Go to www.turnerjobs.com to scope stuff out, should you wanna leave OK.

This one is for Zeb...man, I remember your afternoons at the fair when you rode the rides for us kids during your show in the afternoons after school. A great memory of the Cartoon Camp. Now I wonder if you or Zeke woulda taken on the Ejection Seat or the Ultimate Drop, 'eh? :)

Gaye found the "Bobo" just as appalling as on our previous visit.

In the evening while at home watching the B-movie noir classic, "Detour", on a DVD borrowed from the Tulsa library, my brother called to say he just saw us on a Fox23 News teaser. We detoured from "Detour" and tuned in. Sure enough, there we were, strolling along the Midway.

On our way out of the fair, we had stopped by the 23 booth in the IPE building and picked up a free koozee. The gal manning it (or is that "womaning" it?) asked if we watched Fox23 News. We said yes, but had no idea at that time we would be on it that evening!

That's how I think of it, too, the Mad Mouse. It's still at the fair, but under a different name, which I can't recall at the moment.

"Boom Battle" - discussed before here but no one knows if it still exists or what was the point behind it?

Does the TSF have "women's wrestling" like the OKC State Fair used to run? The touring troop that played OKC years ago at the Fair were pretty scaggly and often trolling the Fair crowds for women "to dare climb in the ring" - which to me seemed either to ring in shills or might be a major liabilty issue should an amateur be hurt.

To me - Bell's skylift ride over the TSF is still one of my best memories. At the OKC Fair - I could never ride the Monorail - it was always breaking down during the Fair. Almost like that monorail from the Simpson's show!

"I LIKE SWIPE" played a part in this Johnny Cash story.

For those who don't know, the Ultimate Drop is almost one step up from the Bungee Jump. You are lifted in a cage to a height of about 150 feet. A worker clips your harness to the cage. The bottom of the cage opens, then it's just a matter of the worker unclipping your harness. The freefall is all you, you're attached to nothing. The only thing between you and the hard Oklahoma dirt is a very slack net.

The King is in the building at the Tulsa State Fair...see Elvis.com today.

Or if you missed it on Elvis.com, here is the picture taken by Charle Reeves of the Elvis Presley Fan Club of Oklahoma:

"Elvis was everywhere at the Tulsa State Fair. Elvis collectables and memorabilia were displayed during the fair and special awards were given for different categories of collectibles. Elvis music and videos played on giant monitors and Elvis fans from around the world gathered to celebrate the king of rock 'n' roll in Tulsa, Oklahoma."

Other Elvis-related items on Tulsa TV Memories: Mike Miller's brush with the King and a 1974 Tulsa Elvis ticket.

Just watching this thing scared the shiznit outta me. Wow. If you have the guts, be my guest. Otherwise, I don't think so.

Deep-fried chocolate-covered key lime pie.

That sounds like something you would really have to want to enjoy.

I came an inch close to attending OU after high school, but moved to Texas right before the tornadoes of June '74 hit Tulsa. Instead, after graduating from high school down here, I ended up going to UT-Austin the Fall of '76. Even though I graduated from UT in '80, I still think about what it would have been like at OU, (bein' a native Okie and all). I would have been sing'n Boomer Sooner instead of The Eyes of Texas! I enjoyed UT and living in Austin for four years and a couple of summers, though. If I don't make it to Dallas, you can be sure I'll be plugged in to the TV! Also, my brother and I may be paying a visit to Tulsey Town soon to visit our old stompin' grounds. Until next time......

Among other highlights, I raced remote control NASCAR cars, milked a cow, inquired KOTV sportscaster John Holcomb of how many ounces of potato chips he thought may be in the hot tub (a KOTV giveaway) but he didn't know, recorded a KRMG newscast (but the tape they gave me was blank!), got my 15 seconds of fame thanks to "Me2TV" at the KJRH booth where I chatted briefly with anchor John Walls, and sampled some green chili stew.

Food items purchased and consumed include...fried cheese on a stick, spiral cut potatoes with sour cream, cheese, and bacon, cajun fried shrimp on a stick, and an orangeade.

Novelties purchased include...a "Tuck Fexas" t-shirt for the fast-approaching OU-Texas game, and a furry flame-colored cowboy hat with matching boa (I look like a pimp wearing it).

I have one at home that I have NEVER listened to. I think the songs were from local artists singing about Oklahoma. Since then, I've seen more of these in second-hand record stores than I can count.

Yes, we definitely have a Gravitron. now under the name Starship 2000.

I remember the ride that Joy mentioned and it was not the Round Up. It was called the Spindle Top at Six Flags. It was a big round room with no straps or handles. You entered through a door. The door closed and it began to spin until you were forced against the wall. Once it went fast enough, the floor dropped out. Some folks would crawl around, even upside down, ala Spider-Man, while the rest of us spent our time plastered to the wall waiting for the ride to stop.

At the Fair, I met a lot of people, I stopped and sang with the Founders Chorus, I watched Mayor LaFortune shoot basketballs and then I went out and sheared the hair off of a few hippies. (Just kidding!)

We definitely saw a "Super Round Up" out there beside the Himalaya.

One year the TSF had a ride (can't remember its name) built like a huge enclosed drum structure where you stood up against the wall inside. Then it would begin to spin until there was enough centrifugal force to pin you to the wall so you wouldn't fall when the floor dropped out! Uh, there were some kinks in that ride because people were falling from the wall like dead leaves and I was ooching down the side myself ready to clunk to the bottom when they finally screeched it to a halt. Thrills, chills, sheer terror, does anyone remember this one?

Might your ride be the Round Up?

Here is a more recent photo of Joy than the one from her high school play. (Joy isn't a TV/radio person; I just got in the habit of putting her picture out here for her fans from this site.)

Halloween is coming soon...be sure to check out David's "Ma-Hu Vishnu Orchestra" CD, which is a perfect sound track for the season.

The rest of the fair I had Tuffy walk me to the car!

Above: former Gov. Keating reacts favorably to a storyboard of Edwin's yarn.

I grew up in Tulsey Town in the 60's & early 70's and I remember the TSF very fondly. Everything from the Zingo to the Spook House, not to mention the mouth-watering caramel apples and sausage on a stick! My brother, our friends and I would beg our parents to go every afternoon after school.

Another vivid memory I have is of the famous Scream in the Dark (it's that time of year again!). There is something similar to it down here around the Houston area called The Haunted Woods, but not nearly as frightening.

Mike, I notice that the Guestbook is mostly wonderful memories of radio and television (of which I have many), but I also remember so many other people, places and things around Tulsa I would like to share. Could I write back another time with these?

Oh, by the way, I've noticed that there are a few entries from Steve "Stevo" Wolfson. We went to school together during the 60's (Elem. & Jr. Hi), rode the same school bus and lived in the same neighborhood - Hidden Valley Estates off of 61st Street, the southern most edge of town at that time. Anything beyond that was "the sticks"!

Well, see ya at the Cotton Bowl!

Hi, and thanks for signing in, Kathy. Feel free to talk about other Tulsa-related subjects; I figured out a long time ago that the people who remember TV/radio stuff (including me) also have other, related interests. So the subtitle of this site is now "Tulsa pop culture".

I'll tell Stevo you dropped by.

(I just belatedly summarized the last Guestbook at the bottom of this one)

In '70 - the rowdier FFA boys were trying to score dope from us college kids or sell us "homegrown" from the farm. I remember fellow collegians buying illicit roadside hemp - thinking it was the more refined Mary J...

In '71 - other than the gimme hats or jackets the FFA kids looked like US!

How times changed! I am sure "Doctor" Fincher could also add to the social analysis on change in Tulsey at the Fair in those years. Edwin probably saw more of it - all those years that he spent hours out there, lighting events for 8's many Fair broadcasts.

Bro Hillis - meet ya at the Have-A Bite Eatery - a Fairfax County court/cop stop! Recommended by Jack Hobson (though not as good as Ray's was...)
Comments: Let's all sing!

"Here's to the Fair! The Tulsa State Fair!!!!!.....".duh, I forgot the rest of the lyrics again.....

So as Betty Boyd said for soooo many years for the MUSKOGEE State Fair - "Git a wiggle on!"

I also remember the Bil-Jac samples handed out "be sure and tell your Mom to put this in the fridge when you get home", the man would say. My Dad sent us back like 4 times in one evening and the dog would be well fed for about 2 weeks.

Mr. Hillis explored "Take A Look" in greater depth on the new Tulsa State Fair page.

As a kid, I hated it when my mom wanted to look at exhibits. Now, if you find me on the midway, it's usually because I'm taking a shortcut to the next exhibit hall.

I'm also fond of the free stuff. Pretty much every magnet I have on the fridge is from the fair. Let's see...I have a KOTV magnet from probably a year or two ago. A much older KOTV magnet from probably the early 90's. A kind of old KJRH StormTeam magnet from about 5 years ago. And assorted Chevrolet, St. John's Health System, and Red Cross magnets. A few years ago, I stopped by the EMSA booth, and they had a magnet that was also a first aid tip guide. Now, if I suffer a snake bite while in the kitchen, I know what to do!

Seems like exhibitors skimp on the free stuff these days. I remember getting a free sample of Bil-Jac dog food several years ago. Now, they still have samples, but they ain't free.

And of course, you've gotta have a bag of free stuff coming home. Flyers, pamplets, rulers, fridge magnets, etc.

What are some of your favorite nick-nacks?

As for the sequel to Slap Shot, there's a good reason SS2 went to video. Mainly, it didn't capture the same spirit that the first one did. It's neat that Busey was part of it, and all, but as a flick it's in my collection because I'm a hockey fan, but I recommend the Paul Newman version above all else.

It should be noted also that OU now has a hockey team and the won over the weekend 7-3 over the SMS Bears in OKC.

If one needed MORE Fair exposure, you drove to WI or IN a week or so later or made a BIG road trip to the mega-sized OHIO State Fair.

Can ANYONE explain why OK has needed Muskogee, Tulsa AND OKC State Fairs?

9/28: The high 60s temperature was perfect at the fair last night. TTM contributors (and recording artists) Lowell and Susan Burch emailed that they saw me and my wife Gaye, but the crowd was too thick to get to us.

"Bobo" (aka "the Bozo", as in clown make-up) is back again at the east end of the midway, goading bystanders via P.A. system into paying to hurl baseballs at a target. If a hit is scored, he is immediately deposited into a tank of water.

Bobo takes note of people's weight, sex, ethnicity, personal style ("maybe you could throw better if you turned that cap back around, you big jerk! HA HA HAAAA-YIII-YIII-YIII!") in a way that makes me wonder if he would be better served by a bullet-proof enclosure rather than a mere barred cage. The artificial-sounding laugh he appends to every abusive comment is grating enough to drum up business just on its own merits.

As per tradition, he is "high and dry" after climbing back up onto his perch following a dunking.

Gary Busey showed a flair for this job in the movie, "Carny"

I know how you feel. I hosted a little program called "Black Belt Theatre" back in the 80's on KJRH. We had two strikes against us on that one. We were playing some of the worst movies ever in the Asian fight genre.

Good luck with your projects for the future.

Thank you, Rick, I really enjoyed WWM while it lasted. You and Rachelle had a good comic chemistry. I know it's hard for a local late night program to show a profit acceptable to the station.

"Beef Baloney" is trying another route: paying the station for the time and finding sponsors on their own (there is an article about BB in the Satellite section of the Friday 9/26 Tulsa World). I hope it works for them, because they have an entertaining, funny show.

Best of luck to you in your new enterprises, and "we'll be lookin' for you!".

The situation was so preposterous, yet the pain so real, I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. So I did a little of both.

Noel told a rasslin' story in Guestbook 37 which also involved a mention of the "Swedish Angel", who, like Man Mountain Dean, had a few film credits.

They kick off their home schedule against last year's champions, the Memphis RiverKings at 7pm on 24 October.

I would be interested to know some memories about hockey from the folk here. Any good stories?

I know that the coach of the RiverKings awhile back was Steve Carlson, who played one of the mentally challenged, but violent Hanson brothers of the 1977 hockey film Slap Shot, starring Paul Newman. More on that in Guestbook 75.

Steve also returned for Slap Shot 2, starring Gary Busey.

AKA the Hell's Kitchen Hillbilly, then Stone Mountain Leavitt; his most notable film credit was in "Mighty Joe Young" as himself.

Thanks, again. Bob Shelton

I didn't remember stereo Bolos, but thanks for the info. Haystack Calhoun is about as close as we've gottten to the Hillbillies so far. Red McKim is also deserving of further mention.

The early 60s "Supermarionated" space series, "Fireball XL5" was mentioned. We had an update on the whereabouts of Sasha Foo, former KTUL reporter. A Cadillac built to the specs of a Johnny Cash song was discussed in connection with his recent passing. We noted the passing of John Ritter and Warren Zevon.

Noel Confer checked in. 9/11 was remembered. The Tulsa TV commercial quiz was updated. We saw a great recent picture of "Uncle Zeb" and Bob Hower. Mike Miller told about a practical joke on himself (have you noticed how many people now use the word "myself" instead of "me"?)

KRMG's Johnny Martin was remembered. We heard about the very short-lived KTUL-FM.

It's all in Guestbook 146.