TOMMY TOMLINSON - played with
many bands on the Hayride.  He Is
most remembered as Johnny
Horton's guitar man.  Photo courtesy
of Tommy "T" Tomlinson.
ABOVE - BOB WILLS & THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS.
W.T.EASON & DANNY WILDER ENTERTAIN!
Then president of local AFM, Cass Acosta
is seen right over the head of Danny!
© 2008 - Don Logan
From the desk of Don Logan - February 2010
The first decade of the 21st century is behind us now.  In those
10 years we lost many, including these notables:  Marlon
Brando, Katherine Hepburn, Charlton Heston, Paul Newman,
William Buckley, Paul Harvey, Walter Kronkite, Peter Jennings,  
Johnny Carson, Julia Child, Les Paul, Carroll O’Connor, Bob
Hope, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Mary
Travers, Ray Charles, Pope John Paul II, Wayland Jennings,
Lady Bird Johnson, Ted Kennedy, Gerald Ford and a long list
of others.

Remember!  On our 1DANDY1 page for the Dandy Store you
can order via credit card many hard-to-find dvd’s and cd’s.  My
new CD will be out soon.  It is called Song About Dry Prong
and features a gospel song by Sonny Harville.  Sonny was a
member of the Louisiana Hayride band and played on the
road with many of the Hayride stars.

Who left the building last month-  Carl Smith,  one of the
most successful country singers produced by the Grand Ole
Opry in the 1950s died at 82.  At a time when the Opry was
taking most of the stars developed by the local Louisiana
Hayride,  Smith was a product of their own stage and had 30
Top 10 hits and over 40 charted singles in his career.  His first
wife was June Carter, who married Johnny Cash later and his
second wife was Goldie Hill, a singer from the Louisiana
Hayride. Carl did movies, was on many TV programs and
hosted his own TV Show which was shown mostly in Canada
where he had many fans.   He was inducted into the Country
Music Hall of Fame in 2003. One of his songs “Hey Joe’ was
redone by Moe Bandy and Louisiana native Joe Stampley and
was a hit for the 2nd time with that duo.  Carl Smith  is survived
by two sons and two daughters including  singer Carlene
Carter.     He retired from music after doing the successful
Phillip Morris road tour show to became a gentleman horse
breeder and cowboy.  Jean Simmons, the actress who had
starring roles in Spartacus, Hamlet, The Robe, Guys and Dolls,
and the TV miniseries The Thorn Birds took her last bow.  
James Mitchell, a stage and screen actor spoke his final line.  
He was a long-time star of the All My Children TV soap opera.  
Robert Charles Guidry, professionally known as Bobby
Charles has written his last rhyme.  The swamp pop songwriter
died in his native Louisiana.  In his younger days he was signed
to Chess Records and was associated with Stan Lewis.  His
recording of Later Alligator was covered by Bill Haley and the
Comets as See You Later Alligator and Fats Domino took his
Walking To New Orleans to national hit status.  When Stan
Lewis formed his first record label Jewel, Bobby was the first
artist signed to that label.

What you typed to get to this site last month .."boggy creek
movie” “majestic theater tx"  "john howe" "casper wy” “hank
locklin" "riding my harley to heaven" "1dandy1" “jerry kennedy
fair park" "robert cassell"  “shreveport mayor” “earl hearon"
From the desk of Don Logan - January 2010
Congratulations to John Howe, the new president of the local
musicians union.  He is an excellent musician and savvy
businessman.  While in town to celebrate the National Historical
Landmark dedication of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium,
Bob Sullivan   visited with the Sleepy Brown group.  Sullivan
was a radio engineer who went on to his own recording studio
and recording many famous entertainers and groups after
proving himself in the KWKH studios with many of the 50s hits.

A  special event was held at the Shreveport Municipal
Auditorium  on Monday, December 21, 2009.  The building
was designated to the national historical landmark registry.  
That fact guarantees that the beautiful old building will stand for
many years to come.

My new CD release SONG ABOUT DRY PRONG will be
released in February 2010.  Sonny Harville will be featured on
one of the songs.  Sonny was a member of the Louisiana
Hayride band and played on the road with many of the Hayride
stars.

A couple of films I worked in last year as an extra are out on
DVD. The YEAR ONE with Jack Black and  Beyond A
Reasonable Doubt.    Here’s the link: http://www.
beyondareasonabledoubtmovie.com/
It is a re-make of a 1956 film and stars Michael Douglas!

WHO LEFT THE BUILDING? -
The long-running soap  As The World Turns will leave the air
in mid-year!  Brittany Murphy who starred in 8 Mile, Clueless,
Sin City and other films died suddenly.  Big Bill Lister, a
former entertainer on the Louisiana Hayride died in Texas.  
Jennifer Jones who starred in Love Is A Many Splendored
Thing. Gene Barry of TV’s Bat Masterson and Burke’s Law.  
Arnold Stang the actor who voiced the Top Cat top cartoon
character. Vic Chestnut, paralyzed songwriter. George
Michael sportscaster.  Rose Tattoo founder Mick Cocks.  
Connie Hines an actress/singer.  Eric Woolfson of the Alan
Parsons Project.

WHAT YOU TYPED TO GET HERE LAST MONTH!
“harley to heaven“ “Vicente zumel“ "bill bush combo new years
eve" “WFIL transcription
lightnin" "joe stampley" "papa dj" “Leflore county” “applewhite”  
“vito sansones”"boggy creek movie” “majestic theater tx"  "don
logan dances”  "district attorney brian joffrion"  
From the desk of Don Logan - December 2009 -
My new CD release SONG ABOUT DRY PRONG will be
released in February 2010.  Sonny Harville will be featured on
one of the songs.    Sonny was a member of the Louisiana
Hayride band and played on the road with many of the Hayride
stars.
I’m a little late posting this months from the  desk of, as I was
waiting for a special event that was held at the Shreveport
Municipal Auditorium  on Monday, December 21, 2009.  The
beautiful old building has been designated as an historical
landmark.  Mayor Cedric Glover, Arlena Acree of the
Shreveport Film Department, Sonny Trammel, Frank Page,
Felton Pruitt, James Burton, Sonny Harville, Maggie Lewis
Warwick, Norm Bale, Bob Sullivan and others associated with
the Louisiana Hayride and KWKH were there, along with media
people Ed Walsh, Mary Ann Van Osdell, Gwen Campbell,
Johnny Wessler, Tom Pace, B.B. Davis and Eddie Giles plus an
enthusiastic crowd of dignitaries gathered to mark this
occasion.  At the heyday of the Saturday Night radio show with
live entertainment, Dallas, Texas promoted their own Big D
Jamboree, however the building that housed that show was
torn down a long time ago.  The historical distinction for our
building will ensure that it will stand for a long, time to come.  
The dean of North Louisiana Radio, Frank Page, received a
special award and the crowd was taken back to a night in 1954
via digital disc, when Frank introduced a very nervous young
singer named Elvis for the first time on the stage of the
auditorium.
A couple of films I worked in last year as an extra are out on
DVD. The YEAR ONE with Jack Black and  Beyond A
Reasonable Doubt.    Here’s the link: http://www.
beyondareasonabledoubtmovie.com/
It is a re-make of a 1956 film and stars Michael Douglas!
I got many Christmas cards from many of you including Harold
Wright, the original founder of Wright’s Sound Gallery.  Harold,
a citizen of distinction in these parts is 102 and enjoying life.  
The first live TV spot I ever did in this market, when I first came
to town, was for his previous business.

WHO LEFT THE BUILDING? -
A death of sorts .. As The World Turns will leave the air in mid-
year, 2010.  People’s entertainment values do change.  
Brittany Murphy who starred in 8 Mile, Clueless and other
films died suddenly.  Big Bill Lister, a former entertainer on
the Louisiana Hayride died in Texas.  Frank Page said he could
almost look eye to eye with Big Bill, but Bob Sullivan was taller
than both of them.

WHAT YOU TYPED TO GET HERE LAST MONTH!
“harley to heaven“ “Vicente zumel“ "bill bush combo new years
eve" “WFIL transcription" "lightnin" "joe stampley" "papa dj" .

Don Logan
don@dandydonlogan.com

FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN - NOVEMBER 2009
The YEAR ONE movie is out on DVD.  I was an extra in several
scenes but virtually unseen on the screen of this costumed
comedy.  Jack BLACK is a very good actor who was able to
turn his character into a believable being in the starring role!

BOB GRIFFIN who came to this market from the same area as
I, continues his lengthy realm of longest visual TV personality.  
Bob had his own kids show for years, then became an icon in the
sports media, and continually has done some of the best travel
programs and special interest programs ever for local media.  He
is now seen in the morning news slot at KTBS(ABC).  Kudos to
KTBS for having  their local pictures and feed shown nationally
on ABC news concerning the end of the month weather we had in
this area.

WHO LEFT THE BUILDING?  Shelby Singleton who was
born near here and worked the area as a promoter, record
producer,  and record executive  was 77.  He was active in both
Country and R&B music. He is remembered most  for Jeannie
C. Riley's hit single Harper Valley P.T.A.  The tune won a
Grammy and a CMA Award.  Before leaving this area he
recorded  Ray Stevens  doing Ahab the Arab, Leroy Van Dyke
doing  Walk on By and Joe Dowell performing  Wooden Heart.  
They were all number one country   hits.  When Shelby   left this
area he took Jerry Kennedy with him and together they forged a
remarkable string of hits for  Mercury.  When he lured Roger
Miller from RCA to be an artist on the new Smash label, Dang
Me became a smash up tempo humorous song hit in 1967. Jerry
Kennedy inherited  Singleton’s chair at Smash-Mercury as
Shelby branched out on his own.  In 1969, Singleton bought the
Sun record label from Sam Phillips and formed Sun
International.   The New York Times gave a share of the credit
for Shelby‘s success to guitarist-arranger-producer-record
executive Jerry Kennedy, who is from this area also.

Al Martino, the Italian singer of pop songs.  He was also in
films starring  in the movie THE GODFATHER with Marlon
Brando.  He played the part of a singer that some people said
was Frank Sinatra, but the name used in the movie was Johnny
Fontana.  He was 82 and one of his best remembered hits was
called Spanish Eyes

In the early days of TV, a radio man named Soupy Sales
decided to give television a try.  His kids show of the 60s was a
Pie In The Eye sensation and is remembered by many.  He was
born Milton Supman in North Carolina and was also an actor and
comedian who hosted both radio and TV programs.  Others were
songwriter Vic Mizzy and Dandy Don Lane, an American who
went down under to Australia where he became a top-rated TV
host.

What you typed to get to this site!"cowtown hoedown at the
majestic theater in ft worth tx"  "shreveport la restaurant
sansone" “charles sentell” “hall of fame” “radio flag pole sitter”  

A film I worked on last year is out.   Here’s the link: http://www.
beyondareasonabledoubtmovie.com/
It is a re-make of a 1956 film and stars Michael Douglas!

