Clearing the Fog[horn]
Category: Local... TV & Radio...
Posted Monday, December 05, 2005 at 05:30 PM [GMT-6]

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about a TV program from my childhood -- the Admiral Foghorn Show -- and it struck a chord with a number of local folks who also had fond memories of the show and its characters.

The discussion in the comments of that post raised questions about where the program was produced, although the consensus was that it was a local broadcast.

In one of those wonderful examples of how the net has occasionally made the world into a neighborhood, I just received an email that I believe provides the definitive answer to all the questions, as it comes from the Admiral himself (aka Paul Archinal...whose name I wouldn't have recalled unassisted in a million years, but which absolutely rings true now that I see it again, for the first time in decades):

There seems to be some interest in the Admiral Foghorn Show that was on Channel 7 in Odessa, TX. May I be permitted to set the record straight? I am Admiral Foghorn. It was not a franchise like Romper Room. It was my concept and production. I started in Odessa in 1962 and moved it to Lubbock in 1971. It was syndicated in 5 states for a short time. Rosco was the artist in Odessa and Jimmy Gary (Salty Sam) was the artist in Lubbock. Trixie Dodson was the magician in Lubbock. She was a college student who appeared from time to time.

I'm trying to get some additional information from Paul about his time in west Texas but haven't yet received a response.

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Get some photos if you can. I want to see how well my memory serves me.

Posted by: Natalie at December 5, 2005 06:59 PM

Considering my lack of success in getting some simple questions answered, I'd say there's almost no chance of getting a photo. Apparently, "let me know if you have any questions" is code for "now, get off my lawn!"

Posted by: Eric at December 5, 2005 08:40 PM

Wow this is great to know....I remember the show fondly. I also remember the afternoon horror movie from channel 9 out of Monahans, but can't recall the name to do any searches for him. I don't know if that show was syndicated or not...... I lived in Andrews at the time. Thanks if any one has info about that please email me thru the Captain Spectre site. Thanks

Posted by: tom at December 6, 2005 05:24 PM

I do remember the show, but as I am an older American I was past the stage in life where I watched it much.

I also have fond memories of the "late" show on Friday evenings which was hosted by Stagnasia and showed B-grade horror films. By late I mean 10:30 [this was the early '60's and TV went off the air at midnight]. Stagnasia is still alive and well in Midland and is a close friend......Mary Lou Cassidy bettern known as "the old lady" in the Summer Mummers and a respected attorney at a major local law firm.

Posted by: Wallace-Midland, Texas at December 6, 2005 10:51 PM

Tom, Wallace...you both refer to afternoon and nighttime horror movie shows. I vaguely remember the Friday evening show (and I had no idea that was Mary Lou! Why am I not surprised? ;-), but I don't recall the afternoon show. (Probably because I was always watching cartoons on Admiral Foghorn.)

BTW, Tom, the Captain Spectre site is a nice one...

Posted by: Eric at December 7, 2005 06:36 AM

Thanks Eric about my site, just trying to keep a bit of the past alive.

I also remember 'Weird Theater" on Friday nights, especially during football season when I was a kid...my brother was in the band (Andrews High) and I was required to go to all the games with my parents to watch. Not that I hated football, I like it, I just didn't want to miss "Weird Theater" .... if I remember right they would show an 'Outer Limits' episode then a B grade monster movie. I still love those monster movies. I don't remember what channel Weird Theater was on. And like I said I lived in Andrews, so I know we got 2, and 7 out of Midland-Odessa, and 9 out of Monahans...... I don't seem to remember "Stagnasia' as the host of Weird Theater..... But Wallace if you would ask her, I could fill a gap in my childhood that has been bugging me for years. Thanks.......

Posted by: tom at December 8, 2005 10:26 AM
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