We Miss G. Ailard S. Artain!

It's been just over a year since the departure of my favorite madman, Gailard Sartain, aka the Incredible Doctor Mazeppa Pompazoidi. Here are some scans from the Tulsa World anent that sad occasion.

The above is from the June 21, 2025 World.

The above is from the June 29, 2025 World.

You can check out the search term "March Mazeppa Madness" on this blog's home page to see dozens of clippings from my own obsession with this wacky genius.

See you on Thursday to begin a month of TREKKING WITH CLIPPINGS!

  

Farewell, Jim Millaway!

I was saddened to read this story in the December 24, 2023 Tulsa World.  Why?  Surely you jest.

Because Millaway was an indispensable part of Dr Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting!  (The above obit is from the December 27, 2023 World.)

From 1971 to 1973, Jim Millaway played good-natured, sometimes straight man Sherman Oaks.

He was often the foil for such mutts as Benny the Crusher (above)

or Teddy Jack Eddy (Gary Busey) and Little Darlin' (Janie Jackson).

His parody of local interview shows was called "Tulsa Teen Town Topics."  You can certainly sense Millaway rolling his eyes at Benny the Crusher's muscles, above.

The above article is from the October 10, 1982 Tulsa World.

And this one is from the December 20, 2009 World.

I never met the guy, but I saw him once in passing, at a SoonerCon in the early 1990s, at OKC's Central Plaza Hotel.  I recognized him without the half mask, too!

SAH-LOOT, Jim Millaway!  Thanks for your easygoing character, sense of humor, and improvisational skills!

  

Vote for Mister Mystery!

As you should know, Mister Mystery ran for Tulsa's mayoral post. Now, heretofore never revealed, is the campaign song which I wrote for him, but never shared with anybody ... until now.

In case you wondered, you're supposed to sing this to the tune "Close to You," as made popular by the Carpenters.

After this, you probably long to "boo" me too.  But I was only 15, so gimme a break.  See you on Thursday with the last-ever post of the last-ever MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS!

  

Proud Oklahomans

This is from the December 14, 1997 Tulsa World.

I ain't sayin' nothing about the appreciative look Our Hero is giving to the pretty lady ...  See ya Thursday!

   

Moving to Channel 8!

"The zany unpredictability of Sartain at his best." That's what we all wanted, right kids?

This is from the August 29, 1972 Tulsa World.  Aahhhh, to revisit such halcyon days!

See you Monday!

Always Mazeppa in Our Hearts!

I sure hope Mr Sartain doesn't resent the fact, but he'll ALWAYS be Mazeppa to us. Of course, he's also the Big Bopper, and Oliver Hardy, and ...

This is from the October 7, 1984 Tulsa World.  See you Monday!  Until then -- I hope you can remain, like me and Sartain, "fearless and unsophisticated"!

  

Never Rejected, Bucko

The hoity-toity types might have turned up their surgically-snipped noses at Mazeppa ... but we never did, right?

I said, RIGHT?

This is from the July 22, 1989 Tulsa World.  (Note my mom's writing at the top, before she mailed this to me in OKC.)  See you on Monday!

  

Lost No Longer!

It's hard to remember that we spent two decades with only our memories and Mazeppa scrapbooks to jog our fanatacism. Then came this cosmos-shattering information from the October 2, 1992 Tulsa World ...

And, as noted in the header art for this month, you may buy ALL FOUR VOLUMES of The Lost Tapes of Mazeppa (or mix and match any way you wish), at

https://www.mazeppa.com/

... Although I doubt you can buy them "on videotape."  It's all them Digital Video Discs nowadays!

See you on Thursday!

  

LAWZEE!

And welcome to the last-ever MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS!

As you will read in this article from the April 28, 2001 Tulsa World, Gailard Sartain is a visual artist as well as a comedic one.

See you on Monday for another look at the world of Mazeppa Pompazoidi, fellow Mazeppites!

Mazeppa Can Write!

Of course, "Mazeppa Can Write!" may not be news to you, considering that Gailard Sartain was co-creator of the whole she-bang.  But, in further testament, I submit:

An actual photographic reproduction of the autographic memento received in the postal delivery from good ol' Muh-ZAY-puh hisself!

Ain't that the wizard's gizzards!

With this artifact of greatness, this year's MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS fades slowly into the everlasting hills, to be resuscitated next year, same Bat-time, same Super-Blog-Channel!

But don't forget to swing back tomorrow -- Friday, April First -- for the commencement of this year's APRIL FOOLISHNESS.  It's a date!

  

It's Certainly Better than Crying!

"Who's laughing now?" was the musical question asked in the Tulsa World for December 20, 2009:

Remember, you too can buy your own DVDs of The Lost Tapes at MAZEPPA.COM!

See you Thursday for the wrap-up of this year's MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS!  And you won't even have to stay up after the late movie!

  

There's Room in the Saddle for You!

Yes, although Mazeppa rides again!

You too can saddle up!  This article is from the January 21, 2001 Tulsa World.  Not only can you buy Volumes 1-3 at Mazzeppa.com, you can buy ALL FOUR DVDs and get free shipping and a special package price!

Do it NOW!  NOW!! NOW!!!

See you Thursday!

 

Slightly Green, Anyway!

Good ol' Muh-ZAY-puh may not be Irish, but I got some. So here's a memory that's at least PARTIALLY green ...

As revealed in 2019, I got myself one of them there Underground Cards rapidly.

It rests on display in a place of honor in the Fortress of Markitude.  Come on over and see it sometime!  Until then, check back on Monday for more MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS!!!!
  

I Like to Pronounce It "Sebum-Up"

LAWZEE!

It's from the July 20, 1970 Tulsa World.  And by the way, those are glass bottles.  You can bet that ol' Muh-ZAY-puh was very careful when getting this pose set up.

And if you didn't know by now, "Delmo Gillette" of the platinum voice was none other than Gary Chew.

See you Thursday!

  

Don't Be Shy Unless You Can Be a King!

It's a little clip of heaven.

One of the many skits was Shy King, a take-off (GET IT?) on the old syndicated show Sky King.

One precocious soul has uploaded ONE of these skits, viewable above.  However, the one which sticks most in my memory relies on a silly little bit of prep.

The model plane used in the skits was sitting "on the runway" at rest.  It was drenched in lighter fluid.  Off-camera, "Shy" said, "Fire up the Songbird, Penny!" -- so someone dropped a lit match, and the plane burned up.

Remember, you can buy one or all volumes of The Lost Tapes of Mazeppa by visiting the shop.  The screengrab seen above is from the Shy King skit seen in Tape 4, which MAY or MAY NOT be the one in the video above, or the "on fire" installment I remember.

Now, that's funny! -- at least when you're 13.  See you Monday.

  

A Halloween Special for YOU!

First off ...

This article is from the October 22, 1982 Tulsa World.

Second off:

Some wondrous person recorded the aforementioned special off the air and shared it.  Here is their Betamax dub in its gory glory:

PROOF POSITIVE that you and I aren't the only fanatical Mazeppites out there!  See you Thursday.  Until then, make sure you drink Sebbum-Up COOL!

  

Let's Get Crispy

In the diner sketches in The Lost Tapes of Mazeppa Vol 2 and 3, there's a silly sign on the wall.

Hmmm ... what's it say?

You get a better glimpse in the closing credits.  Of course, only Sherman Oaks, or perhaps Little Darlin' can tell us just WHAT is so crispy.

Regardless, I here's a home-made version you can print and add to YOUR Mazappa hideout!  See ya Monday.

  

Keep the Cult of Mazeppa Alive!

Welcome to 2022's MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS!

And here's how you too can keep the legend of the Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting alive!

Go to THE EVER-LOVIN' MAZEPPA SHOP

... and buy somethin'!

Keep the magic alive!

LAWZEE!

See you on Thursday.

  

Crazy Ol' Ed Greer? I Never Met the Man

But I did collect his coupon, because Mazeppa told me so!

This would have been a great deal, but I never made it to any Greer Stereo Tape Centers.  What did I miss?  

Of course, if I'd've taken advantage of this wonderful offer, I wouldn't have this treat to share with YOU 50 years later!  You can tell, of course, that the coupon is made to fit as a vertical insert into a carboard six-pack carrier for glass bottles?

Like this one.  Well, this is the last post in this year's MARCH MAZEPPA MADNESS.  Tune back in on Thursday for the commencement of 2021's APRIL FOOLISHNESS!  Until then, a final LAWZEE! to all fellow Mazeppites!

  

The World Premiere of My Mazeppa Song!

Yes, some time in 1971, I decided that Mazeppa Pompazoidi needed a theme song.

It's supposed to be sung to the tune for the song "More," aka "The Theme from Mondo Cane."

I must note two important things:

1. I didn't spell "Mazeppa" correctly
2.  Being a clueless 15-year-old, I never did anything with the thing -- until now!
   

And now the whole world knows the truth about "The Mezeppa Song."  See you on Monday with another relic from the Seventies!