we were one of the last families
on the block to get rid of our swamp cooler, and the neighbors were starting
to talk.
August 25 2010 at 03:07:09 Name: Webmaster Topic: Previous GroupBlog link Comments:
Archived GroupBlog 314, where talk had turned to
artesian wells and water coolers.
Gary Chew
Lee Woodward