Rock and Roll Exhibit Opens May 1 at the History Center Wanda Jackson

Vol. 40, No. 4 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 April 2009 Rock and Roll exhibit opens May 1 at the History Center Wanda Jackson. Leon Russell. music scene. Tulsa rivals The Flaming Lips. Cain’s Ballroom. other international cities as Zoo Amphitheatre. home to some of the most ac- KOMA. KMOD. complished Rock and Roll and These people, places, and radio stations Pop music artists in the world. just barely skim the surface of the visitor’s Tulsa musicians were in seri- experience in Another Hot Oklahoma Night: ous demand during the 1960s A Rock and Roll Exhibit. and 1970s. The multitalented Another Hot Oklahoma Night will open Leon Russell, drummer Jim Friday, May 1, 2009, to the membership of Keltner, bassist Carl Radle, the Oklahoma Historical Society with a re- and guitarist J. J. Cale collab- ception at 7 p.m. The gala will include the orated with artists such as launching of a special Rock and Roll issue John Lennon, George Harri- of Oklahoma Today magazine. son, Ringo Starr, the Rolling On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the exhibit Stones, Eric Clapton, and Bob will open to the public. That opening will Dylan. These musicians headed a group Radio Stations.” Local record stores such include a full day of shows by Oklahoma that became known as the “Tulsa Sound” as Rainbow Records and Sound Ware- bands and family fun at the History Center. and will be featured, with many more, in house provided albums to music lovers The exhibit will explore the artists, radio the “Artists” section of Another Hot Okla- who would become members of great local stations, personalities, venues, and fans in homa Night. bands. At night during the 1950s and Oklahoma during Rock and Roll’s half-cen- Another area of the exhibit will focus on 1960s KOMA in Oklahoma City broad- tury of existence. Beyond the facts of each “Recording Studios, Record Stores, and casted Rock and Roll music that could be story, the exhibit will show how growing up heard throughout much of the western in Oklahoma influenced the artists and United States. These stories and more will their music. These stories will be displayed be found in the Inasmuch Foundation Gal- in an innovative style to encourage visitor lery on the first floor of the History Center. participation and to ensure that the viewer There’s more to see on the third floor in will take away a new perspective on the the Samuel Roberts Noble Gallery. The ex- history of Rock and Roll in Oklahoma. hibits there will feature “Rockabilly Cul- The E. K. and Thelma Gaylord Special ture,” “Rock and Roll Fashion and Hair,” Exhibit Gallery will be home to the “Artists” and “Oklahoma Rock Venues.” Music and portion of the exhibit. It will feature arti- musicians have affected the way people facts from all eras of Oklahoma Rock and dress, dance, and interact with each other. Roll. From the early influences of Bob The “Rockabilly” area illustrates how the Wills’s Western swing, Charlie Christian’s popular music and culture of the 1950s is lead guitar, Woody Guthrie’s social protest making a resurgence today. The fashion music, and Wanda Jackson’s rockabilly to exhibit takes the visitor on a nostalgic jour- thecurrentsoundsofbandssuchasthe ney through the trends of the fifties to to- All-American Rejects, Hanson, and the day. Explore the Civic Center Music Hall, Flaming Lips, the artists who call Oklahoma Above: Leon Russell in concert. the Zoo Amphitheatre, Diversafest, Cain’s Top, right: Mayor Mick Cornett and home have been diverse and accomplished. Ballroom, and many other events, venues, Across the state, musical styles as WayneCoyneoftheFlamingLipsatthe street-naming ceremony in OKC and festivals in the “Oklahoma Rock Ven- different as grunge and funk have made ues” section. their mark on the Oklahoma and national (Courtesy photos). Annual Meeting will feature outstanding speakers Ten program sessions will be held on the first oil well in Indian Territory. Ironi- Professor Kirk Rodden, Jim Goss, David Thursday morning, April 23, and Friday cally, he was seeking salt water for his salt Keathley, Stephen Greetham, Dr. Donald morning, April 24, during the Annual works. Green, Julie Daniels, Dr. Bobby Weaver, Membership Meeting in Bartlesville. A de- Among the speakers will be academic Dr.PaulF.Lambert,andEmilyDroege. tailed program appears on pages 4 and 5 in and unaffiliated historians as well as indi- this issue of Mistletoe Leaves. viduals who have made history. Presenters The theme for the program sessions will will include Frank McPherson, C. J. Silas, be “Oklahoma’s Energy Frontiers: One J. Ford Brett, Dr. Brian Frehner, Dr. See you in Hundred Fifty Years of Petroleum and Nat- Duane King, Douglas Cummings, Melvin Bartlesville on ural Resource Development.” In 1859 Moran,Dr.GlenD.Roberson,Dr.GuyW. Lewis