I remember years ago another Telephone Man and I who are both Baptist done some telephone work for May. I know they were real busy it was Friday evening everyone was getting off work.

Uh huh.

We made it out to the Tulsa State Fair yesterday. Said hi to LeAnne Taylor at the KOTV booth. We later dropped by the Four Day Furniture booth to rest for awhile and learned that the tireless fellow below is Johnny Ross, an advertising man who used to sell furniture himself. His commercials appear in a number of markets. We are told that he is as funny in person as he is on the screen.

		"If you don't come see me, I can't save you any money!"

Ah, the May Rooms, one of Tulsa’s finest. Shot one film story at the hotel which was a hop, skip and a “jump,” from KOTV.

I remember a robbery one time at the “house of ill repute” and some of the “johns” were tied up when arrived. Many offered us money not to film them. We shot most of them of course, but edited out the faces, as a KOTV community service.

Strange, now that I think of it, that no one needed directions.

I happen to know of someone who has a framed section of wallpaper from the late Pauline Lambert's May Rooms. I'll invite him to tell us a bit about how he came by it.

Hey - Marjoe was in some (yuck back then) ABC Movies of the Week - always a sign that your career was falling or rising. Didn't Marjoe have a TV talk show for a while?

I am still so old I remember Sally Jessy Raphael on CBS TalkRadio before her TV days and as mentioned here before - in the '70's still hearing Arthur Godfrey on KMOX radio when passing thru St. Louis on trips to/from Tulsey weekday mornings - and I liked it!

Here is Marjoe's filmography at IMDb.

Along the same lines as previous, what ever became of the personality cult of Marjoe?

On a distantly related note, be sure to rent "The Legend of Boggy Creek" this holiday season.

Reader Joe Robertson said of this movie in Guestbook 51:

"...those commercials for the "B movies" like "The Legend of Boggy Creek". Then, in about 3 seconds, the announcer would blurt out the 20 small towns where the movie was playing: Coweta, Sapulpa, Pawhuska, Checotah, Owasso, etc."

All mispronounced by the out-of-state announcer, of course.

5/20/2005: Mystery Science Theater 3000 did a bang-up job on "Boggy Creek II: And The Legend Continues".

Help - I forgot where the May Rooms was located at!

Any more on that movie that was being lensed last week? Where will be shown or is it direct to video? Why was it shot in Tulsa? What was Teddy Jack Eddy's role in it?

OK, Don Norton. Please fill me in on some really important Tulsa landmarks. I refer to those subterranean spawning places for we ne'er-do-wells, Doc's and Blairs' pool halls. Did they go the way of the Pearl Hotel and the May Rooms? The big boys told me about them.

Mike, you can find out at:

www.billyjack.com

It's amazing how all the Billy Jack movies appeared, sold tickets and disappeared - though I think 6 had them in a film package in the '70's....Where did the series star end up???

Speaking of Tulsans in movies, this ex-Tulsan appeared (some time ago) in "Raging Bull," "Mass Appeal," "Blues Brothers" and "Billy Jack Goes To Washington."

But if I had all the money I made on those, I couldn't buy a used VW bug!

I note in the paper this morning that Tulsa's Mary Kay Place has a supporting role in the new film out today "Sweet Home Alabama" as Reese Witherspoon's mom. The Wall Street Journal reviewer says "good actors rise above barely risible material."

Here are four pictures from the set of "In Her Honor". The fight scenes were filmed at Brady Theater using almost all Tulsa talent, including Gary Busey.

The first shows the referee played by the man the film was based on.

The second photo includes Beth Rengel and Karen Keith, and also my wife, Susan, is in the middle of the picture talking to someone she knew who played a cardgirl in the movie.

The third picture is a fight scene and the last one is of some of the actors doing lines with Leon Spinks (right).

5/20/2005: This picture was retitled "The Prize Fighter" (2003).

Anyone out there old enough to know who the 'Wild Child' was? He had an evening rock format on (I think) KAKC in the mid 50's.

The beauty of World's Worst Movies is that they relished the 'B' factor. Stealing VH1's Pop Up Video gimmick, they used popups to make sarcastic remarks about the movie.

