Barney Panofsky is a TV producer and thrice-married party dog whose life goes verkakte. From the book by Mordecai Richler, the movie is set in the same cynical Canadian milieu established in Richler's earlier opus, "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz". Starring Paul Giamatti, with Minnie Driver, Rosamund Pike and Dustin Hoffman. Now in limited release.

New article at This Land Press about it. I visited J.J. and his cafe on 6/16/2007. In 1973, it was the Rubicon head shop, also a J.J. enterprise. Details, links in GroupBlog 321.

Gary Chew, JohnnyK and I enjoyed Bradley Denton's ebook, "Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede". My recent e-reading and the software that made it possible are listed in GroupBlog 321.

When discussion turned to this epic starring Robert Preston, Chill Wills and Susan Hayward, Lazzaro found the whole thing on YouTube, and posted it in GroupBlog 321.

Scott Linder, a former projectionist in Tulsa movie theaters, tells inside-the-booth stories with the encouragement of TTM readers in just-archived GroupBlog 321.

A kids' program filmed in the basement of the Tulsa library whose theme song was "Make Me Smile". Dave McFadden was part of the show. He tells us about it and has a great promo photo. In GroupBlog 324.

IMAX 3D documentary about animals whose destiny is to exist in the wild, narrated by Morgan Freeman. Opens wide on April 8.

Jon Heder is the star of a movie now in production: "Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede". Plot recap: All TV channels worldwide show a noninterruptible live performance by Buddy Holly originating from a Jovian moon. Oliver Vale is the apparent object of the broadcasts. Story elements relevant to TTM include TV, a drive-in theater, 60s/70s/80s pop music and culture, and the Kansas/Oklahoma setting (book only). YouTube and links in GroupBlog 324.

Tulsa World article states that the Twin will be operational with a new screen, concession stands and restrooms by July. Link in GroupBlog 324.

Lazzaro is trying to remember the name of a girl who worked at the Bead Workshop in the 1970s. See a print ad for it from The Tulsa Phonograph Record Magazine, July 1975, in GroupBlog 325.

Best Foreign Language Oscar winner for 2011. Danish director Susanne Bier and screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen tell a stoic story about two upper-middle class Danish families, one just stricken with the natural death of the mother, the other slipping from estrangement into divorce. Each has a boy about 11 years old. Chew calls it grounded and uplifting, despite the strife, pain and disillusionment. Now in limited release, opens at Tulsa's Circle Cinema on 5/20.

In 1929, the Coon-Sanders Nighthawk Orchestra did "Alone in the Rain", the first section of which became part of Mazeppa's opening theme. Hear their 1924 recording of "Night hawk blues" in GroupBlog 326. It's from "The National Jukebox", the Library of Congress' new, free audio archive online.

"Bowling alley rolling in", article from the Tulsa World today. "The pins are set for Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge, Elliot Nelson's newest Blue Dome District venture."

"It was a quonset hut type affair located on the north side of 11th, either between Lewis and Delaware or Delaware and Harvard (I think)," says Lazzaro. Can you ID it? Photo in GroupBlog 327.

7 p.m. Thursday at the OSU-Tulsa campus: "The Everlasting Beatles". See the webmaster's footage of George Harrison in Tulsa, 1974. More in GroupBlog 327.

Depressing, maudlin, creepier than "Mulholland Drive", but then again, Mel Gibson's character is seen talking to Jon Stewart with a stuffed beaver on his fist. Opens wide on May 20.

The Tulsa World reports that Moby Anderson, a bassist who played Tulsa coffee houses in the 1960s, has passed away. Link to Moby's 2005 comment on TTM in GroupBlog 327.

The public is invited to a 10:30 am Saturday groundbreaking ceremony at the drive-in which will serve as a kickoff for the rebuilding effort. Bring your own shovel. Tulsa World story link in just archived GroupBlog 327.

I took some photos at the event today. Check them out at the Flickr link in GroupBlog 328.

A tender, funny, coming-of-age yarn starring Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Alicia Silverstone, Blair Underwood and Rita Wilson. Opens wide June 17.

Jim Reid will be doing a show with the Tulsa Theater Organ Society at 7 pm on Friday, June 17 at the Broken Arrow campus of the Tulsa Technology Center at 129th E. Ave (Olive) and 111th St. He''ll be running his 16mm prints of what he considers the funniest silent shorts, accompanied by organists playing a vintage 1920s theater organ. More in GroupBlog 328.

Tulsa Historical Society opens a new exhibit today at 4:30 pm: "The Big 97: Tulsa's KAKC Radio". Includes a Q and A session with former KAKC personalities. Adults $5, Seniors $3 - Members FREE. More in GroupBlog 328.

Thirtysomething Oliver has just struggled his way past the event of the death of his eccentric mother. Not long after, his father announces: "I'm gay. And I've known it since before I married your mother." Stars Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer. Now in limited release.

