By late 1972, having caught the eye of Jim
Halsey, Roy Clark's manager, Sartain was added to the cast of the nationally
syndicated "Hee-Haw", playing such roles as a highway patrolman, a short
order cook, and a big kid. (a site that sells this autographed picture is
http://www.collectinghollywood.com.)
Gailard Sartain wrote in Guestbook 13:
Re: how I came to be on Hee Haw - it was not Roy Clark's idea but
Impresario Jim Halsey who managed Roy Clark and other top flight acts
at that time. Halsey approached me about becoming a regular on Hee Haw but
I was skeptical because I had been bombarded with all kinds of weirdness
and didn't know, at the time, who Jim Halsey was. I was flattered but skeptical.
Months passed before I realized that Halsey was in fact a legitimate manager
and the next time he suggested it, I leaped at the chance. Shortly after
I began Hee Haw in 1972, Halsey was instrumental in taking Mazeppa from KOTV
to KTUL which was good for Millaway and me. Channel 8 was much more
accepting and realized the economic potential of the show...It was easier
to breathe there. The atmosphere was more conducive to our style i.e.: Mike
Denney was a REAL DIRECTOR and was creative and supportive as was the
crew.
In 1974, Gailard Sartain co-starred on ABC's "Keep on Truckin'", an
ABC summer replacement show. Some of his co-stars were Jack Riley (Mr.
Carlin of "The Bob Newhart Show"), Didi Conn and Franklin Ajaye. Riley and
Sartain next became featured performers on
The Cher Show.
(from Guestbook 12) John Hillis said:
How about Mr. Sartain's radio spots for Coney Islander in mid-late 70's?
I remember that tag line: "5 locations in Greater Tulsa, none in Lesser Tulsa."
Series of commercials for the Tulsa Zoo (stills courtesy of Lowell Burch)
He also created a radio program called "The Unfilmy Can Festival"
post-Mazeppa.
Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders" was shot in and around Tulsa
in 1982
Sartain has gone on to become an established character
actor with credits in over 50 films. A sample of his films: "Fried Green
Tomatoes", "Blaze", "Roadie", the "Ernest" movies and "The Grifters". He
also got a chance to play his long-time comic idol, Oliver Hardy, in the
recent "For Love or Mummy".
Gailard Sartain and Bill Davis guesting on
Rockin' John Henry's "Saturday Bandstand"
(from Rockin' John Henry's guestbook, by permission)
G.Ailard "Little Bit of Soap" S.Artain (9/26/99)
How often do you visit RJH's website? Mike Ransom's Tulsa TV
Memory page Year you graduated HS and where: 1963 from Will Rogers Where do you live now? Los Angeles/Tulsa Comments: Rockin' John:
I'm fiddling with the radio dial here in Baltimore, Maryland - can't find
you - no such animal on these frequencies. In fact, not even any good radio
period. Still think you ought to syndicate.
Wish I was there to harass you and Boppin' Billy, The King of Silly!
Be prepared to play "A Little Bit of Soap" and that Jerry Lee Lewis tune
I like and can't remember when I'm back in your area code.
Enjoyed your website, adios
G.Ailard
Rockin' John Henry passed
away 8/10/2004. He had played rock 'n roll and roots music, both on the radio
and with his group, The Bop Cats, in Tulsa since the 1970s.
I first caught his "Saturday Bandstand" show on KELi around 1979-80. I
loved that he played tunes from his own collection that you never heard anywhere
else on the radio. His authoritative commentary was a real education.
He is missed.(The link is to his official site)...webmaster
Here is a brief video clip from the recent TNT movie, "Pirates of Silicon
Valley". The clip features Gailard Sartain as Ed Roberts,
inventor of the first personal computer, the Altair. He is putting up a futile
resistance to Bill Gates' attempt to double the software commission. The
way he says the word "bidness" will be familiar to Mazeppa fans.
Gailard Sartain played a human services county supervisor on the premiere
episode of "King of the Hill".
Gailard Sartain and Gary Busey appeared together on The Tractors'
video "Shortenin' Bread". See it at The
Tractors' web site.
Mr. Sartain didn't let his art background go to waste; he is a noted artist
and has painted several album covers such as these:
Hank Thompson's tribute to the Mills Brothers, Cab Driver
Gailard Sartain
displayed his art with Glenn Godsey (one of his TU art professors in
the 1960s) at the Alexandre Hogue Gallery in late 2001.
Busey starred in "The Buddy Holly Story", for which he received an Academy
Award nomination (and won Best Actor from the National Society of Film Critics),
and has acted in over 70 movies including "Under Siege", "Barbarosa" and
"A Star Is Born".
Busey and his co-stars actually performed Holly's music themselves. His authentic
rock 'n roll energy was a big factor in the movie's success. Look for Gailard
Sartain as "The Big Bopper"!
"Carny" is another good Gary Busey movie. His performance as the insulting
"Bozo" at the carnival is somewhat reminiscent of his Teddy Jack Eddy days.
(You can use the search engine below with keywords "Gailard Sartain" or "Gary
Busey" to see a list of their available movies.)
Millaway went on to write for The Cher Show (working with Gailard
Sartain again), and Shields and Yarnell. He worked on KMOD-FM's morning program,
adding hilarious commentary about local happenings. He also appeared on
KOKI's "Creature Feature" (click to read more
about it on this site!)
(from Guestbook 11) G.Ailard S.Artain of Hollyweird,
CA wrote:
What great joy to have found the TTM web site. Mike deserves major accolades
for all of his work. It conjures up wonderful memories (some scary ones,
too!). It astounds me that people remember the Camp Meeting so vividly and
with apparent fondness.
It's great to see the names of friends and associates that I have unfortunately,
over time, lost track of. The TTM site has made my hazy recollections more
clear.
But apparently I'm not alone in having this affliction! Hopefully, through
this site, we can fine tune some of the details of that era! I am excited
about finally having a forum to communicate with kindred spirits about the
fun we used to
have.
Lawzee,
Your humble servant
G.Ailard S.Artain (aka Mazeppa Pompazoidi)
(From Guestbook 3) Deb Walker in Colorado said:
Oh. My. God.
I thought I was the only one who remembered any of this. I've been telling
people for years that Gary Busey was a local tv personality when I was a
kid. No one believed me. HA!...
Gailard Sartain spoke at my 10th grade English class at my invitation. We
all worshipped them both. I vividly recall the shade of red Gailard turned
when a classmate asked him, "Just exactly what does 'Somebody smells like
tuna fish' mean?'" Gailard, choking with laughter, asked the boy if he had
ever heard of "red-light seafood?" Those who hadn't gotten it before, got
it then. *grin*
2/7/2010: 2 PSAs ca. 1980 on 
Sartain has gone on to become an established character
actor with credits in over 50 films. A sample of his films: "Fried Green
Tomatoes", "Blaze", "Roadie", the "Ernest" movies and "The Grifters". He
also got a chance to play his long-time comic idol, Oliver Hardy, in the
recent "For Love or Mummy".
(from Guestbook 11) G.Ailard S.Artain of Hollyweird,
CA wrote:
