Tag: Don Woods

Gusty: Building Trust One Kid at a Time

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

Back in the day, local TV news was important, especially the weather forecast, here in Tornado Alley. One Weatherman here in the place where the Great Plains, the Ozark Mountains and the Indian Territory collide developed a great gimmick to get kids to watch the forecast. The gimmick? The chance to hear your name on TV and get a drawing from the weatherman himself! The weatherman was the legendary Don Woods and the gimmick was the equally legendary Gusty, the little drawing he did twice daily for 35 years.

He drew in kids to watch for their chance to win a Gusty drawing, but they also learned a little about the weather. This was Don Woods goal. He also created a bond of trust between his viewer and himself that was only part of his legacy.

Eight’s The Place: Tulsa TV, Promotion and Community

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

Back when I was a kid, there was Channel 8, Tulsa’s KTUL. Channel 8 embraced the concept of local content for working stiffs, housewives, kids, lovers of moster movies…you get the idea.The news anchors and characters on these local shows were out in the small towns in their viewing area, in parades,at county fairs, whereever a crowd might gather. It built a strong between the station and its viewers. 

It was about as interactive as broadcast television could be

The executives in the corner offices have decided to shutter the once lively studios and offices of KTUL, to operate the station remotely from Oklahoma City. A sign of the times, but there are still lessons to learn from the heyday of KTUL.