I will miss it so.

Woe is us....no more Plenty Scary movie or the Count Gregor types - has pay TV snarfed up all the B horror movies or what???

Just noticed something odd...if you look at the 2nd photo on the Scream in the Dark page, (the negative house image), it looks like a woman's head looming over the roof on the left side.

Let me correct an erratum (how's that for a "big" word, Jim Ruddle?) in my report on Radio Station WEH:

The 1923 Tulsa city directory lists the "Unity Building" at 21 West Fourth, not 221 (corrected...webmaster). And the Tulsa Run office there is surrounded by the Skelly Building at 23 West Fourth. The Tulsa World is "still" around the corner. So I think "this is the place," even though nothing remains on the outside to identify it with 1922 radio history. Maybe I just need new glasses!

I have been looking for the information to buy the tapes of Mazeppa for quite some time. Growing up in the early 70s, we could not wait for Saturday night. We would all take our dates home and meet afterwards to watch Mazeppa. The added bonus was Gary Busey with his Hoss Chopright skits. I have heard these tapes are out I just can't seem to find them. It seems like someone told me there was a "best of" tape made. I enjoyed your web site.

Thanks...three of the tapes are available for purchase at Mazeppa.com.

Buy the Zeppa tapes...rent a fine "B" (or "C") movie & edit them yourself dude! Imagine being single & playing this tape to your fondest Female....HARK!...she will soon swoon at your very feet! Ah, but if you are married....get real drunk & claim "I thought I would allow you a part of my previous life, interesting isn't it"? My Mate finds me charming for an old guy.

What am I supposed to do after SNL is over? Since WWM has been cancelled, does that mean I have to go to sleep??!?

Is it just me, or is "World's Worst Movies" no longer on KJRH Saturdays at midnight??

An informed source says that WWM has been canceled. Reruns may be seen, but no new shows are being produced. There may be a special show now and then. That's too bad because we liked to catch the show.

Hey there. This is all very famtastic. I anticipate the arrival of a fantastic new show following in the footsteps of Sartain and Dr. Pompazoidi. Beef Baloney's the name. Keep pert thine eyes and ears for a soon arrival. We will cameo other Oklahoman film-makers' video shorts. so Holla! (918) 724-6418 BEEF BALONEY ten years from now, featured on Tulsa TV Memories dot com! love, Nate

So tell me more Lowell!?

I was planning to go to a very important wedding reception this evening when my boys said, "Dad! Aren't we going to go down and help make the movie at the Brady?" Of course! I totally forgotten but it had to be done. So off we went to be extras in a movie.

Gary Busey was there and so were many Tulsa TV and radio personalities - Beth Rengel, Uncle Zeb, Karen Keith, Al Jerkens, Bob Hower, and the list went on and on. We were all delighted to have a part in making a movie with Teddy Jack Eddy, and I even had my wife take my picture with Leon Spinks, who is also appearing in the picture.

It was a lot of fun.

Lowell, like your webmaster, was once a guest on "Six in the Morning".

I attended the 26th Annual Diamond Dinner at the Skyline East in 1976. I do not remember who all attended but I know that Dave Rader was in the audience and I am guessing Wayne McCombs was there. Some of baseball's greats, such as Billy Martin, were seated at the head table. Each of the guests spoke and, afterwards, I got the autograph of the super-legendary Willie Mays.

For Chuck Fullhart and anyone else interested in broadcasting's "ancient history":

The 1923 Tulsa city directory, consulted through the courtesy of the Tulsa City-County Public Library system, shows "the Unity Building" at 21 West Fourth Street. That address now is the Tulsa Run Office and is "just around the corner" from the Tulsa World. No obvious remaining evidence of WEH, though.

The Tulsa library's catalog lists fifteen copies of Gene Allen's "Voices on the Wind." Besides the one in historical reserve, there are two check-out copies on the second floor--or would be, if I hadn;t recheked one to review my facts. The other twelve copies were sent to branch libraries. The one assigned to Skiatook is listed as "missing," but as of September 20, ALL others are listed as "Not Checked Out," as well as the other check-out copy at the Central library.

