JANUARY-FE LIARY '86 1 -. - BLIZZARDS OF TRIVIA: OUR FIRSTS BESTS L FAVORITES I : CUISINE ART -NORMAN'S SWEET SALUTE TO CHOCOLATE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF TZHE STATE OF :.--a --~. OKIAHOMA TODM 4. xr*% January-February '86 George Nigh, Governor Vol. 36, No. 1 "%, .."J..T - -.wn COVERS 1 l6 1 31 Set Sail tor the Firsts, Bert. 8 Favorites Tulsa Boat Show The biggest, the best, the first, the Water sportsmen driven off the lakes last, the richest, the oldest, the wildest, by winter can start the '86 season early- the weirdest.. ..A celebration of Sooner indoors-at the Tulsa Boat, Sport and superlatives. Travel Show. 46 Oklahoma Portfolio Visions of winter by a gallery of Backstage at the Ballet Oklahoma photographers. Famed dancer Edward Villella is determined to keep Ballet Oklahoma on its toes. A classic Oklahoma scene, transformed by snow. Photo by Larry D. Bmwn. Inside Chocolate: The MagnHicent hnt. American bison, near Confection Canton Reservoir. Photo by Just in time for Valentine's Day, Sylvia J. and Lloyd R. Brockus there's a love feast just made for 111. Back. Turner Falls chocomaniacs, courtesy of Norman's winter. Photo by J. R Toland. Firehouse Art Center. Here We Rest Fmm the new book by Kent Ruth and Jim Ago: a look at the fascinating stories Sooner tombstones tell. FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Today in Oklahoma .................................... 4 BooksRetters.............................................. 6 Bodedine cases Uncommon Common Folk ......................... 8 Why the Panhandle came to be and Oklahoma Omnibus ...................................15 other true tales of how Oklahoma -got to ..... Destinations: Oilcrease .............................52 7. --- be in the shape it's in. ......., , 1 Enteltalnment Calendar.............................58 with free-lance writers and photogra- phers. The photographer must be given an assignment a year in advance so that photos are available to illustrate stories on special events and places in the prop- er season. For example, photos of Nor- man's Chocolate Festival had to be taken last February for this issue. Through the years, most of the state's top photographers have contributed to Ok/ahorna TODW. The magazine you hold in your hands took nearly two No writers or photographers work full years to produce, fmfirst planning session to final time for OkIahoma TODW. This means Kate spends much of her time conferring press run. In honor of Oklahoma TODAY'S 30tlr with free-lance writers about who should biflhday, we'd like to skesome of the history of the be interviewed for their assignments and Sooner State's officiaZ magazine. This issue begins the 30th year of pages with five to 10 color photos. That publication for Ok/ahoma TODAY maga- seems slim compared with the 52 pages zine. To celebrate this anniversary, we and 30 color photos in an average issue are including a special section on Firsts, now. Editor John McWilliams published Bests and Favorites in Oklahoma, which stories in that first issue on industrial you, our readers, helped select. growth, the Halliburton oil-well cement- Ok/ahoma TODAY has grown and ing plant in Duncan, the National Cow- changed since 1955, when State Rep. boy Hall of Fame, the Frontiers of George Nigh first introduced legislation Science Foundation, the premier show- creating the state's official magazine. ing of the movie "Oklahoma!", work on The staff of Ok/ahoma TODAY continues state highways, the new Roman Nose to inform and entertain its readers with a Lodge, fishing and the University of great deal of pride in the progress and Oklahoma football team. the beauty of our young state and its Undoubtedly editor McWilliams had the types of information to include. Top- people. And that same George Nigh, to rush to get that first issue published ics may vary from art exhibits to rodeo, now completing his second term as gov- by January. You might be surprised to from chicken fried steaks to migratory ernor, has spent a political lifetime pro- learn just how much planning and care- birds. Most will suggest something fun moting travel and the economic ful attention to detail are involved with to do or an interesting place to visit. development of Oklahoma. publishing Ok/ahoma TODAY. Unlike Other stories describe some unusual bit Those first issues in 1956 had only 20 other businesses that manufacture the of history or nature that makes our state Jan.