Don Logan
don@dandydonlogan.com

From the desk of Don Logan October 2009 -
A film I worked on last year is coming.  Here’s the link:
http://www.beyondareasonabledoubtmovie.com/
It is a re-make of a 1956 film that starred Dana Andrews.  High
profile lawyer, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an
impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in
for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious
rookie journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins
investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his
convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for
scrutiny as C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the
corrupt D.A. in the act.

Romantically involved with C.J. but unaware of his assignment,
assistant D.A. Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn) becomes caught
between her boss’s political ambitions and C.J.’s dangerous
exposé.  As mounting evidence stacks up against both men, Ella’s
own life becomes threatened when she discovers incriminating
proof that puts the fate of both Nicholas’s innocence and Hunter’
s reputation in her hands. This gripping courtroom thriller is
written and directed by acclaimed director, Peter Hyams
(Running Scared, End of Days) and also stars Orlando Jones
and Joel David Moore.  

WHAT YOU TYPED TO GET TO THIS SITE  RECENTLY --"terri
glorioso brando of Shreveport”  “diamond jacks Shreveport”
“Shreveport homicides 2002”  "curley herndon"  “boomtown” “la hall
of fame”  “hayride”  ‘horace announcer”  “flag pole promotion”  
“sleepy brown jimmie davis“ “kevin gauteaux la tv“ “arkansas
cotton pickers” “hank williams new years day 1953 poster”
"progressive men's club shreveport"  "boggy creek movie to be filmed
in longview texas"  "new orleans artist that does courtroom scene" "a
train band shreveport louisiana" - Logan mansion -

Stan Lewis of Shreveport, Louisiana was the 2009  inductee  into the
Louisiana Hall of Fame!  You can read all about Stan The Record Man
at the following link:   
http://louisianamusichalloffame.org/content/view/108/127/

WHO LEFT THE BUILDING?  Mary Travers, 72, of Peter, Paul
and Mary fame.  You’ll remember their songs of the Viet Nam era
called Blowing In The Wind, Puff The Magic Dragon and Leaving On
A Jet Plane, among others.  The members of the trio were Mary,  
Peter Yarrow and  Noel Paul Stookey.  Their harmony was
supreme!  
Celebrated actor Patrick Swayze, 55.  He was the star of Dirty
Dancing and Ghost with Dimi Moore, which is one of the best love
stories ever.  Swayze starred in a host of  box-office favorites.  He was
a great personality, dancer and actor.  The husky-voiced jazz singer,
Chris Connor, 81, who performed with Claude Thornhill’s
Snowflakes and the Stan Kenton Orchestra among others. She
branched out as a single and recorded for a multitude of labels and
was very popular in Japan.  She, like Sinatra, Christy and others
knew how to take a standard and swing it!

Multi-award songwriter Ellie Greenwich of the famed New York
Brill Building scene of the 60s is gone at 68.  You'll remember hits
such as  Be My Baby, Chapel of Love and Tell Laura I Love Her.  The
daughter of former Louisiana Hayride stars Kitty Wells and Johnny
Wright, Ruby Wright, who was also a singer with many recordings
to her credit was 69!  Ruby  recently appeared at Kitty’s 90th
birthday celebration in Nashville at the Ernest Tubb theater.

And there was another death of sorts last month.  The daytime
drama that began on radio the year I was born, GUIDING LIGHT, is
gone from CBS TV.  My grandmother listened to it on battery-
operated radio.  My mother watched it on TV, as did my late wife and
my two daughters!  

FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN - SEPTEMBER 2009
Les Paul, the innovator of the modern electric guitar left the
building.  He and  Mary Ford had many chart numbers in the 40s
and 50s and he was also famous with the Les Paul Trio.  He also had
many recordings on his own and he came up playing in many of the
bands of his day. Many give him credit for being a recording genius
who showed the industry how to do multi-tracking.  He once sold his
studio and when the company who bought it put it all back together
in a new location, they discovered it did not have the same sound.  
Upon investigation, they found that the mountain behind Paul’s
home where the studio was originally located, was the culprit.  As to
the guitar that bears his name,  if you have ever played a Les Paul
guitar, you know what a keen instrument it is.  Les Paul was still
active in his profession.

It’s amazing that media and fans still browse for information on  Jeff
and Melinda, perhaps the most successful radio duo ever in this
market.  Jeff died at an early age and Melinda, after a successful
radio career  on her own, is now seen and heard on various
commercials on TV and radio.  On local TV , with Carl Pendley gone
to the energy game, the longest running anchor is Sherri Talley
and on local radio with the retirement of Frank Page, the longest
running acts are Louise Alley and Larry Ryan and Company.
Frank was recently presented with a wall of fame at Crescent
Landing according to steel man Sonny Trammel who helped
provide entertainment for the occasion.

WHAT YOU TYPED TO GET TO THIS SITE  RECENTLY --Jeff
and Melinda - Mac Sanders - Logan mansion - Buddy Blake - Reeder
radio -McLendon flag pole sitter - Phil Specter - Horace Logan - Miss
Teen Shreveport -  Gene Wyatt - Don Davis!  

Stan Lewis of Shreveport, Louisiana was the 2009  inductee  into the
Louisiana Hall of Fame!  He was the namesake of Stan’s Record
Shop, the record shop known around the world.  He founded Paula,
Jewel, Ronn and a host of other significant recording labels.  He also
owned Stan’s Record Service, a nation-wide distributor of top
independent recorded product.  In addition to that he is a songwriter,
producer and musician who used his contacts to help local and area
artists get on recording labels with national distribution.  Recent
pictures of the Hall of Fame event and his life story can be found at
the following link!   
http://louisianamusichalloffame.org/content/view/108/127/

From the desk of Don Logan - Aug. 2009
WHO left the building last month!  American actor Karl Malden,  
son of immigrant parents, had a  career that spanned seven plus
decades.  He was  featured in classic Marlon Brando films such as A
Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront and One-Eyed Jacks.  There
were many  other notable film roles such as Archie Lee Meighan in
Baby Doll, Zebulon Prescott in How the West Was Won and
General Omar Bradley in Patton.  To most Americans his best-
known role was on television as Lt. Mike Stone in the 70s The Streets
of San Francisco. During the 80s he was spokesperson in print and TV
for American Express, reminding us; "Don't leave home without
it".  I had the fond privilege of doing several one on one interviews
with him during the 60s when a movie he was in, The Cincinnati
Kid, premiered in New Orleans, Louisiana.  He was a true gentleman
and a great actor!

TV anchorman Walter Cronkite, the voice of authority was stilled
forever last month.  He was the newsman  who broke into the middle
of a soap-opera to tell a nation  that JFK was dead, assassinated in
Dallas, Texas. There will never be another Cronkite because he was
there before cable, when you only had the three networks competing
for news and  he also came from a time when the newsman believed
what he was reporting and the  microphone was fair and non-biased!

WHAT YOU TYPED TO GET TO THIS SITE  RECENTLY --
"a lifetime at kwkh" "harmie smith"  “miss kwkh” “ace lewis” “paula
records” "nelson king wcky" "kcoz radio" "last dot fm" “newbeats“
"hearing officer lesa mcgaha" “paula 282” "hank locklin pictures”
"atlantic 89457"  " jackie gleason"  "guitar duo comedy ed sullivan"
“radio man reeder” “ann margret “ "mousekedances lp" “old radio
station in logan mansion” “former dj parr” "ktbs former newsman
carl pendley"   "randy travis nashville palace collectible value" "bio
loveable larry ryan shreveport" "sherb sentell" “cosy saucier” “burton
world record” “captain of shreveport rose” “first record on paula”
“eric brock” “frank page” “

BIG DEAL at HIRSCH this month!  The location for the James Burton
world record attempt  for total number of guitar players playing the
same song at the same time in the same location is  scheduled for
HIRSCH Coliseum!  Contact the Burton  web-site for up-to-the-minute
details  Got a guitar?  Be there!!!  http://www.james-burton.
net/worldrecord

April was a big month over in Texas for Tony Douglas, who recorded
for Paula Records when I was a vice-president there.  His month
included a trip to Austin and the State Capitol where a proclamation
was read honoring Tony's 80th Birthday  on the House Floor. He was
given a plaque and the flag that flew over the Capitol that day. Back
home in  Athens, Texas, the city honored him by designating April
12th, as TONY DOUGLAS DAY,  and presented him with the "Key to
the City,"
http://www.tonydouglas.com

From the desk of Don Logan - July 2009
ATTENTION ALL ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC GUITAR
PLAYERS - Visit the link to the  following site below for BIG NEWS
concerning an event all of us can participate in.  James Burton
came by and visited with the Sleepy Brown Group recently
announcing that  on Saturday, August 22 at 2PM,  you and
thousands of others, including many big name stars will attempt to
break the Guinness World Record on number of guitar players
playing the same song at one time.  I’ll be there for the FUN of it and it
‘s your chance to be a part of something BIG!

http://www.james-burton.net/worldrecord
EVERYONE must register on Friday night August 21, 2009 from 6:
00pm through midnight during the big birthday bash for James
Burton or  on Saturday morning August 22nd beginning at 9:00am
and continuing until just before the attempt at 2:00pm. The on site
registration is at HIRSCH COLISEUM and admission is FREE!   ON
SITE REGISTRATION IS A REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE
AND IS COMPLETELY FREE.  To contact the Burton
Foundation call (318) – 424-5000
Date/Time: Saturday August 22nd, 2009 at 2:00pm – Hirsch
Coliseum. Rain or Shine!

WHO left the building?  The guy who did the resounding "H-e-e-e-e-
e-ere's Johnny!" for 30 years, has left us.  Ed McMahon, Johnny
Carson’s sidekick died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center from a
multitude of health problems.  McMahon came from  radio and  
worked with Carson for five years on the early TV program Who Do
You Trust.  When Carson took over NBC’s late-night show from Jack
Paar in October 1962, Ed came too, playing second banana on the
Tonight Show until Carson retired in 1992.  72-year-old movie star,
David CARRADINE, who epitomized the strong but wise warrior on
screen and off, died shortly after finishing his latest movie in China.  
Don DAVIS of the Sleepy Brown group lost his wife, Edie Davis last
month.  She had been ill for some time. Don is a well-known musician
who was around during the Hayride days. When I visited with
Tommie Ritter Smith at the Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage,
Texas a few months ago, the name Albert Brumley, a gospel singer
and composer came up.  I just learned that earlier this year Tom
Brumley, the son of Albert,  who was an acclaimed steel guitar
player in his own right, passed away in San Antonio.  He had  
recorded with Rick Nelson, Buck Owens, Lefty Frizzell, Dwight
Yoakam, Reba McEntire, Ray Price, Steve Wariner, Sara Evans, Rosie
Flores and Trini Lopez.  Farrah Fawcett, the "Charlie's Angels" star
with feathered blond hair and a dazzling smile that made her one of
the biggest sex symbols of the 1970s, died  after losing her  cancer
battle. Local actor John Fertitta had worked with her in the past.
She  recently did a highly-rated TV documentary of her fight with
cancer. Producer and keyboardist Barry Beckett, who recorded with
musicians such as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin and Paul Simon,  died
in his Tennessee home at 66. As a producer, Beckett worked with
artists such as Etta James, Elton John and Sting and was on most of
the sessions Jewel-Paula did in Muscle Shoals. He was also in
demand among Nashville's country musicians and produced Kenny
Chesney's first two albums. Musician and country music songwriter
Tim Krekel died of cancer at his home in Louisville and  Michael
Jackson, formerly of the Jackson Five, who, on his own, became an
international icon died amidst an avalanche of media coverage at
month’s end.   TV’s burly, bearded  pitchman who hawked products
on the tube that made him a pop-culture icon,  Billy Mays,  died at
50. Fred Travalena, a Vegas headliner and a regular on late-night
talk shows with his impressionist takes on presidents, crooners and
screen stars, left us in Los Angeles.  And at the end of the month, Gail
Storm,  an American actress and singer, who starred in two popular
television programs of the 1950s, My Little Margie and The Gail
Storm Show left us fond memories of a  wholesome appearance and
perky personality that American once looked up to and enjoyed.

