A Very OK Podcast

Jazz in Oklahoma

The confluence of cultures in Oklahoma, from Blacks who arrived as enslaved persons from the southeastern United States to European immigrants, created the ideal environment for the musical form known as jazz to take root. Jazz performers such as Charlie Christian, the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, and the Ernie Fields Orchestra made their mark on the genre starting out in small clubs located in Tulsa’s Greenwood and Oklahoma City’s Deep Deuce districts and later traveling to New York, Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss Oklahoma’s early jazz scene and interview Carmen Fields, author of Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band. Ms. Fields discusses her father’s legacy, the musicians in the orchestra, his hits, and her brother, Ernie Fields Jr.

The 1965 Oklahoma Supreme Court Scandal

In 1964, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice N.S. Corn was convicted on federal income tax evasion charges. While incarcerated, he provided testimony implicating himself, Justice Earl Welch, and Justice N.B. Johnson in a scheme to accept bribes in exchange for affecting the decision in cases before the court. The resulting scandal cast a shadow over the court and resulted in an impeachment trial in the state legislature. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn explore the scandal and the environment that led to it. Their guest is Jari Askins, administrative director of the Courts and Lieutenant Governor from 2007 to 2011.

Two Worldviews in Conflict

The Cherokee Nation lived in their ancestral homelands in the eastern United States for centuries before the first arrival of Europeans on American soil in the 1500s. As settlers arrived in larger numbers, the Cherokees were forced to cede or sell their lands, first to the British government and then to the United States through successive treaties. This ultimately led to the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation to Indian Territory in the 1830s. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the events and significant court cases that paved the way for Cherokee removal west of the Mississippi River. Their guests are Jack Baker, Cherokee historian and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and Lindsay Robertson, professor emeritus of Native American Law at the University of Oklahoma. 

A Conversation Between Governors

To commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie, the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a fireside chat between former governors Brad Henry (2003–2011) and George Nigh (1979–1987) at the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple in October 2023. In a conversation moderated by Trait Thompson and Michael Williams, registrar and collections specialist at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum, the governors delved into a wide array of topics, including their views on public service, their accomplishments while in office, and bipartisanship. Both governors are great storytellers and the listener will gain critical insight into each man’s time at the helm of Oklahoma’s government.

Labor Omnia Vincit

Oklahoma’s motto, Labor Omnia Vincit, means “work conquers all things.” Today, many people see it as a nod to the hardworking nature of our state’s citizens. In reality, it’s a tribute to organized labor, which was a significant political force in the formation of Oklahoma’s constitution and early laws. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the business and agricultural climate in the United States that led to the labor movement in Oklahoma starting in the 1880s. They also cover Oklahoma’s early political leaders such as Peter Hanraty, Charles Haskell, and Kate Barnard, who rose to power thanks to the support of labor organizations. Their guest is Bob Burke, an Oklahoma City attorney and historian who has written more historical non-fiction books than anyone else in history.

Making History on the Gridiron

The 1956 Frederick Bombers were the first integrated high school football team to win a state championship in the United States. Coached by Dean Wild, a previous state champion at Watonga, the team of 12 Black players and 27 white players went 14-0 that year and beat Okmulgee Dunbar 33-0 in the Oklahoma Class B state championship game. Coach Wild’s decision to integrate the team two years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision was not popular with some local leaders, but the players developed a special bond that has spanned the decades since that magical season. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn speak to Danny Griffin, a running back on the team who was selected to the All-Area Southern Oklahoma team. Danny recounts his memories of growing up in Frederick and tells stories about his talented teammates.

A Little Freedom is a Dangerous Thing

When Clara Luper and her students went to New York City in 1957 to perform her play, Brother President, they experienced integration for the first time. The trip opened their eyes to a new way of living and became the impetus to try to bring freedom to segregated Oklahoma. As the NAACP Youth Council leader and a well-respected teacher, Clara Luper brought 13 students to the lunch counter at Katz Drug Store on August 19, 1958, and waited to be served. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss Oklahoma’s history of segregation and the fortitude it took to bring change. Their guest is Marilyn Luper Hildreth, daughter of Clara Luper and longtime Civil Rights activist whose idea for the Katz Drug Store sit-in sparked a nationwide movement. 

They Call the Thing Rodeo

 Rodeo in Oklahoma evolved from competitions between cowboys at ranches in the Oklahoma Panhandle in the 1880s to the professional sport of the modern era. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn explore the origin of rodeo in Oklahoma, the formation of the PRCA, and the impact the National Finals Rodeo made on Oklahoma City. Their guest is former president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Historical Society board member Randy Beutler. He discusses the formation of the Beutler Brothers stock contractors in 1929 and how they became the largest stock contractor in the country. Randy also talks about some of the famous rodeo broncs and bulls in Beutler Brothers history, along with the reputation of Beutler stock being “a cowboy’s worst nightmare.”

1883: Fact vs. Fiction

Taylor Sheridan’s 1883, a gritty western prequel to his wildly successful Yellowstone series, captured the nation’s attention with its realistic portrayal of an emigrant journey across the US to Oregon. But, how real was it? In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn are joined by Kathy Dickson, director of museums and sites for the Oklahoma Historical Society, and Dr. Jason Harris, director of the Chisholm Trail Museum (now The Chisholm) in Kingfisher, to discuss what the show got right from a historical perspective and where it veered off the trail. Of particular interest were the scenes that took place in Indian Territory after the band of travelers crossed the Red River. Be warned! There are spoilers in this episode.

The People’s House

The Oklahoma State Capitol is the temple of our democracy in Oklahoma, the place where people come to have their voice heard. Today, it’s hard to imagine the landscape without the grand edifice. Back in 1910, the cities of Guthrie and Oklahoma City jockeyed back and forth for the rights to the capital city delaying completion of Oklahoma government’s permanent home until 1917. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the history of the capitol and its resilience over the decades. Their guests are Bob Ross with the Inasmuch Foundation and film director Bryan Beasley. They discuss the new documentary film on the capitol that will be completed in May 2023.