Ho-Ho & Pokey Owned the Airwaves

(New Book)

Before I started school, there was nothing, and I mean nothing, better than watching "Lunch with Ho-Ho" on KOCO Channel 5. When the theme song started, Pokey the Puppet would start wildly jumping all over the place. Jeanie the Boston terrier would chase her rubber ball into her doghouse. And then the fun would really begin. Kids of all ages loved watching Ho-Ho because we never knew what to expect.

Ho-Ho (Ed Birchall) and Pokey (KOCO cameraman Bill Howard) were usually winging it, LIVE, trying to entertain and educate us kids AND crack each other up at the same time. Ho-Ho was the star, and the heart of the show. Pokey was the ornery sidekick. And since “Ornery” was my middle name, Pokey was my hero. He could absolutely kill me just doing the simplest skits, like in one of their promos when Ho-Ho was unpacking his lunchbox.

Ho-Ho pulled out a sandwich, prompting the ever-ravenous Pokey to shout “Love it!” as he slammed his puppet body onto the table top. Then Pokey did the same thing at the mention of an apple, some cookies and a cartoon. Love it! [SLAM]. Love it! [SLAM]. Love it! [SLAM]. Just before Ho-Ho said “pie”, he quietly slid the pie under Pokey, who screamed “LOVE IT!” and launched into the biggest body slam of all, right into the big ol’ pie and … I didn’t stop laughing or re-enacting that skit for a whole week!

I dearly loved all the wisecracks, mischief and physical comedy on the Ho-Ho show. But there was much more to Ho-Ho than laughs. You also learned stuff. On any given day, Ho-Ho might hop into the “Tempest Levitator” and travel to another place and time. Or show an “educational” network news story about Wind Farms. Or host a local animal expert and his cute Prairie Dog right in the studio.

It’s important to understand that Ho-Ho wasn’t just a TV personality. He was much bigger than that. He made hundreds, maybe thousands, of appearances at children’s wards in area hospitals, charity events, parades, fairs, and birthday parties. Everyone loved him.

Ho-Ho entertained and educated hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma kids during his 29-year run. When Ho-Ho died in 1988, three services had to be held to accommodate the legions of friends and fans who wanted to say goodbye. The first service even featured an honor guard of Ho-Ho’s professional clown friends and was broadcast live on KOCO-TV. You couldn’t get much bigger than that!

#memoriesofanokieboomer3 #Oklahomahumor #kocotv #HohoandPokey

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Amazon Reviews

Sudie
Sudie
Reviewer
5/5

Just finished reading your book. I was laughing out loud so much my husband asked what was I reading! And I kept thinking, “Bless his mom's heart”! My dad also read it and said he found it delightful. Looking forward to the second book. Thanks for the entertainment!

2 years ago
Tktjtj
Tktjtj
Reviewer
5/5

Fantastic!

Fun and great read!!! If you grew up in the 60 and 70 you will be able to relate to many fun stories the author tells!
Bill Moore is a very talented and entertaining author with a great sense of humor! I highly recommend this book!!!

2 years ago
Susan B.
Susan B.
Reviewer
5/5

Couldn’t put it down. A total joy to read.

The author was a classmate of mine in high school, and is still a great Facebook friend. I knew this book would be awesome b/c of the way Bill writes his posts on Facebook telling his friends of his life in New Zealand. This book touched my heart in soo many ways. Bills writing is so descriptive, that in your mind you see what he’s writing about or transports you to the place. I couldn’t put it down. Bill, thank you for letting me go back to my days of innocence as a child in Norman, Oklahoma.

2 years ago
Debra
Debra
Reviewer
5/5

Having known the author all our lives I expected nothing less than stellar from him and he does not disappoint. It brought smiles and loud guffaws as I tripped down memory lane with him. It was so much more personal to me as I knew the characters in the book but all will enjoy reminiscing about that magical time in Norman . Give it a read you wont be disappointed!

5 years ago
ProudDad
ProudDad
Reviewer
5/5

I think anyone who grew up around the 1960s will enjoy this trip down memory lane!

5 years ago

Bill Moore, Writer

Norman-born Bill Moore spent four decades as a newspaper reporter and P.R. guy, writing at least 900 gazillion words in Texas, Washington, D.C., Singapore and New Zealand.
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