From the Desk of Don Logan - June 2009
Phil Spector who was once the darling of the recording industry,
coming up with his wall of sound technique was sentenced last month
to 19 years to life in prison  for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson
who was shot at the producer’s home six years ago.  Spector was
associated with many stars including some sessions on John Lennon
where Spector reportedly pulled a gun on the former Beatle.  Locally,
Stan Lewis was a distributor for Spector when he was one of the
hottest labels in the country. Meanwhile in London, Diversity, a
group of street dancers won Britain‘s Got Talent beating out
favorite Susan Boyle who has gained international attention and
became an  Internet phenomenon after appearing on the show.

What you typed in to get to this site last month …
"vito cefalu shreveport la" “montgomery”  “casino lake charles”
"buddy holly coral 9-61885 sample copy" "lil joe's shreveport" “staff
band“ “preston singer at moe and joe’s bossier” "danetta brown white
of shreveport" "neon of las vegas" "ron gray at keel radio" "offers at el
dorado casino" “logan mansion”

Will Mitchell who worked this area long ago as Mitch and the
Misties called me from Nashville.  His songwriter in the round
concept that he filmed here in Shreveport some time back is up and
running.  The network called for more segments and he has been
busy filming those in Nashville.  He tells me the network just ordered
additional episodes, so Will will be busy!  Millennium Films
announced that two new films will be shot locally and they will build
a studio here in Shreveport.

Who left the building?   Mickey Carroll, one of the last surviving
Munchkins from the beloved 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," died at
89.  The  comedic actor, Dom LeLuise, who was in the Burt Reynolds
movies,   The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Smokey and the
Bandit II,  Cannonball Run and Cannonball Run II is no longer
with us. Dom DeLuise, who  also appeared in the comedic western
Blazing Saddles,  died in his sleep after a long illness.  The third
person to voice Walt Disney’s most famous cartoon character Mickey
Mouse  died from diabetes complications.  Wayne Allwine, a voice-
over artist, began providing the distinctive falsetto voice on The New
Mickey Mouse Club in 1977, replacing Jimmy MacDonald.  Since
then Allwine has provided Mickey’s voice for Disney theme parks,
movies, TV specials, records, and video games.  Darel Decounter,
keyboardist for such artists as Bill Anderson, Jerry Reed, Randy
Travis and for the past 16 years  the John Anderson Band passed.  He
was also a backup vocalist.
Guitarist and songwriter Stephen Bruton, who  played with Kris
Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and wrote songs that have been
recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett and others,
died at 60 of  complications from throat cancer in Los Angeles.

Liberal Hollywood movers and shakers and many musicians
applauded the new Obama drug policy which was not widely
reported.  AG Eric Holder says federal agents will target marijuana
distributors ONLY when they violate BOTH federal and state law.  
This signals the change Obama repeatedly promised during the
election from the Bush policy, which targeted medical marijuana
dispensaries in California even WHEN they complied with that state’s
law.

The first late-night talk and variety show on TV  The Tonight Show
has a new host, Conan O'Brien.  JAY LENO has been the host since
May, 1992 and has stepped down.  O’Brien took over in May 2009.  
The show celebrated its 50th anniversary in October, 2004. The
Tonight Show premiered with Steve Allen as the host in September
1954.  In 1957, after a series of guest hosts took their turns, Jack
Paar signed on, and would be the host for the next five years.  
Controversy over an episode that was broadcast from the Berlin
Wall in 1962 led to Paar's leaving the show.  Several months later
The Tonight Show took on a different flavor, when Johnny Carson
took his position as host.  Carson hosted the show for 30 years, and
became known as the "King of Late Night." His sidekick, Ed McMahon,
had previously been the announcer on Carson's earlier game show,
Who Do You Trust?  When Carson retired in 1992,  Jay Leno got
the job  continuing with Carson's basic routine of opening with a
comedy monologue.

May 2009 - From the desk of Don Logan

ACE LEWIS closed his Southfield Music shop in Shreveport last
month.  He and his wife Josie, have been a fixture in the local music
scene for many years specializing in sheet music, music books,
instruments and accessories.  Ace is also a musician and leader of the
ACE LEWIS Trio,  providing quality music for years.  He and his
brother, Stan are long-time members of the  Shreveport Musician
Union.  Meanwhile,  STAN LEWIS is very prominent in a new book
written by John Broven called RECORD MAKERS and
BREAKERS,  a 584 page book on the music industry.  Stan was here  
during the music explosion of the 50s,  smack in the middle of the
Elvis 54 earth-shake and the Beatles invasion ten years later.  In
addition to Stan’s Record Shops, he owned Paula-Ronn and Jewel
recording labels and several  music publishing companies.  
Wolfman Jack, Frank Page and others did sponsored radio
programs for his
Stan’s Record Review.

Two well-known local radio people left the building last month.  
HOWARD CLARK who had recently worked with Cumulus in
Shreveport until retiring, had been diagnosed with lung cancer.  He
had worked at KVKI, KOKA, KEEL, KITT, KSYR and KLKL locally, and
a host of major market and out of state stations.  The Program
Director and host of AM DRIVE for KWKH radio, BARNEY
CANNON died at 53.  He was  well-known in country music circles
having worked at many impressive stations before coming to  KWKH  
in the mid 80s.  He is survived by his twins Kimberly and Kyle, and
wife Kaye of Jefferson, Texas.  In film land, an actress on the very
popular Golden Girls, Bea Arthur did her final curtain call!  Vern
Gosdin a Nashville songwriter who also had a great voice and
recorded many hits himself, strummed the final chord in his 73
years here on earth peacefully after suffering a recent stroke.

WHAT you typed in to get to the Dandy Don Logan website
this past month:
"billboard's charted information of waiting in your welfare line"
“wister majorettes band““miami” “ft smith” “sonny harville“ "nick
cushinberry little rock"  "hank locklin and pappy daily”  “kwhn”
“chuck mayfield” “tommy duncan” “cold as december” “dale
hawkins” “millennium” “radio station kent shreveport“ “bossier
strip” “record world”    "phil spector”  "gordon terry" "a lifetime at
kwkh" "shreveport la what dj died larry ryan" "what is a record
number on a mechanical license"  "casino offers in shreveport" "death
scene instrumentals" "gaypoppa" "sync licenses on dvd" "when did
stan lewis"

Recently some of the SLEEPY BROWN group visited the Texas
Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum in
Carthage, Texas. (hayridecarthage.com) IF you visit Shreveport,
Carthage is just a hop-skip and jump away and certainly worth the
short time spent getting  there.  Tommie Ritter-Smith is in charge
and each  display is very professionally done. The impressive
building with a bronze statue of TEX RITTER and his movie-star
horse out in front,  is located at 300 W. Panola Street in Carthage,
phone number 903 694 9561.   Being an old radio man, I especially
enjoyed the JIM REEVES studio re-creation from his early days in
Henderson, Texas.   The old turntable with transcriptions stored in
the transcription bin underneath, the two-channel on-air/off-air
mono board, the life-like replica of Jim Reeves as a DJ, the old AM
transmitter electronics and patch panel and to record those early
commercials,  a 78RPM cutting lathe and an old Ampex mono
recorder.  It made me want to sit down inside the glass enclosure and
pull a shift.   There is push-a-button audio on  this display with
narration by notable radio mogul TOM PERRYMAN.  There is  an
impressive gift-shop area and the conference room of the building is
available for meetings and functions at nominal fees.

Don’t forget!  You can shop the pages of the 1DANYD1
entertainment shop with your credit card through Amazon.com from
this site.  I have a new CD due for release soon called SONG ABOUT
DRY PRONG!

From the Desk of DON LOGAN - APRIL, 2009
April showers are here and 2009 marches on.  Former Shreveport/
Houston radio man Bill Scott just can’t get entertainment out of his
system.  He does a magic show for parties in the Las Vegas area.

A couple of movies I worked in this past year are now scheduled -  I
Hope They Serve Beer In Hell -spring 2009 and Leaves of Grass
Opens January 1, 2010 with a cast of: Edward Norton, Tim Blake
Nelson, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, Keri Russell.  
Tim Blake Nelson is the director.

Coming soon, my new CD with a song in it by former Hayride band
member Sonny Harville.  Leaving the building recently: Actress
Natasha Richardson, daughter of Vanessa Redgrave -  Jimmy
Boyd who did the original Christmas novelty tune I SAW MOMMY
KISSING SANTA CLAUS on black and white TV shooting his recording
straight to the top of Billboard’s charts 3 weeks after it was released.
It  sold 2 million copies in 10 weeks - Actor Ron Silver, who won a
Tony Award,  was best known for his role as the slick strategist for the
liberal President  on "The West Wing." He had a long history  of left-
leaning social and political causes. However, Silver, an Emmy
nominee for a recurring role, supported  President George W. Bush
over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan after the 2001 terrorist
attacks. This lost him some friendships and turned Hollywood heads. -
ERNIE ASHWORTH (Talk Back Trembling Lips), a songwriter
and entertainer who appeared on the Louisiana Hayride and later
joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1964 and moved to and remained in
Tennessee. - DAN SEALS of Seals and Croft  was also a part of
England Dan and John Ford Coley who had great  tunes like I’d
Really Love To See You Tonight and Summer Breeze.  In the mid 80s
Seals becomes a solo country singer and works out of Nashville. -
HANK LOCKLIN who sang SEND ME THE PILLOW YOU DREAM ON
and PLEASE HELP ME I’M FALLING  started a blossoming career here
on the LOUISIANA HAYRIDE and the BIG D JAMBOREE.  When I
was working in Ft. Worth, Texas, he recorded a LAWTON
WILLIAMS song called GEISHA GIRL that crossed over in some
markets. He went on to join the Grand Ole Opry but moved to  
Florida in his later years. -  Odie Crabtree who had a TV show on
WSAZ in Huntington, West Virginia passed earlier!  He let me sing on
his TV program once when I was very young and living in
Montgomery, West Virginia.  He had moved to Texas.

Here’s what brought a lot of visitors to this web-site during the
month gone by:
"hank locklin at the big d jamboree dallas texas" "lyrics to tony
douglas's his and hers"   "b mitchell reed xeg"  "wister okla police
officers killed" "morgan choate"  "no way out soundtrack paul
anka julia migenes" "words to song well i woke up this morning
on my mind with jesus"  “"bmi songwriter bernie harville jr"   
"songs and covers permitted under 115 mechanical license"  “t
texas tyler” "linda brannon" "school majorette photos"
"pulstrak" "jim higgins rock and roll"  "arlie duff+louisiana
hayride+photos"  "randy traywick 45 rpm paula record"  
"jimmie martin murdered girlfriend" "how to get into landrum
arts" "brian joffrion shreveport la"  "peggy lee is that all there
is”   "rusty reynolds actor bio ny"  "toussaint mccall - one table
away"  "rod bernard/american bandstand" "gene kent and keel
radio" "hank farrell dj and country singer in the long view area"  
"east texas classic country music his and hers" "scotti brothers
bittersweets"  "pete graves bummin around"  

Some members of the Sleepy Brown group, including myself,
visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and TEX RITTER
Museum recently.  More on that next month.



FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN MARCH, 2009

The short month has come and gone.  We are now well into 2009.  
Did you hear the falsie report?  Word had it that Dolly Parton had
died.  No truth in it.  She actually has turned the 80s comedy 9 TO 5
into an even bigger musical stage show!

Local film maker Jeffrey Goodman has started a blog that can be
accessed at:  http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/.  He has produced a
feature called  Last Lullaby.  Jo Smith who has played music with
Don Davis, Tex Grimsley and Sonny Harville sent me some
pictures.  They will be seen in the archives section of this site soon.  

KEY words that brought many visitors to this site last month were -
"sentell minden la bossier city la"  "branden killen " “porn star” “tim
hickey”  "tex grimsley" "william holford aca recordings houston tx"
“kcul dream girl“ "letter to my grandson read on paul harvey" “stan
the man“ "who sang the gospel song river soundtrack on roscoe
jenkins" "devil eyes for cabriolet" "keel radio station shreveport rock
and roll history" "chancellor a-9802" “steel guitar felton” “marie
radio lady”  “Joe and Tony Stampley” "1944 wsm announcer louie
buckhorse" “klco allstars’  "smiling eddie hill" "name of the singer in
the movie the sandpit of generals" "americdisc dist mendota heights
mn" "leader of the pack promo copy" "dandy don simpson" "shreveport
progressive mens club" "hammond trumpet richard wilcox" "earl
hearon" "johnny paycheck in poteau okla"  "words to hurricane betsy
by lightnin hopkins" homer odum"

One of the people I heard from last month was   Dan Harville Jr.
email = spike@mikeandspike.com     He commented:  Just wondering
if you knew my great uncle  Sonny Harville?   I have not seen him for
over 40 years. I am a DJ on a country station, have been off and on
for 30+ years, I also play guitar, bass, drums and am teaching
myself piano.  YES DAN, I SEE SONNY REGULARLY.  AS A MATTER
OF FACT SONNY DOES A GOSPEL SONG ON MY SOON TO BE
RELEASED CD CALLED SONG ABOUT DRY PRONG.

All of you extras who worked on THE YEAR ONE .. Did you see the
SUPER BOWL commercial on the film?  Jack Black is one of the
hottest prospects right now, so pat yourself on the back for getting
into that flick.

Little notice was given to the fact that James Whitmore left the
building last month. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926235/  
He was on the miracle-grow TV commercial in recent years and had
been in many movies.  He also did TRUMAN on stage and a WILL
ROGERS one man show that I will always remember.  Also the voice
of famed broadcaster Paul Harvey is stilled forever in February.   
Molly Bee who rose to fame at the tender age of 13 in 1952 with I
Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus also left the building.  She was only
10 when she sang a Hank Williams song on the  Rex Allen radio
show and became an instant favorite.  In the fabulous 50s, she was a
sidekick on the Pinky Lee children’s TV show.  

And speaking of children.  Nadya Suleman and her 14 children
went to front page news  when it dawned on  taxpayers that they
would be footing the bill for the hospital.  The average cost for a
premature baby's hospital stay in California is around $164,273.   
Having worked for the Louisiana Child Support office I can see the
system being worked!

How bad is the recession???  Bad enough for the Governor of
California,  Arnold Schwarzenegger  to  make a cameo as himself
in  Sylvester Stallone's upcoming movie,  The Expendables. The
flick is set to begin shooting March 28 in Brazil and will then move to
Louisiana for an additional two months of filming.

FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN  FEBRUARY 2009
January went by like a flash, so it looks like 2009 won’t be around for
long.  I was contacted  by Malcolm from the UK ( malcy.
chapman@btinternet.com).  He said -   I recently picked up a record
by a Donald Adkins on Random Records (Narco County Jail / Still In
Love With You) and was wondering if you knew anything about him or
the musicians playing on the record, where it was recorded etc. Not for
any particular reason, I'm just intrigued by the record. I love finding
these obscure little records and trying to find out who they were, where
they are and, as your publishing company published both sides, I
thought perhaps you would remember him, or when it was recorded or
when you published it etc.

Nice to see Tommy Tomlinson get a mention. As a fan of the Johnny
Horton records, I always wondered who this guy was in the picture. On
some of the recordings Johnny did for Columbia it sounds to me like
Grady Martin on lead guitar but perhaps it was Tommy imitating Grady.

Best regards from the UK,
Malcolm Chapman

I got that picture of Tommy from his son Tommy Tillman
Tomlinson.  Adkins was from Texas and the session was done at Robin
Hood Brians studio.  I didn’t know  Donald Adkins well and have lost
track of him.  I don’t remember the musicians, but it could have been
Nat Stuckey’s Sweet Thangs.

Last month saw MANY extra visitors to this site.  I finally determined
that most of that increase came from the link I have on the FILM page
to Alexandyr Kent’s blog.  He is a writer for the Shreveport Times and
is UP on what’s happening in the ShreveWood film world, so I have
the link for those who forget his web-address.  They can get to his site
through my site.  HE had the video of film star Josh Brolin’s arrest
and apparently everybody wanted to see that video.  Other names
that brought people to my site were -  "phil spector”  “a distinctive
sound”   "derrell stephens” "history of old radio station kent
shreveport"  " logan actor"  “rocking in the rockies”  "buck roberts"  
"elvis called her mom on louisiana hayride"  "johnny o'neill former
ktsa and kilt dj" "sherb sentell" "george d'artois"  "billie jean williams
Horton”  "cabriolet music"  "john howe saxophone - “el dorado casino"
"poteau indian territory photo"  “vintage cds shreveport la”  "kwkh
frank page"  "the louisiana boys joe stampley john fred gg shinn"

I am awaiting the release of my next CD called SONG ABOUT DRY
PRONG around the first of March.  I’m trying something new in that
the CD will be in a cardboard cover, like the old Lps, and not in a
jewel case.  Sonny Harville and the Sonny Harville Singers will be
featured on a gospel song.  The title tune is about Dry Prong,
Louisiana which is down in Grant Parish and it is DRY down there!  

Ellis Starkey, a former local musician now living in Nashville was
mentioned to me recently by W.T. Eason.  There is a link to Starkey’s
site in my Archives section.  The ELVIS CONNECTION SHOW played
the Carson Center in Paducah, KY in January.  Ronnie McDowell did
the vocals with backup from The Stamps Quartet, The Jordanaires,
the beautiful high voice of Millie Kirkham and former Shreveporter,
D.J. Fontana on drums.

JOE STAMPLEY tells me he was in town recently for the JAMES
BURTON Festival and still is talking about the reception.  He
informed me that D.J. Fontana and Wanda Jackson are about to go
into the ROCK and ROLL HALL OF FAME.
Thanks for visiting -

JANUARY 2009 - FROM THE DESK OF DANDY DON
Through this web-site, I have been contacted by many of you about
this and that and other things, but I’ve also heard from the grand-
children of many people I knew in my past.   Uncle Hank Craig who
was heard on the Mexican Border station XEG has a great-grand-
daughter and grandson who are seeking pictures and information
that anyone might have on Hank (Edward G Craig -  egcraig63@aol.
com).   Also, the grandson of B.C. FERRELL  (Steve Ferrell -  
steveferrell86@yahoo.com)of the FERRELL Brothers of Longview,
Texas who tore up audiences in Dallas and Ft. Worth many years ago
is looking for the same.

Van JOHNSON  , the actor with  boy-next-door looks that kept him a
popular Hollywood star of the 50s  left the building.  With his freckled
face, sunny personality and red hair, he starred opposite June
ALLYSON, Elizabeth TAYLOR, Esther WILLIAMS and many
other leading ladies during his MGM years.  At a Frank Sinatra
concert in Miami in the late 60s, he was in the audience and was
introduced from the stage by  Sinatra and the audience gave him a
very receptive show of appreciation.  Stan Lewis said that Sinatra
had a habit of calling up old friends and actors like Johnson, and if
they were not busy with a gig, he’d fly them to his show and they
would visit before and after the show.  Johnson is probably best
remembered for his roles in 30 Seconds over Tokyo and The Caine
Mutiny.

I have not done any movies since  LEAVES OF GRASS and THE
YEAR ONE.  My business has expanded to the point now that
it is more difficult to take the time off to do these extra parts.  
One of the movies that I worked in, FRONT OF THE CLASS,
was shown on CBS TV on December 7, 2008 as a Hallmark
Movie feature.  I have been in enough movies now to  have a
listing in the IMDb  movie data base of my own.  There has
been one there for a long time with my picture on it, but the
risqué movies listed were not ones I had appeared in.  Many
people were confused as that actor was  a porn star.  My IMDb
information is at   http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3185063/
and  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3185063/resume.

Locally, Johnny Wessler and Jerry Harris have a 2009  
calendar out that lists a different attraction and historical
Shreveport or Louisiana fact for all 365 days of the year. The
Forum Magazine featured it recently.  In addition to the
beautiful monthly photographs, it has over 50 quality
smaller photographs of local people and places along with the
birthdays of some of the more famous Shreveport / Bossier
citizens that are listed at the bottom of the calendar.  To
order, you can contact Johnny at  jwwessler@aol.com.