Good reading!

By the bye, WLAL was said by Sim Naylor to mean, "We Laugh A Little." On May 24, 1924, according to Allen, "The laughter stopped."

Note to Valerie, nee Ruddle. It amazes me that I have never met any of Jim's offspring. We started in Tulsa in high school, worked at KAKC, later in Tulsa TV, then in Mexico/San Diego and still stay in touch via e-mail and high school reunions. If you wonder about your pa's past, ask me. I know most of it and will make up stories to suit you.

Just to prove how direction-challenged I am, a friend pointed out today that Ike's Chili is on the SE corner of Bartlett's Square!

Once again, the newspeople came through!

Ok, Don Norton, REAL trivia, as if anybody really cares, where was the UNITY buidling? I don't have a clue.

Thanks for posting the information from the book, Don.

Unfortunately, the last time I checked at Steve's, the book wasn't available. Would anybody know of a copy other than in the Central Library reference section? They get a little testy when you try to borrow it and walk out the door.

I think Bill Hyden mentioned Ike's Chili earlier. They recently opened a downtown location on the NW corner of Bartlett's Square. Stood in line for more than a half hour a lunch yesterday, but it was well worth it!

In response to a few late inquiries:

Gene Allen's book, "Voices on the Wind," published in 1993, mentions all three of the radio stations authorized in Tulsa in 1922.

WEH started as a communications link for William G. Skelly's Midland Refining Company but added music in May. Allen quotes a Tulsa World story on June 1, 1922, reporting "The Midland Refining Co.-Tulsa World Broadcasting station had supplied music on new Victor Talking Machine Company rcords for eight young couples to dance to at the Skelly home. Mrs. Skelly then drove to the "spacious" WEH studios at "the Unity Building" to speak to her guests still at the party.

WGAF, Tulsa's second radio station, was licensed to the "Goller Radio Service." (No further information)

WLAL, licensed to Naylor Electrical Companty at Second and Boulder, used many members of the First Christian church because the station owner, Sim Naylor, was also a chorus leader and singer at the church. In 1924 Naylor, a native of Bedford, England, sold WLAL to the church.

Again, Allen's book is excellent on early RADIO in Oklahoma, but doesn't say much about the advent of television except as it was added to radio by the state's two dominant radio stations, WKY and KVOO. Probably that explains the grinning photo of Harold Stuart and Edward L. Gaylord in the front of the book, with the notation that the two were instrumental in getting it written for the Oklahoma Heritage Association.

BTW--Jim "Zeta" Ruddle knows I know KOTV was first licensed to Cameron Television--but oilman George Cameron merely put up the money at the urging of Helen Alvarez. When the permit came through (more than five years before one for KVOO-TV), she immediately became a "hands-on" manager to the extent that a story, probably apocryphal, arose that she had climbed the ladder on the transmitting tower being erected on top of the National Bank of Tulsa building, "while wearing shorts."

Here's a brain teaser....does anyone remember who won the KAKC Pepsi Battle of the Bands in April of 1968 which was held at the Civic Center???....it was the New Rivieras. I was the drummer and I am trying to contact any of the band members who are Kreg Kallenberger, Jim Parmley, Mike Psalidas and Gary Hardesty. Does anyone have a line on any of these guys? The last contact I have is with Kreg Kallenberger several year ago. I would like to know how all my friends are getting along these days. Please e-mail me if you have any knowledge of whereabouts of my former bandmates. Thank you Tulsans. JMK

All my children are rats, and Valerie is the worst.

I found this site somewhat by accident, as it was attached to an e-mail from my father, Jim Ruddle, when he passed along information on Kazuo Gomi. Fascinated, I've found myself trolling through the guestbooks, thoroughly enjoying the journey but getting very little work done. Having read his comments on being Zeta, I wanted to share a story with you.

As kids, we were completely in the dark about Dad's early broadcasting days, although well familiar with his dignified persona as an anchor, correspondent, and commentator. One day my brother, at the time in high school, happened across a Zeta Squadron crewman card while rummaging around in the basement. This listed all the rules a crewman should follow and the attributes a crewman should possess. Having no idea of either what the Zeta Squadron was or who the squadron leader had been, and finding the card absolutely hilarious, he managed to persuade my (reluctant) mother to help him get a set of business cards printed up. Faithful to the original, albeit slightly more modern-looking, they were handed out to his many friends at school, where the Zeta Squadron enjoyed quite some popularity. He even brought some cards along on a trip to visit relatives in Tulsa and Texas, which eventually led to the cat being let out of the bag, when one of the relatives asked my mother "Why, don't they know?" Imagine our surprise (and unholy glee) when we were finally filled in on the finer points of Zeta history.

Of course, we had to swear not to tease Dad about it, in fact I think we had to swear we wouldn't let on that we knew anything at all. (Oops- Sorry, Dad.) I still have my card.

I really have enjoyed this site, and hope to be reading gems about the early days for a long time to come.

When I wasn't in the kitchen it was usually occupied by Ralph Bardgett. Just kidding! (Inside joke)

Anyway, Peggy Shaber was there a Loooooonnnnnngggg long time.

I did see Ralph eat something one time that had been sitting there about four days that looked like a prop from "Fantastic Theater!"

I love that boy!

I believe Donnell Green is the answer on the cooking show lady....

My Dad was Construction Superintendent for Oklahoma Natural Gas Company when he was alive.

Can someone help me remember the lady who did the cooking show for ONG every day?

Thanks,
David

Mike Miller has neat shot of Bill Hyden, Sam Stewart and some other friends from this Summer. Maybe he will send it in for posting.

What is Sam Stewart doing these days???

L to R: Sam Stewart, Bill Hyden, Bob Shaw, Joe Carter (Later note: Sam passed away on 7/30/2005.)

From Bill Hyden via email:

Almost every Saturday, at 11:30a.m., Sam Stewart, Joe Carter and I meet with Ken Lybarger (ex-Tulsa ad man) at IKE'S CHILI on Admiral Place, west of Sheridan. With cooler weather approaching, our attendance record should be near 100%. All others welcome.

Sam worked in the KVOO-TV news department, Joe was a news stringer there in the early days, all of us worked with Bob Shaw...who later became Director of Public Relations for the Dallas Police Department and still resides in Dallas. Joe retired somewhat recently as Director of the Will Rogers Museum. Sam and I can best be described as unemployed, since we haven't something specifically retired 'from'.

During a recent chili-session, it was suggested that we contact Bob Shaw and see if he would meet us 'halfway' between Tulsa and Dallas for a mini-reunion. Bob jumped on that and suggested Atoka or McAlester. Joe chimed in with "Make it Krebs...at Pete's Place!" Unanimous agreement!

I called Pete's Place and found that it didn't open until 4p.m. on weekdays. Sooo, we all agreed to meet in McAlester at 2 p.m. so we could get our reunioning started early and 'old men' would not have to be driving after dark. It didn't work. We left Pete's Place around 8p.m. after a sumptuous repast and covering all the subjects we could think of.

Joe hailed a local to man my camera so we could get all four of us in a picture and here it is. Identified because there have been some changes in the subject matter during the 40+ year span.

I only recently discovered this site, and of course found it very nostalgic. I began at Guestbook one, finally completing them all this week. One of the TV news personalities that I did not see mentioned and always wondered about was Pat Wallendorf. I think he was a news anchor on Channel 2 in the early 70's. I had a major housewife's crush on him and suddenly he was nowhere to be found. Anyone remember him or what happened to him?

The Rogers Ropers yearbooks!!!! Cool, my sis was a 1959 WR grad. One of her yearbooks, maybe '57 or '58 was too cool. It had a section on everyone in the music program. In it, my sis Sharon Kay Thayer (choir) Anita Bryant (choir) David Gates (of Bread, violinist and choir president) , Elvin Bishop ("Fooled Around and Fell in Love"), and Leon Russell. In addition, it had a full page picture of Claude Bridges, a skinny burr-headed boy demonstrating the new Lowrey Organ to a couple of young female students.