Ross, who was the brother of Chero- Logsdon, Dr Robert L. Wyatt, Walter April 22, 23, 24! kee Chief John Ross, accidentally drilled Eskridge, Whit Edwards, Dr. Alvin Turner, gas, including Ardmore, Elk City, Ponca City, Woodward, Enid, Bartlesville, Seminole, and New Members, February Ada. When you look at jobs created, companies *Indicates renewed membership at a higher level founded, taxes paid, and economic activity Benefactor Director’s stimulated, it is safe to say that Oklahoma’s Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Oklahoma City economic history floats on a sea of oil and gas. Fellow Column It was that economic health that made even the *Rick and Elizabeth Webb, Edmond dream of a new History Center possible. Associate In 1998, when the planning effort for the His- Richard and Norma Small, Tulsa tory Center began, the oil and gas community Wavel and Laura Wells, Lawton was just beginning another chapter of explosive *Zelma Winn, Edmond growth. Not only did this give government lead- Friend By Bob L. Blackburn ers the confidence to fund big dreams, it also Lona A. Barrick, Ada opened the doors to the private funding neces- *Lynda E. Brown-Drabek, Oklahoma City Executive Director Jimmy and Rita Buford, Shawnee sary to reach the goal of Smithsonian quality. Hershel and Sudie Cain, Oklahoma City When people come to the Oklahoma History The challenge of raising $9 million had to Jim and Molly Crawley, Norman Center, they oftentimes want to know how it start with a handful of large donations. In our Ms. Donna Henry, Tulsa Carol Koss, Oklahoma City came to be. case, we set the bar for leadership grants at William M. Majors, Oklahoma City I have an entire speech on that subject, from $500,000. Those who stepped up to the chal- Bill McVey, Chickasha planning and politics to design and funding, lenge were Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, *Gary Nichols, Checotah Robert L. Scott, Oklahoma City but usually, the short version of my response is Kerr-McGee, ONEOK, the Noble Foundation, Leonard and Marilyn Sullivan, Oklahoma City that it was a miracle that was meant to be—the and the Inasmuch Foundation. All but the last Rosalind Triplett, Edmond result of a big dream, great leadership, and a bit were built with fruits of the oil and gas industry. of luck. This month, the Oklahoma Historical Society Family Beyond that history, I have thought more Annual Meeting is being held in Bartlesville, Lyeal and Jean Amos, Bethany latelyabouttheunderlyingreasonswewerein oneofouroilandgascities.Thethemeis“En- Fred and Inez Bailey, Antlers a position to make the dream a reality. In previ- Karl and Jimmie Bergey, Norman ergy in Oklahoma” with many sessions about Punk and Pat Bonner, Oklahoma City ous columns, I mentioned the changes in gov- oil and gas. Lequetta Bowman, Oklahoma City ernance starting in 1981, the emergence of a We are planning a new exhibit in the History Gerald and Penny Brickman, Poteau professional staff, and the generosity of more Earl and Joanne Buckmaster, Oklahoma City Center to draw attention to the oil and gas in- *Doris Bunch, Oklahoma City than 4,000 foundations, companies, and fami- dustry since 1937. In the process, we are build- Dr. Dale Cabbiness, Edmond lies who shared resources and encouragement. ing collections about exploration, production, Don and Patricia Cougler, Tulsa One sector of our community, however, distribution, and technology. All of this will help Edith S. Davis, Oklahoma City Joe and Pat Davis, Oklahoma City played a singular role in making the History us understand the significance of oil and gas in Mary Lou Davis, Oklahoma City Center a reality—the oil and gas industry of our history. Steve and Rachel Davis, Durant Oklahoma. Yes, the Oklahoma History Center was the Debra DuFour, Jenks James Duncan, Oklahoma City First was the foundation that oil and gas laid result of a big dream, great leadership, and a bit Brian and Trudy Evans, Cushing for economic development. It is no accident that of luck. It also was the result of the oil and gas Eugene and Patricia Fabry, Cookson Oklahoma has two cities larger than any one industry that drives our economy and improves Howard and Peggy Ferrell, Tulsa Daniel Fields, Oklahoma City city in either Arkansas or Kansas. It is the im- our quality of life. James and Linda Fields, Norman pact of oil and gas wealth flowing through DanFoliart,LaCrescent,CA Oklahoma City and Tulsa from 1898 to the Melvin Fullbright and Linda Utley, Sand Springs present day. Paul and Carolyn Glad, Norman *Jim Griffith, Stillwater It is no accident that our second tier of cities Donna Hallman, Moore have images that are intertwined with oil and Richard and Jan Hill, Oklahoma City Robert and Pat Hurst, Oklahoma City Joe and Naomi Jones, Crescent Juanda L. Jones, Oklahoma City Dr. and Mrs.

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