These are the search words that brought the most  visitors to
this web-site:
"mcalester"  “dancing girls” “tony douglas” “diamond jack”
“diamond dan” "'jeff edmund Shreveport” “rockabilly“ “tim
hickey” “15 to drive the family car” "producer frankie miller
black land farmer tommy hill" “his and hers” “sands singer”
"song in the car scene of the movie you drive me crazy" “stan  
record”  "derrell stephens" “hey mister stan”  “mary ann van
osdell” “cowtown hoedown”  "american bandstand - WFIL
transcription acetate records" “eddie kozak” "t tommy
cutrer" “why am I crying”  "dick clark beech nut kinescope"
"rocking in the rockies dvd" "bill bush combo new years eve"

LUIZ MONTENEGRO (lamsantos@hotmail.com) is looking for
old vinyl on Johnny Rivers from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Be
on the lookout for my new CD soon.  It's called SONG ABOUT
DRY PRONG and features a gospel song at the end by Sonny
Harville and The Sonny Harville Singers.

don@dandydonlogan.com

DECEMBER   2008 - FROM THE DESK OF DANDY DON
I have always known there was something special about
Robin Hood Brians.
He’s the studio owner/engineer/musician who helped us so
much with our young and aspiring Paula recording artists
when I was a young VP at the label.  I have not seen or talked
to Robin Hood in many years.  I had occasion to do so the other
day and via cell, I located him standing in the line at a
grocery store with a roast he had just purchased and he was
on his way to visit a friend who had recently lost a loved one.  
I did not ask, but Robin probably cooked and prepared the
roast also. I think that is a special touch and the mark of a
man.

FRONT OF THE CLASS on CBS, December 7 has me in the
background scene at the funeral.  This IS a quality movie.  We
film a lot of movies in Louisiana now, but so far we have not
filmed one as big as Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.  We need a
film like that to make the industry know that we are REALLY
here.  We have gotten a lot of bad publicity recently over a
local incident.  On one of the films I did  recently, I was in a
setting with MEAGEN FAY .  She has a list of credit’s a mile
long.

I heard from many interesting people this past month
through this site.  One was Glen Craig.   egcraig63@aol.com    
Mr. Logan, You spoke of working at the Cowtown Hoedown
with Uncle Hank Craig.  He was my grandfather.  I never knew
him as he passed away when I was 4 months old. But I have
heard a lot about him. Did you know him long? Thanks!  

Yes, I along with Jack Henderson and Uncle Hank were co-
emcees for that show for a time when I was a DJ at KCUL.  I
also sang on that show.  That was after Hank had left and was
on XEG and one of the smaller area stations.  When he sold
out his part of the Hoedown, he brought me a record on a
black label with silver print by an artist named Willie
Nelson.  Since he was no longer on XEG, he asked if I would
play it and I did.  Your grand-dad made me become the first
DJ on a 50,000 watt station to ever play a Willie Nelson
record. Later, when they hired Willie as guitarist for the
Hoedown Band,  Ken “PeeWee” Short brought Willie by the
station.  We had coffee and Willie thanked me for his first big
break, but as I remember it, I was the one who paid for the
coffee!  This was right after HORACE LOGAN came to KCUL
and I was making plans to go into TOP40 radio.

Our economic situation is hurting a lot of big names.  TIGER
WOODS loses lucrative contract with automaker.  Deidre
Hall and Drake Hogestyn fired from popular daytime soap. At
Fox, the animated comedy KING OF THE HILL, which is in its
13th year, was cancelled.   Brooke Smith (Dr. Erica Hahn) got
the axe at Grey’s Anatomy!

Search words that brought you to Dandy Don’s web-site this
past month!  
Gautreaux - Pendley Piano Gallery - Jay Brock - j  jack burns
lindenhurst ny - wayne raney at wcky - lyrics to tg shepherds
song devil in the bottle - rusty reynolds willie nelson look
like  rob vardeman  marvin mccullough singer dj - song about
cabriolet  keel radios larry ryan  tex grimsley - frankie spano
and stans records - lisa mcgaha tn - ferrell brothers music -
big d jamboree - edward kozak shreveport la - famous sayings
of george lorenz the houndog -  minden courtroom


Studs Terkel has left the building! He was a  writer and radio
personality and died at  age  96 in his home of Chicago.   When
I was with Stan Lewis in the record business, Stan leased a
master from Studs, who at that time was doing a TV show in
the Chicago area.  Studs sent some of his publicity with the
master and it appears Studs knew everybody.  Nashville
Songwriter Hall of Fame member Danny Dill died recently.
And the Wolf Man may be gone, but he’s BACK with  the
Midnight Special TV series available on DVD!  I tried to
obtain copies for my web-store on this web-site, but was told it
is being merchandised as direct sales only.



NOVEMBER 2008 - FROM the desk of DON LOGAN
These past weeks, I have been contacted through this web-site
by Robert Zickafoose concerning Basil and West Virginia  (Mr.
Logan, I was reading through your website and you mentioned
that you  went to school with a guy by the name of Basil
Zickafoose in West Virginia).  George Bryant wanting
information on the soul DJ Gay Papa (I'm looking for
information about a DJ named Gay Papa. Can you direct me to
where I may find out more about him. I remember him from
when I was a boy growing up here in Shreveport and was
curious as to what became of him, his real name etc.)   Max
Abod asking about George Carlin stories and a Boston Globe
writer, James Sullivan who is writing a book on George
Carlin.

Death continues to dominate the local movie-industry news.  
Arkansas  TV Anchor,  Anne Pressly, died from a brutal
beating in her Little Rock, Arkansas home recently.  Earlier,
she was here in Shreveport doing scenes in the movie “W“
where she was cast as a conservative newswoman.  She worked
for the Little Rock ABC affiliate and  was only 26.  December
7, 2008 on CBS, Front Of The Class will be shown.  Locally
filmed, I am in the funeral scene.

Opening weekend for “W” had it coming in fourth in the
standings bringing in $10.5 million dollars at the box office.  
The movie was rushed out to do some late Bush-Bashing
before the upcoming elections.  I never knew you could get a
movie out this quickly.  Shreveport continues to get a bad
‘rap’ from one of the stars of “W” on the national talk show
scene.  Look folks, we ARE what we are and when you get to
know us, we are pretty nice.   DON’T try to change us. We
accept you as YOU are, so WHY all this hassle.  As to the way
Shreveport officials handled the situation, I’m sure, if there
was wrong-doing, it will come to light!  

Ryan Glorioso Casting called me to do the extra re-shoots for
a new ending to the film, The Year One.   I spent five full days
on location before they wrapped it at the Sibley Sand Pit in
Webster Parish.  They have constructed a whole town movie
set with lots of sand around it, so we can  even do desert
movies now in North Louisiana.  It’s quite remarkable. On the
set, I ran into several media people including Tony King,
formerly of  KRMD fame and many interesting people. It was
rumored that Mark (In The Dark) Christopher was also there,
but I didn’t run into him. This is the kind of movie where
everyone is costumed with turbans and shawls and nobody in
the background can be recognized!

There is a link on my FILM page of this web-site that will re-
direct you to the Glorioso Web-site.  IF YOU are interested in
being in the movies, you should  register there.  On this past
shoot that I worked on, they used 400 plus extras daily, plus
an additional 120 were added  on one day.  Working as an
extra is hard and you need to be in good health and able to
run, walk and stand for long hours.

I’m working on my new CD that will be out around the first of
the year.  Sonny Harville, former member of the Louisiana
Hayride Band slipped out of retirement to do a recording
session, leading a gospel song with the Sleepy Brown Group
for my next CD.

Here’s what many  typed in the search-box to come to this
web-site last month - morgan choate radio disk jockey"
famous sayings by ann-margret - paul harvey letter to my grandson
- lafayette coowner - susie shams - mary ann van osdell
Helen Clare France - older radio personalities - shreveport la gene
kent - song in factory girl motorcycle scene"
mechanical license for dvd recordings - derrell stephens bmi - jeff
edmonds shreveport keel kvki"

It’s amazing that the names Jeff Edmond and Melinda keep popping
up.  Jeff died many years ago. Of all the big name DJs who have
worked this area and that includes Wolf Man Jack, George Carlin,
and so many others, Jeff and Melinda still ring a bell in the heart of
the people who listened to them.  They are probably the best radio
team to ever grace this area and Melinda is still one of my favorites.


OCTOBER 2008 - FROM the desk of   DON LOGAN

Recently, I was in contact with Emily Lehane of the Texas Association
of Broadcasters.  I have written a song about Rusty Reynolds, a
former DJ who went into station ownership.  He receives a special
award at their convention this month and my song Wrong Side
Rusty will be used in the program.  Many former Shreveport DJ’s
are in the Texas Radio Hall of  Fame.  RUSTY  is already there, as is
Wolfman, Chuck Dunaway,  George Carlin and many others.

The DJ who covered my song Mister Stan, Vicente Zumel continues
to expand and grow on the international market via his Blues show in
Spain.  Lavisa Dunlap, who wrote a song way back in the 70s that I
released on one of the labels I was associated with,  contacted me with
a 'hello' from the past as did Bill Scally and Pass Porter.

Recently Jerry Reed left the building and I recalled the year I had
gone to Nashville for the old October DJ convention when I was in the
record business with Stan Lewis.  Several of us record people from
various and assorted labels were looking for something to do and
there was a concert by the  Nashville Symphony or Nashville Pops
with Chet Atkins out in front of the group.  It was a sensational
night of entertainment with Jerry Reed getting up and out of HIS
seat, coming on stage and doing several numbers with Chet and the
symphony on the classical gut-string guitar.  That was one of those
times when something special happened and you just happened to be
there.  It was a highlight in my life that I will never forget.

I  recently did my acting thing in ‘I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell’,
‘Front of The Class’ and ‘Leaves of Grass’.  You may even be able to see
the old mug in them.  The film industry said goodbye last month to
Paul Newman.  Recently he was in the movie Road To Perdition and
the TV series EMPIRE FALLS.  When I was in training for my first
State of Louisiana job in Baton Rouge, Newman was filming the
movie BLAZE.  My friend John Fertitta was in that flick, playing in
the institution  scene opposite Paul Newman.  Newman also
appeared in a race at one of the area race tracks during that time.
When something BAD happens, something GOOD usually comes also.
James Dean was signed to star as the disfigured boxer in the TV
adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s ‘The Battler’ when Dean died in  
1955.  His role was taken by a little-know performer, Paul Newman.

Charlie Walker, a country singer who appeared on the Louisiana
Hayride many times and was like a fixture in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area music scene  left the building last month.  His recording of  PICK
ME UP ON YOUR WAY DOWN is a long time favorite and one of the
most popular solo numbers for just about any steel guitar player.

I am working on my next CD that may be released before the end of
the year.  The DANDY SHOP on these web pages continues to grow
with orders this past month to such places as Coral Springs, FL,
Sedona, AZ, Elmira, NY, Fort Worth, TX, Edison, NJ, Alliance, NE,
Portland, OR, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jefferson City, TN, Taylorsville, UT,
Puyallup, WA, Parsippany, NJ and Lavon, TX.