Plenty of laughs in this R-rated, extremely rude flick. Jason Bateman, Jason Sedeikus and Charlie Day are the aggrieved employees; Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston are the horrible bosses. Opens wide Friday.

Gary Chew says FwB is really, really quite bad. But on the brighter side, it does feature Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman and Richard Jenkins. Opens wide July 22.

I caught this brief clip from CBS' "The Early Show" today, touting Tulsa as a great place to retire. YouTube clip in GroupBlog 329.

Daniel Craig can't remember a thing when he wakes up in the Old West with a high-tech wristwatch thing attached to his arm. It's just what he'll need in this new-fashioned shoot-em-up with Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde. Opens wide July 29.

Tonight: Group Exhibit reception for OH, TULSA! at Living Arts of Tulsa's ArtSpace, 307 E Brady. The reception is from 6-9 pm Friday, 8/5. One of the projects on display is Oom-A-Gog, recreated by artist Chris Wollard, who is also a Tulsa Tiki aficionado. Curator is Melanie Fry of Joyce Martel fame. More details and links at the top of just-archived GroupBlog 329.

Robert Jernigan Jr. sadly informed us that his dad, who played Captain Ben on KTUL-TV, has passed away. More information in GroupBlog 330.

In the 1990s, three former Mossad agents try to work out what went wrong during their mid-60s mission in East Berlin to kidnap and bring to justice a very evil man. With Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Jessica Chastain. Now playing.

Coppola's 1983 "Rumble Fish", based on S.E. Hinton's novel, was filmed in downtown Tulsa. The characters in the film hang out at Benny's Billiards. A photo/video art installation will be unveiled at 8 pm tonight at 13 East Brady (site of Benny's). Circle Cinema is showing the movie at 11:00 pm. Meet and Greet at Caz's Chowhouse starting at 6 pm. More at the link.

This low-key Brad Pitt vehicle, a cerebral baseball story, may not be to everyone's taste, including Oscar's. Also stars Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Opens today.

Pretty entertaining for a templated rom-com. The number in question is how many persons with whom one has shared intimate moments. Stars Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Ari Graynor and Blythe Danner. Opens today.

I had this one on my wall.

People tell the story of their first car on longtime TTM reader John's new blogsite.

Very nice article about Louise Bland's life in today's Tulsa World, with some information I hadn't been aware of.

I captured a YouTube video of an odd glitch on the Wii while playing Gottlieb Hall of Fame pinball.

Mike Miller posted a link to the Tulsa World obituary for longtime Tulsa newsman Bob Hower, who passed away at age 87 last Saturday.

Robert Walker and Stan Ruth report that Lee Bayley, former KAKC DJ, has passed away. See a Lee Bayley page at the link.

A new book by Steve Clem, "Tulsa's KAKC Radio, The Big 97" is now available. Attend a book signing at Tulsa Historical Society on Tuesday, April 16, 6:30 pm. Steve and several of the former KAKC DJs will also be on hand to sign books, including Scooter Segraves, Dick Schmitz and Mike McCarthy.

A special UHF pledge drive on RSU Public TV on Oct 5, ending with Weird Al and his band in concert on October 19 at the Brady Theater.

All these amusement parks of Tulsa past can be seen tonight on RSU-TV's final encore of "Green Country People and Places", 7:30 pm, Thur, 10/3. Producer/director Bryan Crain contributed photos of Skyline and Lakeview to TTM. Lowell Burch's Skyline Park home movie is included. Broadcast channel 35.1, Cox 109 or 793.

Got back in touch recently with my old road rallying buddy, Garry Deaton. His dad built a biplane for himself. Bob Hower admired it so much, Garry's dad built one for him, too! Garry loaned me this Xmas card from Bob to his dad.

Found in a high altitude aerial photograph, courtesy of the Tulsa City-County Library.

On TTM Flickr: my friend Garry Deaton tells us about his dad building Bob Hower's biplane at Harvey Young Airport in 1978.

I just heard from Russell Bates of Lawton on LinkedIn. I know him from my Wilson Center dorm days at OU in the early 1970s. He was then already a published writer, and later won an Emmy for a Star Trek animated series episode he co-wrote. I found a profile of Russell on a 2011 episode of OETA's "Gallery" series. Watch Gallery #1204 at the link.

The company that hosts the GroupBlog, Pathfinder, may have terminated the service. Not sure yet. I have archived the Google cached copy of the most recent GB 341, so nothing was lost. For the time being, the TTM Facebook site can stand in for it (click the Facebook icon on the main page).

Added new WordPress blog, on the same webhosting service as the main site. Includes both a replacement for the defunct Greek GB, and a Webmaster Blog, to be on the topics of cable-cutting, home theater, etc.

Brought to our attention by a Tweet from Michael Bates, 1970s furniture magnate John F. Lawhon spoofs himself. I believe his store was over on Pine St. In the current GroupBlog

Brought to our attention by Hurst Swiggart, a nice story in the Tulsa World.