Archive for the 'OKC History' Category

Something Else Al Gore Didn’t Invent

Published by
Clark Matthews
 on February 15, 2008

Last night, on a romantic Valentine’s Day spent on the couch, I was flipping through the millions of channels on digital cable and, of course, nothing was on.  Lacking other options, I stopped briefly on a channel that was playing An Inconvenient Truth, and there was Al Gore telling us to stock up on bottled water and hide in a cave (preferrably well above current sea level).

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Al Gore is the current standard bearer for the environmentalist movement.  So, imagine my surprise when I found this YouTube video below where this left coast, elitist was pitching his tree hugging wares to Oklahoma back when Senator Gore’s only concern was that my impressionable ears not be able to hear Eazy E badmouth law enforcement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBeVBUACqFc

The hippies of the Reagan era sure looked different.

(edit:  For some reason, the YouTube link is not working, but you should be able to view the video if you click here.)

Category: OKC History. 10 Comments

Make it Shine for Aught-Seven

Published by
Clark Matthews
 on November 8, 2007

As an eleven-year-old sixth grader in 1989, I remember my dad trying to convince me that the centennial parade sounded like fun. Being eleven, I disagreed and refused to accompany him.

“You probably won’t live to see the next centennial,” he reminded me.

Now, as a 29 year old father and CPA, I just skipped another centennial parade, and am contemplating whether “Statehood Day” festivities are worth my time. I mean seriously, the one hundred year celebration of Oklahoma City as the capitol is less than three years away, and the centennial celebration of Paul Harvey spreading urban legends via “The Rest of the Story” is a couple years after that.

Besides, the Land Run Centennial was superior for one reason: “Make it Shine!” Continue reading ‘Make it Shine for Aught-Seven’

Category: OKC Advertising, OKC History and OKC Music. 10 Comments

Statehood Day Preparations Are Not Complete

Published by
Tony
 on November 7, 2007

Did you know that this is the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood? Apparently that’s why there has been all these celebrations of “Oklahoma’s Centennial.” I thought that it was because our state had finally reached a population of 100. But then, I haven’t left my basement in nearly 20 years, so I don’t really have any idea what is going on in the world.

In any event, it seems that at least one Native American group is planning on protesting our statehood celebration because they feel Native Americans haven’t been adequately represented.

If that’s true, it really is terrible and I hope the situation is rectified, because Native Americans obviously play a giant and important role in Oklahoma’s history. Less publicized are the other groups being overlooked on Statehood Day. Some might say that they are less publicized because they aren’t nearly as important as Native Americans. They would be right. But as a service to you, the reader, I thought I would give a quick rundown of five groups you will unfortunately not be seeing represented during the Statehood Day celebrations.

Here they are:

The Participants in the Robbers Cave Experiment

Back in 1954, a group of OU researchers dropped a bunch of 12-year-old boys at Robbers Cave State Park and separated them into two groups. The amazing findings of the experiment were that 12-year-old boys tend to be very competitive. I know I’m just some young whippersnapper that needs to get off your lawn, but was this really such a revelation in 1954?

In any event, it is not fair that things like the Stanford Prison Experiment remain staples of Pscyh 101 classes while the Robbers Cave Experiment is largely forgotten. We need to bring the boys who took part in this back for Statehood Day and have Brad Henry give them a medal or something.

Continue reading ‘Statehood Day Preparations Are Not Complete’

Category: OKC History and Oklahoma City Weather. 12 Comments

Oklahoma Initiative Ideas: 70-61

Published by
Patrick
 on October 15, 2007

70. Give Tyler Suiters his own nightly opinion piece called, “I don’t give a shit.”

Kelly’s got his two cents. Kevin has a rant. Tyler? We get the feeling he really doesn’t give a shit about anything. And we want to hear why!

Continue reading ‘Oklahoma Initiative Ideas: 70-61′

Category: 100 Ideas, Hinder, OKC History, Oklahoma City Media, Oklahoma State Fair and Sports. 7 Comments

Bring Back Bozo!

Published by
Clark Matthews
 on September 13, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL3tLmaULNo

“We need some ballplayers,” said the clown with the voice of a man who had taken too many breaks from chugging bourbon to chainsmoke.  He further taunted, “High and dry.”  At this point, my dad shoved two dollars my way and nudged me toward the disinterested teenager holding three softballs.  I was probably ten or eleven and confident in my lot as the star first baseman of the Stonegate Spikes who had recently finished first in the Northside YMCA’s coach pitch division.  It was a challenge I was ready to take.

Staring down the bullseye that seemed so close, I got into the pitching stance I intended to use the next year.  The angry old clown seemed to be unaware of my arrival, and I pounced.  The ball whizzed past the big red dot.  Then it came.

“Does your mommy dress you?”  As trashtalk, it was weak.  My mom never would have come up with the mismatched shorts/t-shirt combo I had to have been wearing.  Unfazed, I tossed the second ball, and I swear it knicked the target but failed to have enough velocity to do any damage.

