Stephen Ray Puckett

Another TV personality from our younger days, Cadet Don

Another was MariJane of the Magicastle.  Kinda like Kitirik but not the same.  She still works around Houston.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Roger Felton

Hummm, Stephen.  Somehow I'm getting vibes that you were fond of Kitirick's tail, too.  Whenever she walked, it would kinda swing back and forth.  Sorta mesmerizing....

Her face always reminded me of that sweet, lil biology teacher at Black, Mrs. English.  I always thought she was incredibly smart because she could spell paramecium on the blackboard without taking 2 or 3 stabs at it like I had to.

I remember on a test one time there was a question about amoebas and I wrote that they were lucky because they got to spend all their time with their friends and didn't have to go to a biology class to learn about people.  As the bell rang the next day and everyone headed to the door, she called me over to her desk and asked me why I put such a dumb answer to an easy question.

I told her I just wanted to make her laugh.  She looked puzzled and asked me why missing a test question just to make her laugh was a smart decision.  Of course, I knew it was stupid but I had to think fast and come up with an answer that I thought she'd be ok with.  So I told her that I had never seen her smile and anyone with a face as beautiful as hers should smile a lot.  That did it.

She blushed a little but her smile was there big as Dallas.  She had one of those "Miss America" smiles.  You know, perfect snow white teeth and gums exposed clear up to her nose.  It was an amazing smile.

All she could say was, "You can go now, Roger". 

Hers was the only class that I got an A in that I didn't think I quite deserved.  But I did learn how to spell paramecium on the first try.

Steven Jay Stoneburner

Everyone loved KITIRIK I bought a Black 1963 Split window Corvett from her is 1964 Her last name was Orsak I think?

Roger Felton

It's great to think back to those good ole days and the quality kiddie shows we had.  Capt. Kangaroo, Soupy Sales and who could forget Annette on the Mickey Mouse Club.  We learned so much and we always did it while sitting on a hard floor. 

Soupy taught me how to pat the top of my head and rub my stomach at the same time. I learned how to sing the Pinky Lee song.  Howdy Doodie taught me to say, "Kowabunga" (which I believe is Kickapoo Indian for "cow patty").  I learned how to draw by watching Winkie Dink.  I didn't have one of those plastic screen covers so I just drew right on the TV screen with crayons.  Then mom and dad had to watch the news with ladders and police cars superimposed over Walter Cronkite.

But then the kiddie shows went downhill fast.  Watching Mr. Roger's Neighbothood, kids learned they should talk like a 1st grader when they're 40 and to change clothes so often that mom had the washing machine running 24/7.

Nowadays, if a kiddie show were going to hold any kid's attention it would have to teach them valuable stuff they can actually use when they get a little older.  Things like how to swipe a 70" TV from WalMart undetected, how to sucker punch a teacher and, of course, how to hit a target while holding a pistol sideways. 

But all they get is Kermit, Miss Piggy and Big Bird and they're so boring all three of 'em together couldn't flip a police car.

Robert Hagen

I've not heard much about good ole "Uncle Bert" Lynn.  My sisters and I watched Uncle Bert many afternoons on KPRC.  I think he was the first mayor of Looney Town and yes, our milk was delivered in a truck just like that sans Uncle Bert.

Jan Barnes (Nimtz)

On a much more important note... Thanks be to God for watching over our classmate Linda Webster and giving her a positive report on her recent tests. She has been through so many health issues and God has blessed her to start out her New Year healthy! Congratulations, Linda! We continue to stand behind you and pray for you.
 

Roger Felton

Thanks Jan and prayers do work.  My wife's cousin Diane Talley had a tumor in her uterus the size of a softball.  It was the most agressive type of cancer there is.  Family and friends met at our house for support, encouragement and, most of all, prayers. 

MD Anderson in Houston took good care of her and she's been totally cancer free for years.  Her story is on the MD Anderson website.  It would seem a miracle to those who don't know the power of prayer.  So, Linda, you go girl.  Our prayers are with you all the way.

Kenneth Armbrister

Bernard Ash bought a Go Cart with Looney Bucks.  Uncle Burt was the host/Mayor of Looney town.  The Go Cart had no motor so we had to push it around until we aquired a motor off an old lawn edger(pre Weed Eater) and afixed it to the Cart. Another reason why we are lucky to be alive.

Steve Krone's dad was the plant manager at Carnation Milk company and hired Johnny Lievsay and Myself during a few summers to drive "vacation routes" for regular Milkmen taking their vacations.  We wore the White Uniforms and delivered milk and other products.  Yes there are stories i can't repeat, leave it to say some customers loved a young man in uniform.

Roger Felton

Yeah, Kenneth, you ain't woofing.  It's amazing what some people did to get out of paying their milk bill.  You should jot down some notes.  Bev and I produced a movie that was filmed in the Austin/Fredericksburg area some years ago and I think a flick about the tough life of a 1960's milkman would be a hoot.  

What say we get together and outline a storyboard at the Round Rock Hooters.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Congratulations, Linda!

Linda Webster

Robert (Ben) Carbo

Susan Carle (Crowley-Wasson)

Betty and I grew up together. We lived just two houses apart. She is still my oldest and dearest friend. Alan Geiser stole her heart in high school and still has it!

Elizabeth (Betty) McKirahan (Geiser)

Hi Benny.  Thanks for the birthday wishes.

I did not remember what "Man Tan" was???????????????????????????????

So, I asked my better half and he said some of us girls used the tanning produst back in the day.

What a memory you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please tell Kay I said hi.

Love to you both,

Betty

Stephen Ray Puckett

Rodeo stuff at Sears

2 l'il Oak Forest buckaroo brothers at the Houston Rodeo. 

Roger Felton

Anybody remember going to the rodeo when it was held at the Sam Houston Coliseum?  I remember seeing Annie Oakley shoot out a lit candle at 50 yards and the bullet didn't hit anyone in the audience on the other side.  She did it backwards holding the rifle over her shoulder using a mirror.  She did it 4 times in a row and nobody got killed. 

I saw Gene Autry, too, but he didn't shoot up the joint.  He just sang some songs and rode Champion around.

Then there was Eddie Arnold.  I think I was only about 6 years old but I remember the crowd went wild when he rode out at full gallop.  But then he fell off his horse and staggered around and couldn't find his hat.  Everybody figured a little Wild Turkey musta had him feeling pretty mellow but I was too young to know the feeling.  I asked grandma why Mr. Arnold was acting so funny.  She said something about "being thankful he wasn't riding a bull". 

He did manage to sing "Cattle Call".  I've always loved that song and nobody sang it like Eddie.  But that day at the Houston rodeo was the only time I ever heard someone slur a yodel.

Hilda Carol Smith (Godell)

Jacquie Campbell (Biggs)

As a child I also went to see Roy and Dale, and when they began their ride around the perimeter of the ring, I bolted away from my parents so I could stick my hand through the bars and touch one of the horses.When I turned around to go back to my parents, all I could see was vast numbers of seats and people.  A girl from the Red Coats who was ushering, picked me up and set me on her shoulders until we spotted my parents.  My mom was frantic but my dad was not worried.  

We did get out of school for the Rodeo/parade.  My dad worked downtown in a building that faced Main, and the windows to the building actually opened.  Some of us would ride to work with him on parade day and roam around downtown where the floats and riders were assembling.  Once we even conned some group to let us ride on the back of their float.  Our goal was to get to ride double with one of the cowboys, but I do not think we were ever successful at that. Once the parade began, we took the elevator up to my dad's floor and he opened the windows and we watched the parade from about the third floor -- maybe the Esperson Building.  Not sure. 

In Guard, we ushered for the Rodeo both at SHC and when it moved to Astrodome. We thought that was fun -- except when we had to wear the helments.  Then it was the Fat Stock Show -- renamed Livestock Show.  

As a teacher for 30 years, I observed the HLSR assist many students with scholarship money for showing animals, art projects, academic/community service, Tejano scholarships, etc.  It is truly a local organization that has given back to Houston and surrounding communities.   

Robert (Ben) Carbo

Robert (Ben) Carbo

Hilda Carol Smith (Godell)

Lindy Clarke (Hall)

Stephen... That photo of Kitirik with the Bosco is hilarious...
like, did no-one have an iron? I'm not Suzy Homemaker, by
any stretch of imagination, but damn, that looks pitiful.

And yes, matching western shirts were certainly a "thing",
my boyfriend, David Ringo, and I, got ours at Sears... black
with yellow roses, as in Yellow Rose of Texas... Even when
not rodeo-time, we wore them to Tradewinds Roller Rink.

I always wanted to go on one of those rodeo trail-rides...
I had a horse, but my father wouldn't let me go... too much
drinking, etc.
<sigh>

 

Stephen Ray Puckett

Summer is coming!   I have memories of hanging out at the beach.  Here's a look back:  http://www.chron.com/life/travel/article/Take-a-throwback-look-at-spring-break-in-Galveston-6853991.php

John (Fred) Williams

The lady that played Annie Oakley on TV was Gail Davis, she and my mother were good friends. She appeared to be a pretty good shot, but she really wasn't. For the shooting stuff she used very, very light loads in both her pistols and her rifle and along with the light loads she used the smallest bird shot the studio could find or that the prop dept. could make. That's why no one in the audience ever got hit. She had to be very careful where she aimed and pretty close to the target. When she shot the candle out, it was the rush of air that blew it out not the bullet hitting the flame. As far as who fell off of his horse, it was Gene Autry. Back then he had a real drinking problem.

In the fifties and early sixties the rodeo only ran for 7 or 8 days. It started on either Fri. or Sat. and ran until the following Sun. As I remember, the last performance on Sun. was always televised on KPRC. The trail ride (The Salt Grass) started on Saturday morning in Brenham and got to Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon, about 3:00 pm. Back then we moved a lot faster than they do today. The rodeo parade was on Wed. and we did get out of school that day. I rode every year back then and always missed Mon. and Tue. of that week. As one teacher referred to it, my chronic, annual illness. The rodeo only had 1 star for the entire show then, and the first star was Gene Autry, who fell off of his horse more than once. It was in the 60's, I think when the rodeo moved to the dome in '65, that they started having a different performer every night and then expanded to 2 weeks.