A MOMENT IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY:
Fifty years ago, weekend television viewers in Tulsa were treated to the comedy of two young actors who later became stars of television and the movies. The late-night comedy show after the late news on KOTV and later KTUL was called “The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.” One actor was a blonde with a toothy grin who nearly won an Oscar for his portrayal of Buddy Holly. He is one of only two actors to appear in all 3 of the longest-running prime time series in television history—“Gunsmoke,” “the Simpsons,” and “Law & Order.” The other half of the late-night show was a regular on “Hee Haw” for 20 seasons and appeared in more than 40 movies, including three of the Ernest movies.
GARY BUSEY arrived in Tulsa at age four and attended Bell Junior High School and graduated from Nathan Hale High School. He attended Coffeyville Kansas Community College on a football scholarship until he blew his knee out. He transferred to Oklahoma State University and pursued a theater degree. He dropped out shortly before graduation.
In Tulsa, Busey starred with GAILARD SARTAIN on “The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.” Sartain was Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi in the weekly skits. Busey was a professional drummer and appears on several Leon Russell Recordings. In 1975, Busey was the last person killed in the final episodes of Gunsmoke. He appeared in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,” and “A Star is Born.” As a character actor, he portrayed Buddy Holly “The Buddy Holly Story” (1978), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor. In the 1990s, Busey had prominent supporting roles in “Predator 2, “Point Break,” and “Under Siege.”
GAILARD SARTAIN was born in Tulsa, the son of a Tulsa fire chief. He attended Cascia Hall Prep School and graduated from Will Rogers High School and the University of Tulsa with a degree in Fine Arts. He was a cameraman at KTUL-TV when he and Busey created the off-the-wall program that featured B-movies with skits between movie segments. Sartain dressed as a wizard, wearing a dark blue robe and pointed wizard’s cap. That wackiness caused him to be picked for a regular role on “Hee Haw.” In addition to his 20 years on “Hee Haw,” he was a regular on “Cher” and “Shields and Yarnell.” He appeared as the Big Bopper in “The Buddy Holly Story” with his old late night Tulsa sidekick Busey.
Among his more than 40 movies, Sartain appeared as Sheriff Ray Stuckey in “Mississippi Burning,” “The Outsiders,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “The Big Easy,” and “The Patriot.” Sartain is also a successful illustrator. He created designs for a Leon Russell album and for national magazines.
Both Busey and Sartain are now in their late 70s.
BOB BURKE, Constitutional Lawyer and Author
***photos include Busey and Sartain in the 1970s on Tulsa television, Busey as Buddy Holly, Sartain on Hee Haw, and Sartain as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi.
Fifty years ago, weekend television viewers in Tulsa were treated to the comedy of two young actors who later became stars of television and the movies. The late-night comedy show after the late news on KOTV and later KTUL was called “The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.” One actor was a blonde with a toothy grin who nearly won an Oscar for his portrayal of Buddy Holly. He is one of only two actors to appear in all 3 of the longest-running prime time series in television history—“Gunsmoke,” “the Simpsons,” and “Law & Order.” The other half of the late-night show was a regular on “Hee Haw” for 20 seasons and appeared in more than 40 movies, including three of the Ernest movies.
GARY BUSEY arrived in Tulsa at age four and attended Bell Junior High School and graduated from Nathan Hale High School. He attended Coffeyville Kansas Community College on a football scholarship until he blew his knee out. He transferred to Oklahoma State University and pursued a theater degree. He dropped out shortly before graduation.
In Tulsa, Busey starred with GAILARD SARTAIN on “The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.” Sartain was Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi in the weekly skits. Busey was a professional drummer and appears on several Leon Russell Recordings. In 1975, Busey was the last person killed in the final episodes of Gunsmoke. He appeared in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,” and “A Star is Born.” As a character actor, he portrayed Buddy Holly “The Buddy Holly Story” (1978), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor. In the 1990s, Busey had prominent supporting roles in “Predator 2, “Point Break,” and “Under Siege.”
GAILARD SARTAIN was born in Tulsa, the son of a Tulsa fire chief. He attended Cascia Hall Prep School and graduated from Will Rogers High School and the University of Tulsa with a degree in Fine Arts. He was a cameraman at KTUL-TV when he and Busey created the off-the-wall program that featured B-movies with skits between movie segments. Sartain dressed as a wizard, wearing a dark blue robe and pointed wizard’s cap. That wackiness caused him to be picked for a regular role on “Hee Haw.” In addition to his 20 years on “Hee Haw,” he was a regular on “Cher” and “Shields and Yarnell.” He appeared as the Big Bopper in “The Buddy Holly Story” with his old late night Tulsa sidekick Busey.
Among his more than 40 movies, Sartain appeared as Sheriff Ray Stuckey in “Mississippi Burning,” “The Outsiders,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “The Big Easy,” and “The Patriot.” Sartain is also a successful illustrator. He created designs for a Leon Russell album and for national magazines.
Both Busey and Sartain are now in their late 70s.
BOB BURKE, Constitutional Lawyer and Author
***photos include Busey and Sartain in the 1970s on Tulsa television, Busey as Buddy Holly, Sartain on Hee Haw, and Sartain as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi.