Don’t forget our Fun-Test page!!  WIN FREE stuff.

Over the month, people used these search words to get to this
site: Betty Jo Mooring, Lightnin' Hopkins, Eric J. Brock, Larry
Ryan Radio, Jimmy Davis, Jim Rose, Sleepy, Judge Lisa,
Uniques, A Tender Arm, Black and White, Buck Roberts, Lane,
Tomlinson, Green Frog, Joe Osborn,  D'Artois, Teresa and
others.

The information and  memoirs from this  website have been used
in another book.  Remember, if you use my comments in a book
you are writing or film documentary , proper credit MUST be
given.  

don@dandydonlogan.com


SEPTEMBER 2008 -  FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN
Lots of people hitting this site in recent weeks.  One was Jim Higgins,
the mayor of Montgomery, WV., who says:
I ran across your Internet site and noticed you lived in Montgomery
at one time and worked at WMON. My father was the band director
when you were in the band. I am presently and have been on several
occasions, the Mayor of Montgomery. Just wanted to say "hello" and
wish you well.
Regards,
Jim

Search names that brought a lot of people to this site this past month
were:  Marvin Mc Cullough,  Judge Gallagher - All These Things - Joe
Stampley - Rockabilly Cover -  Tim O'Brien -  Lightnin’ Hopkins -  
Betty Jo Mooring - Ron Baxley -  radio-Brando-Bob Griffin-Lesa
McGaha,

Jerry Wexler, a driving force behind Atlantic Records in the early
days has left the building.  Also, two entertainers who were in
Shreveport recently doing pictures have departed the building.

Jerry Reed who was one of the first rock-a-billy acts on Capital in
the 50s left the building.  I met him in Atlanta, GA when he was
Jerry Hubbard.  He became a master at the guitar and did the
movies, Saturday morning cartoons and had numerous hit records.

Isaac Hayes who recorded for Stax Records and had out the 1971
movie called SHAFT which won him a grammy died recently.  My
old boss Stan Lewis was a distributor for Stax and while they were
making that movie back in ‘71, they ran into some cash flow
problems.  In case you don’t know it, it takes big bucks to finance a
picture then and now.  So, they sent a man down to their distributors
Shreveport, Dallas and New Orleans to pick up money.  Memphis had
a brand new super-for-it’s-time airport.  As the fellow was returning
with a bag full of money, the airport security caught sight of the
money and all heck broke loose for awhile, until it was straightened
out.  Hayes was the songwriter for Hold On I’m Coming by Sam and
Dave. Hayes had been in Shreveport recently completing  the movie
"Soul Men," in which he played himself.

That film also starred Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who  also
died recently  after a bout with pneumonia. He was quite well know
as host of his own show and one of the actresses I worked with on a
recent film set had worked on his show several times.


Rusty Reynolds, a former DJ that I worked with here in Shreveport
is to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Texas Radio Hall Of
Fame festivities.  I have written a song about Rusty called Wrong
Side Rusty that is in my Stage Of The Stars CD and it is going to be a
part of the presentation in October.  Congratulations to Rusty as he
HAS done it all in radio and richly deserves the recognition.

Film wise, I worked for three days in a movie called I Hope They
Serve Beer In Hell filming at the Women’s Department Club and
Centenary College and CBS is filming Front Of The Class and I
worked on that set as an extra one day.  I am working on my next CD
and I have written a song about  Dry Prong, Louisiana that will be
included.

Orders were shipped out this past month to:  Goodyear, AZ,
Bakersfield, CA, Wheat Ridge, CO, Aurora, IL, Prior Lake, MN,  Forked
River, NJ, Morrisonville, NY,  Marseille, 13012 France, Corrales,
NM,  Galena Park, TX, Rialto, CA, Cookeville, TN, New Paltz, NY, and
Kosciusko, MS.

FROM THE DESK OF DANDY DON - AUGUST 2008

One of the GOLDEN GIRLS has left the building.  Estelle
Getty,  who played the crotchety Sophia, died shortly before
her 85th birthday.  The series with Betty White, Rue
McClanahan and Bea Arthur was a hit sit-com of the 80s that
crossed over into the 90s.  The part of Sophia was a minor role
to begin with, but escalated into a full and equal role as the
public took to the feisty mom!

Having worked as an extra on many movie sets now and with
my expertise in old-time radio, I know what it looks like, feels
like and sounds like when two or more people come together
into a programmed situation and they mold and jell together
like the Golden Girls did.  Locally Jeff and Melinda on radio
had that effect on the public.  Carl and Karen and Al and Liz
in the TV anchor spots created the same vibes. I have seen it
happen on local movie sets where the main actors and the
background blend together to make some very good
impressionable scenes!

I am working on a new CD of songs that I have written that
will feature some of our local actors and some members of the
Sleepy Brown Group who have “Hayride“ in their
background.  I am also busy with a CD of soundtrack music
that you can use behind your own cam-corder projects and
college film projects on a royalty-free basis.  

On my movie-life side, I worked a movie that is from a book
written by a fellow named Tucker Max.  His best-selling book
is called I Hope They Sell Beer In Hell.  It is also the title of
the movie.  Tucker is also in this movie as an actor. This
movie has a lot of the seven words former Shreveport DJ
George Carlin said you could not say!!!

The next time you view  'Entertainment Tonight', check out
host Mary Hart’s legs!  They are insured by Lloyd's of London.  
Current movies that I have worked on  are: Blonde Ambition,
The Mist, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Harold and Kumar
Escape from Guantanamo Bay and Ruffian.  Ruffian is still
being shown on both ESPN and ABC from time to time.  Of all
the movie scenes I have done, my scene in Ruffian  is the best.  
On the TV movie, I was cut down to just talking with the
handicapper, but on the DVD the scene extends to me moving
back to my seat where a bevy of beauties awaits  me.

In downtown Shreveport, the Robinson Film Center  at 617
Texas Street is now open.   It has two theaters where   classic
cinema, independent and  international  cinema can be
seen.   Abby Singer’s, a full-service bistro and bar is on the
2nd floor and has the only public dining balcony in
Shreveport-Bossier.

Search names that drew many visitors to this site last month
were Vicente Zumel,  Tom Campbell, Bill Scott, George
Carlin, Sentell, Joe Osborn,  Ozzie and Harriet, Shreveport
DJ, Melinda, Rick Nelson, Frank and Helen Page, Sinatra,
Tracey E.W. Laird,  Dale Hawkins,  Gay Papa, John Andrew
Prime and  Lisa McGaha.  Visit the DANDY SHOP on this site.  
Credit card orders are handled safely and securely through
Amazon.com.

My latest CD release is STAGE OF THE STARS.  Orders have
gone out this past month to:  Great Mills, MD - Vista, CA -
Ulysses, KS - Hallettsville, TX - Honey Grove, PA - Yucaipa,
CA  - West Hills, CA  - Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 - Bethlehem,
PA 15 - Putnam Valley, NY  - Knoxville, TN  - Santa Paula, CA  
- Litchfield Park, AZ  - Youngsville, NC - Dulce, NM  -
Cupertino, CA  - Elgin, Tx  - Marlboro, NJ  - New Hartford, NY  
- Decatur, TX  - Fresno, CA - Fort Collins, CO  - Largo, FL  -
Logan, UT
Caseyville, IL  - Lindenhurst, NY  - Burghill, OH - New
Windsor, NY - Albuquerque, NM  -

The information and  memoirs from this  website have been
used in another book and one screenplay.  Remember, if you
use my comments in a book you are writing or film
documentary , proper credit MUST be given.  

JULY 2008 -  FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN

A former Shreveport DJ, George Carlin,  has left the
building.  Shreveport remembers  the young man who was
stationed at nearby Barksdale AFB and  worked part-time for
at least two stations in the area.  Carolyn Babin who worked
radio before, during and after my radio career here saw him
several times when she worked at  KENT radio where he
worked nights on weekends.  However, it was at KJOE that
Carlin was the subject of an AP news release on being the first
DJ and station to play a new unreleased ELVIS record
anywhere in the states, thanks to former local record baron,
Stan Lewis.

Even with the success Carlin had in the entertainment
business, he did not forget many of the locals and kept in
touch.   I came to the market in 1959 and he had left in 1957.  
He and Jack Burns, a newscaster and comedian wound up
working at KXOL in Ft. Worth and from there they went to
California as a nightclub team.  His Hippy-Dippy-
Weatherman is said by some, to be loosely based on former
Louisiana weatherman Al Bolton and in another of his
recorded routines he mentioned Louisiana DJ, singer and
songwriter Rod Bernard.


I found information on the web that indicates he sold over 85
million records and still ranks as Billboard magazine’s most
popular single country artist of all time.  In the early days of
black and white TV, it was Eddy Arnold who was the summer
replacement for the hot shows.  He could do what a lot of
country acts of the day could not do and that was sing with a
big band behind you on the variety shows.  RCA even paired
Eddy with Jaye P. Morgan for several sides of highly
collectible material.  Radio is a strange vehicle and in the
early days for your name to be remembered, you had to have
a distinct second moniker that made it easy for new fans to
remember you.  Mine was Dandy Don, instead of just plain
Don Logan.  Eddy Arnold’s was “The Tennessee Plowboy”.
Eddy Arnold has also left the building.  He was one of the first
SMOOTH country singers.  I never met Arnold, but his
comment to the audience on his acceptance to the Country
Music Hall of Fame turned me into a fan when he said,   “I
never wanted the accolades .. I just wanted to sing”!

Tim O’Brien, going for his doctorate, came to Shreveport
recently to interview Stan Lewis, former owner of Stan’s
Record Shops and the internationally known recording
companies, Jewel, Paula and Ronn labels.  I was there also to
answer some questions for Tim about Lightnin’ Hopkins.  
Local author and journalist Mary Ann Van Osdell also
interviewed me recently about entertainment in general and
got me to talking about that era of my life more than I
usually do.

Tim O’Brien, going for his doctorate, came to Shreveport
recently to interview Stan Lewis, former owner of Stan’s
Record Shops and the internationally known recording
companies, Jewel, Paula and Ronn labels.  I was there also to
answer some questions for Tim about Lightnin’ Hopkins.  
Local author and journalist Mary Ann Van Osdell also
interviewed me recently about entertainment in general and
got me to talking about that era of my life more than I
usually do.

Five years in the works and it is now here in downtown
Shreveport, the Robinson Film Center.  Located at 617 Texas
Street, it has two theaters that show  independent,
international, and classic cinema.  The only public dining
balcony in Shreveport-Bossier is there too, in  Abby Singer’s,
a full-service bistro and bar.

Don’t forget to check out the DANDY WEB SHOP for  CD’s,
books and movies that I am in and other top movies, vinyl
and CD’s.  Credit card orders are handled securely  by
Amazon.com.  I shipped orders this past month to -  Nashville,
TN,  Napa, CA, Wentzville, MO, Staten Island, NY, New
Orleans, LA, Edmonds, WA, Magnolia, TX, Issaquah, WA and
many other points around the world.  Thanks!