Claude R. Bridges, aka Leon Russell.

Enjoyed visiting this site very much. Thanks David for directing me to it. I'm seeking volunteer amateur dancers to accompany us on the All American Dance Championship Cruise for 2003/2004 to represent my senior citizen dance company. We're at Tulsa Central Library every Sat 11:15a - 12:15noon. First floor in the Lecture Room. Requirements: age 40 plus.

Granny Lion, how about you?

The King has been grounded from the computer owing to his contumacious nature and so I have been asked to relay the following information.

He has just opened a September 15th carton of Borden Buttermilk and found it to be exciting and provocative. (As you know, he is devotee of classic Buttermilk) He says there may be a chance that Reasor's has a case or two of this vintage left and while his current jug has aged for four days, he says you can drink yours immediately unless it has lost its nose.

There was something else but his concupiscence has sent him out into the neighborhood.

Oh yes, I had my new Harley's engine ported and relieved. Now that baby will breath!

For many years my source of old LPs and books has been the Goodwill store on Southwest Boulevard in the old Stockton's building.

This past weekend I found two Rogers High School Lariat yearbooks in the store. They are from 1955 and 1956 and cost $15 each. The 1956 yearbook contains the sophomore picture of a pretty 15 year-old Anita Bryant.

Someone more familiar with the two classes can probably find more notables. My most recent check of the store shows they're still there.

Thank you so much for sharing your site with me. It was great fun to read about what everyone is doing.

I'm still working in San Diego. General Assignment reporter at the NBC O&O. I've been in San Diego since I left Channel 8 in Tulsa. I came out to do General Assignment reporting at the NBC station which six months later switched to ABC. (how often does that happen?) After 14 years, I went over the the CBS affiliate as Weekend Co-Anchor. A year later, they made me morning Co-Anchor. Inside of six months we dominated the mornings. Two years later, and many bleary-eyed mornings later, I left for the NBC affiliate in San Diego to do a three-way Anchor early evening newscast. Six months later, I found myself doing three shows a day. For the first time in the history of the station we won at 11pm.

Now I've gone full circle, back pounding the pavement covering all the news that's fit to air. (and some that isn't)

I lost my loving husband, Joseph McMahan to a brain tumor four years ago. I have a beautiful daughter, Danielle Treco. She's an Entertainment Attorney. And a cute little Scottish Terror, ah Terrier, named Tulsa.

Take care and thanks for remembering me.

Sincerely,
Margaret Radford

Thanks Margaret...read about her today at NBCSanDiego. Here she is from her days at Channel 8.

King Lionel recently marvelled at oft-seen "fitness celebrity" John Basedow's pecs, and the lack of manly hair thereupon. A colleague of mine boasted that his own abs were more impressive than Basedow's "six-pack"...he has a keg!

Just one more about ORU TV stuff...I was lighting-type guy for Halsey Co. & was to do the lite thing for Roy Clark's first TV special. It was to be taped at ORU. There was no Baby Mabee as yet. We taped it in the Main Maybee. I have never used "helpers" in my life & was totally confused about what to do with my 12! assistants. Plus the UNION was involved! Methinks sometimes they were TOO Pro.

After reading some of the older posts, I noticed quite a few inquiries into into what happened with KLOT and Tim Oliver. I met Tim about a year ago when I came to work for a company called Emajix (which is now named Enxnet, Inc.) I had met him through my previous job and had hired me on as one of the video engineers here.

After about 2 months after I had started, there were some disagreements between the owners and Tim, so he left the company and moved to Australia. Almost of his tapes from Just After Midnight and Urban Almanac are gone. But if anyone is interested, I do have access to about 50 or 60 tapes that are left. All are on 3/4 inch tape. I would convert them for you, but we do not have a deck that old.

Great site! Keep it up!

-Nick

AKA "Dirty Butter Creek Gang Productions"...I don't have a way to deal with 3/4" tape either, but we appreciate the update. I intended to come watch the taping while the show was still in production, but somehow didn't.

Archived Guestbook 114.