Perhaps it was how narrowly he had escaped becoming low and wet.  Maybe he had always intended to wait until my last throw.  Probably, it had taken this long to think of it.  But the big guns came out here.  In a sing-songy voice, the old man serenaded me:

Red-Red
Wet his bed
Blamed it on his brother Fred

The skin below my carrot top flushed crimson.  Despite my embarrassment, I got off my third toss, but it was as wider than a Rick Ankiel fastball from before he became an outfielder.  Crushed, I meandered back to my cackling family.  Dad offered another two bucks, but I wanted to be anywhere else.  As we exited stage left, Bozo spotted a man in the back of the crowd.

“Look at the guy in the pink shorts.”

The state fair hasn’t been the same without Bozo. Continue reading ‘Bring Back Bozo!’

Category: Basketball in OKC, OKC History, Oklahoma City Alumni and Oklahoma State Fair. 20 Comments

Top 100 Oklahoma Embarrassments: 40-31

Published by
Patrick
 on August 27, 2007

40. Ronnie Kaye

My first memory of Ronnie Kaye is from when he anchored the Oklahoma News Report segments on Channel 25 during the 1980s. For some reason, I guess the powers that be thought it would be a good idea to give the kids a quick Oklahoma news update between GI Joe and Transformers. At the time, I remember thinking, “How embarrassing. If I ever contribute to a list of Oklahoma’s Top 100 embarrassments, Ronnie Kaye and this stupid news report is going to be on it. Now where did I put my glass of Tang.”

Continue reading ‘Top 100 Oklahoma Embarrassments: 40-31′

Category: Jim Traber, OKC History, OU Football, Oklahoma City Alumni, Oklahoma City Media, Oklahoma City Radio, Oklahoma Politics, Sports and Top 100 Oklahoma Embarrassments. 25 Comments

Top 100 Oklahoma Embarrassments: 60-51

Published by
Tony
 on August 13, 2007

60. Mark Gastineau

In the 1980’s, Ardmore native Mark Gastineau was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL. He surprised the football world by abruptly retiring in 1988, and eventually admitted he had done so to avoid steroid testing. He tried to resurrect his athletic career as a boxer, but that too ended in humiliation when it was revealed several of his opponents had been told to, and did, take dives. His ex-wife and estranged daughter eventually went on to star in the totally awesome show “Gastineau Girls” that was on the E! channel.

Continue reading ‘Top 100 Oklahoma Embarrassments: 60-51′

Category: OKC History, OU Football, Oklahoma City Radio, Oklahoma Politics and Top 100 Oklahoma Embarrassments. 16 Comments

The Lost Ogle Mailbag

Published by
Patrick
 on July 20, 2007

You may not have known it, but TheLostOgle.com has an email address. It’s something like thelostogle at gmail.com. Since we don’t have time to respond to the large volume of email we receive, I figured I would share some of the better ones here.

Does Dean Blevins have herpes?
Linda C., Oklahoma City

We are not 100% sure. There is a 60% chance that Dean has some sort of STD, and an 80% chance that it is herpes. Of course fever blisters count as herpes, but 75% of the population consider those as good herpes. I would say there is a 95% chance that Dean gets fever blisters.

Is The Lost Ogle endorsed by any member of the prestigious Ogle family? If so, they should have told me.
Kent O., Edmond

Not yet. When Kelly finally reads one of our absurd emails on “Your Two Cents”, we will consider that an endorsement. However, if you count our MySpace friends as a ringing endorsement, we are endorsed by Lump, Carey Murdock, Tony Sellars, three attractive girls, numerous bars, a couple of bands and the mayor’s son.

Will Mathis Brothers finally get a Starbucks?
Jeremy R., Moore

Calls to Mathis Brothers have not been returned, but sources confirm that the furniture palace’s Starbucks rip-off has “exceeded expectations.”

I’m enjoying the abundance of sports radio in Oklahoma City. Any chance that the guys at TheLostOgle.com can get their own sports talk show?
James H., Norman

Possibly. According to a story in Oklahoma Weekly, civic leaders are considering a “grand experiment” to turn the Oklahoma City weather radio band into 24/7 local sports talk. If this works out, we have already been contacted about hosting “Sports All Night” a midnight to 5am sports show.

Why is Reno not called First Street?
Clark M., The Village

Good Question, Clark. I think the better question is why The Village is called The Village.

Who still eats at the Spaghetti Warehouse? Why is this place open?
Mia L., Oklahoma City

I’m glad you asked this question. The ‘success’ of the Spaghetti Warehouse, Bricktown Brewery and even Crab Town is critical if we want to cement our status as a true major league city. All major cities have those average restaurants that are solely supported by out-of-towners and tourists, and those are ours.

Have Jude and Jody’s sons ruined the family’s business?
Larry E., Oklahoma City

I think so. I haven’t seen a Judy and Jody commercial in years. I bet the son’s really didn’t love folks. That has probably hurt business.

Is there a God?
Aubrey M., Nichols Hills

Yes. And his name is Gary England.

Category: Dean Blevins, Gary England, Mailbag, Mathis Brothers, OKC Advertising, OKC History, Oklahoma City Media, Oklahoma City Radio and The Ogles. 2 Comments
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