The information and  memoirs from this  website have been
used in 2 more books.  Remember, if you use my comments in
a book you are writing , proper credit MUST be given.  BILL
SCOTT, a former local DJ and TV dance host, has a web-site in
Las Vegas.

Some of the names that brought browsing individuals to my
web-site this past month were  Lesa McGaha, Bob Griffin, Nat
Stuckey Band Members, Bill Mack, George Carlin, Sleepy
Brown,  Jimmie Davis, Jeff and Melinda,  Ray Bartlett, Hub
Brando, Rod Bernard, Ed Hamilton, George Clinton,  Melinda
Coyer, Officer Harvey SPD , Carl Pendley Piano, Deborah
Filcoff and Sherb Sentell.

MAY-JUNE 2008 - FROM THE DESK OF DON LOGAN

SHREVEPORT SOUNDS IN BLACK AND WHITE has just been
published  by University Press of Mississippi.  This is an
interesting book on area music and people who made it
happen by Kip Lornell and Tracey E. W. Laird..  There is a full
chapter  in this book devoted to my days in radio  as Dandy
Don.   Kip and Tracey were nice enough to  list me in the
credits as a lot of the material from my web-site was used in
their book. There is a great section on Stan Lewis of Stan’s
Record Shops and Jewel-Paula-Ronn Records.  Stan had
mentioned my name in the section about him and on the back
cover of the book and it seems many journalists and people
thought I was dead.   So, Kip throws that rumor out the door
in this new book.  You will recognize many other local names
mentioned in this book and there is a section by journalist
John Andrew Prime.    This 350 page soft back book is
available from local book stores and the 1DANDY1 store on
this web-site by clicking on the Dandy Store.  It is published
by the University of Mississippi Press.  Meanwhile, Tim
O'Brien came up from Houston last weekend and talked to
Stan and I about Texas Bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins who
recorded for Stan.

The name RUSTY REYNOLDS RADIO is used by a great
percentage of you who visited this site recently. There is a
song in my latest CD called WRONG SIDE RUSTY that just
happens to be about that guy.  However, most people refer to
it as the AGGIE song.  Rusty is a great over-all radio man
having done it all, from DJ to station owner.  

In my latest CD called STAGE OF THE STARS, there is an
instrumental version of my song MISTER STAN, Part 2,  
which was the title tune of my first CD.  It is done by Vicente
Zumel of Barcelona, Spain.  It seems just about everyone
around the world knows of this personality and the track does
cook.  Record labels  can contact me or Vicente about leasing
this cut for use on your own compilations.

This site puts us back in contact with a lot of former
musicians and people from the area, like ELLIS STARKEY.     
Starkey comments:   The first dance I ever played drums was
in 1966. You were  the  DJ.  Felt like the BIGTIME!  I played
with "The Empty Hearts" and  seems like it was at St. Teresa's
CYO in Shreveport.  What FUN!!!  I  always enjoyed you on
KEEL. The last time I saw you was when the Rogue  Show
signed with Paula in 1970. Check these out  go to www.
youtube.com ,   put Rogue Show in search box. We have 3
"videos". Also check out  www.butchandjean.com , my wife
Jean and I (Butch) perform original comedy and  music. Best
of the best to you!!!

For radio news, go to Jim ROSE.
http://news.jimroseremembersradio.com

I have four CDs out now and  business is picking up.  Orders
were shipped this past month to many places in the
continental US and outside, including Fairless Hill, PA,
Beverly, KY, Mountain View, CA, Yorktown, VA, Ooltewah,
TN, Eureka, CA, Portland, OR, Port Reading, NJ, Knoxville,
IA, Carol Stream, IL, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, Brattleboro, VT,
Taylors, SC,   Blue Eye, MO and Oro Valley, AZ.

MARCH-APRIL 2008... from the desk of Don Logan

I had web-site contact in February  from a lot of people.  Brent
and Duncan Stephens, bothers, now living in Texas, who used
to listen to Dandy Don on the radio when they were just
youngsters.  Heard from George Pattison concerning the
Louisiana group Mitch and the Misties, one of the great
college bands of the 60s. They worked out of Northwestern  
and the personnel consisted of William (Bill) Mitchell, vocals
- Sam Jacobs, guitar and vocals - Carlton Basco, organ - Benny
Powell, bass and organ - Toby Cooper and Gary Stratton,
Saxophones.   Toby Cooper taught for many years, owned and
operated Toby’s Night Club, which was the former North
Shreveport  landmark known as the Stage Door,  and fronted
several different bands in the area.  At Sansone’s, a former
premier eatery and music showcase,  he was a particular  
favorite with a Dixie Land group.  One of the highlights of
their act was marching from the bandstand    with Clarinet,
Trombone and other instruments through the supper club
portion of the restaurant, entertaining the dining patrons
there, and then returning to the bandstand without missing
a beat, which was pretty remarkable.  The bass and piano
man remained on stage to keep the beat going.  Toby is still
active in music with a web-site at www.tobycoopermusic.com

The names Joe Monroe, Frank Page, Vito Cefalu, Elvis, Sonny
Harville, James Burton, Eric J. Brock, Stan Lewis, Bob
Griffin, Joe Osborn and others led 20 % or more of the
searches to my web-site this past month.  Joe Monroe with
daytime station, KJOE, was the number one Top 40 station in
the market before Gordon McLendon brought KEEL to life,
back during the reign of AM radio in the 50‘s.  Vito Cefalu ran
Sansone‘s Restaurant with his daddy, Mr. Tony.  Sonny
Harville, is a well known musician on the Louisiana Hayride,  
former DJ and announcer for the short-lived New Louisiana
Hayride at the Benton Road location.  Eric Brock is a
respected journalist, writer and author who has regular
columns in one of our local papers.  There are statues of
ELVIS and James Burton at the entrance of the Municipal
Auditorium in Shreveport.  Bob Griffin is the longest visible
TV personality to ever be seen in this area, while Stan Lewis
built a record empire out of Stan’s Record Shop. Joe Osborn
played bass at the end of every episode of the Ozzie and
Harriet TV Show when a young RICKY NELSON sang. Frank
Page is the dean of Louisiana radio personalities, being on the
air longer than any other radio star.  He has  a new book
called Frank and Helen Page, 50 years at KWKH.

And speaking of books, SHREVEPORT SOUNDS IN BLACK
AND WHITE has just been published  by University Press of
Mississippi.  This is an interesting book on area music and
people who made it happen by Kip Lornell and Tracey E. W.
Laird.  There are several pages in a small section of this book
devoted to Dandy Don and Kip and Tracey were nice enough to  
list me in the credits also. There is a great section on Stan
Lewis of Stan’s Record Shops and Dale Hawkins.   You will
recognize many other local names mentioned in this book and
there is a section by journalist John Andrew Prime.  He is great
at writing stories assigned to him but,  it is so good to read his
words about what he knows and has seen in the entertainment
world.  Incidentally, both books, Shreveport Sounds in Black
and White and Frank and Helen Page, 50 Years at KWKH, both
correct the anecdote that Jim Reeves got to SING on the
Hayride because Hank Williams Sr., was too drunk to perform.  
This 350 page soft back book can be purchased from this web-
site.  

For you record collectors, the Former World-Famous DJ Vinyl
page is back on this site.  There are many collectible vinyl
treasures from my days as a DJ  and other collections from
notable DJs.  My new CD, released at the end of 2007, Stage of
the Stars is doing well.  Vicente Zumel is getting a lot of
comment with his version of Mister Stan, part 2, which is in
that CD.  And the song called YOU HAD TO BE 15 is being well-
received.  

On the local music scene, the most popular group I would say
is,  the Harmon Drew Super Group, while the most popular
regularly performing  bands are the Bill Bush Combo and the
Bluebirds.  Buddy Flett of that group  is having health
problems.  CLAUDE KING celebrated his  birthday on February
24th at a Louisiana Hayride Party at the Shreveport Municipal
auditorium. There is a song in my new CD called THE
MUNICIPAL that is about that famous place.

Jim Rose, former area radio man, has a regularly released JIM
ROSE REMEMBERS RADIO newsletter out of Houston, that is
now available FREE at his new site …….
http://news.jimroseremembersradio.com

I have four CDs out now and my business is picking up.  Orders
were shipped this past month to many places in the continental
US and outside, including East China, MI.,  Rogers, AR.,
Brightwood, VA., Flint, MI, Salem, OR., Westford, MA,
Margate, FL., Half Moon Bay, CA., Sano, Tochigi, Japan and
Shreveport, LA.

MARCH 2008 - FILM TALK....

Want to get into the movies.  Look for the OPEN casting calls
and GO!  There is a local meet-up the first Tuesday of each
month  in Building D or other announced location on the
Bossier Parish Community College campus.  The program is
hosted by Clare France of the Robinson Film Center.  Check
their web-site for up to the minute information..  BPCC has
many courses for acting and related movie industry positions.
Larry Powell, Dean of the telecommunications department, can
tell you more on what they offer.

Early last year, I did several days filming on “Blonde Ambition”
with Jessica Simpson.    It was cold then and I am only briefly
seen as I buried my face in the scarf, heavy overcoat with  high
collar  I was wearing.  That film never went to the theaters, but
is out on DVD.  Ms.  Simpson has been here twice to make
movies.  She also is contemplating a country CD.  Many of the
local extras, including me, are in THE MIST, now making the
rounds of the theaters.

Recently, on March 2-3-4 and 5, I was filmed as an extra on the
Michael Douglas film BARD (Beyond A Reasonable Doubt) in
the Courtroom scenes.  Dina Merrill, an actress with miles of
movies behind her, and one of the backers for this film, was on
the set.  I sat next to her for a short time. There are many other
films being shot here and some big ones coming down the pike.  
BARD is a re-make of a 50’s film and is set in Shreveport.  The
New Bossier Parish Courthouse courtrooms were used for the
courtroom scenes.   Arlena Acree of the Mayor’s office has a
scene in another part of this film which should be released later
this year.

On the set, gossip had the local eatery who gave the king
treatment to Ice Cube recently,  telling the Michael Douglas
entourage, there would be a 40 minute wait as they would not
upset their customers who were personal friends.  Needless to
say, that place did not get their  business.  I don’t think, if I had
been waiting  there in line,  I would have been upset that a well-
known actor was eating at the same place I did.   As a matter of
fact, that would take a back-seat to any feeling of injustice of
his being seated before me, by my being able to tell the  story
to  the grand kids.  Douglas filmed this part of the film in the
four days he was here, and again, on the set gossip had him
making four million dollars for the picture.

We had a great bunch of extras, but of course there were a few
who did not honor the signed code on behavior, and that makes
us all look bad to the crew and casting agents who put us
there.  One extra passed out and required medical attention.
Several others were dismissed for not adhering to the rules for
EXTRAS,  including cell phones ringing in the middle of a scene
and taking unauthorized pictures.  When you spend four days
with people you don’t normally work with, don’t know
personally, or don’t know at all, tempers can flare, BUT thank
goodness you can never tell it in the finished movie.  I found
out, on set, that Olivia Newton-John did some local soundtrack
recording with Dana Mc Common of Fairfield Sound, when she
was in town filming.  I have used Dana’s studio in my music
business.

THE DANDY SHOP, online music, movie and book shop is now
on this web-site and you can order a selection of new and used
merchandise online, safely and securely via credit card.

February 2008.... from the desk of Don Logan
My new CD is called STAGE OF THE STARS and is  available
from this web-site for only $8.00 postpaid to USA, autographed
if you desire.  Two of the songs, STAGE OF THE STARS and
THE MUNICIPAL are about the Municipal Auditorium in
Shreveport, Louisiana.  This beautiful building sports a new
statue of Elvis at the entrance and across the way, one of
James Burton, the lead guitarist of Elvis' band for many years.

The Municipal, one of the songs in my new album mentions
Elvis and several other great Hayride stars by name.  Elvis
appeared on her stage many times.   The Frontier in Las Vegas
where Elvis appeared in the fifties is no more.  A few years
back the tin building in Dallas, known as the Sportatorium fell
victim to the wrecking ball.  It was home to the Big D Jamboree
for years, and yes, Elvis appeared there two times. Thanks to
the friends of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium,  our
building stands proud and tall.

In my Stage Of The Stars CD there is a song  called UNSUNG
SONGS.   This is a song about Hank Williams Sr. It details the
West Virginia connection, where he was very popular.  I lived
in Montgomery, WV for several years, long after Hank's death
and the people there felt left out of  reporting of his death and
the sensation surrounding it.  He was scheduled to perform on
New Year's Eve in Charleston.   There were plans to turn the
Pure Oil Station in Oak Hill, WV  into a Hank Williams
Museum.  In the end, the plan was scuttled and the Pure Oil
Station where Hank's driver pulled in, asking for directions to
the hospital, was razed.  This is the same station where Hank's
brand-new, baby-blue Cadillac  was stored until the family
could pick it up.

This CD has some  good solid country type tunes included.  
They are: COLD AS DECEMBER - LAND OF LOVE - FROM A
TENDER ARM - I FEEL THE ASHES - WHEN YOU SMILE by Jo
Morris - STAGE OF THE STARS and  THE MUNICIPAL, which
features a female solo by Cindy Lane-Adams and a fine steel
guitar ride by Derrell Stephens. In this new CD, a song  WRONG
SIDE RUSTY, is  one of those personal experience songs I come
up with.   This deals with an actual person I worked with,  
Rusty Reynolds.   He was a DJ and music director, who  later
went into sports and then radio ownership and is in the Texas
radio hall of fame. There are some who are calling this song
AGGIE MUSIC!     I wrote a song about a co-workers  dog  called
Harry The Dancing Dog and the song called You Had To Be 15
has a great guitar ride by Earl Hearon.  An instrumental in the
CD by Vicente Zumel from Barcelona, Spain is a knocked-out
toe-tapper called Mister Stan, part 2.

In my movie career, I am in a brief visible scene in Stephen
King's THE MIST which is now making the theaters and  am
invisible  in  Blonde Ambition  with Jessica Simpson, a DVD just
released.  Minden, Louisiana becomes Minden, Oklahoma in
that film and Willie Nelson plays pa-paw.   I also had a small
part in Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins which is being released
to  the movie houses this month.  My best movie scene so far
was in the TV Movie and DVD,  RUFFIAN.  One last thing on
music .. The Eagles, who have not made a recording in years,  
are back and hitting.  The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bon Jovi and
Sting have also had success with country flavored songs and
this could be a trend for 2008.  My music business continues to
grow with orders shipped last month to Houston, TX,
Albrightsville, PA, Kalamazoo, MI, Adelaide South Australia,
Wheaton, Il, Eugene, OR, Framington, MA, Red Bluff, CA,
Yuma, AZ, Birmingham, AL, Hopkinton, MA,  and many other
locales.

Got queries this past month to this web-site concerning  Mitch
&  The Misties,  Stan Lewis,  Sonny Harville, Sansone's,  Joe
Stampley,  Legend of Boggy Creek,  Bob Griffin,  Randy
Traywick  Travis,  and Hub Brando.

FEBRUARY 2008 FILM TALK
This month in Shreve-Wood and coming up...........

The movie industry may have found a local hero in Alexandyr
Kent.  He  did some great writing on several stories
surrounding the new Stephen King movie THE MIST which was
produced and filmed here locally!  I was one of the many extras
in this movie and Kent wrote a nice piece with picture in the
Sunday Times prior to the opening of the movie.  It now has
opened and is being shown locally and nationally. Kent’s
accounts certainly propelled the momentum and excitement
around the film, locally.  His blog LINK is listed above and
below for late film news.

Want to be in the MOVIES?????  Actors wanting to get into the
movies can attend the meet-up, the first Tuesday of every
month in Building D on the Bossier Parish Community College
campus.  The program is hosted by Clare France of the
Robinson Film Center.  The new Robinson Film Center  will be
completed later this year and it will become a center for local
film people.  BPCC has many courses for acting and related
movie industry positions.  JEFFREY GOODMAN will be
teaching a film course at both LSUS and BPCC.

The locally made DEBATERS with Denzel Washington, could
possibly be the BIG  ONE, the blockbuster that lets the world
know we are here in North Louisiana and taking care of
business in Hollywood South.  I am told that Millennium  
Studios still plans to build a studio here.

New Orleans had several blockbusters made there before
Katrina hit.  We have played host to some successful, money
making movies in our area, but so far, no Gone With The Wind.  
Movie wise,  we continue to grow with  one local church set to
get into the family type film business by year's end.

I have not shot any movies recently and I am unseen in the
DVD, Blonde Ambition,   which has just been  released  in
January.  However, my dark overcoat, gloves, scarf and my
warm  smoking breath CAN be seen.  In that DVD, Minden,
Louisiana becomes Minden, Oklahoma and Willie Nelson got
the part I wanted.   Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins will hit the
movie theaters this month and I was an extra actor in it also.  
There are movies constantly being filmed here in the area and
extras are always needed.  There are many actor workshops
and acting classes being offered by  gifted actors/actresses
and local and regional colleges.

The DVD Ruffian  is  available for sale from this site. In this
movie and DVD,   I have two clear facials. The first one in the
Janney scene at 10:43 into chapter 4 at right top discussing the
race with  a handicapper, with my race program in hand, then
shaking hands and rushing over to left screen  to join some
lady friends.  The lady friends ending was not in the TV movie
but, is in the DVD, where I have a  second visual shot at 1:06:50
in chapter 17, after the break-down, when Nack (Frank Whaley)
runs into me as he is rushing to get to the track.

The movie industry is not all about the STARS, but when a
young person has worked their way up and he dies young, like
Heath Ledger, there is a jarring effect, the same kind of effect
that we felt back when James Dean left the building.

My new CD of songs that I have written and sing, along with
some friends, has been released and  is being well-received.  
The new CD is called STAGE OF THE STARS which is the stage
inside the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, where many
famous country entertainers once played.  Since Dawn
Landrum of Landrum ART LA did my head shot for the casting
companies, I used two of her pictures on the cover on this latest
CD.  Comments are good about her work and the cover design.

Local movie world.
My first encounter with the movie world was back
when Hurricane Betsy did so much damage to the
New Orleans area in the 60s. They held the world
premier of the movie CINCINNATI KID with Ann
Margret, Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson and
Karl Malden in New Orleans  and I was there as a
member of the media.  It was a blast to interview
these stars.  McQueen didn't make it.  We didn't
know it then, but his health had already started to
fail.

Now that the MOVIEWORLD has come to this area
and I have had the distinct pleasure of working on
several of the sets, I have heard many extras
griping about not being seen in the final takes.  
Well, stop griping because that's a sure way to
make the local casting agencies lose your number.  
The directors and AD's don't have time to listen to
you complain.

I know a lot of you have great acting ability and it is
true, you don't get a chance to shine when you are an
extra.  Wanna-be actors have been asked to leave if
they try to stand out too much when they are
employed as an extra.  Just do what the director tells
you to do, when he tells you.  Learn to follow
directions.  It's important.

If you are one who is serious about  a future in
acting, be prepared.  Take a course at a local college
or  go to some acting workshops.  You have to look at
this as a professional and if you get the big break,
you may only have that one chance to prove you
have the stuff it takes, so you should be prepared to
impress somebody.
Photo courtesy of THE STATIC.  J. Pete Hopkins,
editor
DANDY DON at KTCS AM, Ft. Smith, Arkansas.   He
was a rock and roll DJ for 1 1/2 hours daily.  
Success felt good and he moved  on to Texas
Top-40 Radio.
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS AT    
HIRSCH with Larry Ryan, Ron Gray and
Dandy Don. Photo by Terry Atwood.
DANDY DON WITH REX AND KEVIN OF  
LOUISIANA PUBLIC TV DURING SHOOTING
OF MAKING WAVES - THE LOUISIANA RADIO
STORY!  Photo by Betty Jo Mooring.
THE HILLBILLY  CAT
HORACE (Elvis has left the building)LOGAN
MONA BATEMAN was barely a teen when
the picture above was taken at a photo
kiosk as Johnny Horton and his band  
finished up their last gig in Austin, Texas at
the Skyline.  Mona's daddy had played
drums for the Horton troupe. After this
picture was taken, Johnny started his trip
back to Shreveport.  This was the last photo
ever taken of the Singing Fisherman.
Photo (C)2009 - Mona Bateman
www.dandydonlogan.com
(above) In 2008, old friends Sonny Harville, Don
Davis and Jo Smith got together to relive some
music!
Don Logan's last job with the
State of Louisiana was in the
Webster Parish Court with
Hearing Officer Lesa McGaha.   
ADA Sherb Sentell was called to
serve his country.  He is pictured
here at Ziggurat.
EARLY COUNTRY BAND (left to right)
Don Davis, bass-Sonny Harville & Tex
Grimsley, fiddles- Bob Moore, guitar-Jo
Smith, guitar.
www.dandydonlogan.com
www.dandydonlogan.com
www.dandydonlogan.com
DANDY DON at St. Theresa's CYO Record Hop
and King and Queen finals.
SOUTHERN   PLAYBOYS
Bill Cunningham, Parks Todd, Wendell Cunningham, Bud
Orr and Jo Smith.
www.dandydonlogan.com
www.dandydonlogan.com
Don Davis - Circa 1950s
www.dandydonlogan.com    (c)2010-Jo Smith
HOLLYWOOD RANGERS with Jo Smith, Don Davis,
Tex Grimsley and others.