Mr. Zing and Tuffy.

[RLitterell]

What was the dogs name? was it Shaggy Dog? My Grandmother took me to the channel 8 studio and I got to be on the show. Wow!!! they gave us a cup of Pure Milk ice cream and a little flat hourglass shaped wooden stick to eat it with when the show was over.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by RLitterell

What was the dogs name? was it Shaggy Dog? My Grandmother took me to the channel 8 studio and I got to be on the show. Wow!!! they gave us a cup of Pure Milk ice cream and a little flat hourglass shaped wooden stick to eat it with when the show was over.

From channel 8's website.

Shows like Mr. Zing & Tuffy were a hit with the kids. John Chick was Mr. Zing. Tom Ledbetter was Shaggy Dog and Wayne Johnson was Tuffy the Tiger.

http://tulsatvmemories.com/kiddie.html

[dbacks fan]

I too was on the show for my birthday, but the only problem was the transmitter went off the air, and it was about a week later they showed the kids gallery segment.

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by dbacks fan

I too was on the show for my birthday, but the only problem was the transmitter went off the air, and it was about a week later they showed the kids gallery segment.

My Mom worked for Clarks Good Clothes. She introduced me to John Chick one day at the Southland store, about the same time as when I was on the show, I remember how disappointed I was to learn that Mr. Zing wore street clothes.[]

[Steve]

I was on Mr. Zing and Tuffy around 1965, with my cub scout pack.  We all wore our uniforms on the show.  I remember the show aired around 4:00 in the afternoon.  About 30 minutes before airtime, John Chick would go down the line of all the kids sitting in the bleachers and ask everyone's name.  We all said our names just once.  When the show aired and the kid's screeen time came, Mr. Chick would go down the line as the camera panned and repeat everyone's name perfectly for the home audience, from just hearing the names that first time!  I also remember all our mothers sitting behind camera in the dark of the studio.

I remember the game segments, the cartoon segments, and the bit where the kids got on camera with our names read by John.  Sadly, local live children's programming is a thing of the past, not just in Tulsa, but all over the US.  Cable and satellite were the death of live local children's TV.  That was one TV experience I will never forget.

Mr. Zing, Tuffy the Tiger, Shaggy Dog, and don't forget Leafy Bark, the talking tree!

My older brother was on the local Big Bill and Oomagog show around 1960.  I think that one was on channel 2.

[Conan71]

I remember seeing John Chick escorted away from a mid-way game at the fair one year.  He was drunk and cursing the operator of the game.  Cool thing for a kid to see.  This was a few years after he was replaced w/ Uncle Zeb.

I believe my brother was old enough to have been on his show with his Cub Scout pack.  I got to go on UZ with mine.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I remember seeing John Chick escorted away from a mid-way game at the fair one year.  He was drunk and cursing the operator of the game.  Cool thing for a kid to see.  This was a few years after he was replaced w/ Uncle Zeb.

Mr. Chick may not have been drunk.  If I remember my Tulsa TV history correctly, John Chick died a victim of multiple sclerosis or ALS.  What you witnessed may have been early symptoms of his fatal illness, not the effects of alcohol.  In all fairness to Mr. Chick and his memory, I think this should be pointed out.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I remember seeing John Chick escorted away from a mid-way game at the fair one year.  He was drunk and cursing the operator of the game.  Cool thing for a kid to see.  This was a few years after he was replaced w/ Uncle Zeb.

Mr. Chick may not have been drunk.  If I remember my Tulsa TV history correctly, John Chick died a victim of multiple sclerosis.  What you witnessed may have been early symptoms of his fatal illness, not the effects of alcohol.  In all fairness to Mr. Chick and his memory, I think this should be pointed out.

I could not remember if it was that or CP, but I do remember when he hosted the MD telethons you could see him change as the illness progressed. I recall the tribute that channel 8 put together after his death.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

I was on Mr. Zing and Tuffy around 1965, with my cub scout pack.  We all wore our uniforms on the show.  I remember the show aired around 4:00 in the afternoon.  About 30 minutes before airtime, John Chick would go down the line of all the kids sitting in the bleachers and ask everyone's name.  We all said our names just once.  When the show aired and the kid's screeen time came, Mr. Chick would go down the line as the camera panned and repeat everyone's name perfectly for the home audience, from just hearing the names that first time!  I also remember all our mothers sitting behind camera in the dark of the studio.

I remember the game segments, the cartoon segments, and the bit where the kids got on camera with our names read by John.  Sadly, local live children's programming is a thing of the past, not just in Tulsa, but all over the US.  Cable and satellite were the death of live local children's TV.  That was one TV experience I will never forget.

Mr. Zing, Tuffy the Tiger, Shaggy Dog, and don't forget Leafy Bark, the talking tree!

My older brother was on the local Big Bill and Oomagog show around 1960.  I think that one was on channel 2.

I too remember getting the cup of ice cream at the Mr. Zing show, with the wooden spoon.  Those ice cream cups and wooden spoons were a staple of Tulsa elementary school cafeterias in the 1960s.  I also remember the "Little Giant" ice cream sandwich bars they sold at my elementary school (John Paul Jones at 15th St. & 71st E. Ave.)  

[Conan71]

I do recall him having ALS or a similar affliction a few years after the incident I described.

I don't remember ALS or MS, or any of the other nervous system diseases (other than Turrets) causing outbursts like the one I witnessed.  I just remember my mother being horrified and making a comment to the effect that beer shouldn't be sold at the fair.

[Steve]

No one so far has mentioned Mr. Zing's (John Chick) wonderful skill with the unicycle.  When I was on the Mr. Zing & Tuffy show, I remember Mr. Zing riding that unicycle all around the set to the delight of us kids.

The closing song to the "Mr. Zing and Tuffy Show":

"Hello, Hello, Hello!
Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye!
We'll see you all tomorrow just as sure as pumpkin' pie!
We love to say hello, we don't like to say goodbye.
And so we say hello, when we mean goodbye!"

And be sure to jump up and down in a frenzy when you sing this song!

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

No one so far has mentioned Mr. Zing's (John Chick) wonderful skill with the unicycle.  When I was on the Mr. Zing & Tuffy show, I remember Mr. Zing riding that unicycle all around the set to the delight of us kids.

The closing song to the "Mr. Zing and Tuffy Show":

"Hello, Hello, Hello!
Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye!
We'll see you all tomorrow just as sure as pumpkin' pie!
We love to say hello, we don't like to say goodbye.
And so we say hello, when we mean goodbye!"

And be sure to jump up and down in a frenzy when you sing this song!

Oh yeah, I'll never for get that song or the unicycle.
Do you remember when the show first started Mr. Zing pushed a barrel on wheels around, seems like there was a push broom too. And Tuffy was always escaping from his cage.

[billintulsa]

I'll never forget when Mr. Chick's illness finally placed him under 24-hour medical care.

It was the night of a March of Dimes Telethon and he was scheduled to be the emcee.  I was also performing on that same show, and just a few minutes before airtime people were scrambling around trying to find a suitable replacement.  As I recall, the "suitable replacement" was actually filled by several people.

This was a great loss to our community and to the broadcasting and entertainment field as well.  We are fortunate to have had this man in our midst.

[RLitterell]

quote:Originally posted by billintulsa

I'll never forget when Mr. Chick's illness finally placed him under 24-hour medical care.

It was the night of a March of Dimes Telethon and he was scheduled to be the emcee.  I was also performing on that same show, and just a few minutes before airtime people were scrambling around trying to find a suitable replacement.  As I recall, the "suitable replacement" was actually filled by several people.

This was a great loss to our community and to the broadcasting and entertainment field as well.  We are fortunate to have had this man in our midst.

Yes we are. There sure seems to be a huge difference in what Mr. Chick provided for children's entertainment and what they are experiencing today. The memories I have of meeting him and watching his shows are some of my fondest.

[Conan71]

Slightly O/T- some of you are a little older than I am.  I remember when they first started showing "The Little Rascals" on afternoon TV that was a huge deal.  Before that it was Uncle Zeb, or Uncle Zeb for after school TV.