-Feb. 1957 same product over and over, each issue special. Long hours are spent interview- of a magazine must be created and de- ing persons in the area, researching in signed individually, with no two alike. the library, writing, rewriting, editing The initial planning for this issue be- and weaving in all sorts of facts to inform gan about 15 months ago. Throughout and entertain. the year, managing editor Kate Jones When the photographer sends in and editor Sue Carter meet weekly to transparencies or black-and-white pho- consider story ideas they've collected tos, the real challenge begins. Art direc- and to discuss editorial content. They tor Pat Shaner may sift through 200 color aim for editorial as well as geographical slides to find the perfect five or six pho- balance, hoping that each reader, no tos to illustrate a story. Occasionally, matter what his interests, will find sever- things go wrong-the lighting is poor, al stories to enjoy. too many phone wires are in the fore- After the schedule of stories is set, ground, facial expressions are poor-and Kate contacts and makes assignments the photos have to be reshot. 4 Oklahoma TODAY After the manuscripts are edited, they including a color proof, to be checked by trimmed in the bindery. Subscriber la- are sent to the printer in Tulsa for type- the editors. Columns of type must be bels are applied in the printer's mail- setting. Layout sheets are designed for straight, photos and captions must room, and the magazines trucked to the each story allowing space for titles, pho- match, and colors must be exact. Noth- post office. Other copies are boxed for tos and captions and noting where spots ing must be left out or overlooked. delivery to newsstands across the state. of color go. Finally, more than a year after the Soon the 35,000 copies printed for this Pat then determines how much each issue was first planned, it is ready for anniversary issue will be passed among photo slide should be enlarged. The printing. Okidoma TODAY is printed on our 160,000 readers scattered across the slides are sent to an engraver where each a large web press, similar to the kind that Spring 1973 is carefully "read" by a complex piece of prints newspapers. High-quality paper equipment called a laser scanner. The from a large roll winds through several outcome is four pieces of film in the printing rollers. Eight pages on each side correct size. Each negative will print one of the paper, called a signature, are print- of the four colors of ink used in print- ed at the same time. Although the press ing-black, red, yellow or blue. From will run much faster, 24,000 signatures these negatives, a color proof, called a are printed per hour to achieve maxi- Cromalin, is made, which Pat critiques. mum quality. Three press runs are re- A few will need to be corrected for a quired for the 48 inside pages. Another better color match. four-page signature for the Okkzhoma TO- Meanwhile, galleys of typeset manu- DAY cover is printed on a smaller press. scripts are being corrected, proofread While the presses are running and and shortened to fit the assigned space. spewing out thousands of copies, Pat The columns are pasted onto heavier works with the PennWell pressmen, ad- sheets of paper called boards, following justing the ink to make sure the color the original layout sheets. Story titles, and registration of the photos are exactly 50 states and the 45 foreign countries. photo captions and blurbs are added. right. Every effort is made by PennWell Some have been subscribing since 1956; A final check is made before sending technicians throughout the printing pro- others will see their first copy of Okkzho- the boards to PennWell Printing Co., the cess to make sure the highest standards ma TODAY in a doctor's waiting room or OkMoma TODAY printer, in Tulsa. The of quality required by the Ok/doma TO- a hotel gift shop. printers make a negative from the DAY staff are met. Some of you helped choose Oklaho- boards, then strip in the photos and each Once the signatures are printed and ma's Firsts, Bests and Favorites for the color area. Two more proofs are made, collated, the pages are cut, stapled and story that begins on page 32. If we've 5 overlooked your favorite item, let us know. Perhaps we can include it some li other time. H Most of all, we hope that after all the careful preparation and effort to bring you one of the nation's top magazines- we can say this after winning two major national awards for overall editorial ex- cellence in 1985-you'll continue to en- joy Okidoma TODAY for the next 30 years. -Sue Carter Next issue: Spend an afternoon at the movies and learn about the first films made in the Sooner State, the heyday of the movie palaces, the roster of Hollywood stars who shone here first-and what the state is doing to lure high-dollar producrions across the border. Then travel to Muskogee for the Azalea Festival-and to the Skyline Bdore Ok/ahoma TODAY goes on press, PennWe/l employees ~i/lD~W; and ~ub~oyd check color Drive with photogmpher David Fiuger- and regitmtion.