A Very OK Podcast

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.

Live Episode: The Life and Legacy of Bob Wills

Bob Wills was born in Texas, but he and his Texas Playboys became a national sensation when they began playing live shows on KVOO from the legendary Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. Bob’s unique style of music blended folk, jazz, hillbilly, and blues to produce the sound we know today as Western Swing. His music is still as popular as ever and it is regularly covered by today’s top artists. In this live episode, recorded at Ponyboy in Oklahoma City, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn are joined by Carolyn Wills, Brett Bingham, John Wooley, and Jeff Moore. Special guest Kyle Dillingham performed “Milk Cow Blues” and “Faded Love” for the crowd.  

Votes for Women!

As the suffrage movement played out on the national stage with women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul leading the charge, Oklahomans were also working to see the 19th Amendment passed and ratified. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the political landscape in Oklahoma and Indian Territories that initially rejected suffrage after 1890 along with their guest, Dr. Sunu Kodumthara from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The trio expounds upon the contributions of Oklahoma suffragists such as Aloysius Larch-Miller, Narcissa Owen, and Kate Stafford that ultimately led to adoption of a state constitutional amendment in 1918 and the federal amendment in 1920. They also delve into the antisuffrage work of Alice Robertson, and Kate Barnard’s decision to forgo suffrage work in lieu of her other causes.

Retail Therapy

Since prehistoric times, commerce has been one of the engines that made Oklahoma run. This began with the Indigenous peoples who lived at Spiro Mounds. They had a vast trade network and obtained goods from across the country, a practice that was continued by their descendants. In the 1700s, French traders moved into eastern Oklahoma, opening up trade to St. Louis and New Orleans. As towns began to develop, enterprising merchants provided goods that were in demand such as salt, lumber, banking services, and food. Later, iconic stores such as Anthony’s, OTASCO, and TG&Y met the needs of the consumer. Our guest on this episode is Ed Threatt Sr.—grandson of Allen Threatt Sr., who opened the only known Black-owned business on Route 66, the Threatt Filling Station, in 1915. The station became a haven for Black travelers on the Mother Road. Today, the Threatt family is working to restore the building and educate travelers on the importance of this historic filling station.

Higher and Faster

In this episode, OHS executive director Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn are joined by Oklahoma History Center director Dan Provo to discuss Oklahomans who contributed to the space program in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1961, when President Kennedy challenged Americans to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade, Oklahomans answered the call. Because of people like Gordon Cooper, Owen Garriott, and Bill Pogue, the first lunar landing was successful in 1969. Our special guest on the podcast is Gen. Thomas Stafford. Stafford grew up in Weatherford and was a commander on the Gemini IX and Apollo X flights in addition to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, which is credited for easing tensions between the US and USSR. He also holds the Guinness Book of World Records entry for the highest re-entry speed of any manned space flight, which was achieved during Apollo X.

Cultivating Cultural Tourism in Oklahoma

In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn talk with special guest Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell about the importance of cultural tourism in Oklahoma. After discussing some of their favorite historic places in the state, the crew talks about the evolution of the Oklahoma Historical Society from an entity that solely collects artifacts to one that also oversees the operation of important sites across the state. The lieutenant governor examines the successes Oklahoma has had by playing to its strengths and how the OHS plays a key role in bringing new visitors to the state.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

When the economy cratered with the stock market crash in October 1929, Oklahomans had already been feeling the effects of an economic depression for several years due to falling agriculture and oil prices. The onset of the Dust Bowl in western Oklahoma and the rejection of the New Deal by the state’s political leadership exacerbated the effects of the Great Depression. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn talk about the impact of the Great Depression on Oklahoma. Their guest is Dr. Al Turner, historian and producer of the documentary film Dust to Eat.

Our Good Angel, Kate

Kate Barnard may have shaped the early history of Oklahoma more than any other figure. She convinced the delegates to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention to create the office of commissioner of charities and corrections, a position with the authority to investigate the conditions of prisons, orphanages, hospitals, and other public institutions. She was elected the first commissioner in 1907, one of the first women in the country to hold statewide elected office. She used her power to advocate on behalf of orphans, the poor, people with disabilities, and the incarcerated. Her crusade for justice on behalf of Indigenous orphans, however, proved to be her undoing. Our guest on this episode is Connie Cronley, author of A Life on Fire: Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard.

Pawnee Bill and May Lillie’s Wild West

In the late 19th century, traveling Wild West shows became a popular form of entertainment. One of the largest and most successful Wild West shows was created by Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie and his wife, May, in 1888. It later merged with Buffalo Bill’s show and continued until 1913. In this podcast, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the climate that led to the creation of Wild West shows, the impact that Gordon Lillie made on the genre, and May Lillie’s role as performer, business partner, wife, and mother. They are joined by Ronny Brown, site director at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, and Anna Davis, historical interpreter at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum.