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RIP Danny Williams
Feb 20
2013
Oklahoma City radio, television and broadcasting legend Danny Williams passed away yesterday. Via NewsOK:
Oklahoma City radio and television icon Danny Williams has died.
Williams died from complications following a heart attack in October, daughter Shevaun Williams said.He was 85.
“He was fabulous. Loved by everyone,” she said.
Williams was known for his on-air phrases and sayings, including “watch out for flying chairs!” which he coined after being struck by one during a broadcast for “Live Wrestling,” a professional wrestling program.
“He was just a very popular dude. He had a certain personality that clicked with Oklahomans,” said Ronnie Kaye, on-air personality at KOMA-FM 92.5. “He communicated in a special way, right down there with the people. The man just had that genius about him.”
Williams, a devout Christian since age 12, was also fond of telling callers to his morning radio show, “God bless you!” and “I love you. Pass it on.”…
His broadcasting career began in 1947 at a radio station in Austin, Texas. He was hired by WKY-4, an Oklahoma City television station, in 1950. That same year, “The Danny Williams Show” debuted. He played Spavinaw Spoofkin on the “Gismo Godkin Show” and was an announcer for “Live Wrestling” in his first years at the station.
In 1953, “The Adventures of 3-D Danny” debuted. Williams became known as Dan D. Dynamo for the series, which he wrote, starred in and produced. He also played character parts, including Xavier T. Willard, on the “Foreman Scotty Show” in 1960.
Starting in 1967, He hosted “Dannysday,” a daytime talk and variety program, for 17 years.
Kent Jones, program director at KOMA, first met Williams in 1992 when he came to host their morning show.
“I’m sorry to have lost a good friend. … And he was an encourager to younger broadcasters. So many people, including me, learned a lot from Danny Williams,” Jones said.
Kaye worked with Williams for 53 years.
“He was kind of like a big brother. We were all a family. I don’t think there will ever be someone who comes close to being like him. The time was unique, and he was unique.”
That’s sad. I was either a) not alive, or b) too young to remember Danny’s television career. Here are some old clips I found on You Tube. They are worth watching:
This clip is from his after school TV show 3-D Danny. It features two of the greatest things in life — a mysterious girl from outer space and a 1950s robot.
Can we bring 3-D Danny back on the air? I’d much rather watch it than the Doctors or NewsChannel 4 at 4:30. If not, can we at least replace Linda Cavanaugh with a 1950s robot? Who wouldn’t watch that?
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These clips are from his 1970s morning show Danny’s Day. Notice that his co-host is Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight fame:
If we did a retro list of the 20 Hottest Women in the Oklahoma City Media, Mary Hart would be in the top 10. Also, who knew Gene Wilder was such a perv.
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This clip is from Danny’s final show on KOMA. It features an phone interview with Mary Hart:
I totally forgot about the KOMA morning show echo. I always thought they recorded the show in a cave.
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Anyway, Danny Williams was by all accounts a great guy. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. He’ll be missed.
Danny was a true pioneer and creative as hell. I was too young but some of the old timers back in the day at Kerr McGee used to tell stories of movie premiers and remotes where Danny would just get drunk and raise hell ( in a good/partying way). He made a fortune in the TV/Radio business and was making a ton of money sellilng airplanes in Texas, he was then swindled out of almost all of it, hence his return to radio and his working up until 80 years old. He was a good dude, funny, witty………My fav Danny Williams joke was the one he told until he got in trouble……Danny said ” I was in a chinese restaruant the other day and the workers were all speakin chinese, then this old guy yells, Hey, you’re in America and in Oklahoma By gosh you need to be like everyone else here in this state and speak……..SPANISH!” HAHAHAHAHAH and who can forget his sign off:
Today is my birthday, my way is East, I love you and god bless you everybody
I was 4 and mom and dad came back from a big night on the town with snail shells from the revolving supper club on top of the Founders Tower where Danny Williams did his night club act. In 1966 OKC didn’t get much bigger. Danny we will miss you. We love you – pass it on, thanks.
Great story,I was on The Foreman Scotty Show 4 times when I was a kid and he was awesome! I also listened to his radio show every day until he retired, he always kept it fresh. RIP Danny.
I’m thankful for what Danny Williams has given us. From the tapes I’ve seen of Dannysday, it makes me sad that we don’t have something like that…although I think we are moving back in that direction. I’ll also miss the whispers of various contacts with him (although I look forward to more from years past), ans seeing his endorsements of local businesses. May he rest in peace!
Mary totally led Gene into that.
Like several thousand other people my age, I was a “Baby of the Day” on Dannysday, meaning I got to go on air, behave like a…well…baby, and got a free toy. He really was a pioneer in television, and a heck of a nice guy. A lot of people in the state are mourning his loss right now, including me. Thanks for posting this article.
