Farewell to a King-Sized Sweetheart

Here’s what the Daily Oklahoman’s obit read

March 22, 1959 - October 28, 2011 MOORE Mark Lynn Barragar left this life to be with the Lord on Friday, October 28, 2011. He was born March 22, 1959 in Columbus, Kansas. He was the only child of Wallace and Loree Barragar. He graduated with the Capitol Hill High School Class of 1976. He spent most of his working life as a Master Control technician. Mark enjoyed a variety of pastimes, especially entertaining. Many people know Mark best by "Ranger Roger," the name he used when he hosted "Camp Kids Club" on KOKH (Channel 25) from 1991 to 1998. His most recent passion was as an Elvis "tribute artist" known as the "King-sized King." Mark married the love of his life, Yvonne, in 1981 and is the stepfather of Dru West of Chicago, IL; and Yevette O'Leary of Shawnee, OK; and is survived by them and his son-in-law, Michael O'Leary; and grandchildren, Turner, Kathryn, Ashlyn and J. Patrick. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Loree Barragar. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at John M. Ireland Funeral Home Chapel, Moore, OK, under their direction.

I knew Mark since the 1990s.  He came to a ThunderCon in full Klingon regalia.  Believe me, you pay attention to a 6-foot-4 Klingon!

Mark had played the Frankenstein Monster on Count Gregore’s Sleepwalker’s Matinee on Channel 5.  In the 1990s he was “Ranger Roger” for Channel 25.  Later he became an Elvis tribute artist, “The King Size King.” 

in the 2000s, Joyce and I saw him perform as the King several times, once at Moore’s Yellow Rose Theatre, where we bought this CD.

In between, Mark had talked to me about having his own show as a horror host (probably based on Count Gregore and other hosts).  I wrote him a couple of scripts, and when Mark said his character would be Cyclopean, I suggested we name him Professor Eisingel (“Eye”+”single”, get it?)  Alas, nothing came of that.

You can find a few more tributes here:

http://www.thelostogle.com/2011/10/31/rip-ranger-roger/

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSlh=1&GRid=79691753&

As to his CD, here are the tracks:

1) 2001 / That's Alright Mama

2)  Hound Dog

3)  Treat Me Nice

4)  Love Me

5)  Follow That Dream

6)  Viva Las Vegas

7)  In the Ghetto

8)  Wonder of You

9)  American Trilogy

10)  I Can't Stop Loving You

And here is the link:   http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CT5EG86Q

See you next week!

Under the Halloween Tree

We end this Halloween season with a bit of gentle fun, John Debney's enchanting soundtrack to the 1994 telefilm The Halloween Tree.  It was based of course on Ray Bradbury's fun tour of Halloween origins, the volume of the same name.

Here are the tracks:

01. Main Titles

02. Our Costumes

03. Pip's House

04. The Note / The Ravine

05. The Funeral March / Stairs

06. The Marley Knocker

07. Meeting Moundshroud

08. Pip and the Tree

09. Where is Pip?

10. The Barn Poster Kite

11. Landing in Egypt

12. Feast of the Spirits

13. Through the Streets

14. The Tomb Chase

15. Mummies

16. Pip's Casket

17. Funeral Procession

18. Leaving Egypt

19. Medieval Festival / New Years'

20. Stonehenge

21. Broomsticks

22. Witches Hideout

23. "What's a Witch?"

24. Witches Chant

25. Burnings and Flight

26. The Construction Yard

27. Sanctuary

28. The Cathedral

29. The Whistle / Gargoyles

30. Gargoyle Chase pt. 1

31. Gargoyle Chase pt. 2

32. Next Stop, Mexico!

33. Candle-lit Graves

34. Gargoyles Dissipate

35. Sugar Candy Skulls / Piñata

36. The Catacombs / Pip Trapped

37. The Trade

38. Coming Back

39. Pip's Alive! / Moundshroud's Pumpkin

40. End Titles

And here is the link:     http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KEE70YEZ

And, as the butcher said when he sold me the empty frankfurter casing,

HAPPY HOLLOW-WEENIE!

Anybody Remember Mazeppa?

In the early 1970s, late-night Saturday TV, in the Tulsa, OK broadcasting area, didn't get any cooler (or sillier) than Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.  Unlike many monster-show hosts, Gailaird Sartain's skits were actually humorous (sometimes).

Here's a contemporary photo

and here's me in about 1972, wearing my mom's rendition of the outfit:

One can only say, LAWZEE!

About twenty years later, the costume was still intact when I posed with a Franken-friend:

Growing up means being able to be silly.

See you tomorrow for some fun and creepy music to wrap up this year's BLOG-O-WEEN!