Bill Howard, Oklahoma City TV personality best known for Pokey the Puppet, dies | BAM's Blog (http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/2013/01/09/bill-howard-oklahoma-city-tv-personality-best-known-for-pokey-the-puppet-dies/)

Lots of good childhood memories with Ho-Ho and Pokey..
Rest in peace............

I saw that on the news last night. Never saw his shows but RIP.

Grew up with Ho Ho, Pokey and Jeanie the wonder dog. Truly a kinder, gentler time. They were good people, and most of the jokes probably went over our heads. RIP Bill!!

Bill Howard was a longtime family friend, and absolutely one of the funniest guys I've ever met.

Without a doubt, he was the funniest guy I have ever known. And, he was just a good guy. He was a local star in the golden age of local television. I feel lucky to have grown up during the era of great local programming. Now everything is national. Sadly, the days of local shows is over. In the 60s there were hours and hours per week of local programming. Now, pretty much just the news reports. Thoughts and prayers to his wife Louise, daughter Lisa, and son Chris. Rest in Peace Pokey. You will be missed.

The banter between Ho Ho and Pokey (Bill Howard) was great, over us kids' heads, for sure. Years later I came to appreciate what Ho Ho meant when he said they'd have to go to another "production meeting." They don't just happen at TV stations, you know; they just have other labels in other venues.

Before I was born my mom worked at the old Kerr's department store downtown. I heard more than once that Bill Howard was in camera school at the time (c. 1956) and pretty much kept the rest of the employees in stitches. I after I was born Mom took me to the store to show me off. Story is Bill Howard made me laugh. Imagine that. ...We've lost another good one.

My husband loved Pokey - he was just remembering the time they apparently got a new Pokey puppet that was quite a few shades darker than the original. He said Pokey appeared on screen and Ho Ho (and husband) just stared at him in disbelief. Finally, Ho Ho made a comment that, apparently, Pokey had gotten a tan.

Another show involved, for some reason, a greasy fry pan sitting out. Pokey picked it up (with his mouth, of course) and when he lifted it, the grease slid over his head.

Husband still insists that Jeanie the Wonder dog died on screen and that he remembers that show but I'm thinking that was during the days of his drug experimentation...

RIP, Mr. Howard!

Bill's memorial service is 10:00 tomorrow morning at Mayfair Church of Christ.


Husband still insists that Jeanie the Wonder dog died on screen and that he remembers that show but I'm thinking that was during the days of his drug experimentation...

Husband is still just as mistaken as he was several years ago.

Nice service this morning. A lot of KOCO and OETA people in attendance.

http://i.imgur.com/UV1cBfU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Cp2LVjj.jpg

Anyway, about Jeanie "dying live on air." This was taken from an interview Bill Howard gave the Bethany newspaper sometime around the late '80's or early '90's:

http://i.imgur.com/nZDITGg.jpg

The lights on the set were hot and would make her fall asleep during the show. Maybe that's where everyone got the idea that she died on air.

Hope this can maybe put it to rest for Husband.

Nice service this morning. A lot of KOCO and OETA people in attendance.

http://i.imgur.com/UV1cBfU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Cp2LVjj.jpg

Anyway, about Jeanie "dying live on air." This was taken from an interview Bill Howard gave the Bethany newspaper sometime around the late '80's or early '90's:

http://i.imgur.com/nZDITGg.jpg

The lights on the set were hot and would make her fall asleep during the show. Maybe that's where everyone got the idea that she died on air.

Hope this can maybe put it to rest for Husband.
hahaha - thanks for the photos and the story.

Husband was telling me about the show where "Jeanie" died and he says that they never actually said that she'd died. What happened in the show was that HoHo had seemed to have lost control to Pokey (who apparently had control of the camera). They camera showed the dog, then shifted to Pokey STARING at Jeanie. As HoHo tried to continue the show, the camera kept coming back to Pokey staring at the dog (who apparently was sleeping but looked dead). Husband says after that happened, rumors went around that Jeanie had died.