It’s not nice to speak ill of the dead, but just let me say, there was much more to Danny’s personality than is being said here. Those that looked up to him as an icon and role model did not know him or work with him, and they especially weren’t women. The ones that did work with him and are still saying nice things are doing it because they have to.
I assume you are speaking about his continual sexaully inudendo’s and maybe even more? I’ve heard some of those stories and hope he was harmless, if not, then shame on him. My comments are related to his performances and actions as a public figure, if he was a creepy douche, I hate that for those who had to endure………..can you share more info?
Shame on you. Today is not the day. Danny Williams is an Oklahoma icon. Yes, he liked pretty ladies, but I never once saw him be disrepectful to a woman. RIP, Danny. We love you. Pass it on.
Then, as I said, you never truly knew him. For many years, dealing with his crude statements (not innuendos, he came right out and said vulgar things) was the worst part of my job. There are dozens of other women who could say the same thing. He was also arrogant, demanding deference from everyone. That’s not even getting into his drug and alcohol abuse.
So, great broadcaster and icon, yes. Good person? Not even close.
You know Grinchella, I didn’t work with Danny, but knew him very personally. I don’t know your exact experience, and I don’t know your definition of a good person. But I know from experience that Danny was INDEED a very good, loving, and loyal person. I cannot think of a time in my 31 years of knowing Danny that he spoke ill of anyone. I’m sure he has, as have we all, but I honestly can’t remember one single time. He also loved dearly, and was always respectful to my wife, mother, grandmothers, and his own wife. Did he tell dirty jokes? Almost always. Danny was a celebrity, and did he have an ego? Sure, he loved, loved, loved to work a room. But the guy also had the #1 rated morning show, in the nation, until he was 82 years old! That doesn’t just happen by accident.
You know Grinchella, I’m trying not to let you comments bother me, but I just have to say that they are really disrespectful at this point and flat out rude. You’re not just speaking ill of someone who has passed, but someone who now can’t defend themselves. If this was such a bother during your work day, maybe you should have done something about it then. I believe that your efforts to share your grievences at this point in time are baseless and shameful.
I am sorry you were offended by my comments. I am offended by watching the news coverage that has turned this man into some kind of saint and hero. Of course most people never saw Danny act that way. He wasn’t stupid, and he never did anything truly naughty out in the open. But remember, he was sued by a former co-worker, and she won. He was officially reprimanded several times. People DID report him, and nothing happened other than him being “written up”. Now, of course, he had his good aspects. I don’t ignore those. It just annoys me that everyone else ignores the bad side.
Basark, that 1950s robot, once made an apperance at a Halloween party at my house after being borrowed by a then KTVY employee. Unfortunately, Mary Hart as a mysterious girl from outer space did not.
Danny was all of the above. Both good and bad and people don’t realize he grew up in a completely different time and world than us. He could be politically correct, off-color and humorous all at the same time.
He gave a prayer once, and I’m paraphrasing some of it…”Dear Lord, thank you for the givings and misgivings you’ve given to us. If we could ask that once again you bring a prosperous oil boom back to Oklahoma, we promise not to screw it up this time”….”Amen”….
I consider myself as part of the 3D Danny generation of Oklahoma City. Today I feel that a chunk of my soul has been taken from me. We are the generation that watched Oklahoma City from the time when Hollywood and Broadway made sure they would stop by to visit. To the times when folks were not willing to admit they were from OKC. And now back again to see us rise again. Danny was there to build the foundation. No matter what anyone says it was him, Steve Powell, HoHo, and all of our other more “sophisticated” icons. These are the heroes of the 3-D Danny generation. And we should all remember them with pride.
Loved Danny Williams. I was around him some when he was doing live remotes, When he walked in, the room would come to life. I remember his jokes, and his delivery. Truly an awesome personality! I will miss him very much. RIP Mr. Williams.
I am of the 3D Danny generation as well. That was a golden age of “local television” when characters and shows were created to entertain kids and actually teach them values, etc. 3D Danny, the Duke of Muketon, Bazark, Xavier T Willard, Foreman Scotty, Cannonball McCoy, HoHo, Carolyn Cottontail, and others were all characters I remember fondly. Those people could do more with a few sheets of plywood and assorted junk lying around to create sets and adventures that I still remember than anyone could today. Today’s TV stations would never mount such an effort to put on a kids show, they just stick on another talk show and ignore the kids. We were taught to be polite and be nice to each other, foreign concepts nowadays.
Beware of flying chairs and don’t let the Feather Headed Greenies get you.
I remember Danny because I grew up watching him as 3D Danny and on the Foreman Scotty show. I loved his talk show with Mary Hart as well. Then as a teen he played my favorite songs on KOMA. He was a vibrant entertainer and loved by many. He was a human being as well. I’m sure like all of us he did and said things that were not acceptable and should not have been said or done. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” OKC will miss him.