For 27 years Omega Productions has worked on one of the few remaining live broadcast variety shows – the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Awards Show, a live musical variety and awards event of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, formerly the Oklahoma Heritage Association. For the past 22 years, Paul Christensen and his wife Donna Christensen have served as Line and Technical Producers for the event and television broadcast, which has continued to grow into one of the premier awards shows in the country. For over 33 years, the black-tie ceremony has been shot and televised statewide by the Oklahoma Network (OETA) (PBS). This year’s event was shot and broadcast in High Definition (HD).
The show was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where eight outstanding Oklahomans were inducted into the 88th class of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. The ceremony also included live musical performances by the Hall of Fame Orchestra, under the direction of Jeff Kidwell as well as a National Anthem performance by recent “The Voice” contestants, Alaska & Madi.
Being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is the highest honor an Oklahoman can receive from the state. Since the Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s inception in 1927, 677 accomplished individuals have received this commendation. The names of the Hall of Fame members, as well as busts and portraits of these individuals, can be seen at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum. In addition, the inductees are recognized on granite monuments in the Heritage Plaza at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.
The 2015 honorees were Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, OK, presented by Russell Westbrook, Jim Halsey, Tulsa, OK, presented by Ronnie Dunn, Bill Hancock, Hobart, OK, presented by Joe Castiglione, Mike Larsen, Perkins, OK, presented by Gene Ferguson, William Ross, Oklahoma City, OK, presented by William G. Hall, Sharen Jester Turney, Ardmore, OK, presented by Leslie H. Wexner, Steadman Upham, Tulsa, OK, presented by Keith Bailey and Francis Theodore Tuttle, Wellston, OK, who was inducted posthumously. Chad Tuttle, grandson of Mr. Tuttle accepted the medallion on behalf of the family. Biographies of the 2015 Hall of Fame inductees.
Michael C. Turpen and V. Burns Hargis, co-hosts of the popular weekly public affairs television show seen throughout Oklahoma, Flashpoint with Hargis and Turpen, served as Masters of Ceremonies for the event. Turpen is a partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewis in Oklahoma City. Hargis is President of Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Shannon L. Rich, President of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Director of Publications and Education, Gini Moore Campbell served as Executive Producers. Campbell also served as Script Writer. Millie Craddick assisted as Executive Administrator, Hall of Fame Awards. Deputy Director, Network Public Affairs for OETA, Bill Perry, produced for OETA (PBS). Directing the show was OETA’s Jessi Crino. Justice Steve Taylor provided stage and talent direction, assisted by Jeremy Humbert. Chuck Dutrow provided Lighting Design and served as Lighting Director assisted by William Bennyhoff with Toucan Lighting, Toucan has supplied the lighting services for all of the Hall of Fame Shows for many years. Jeff Morava served as Technical Director (TD). Tanya McHenry served as Teleprompt Operator. Camera operators were Ryan Lorge, Carlos Manzano, Kaci Ferguson, Tim Carson and Matt Bradley. Dallas based John Johns, In-Sync, Inc., served as Project Video Engineer and provided communications services, assisted by Tim Kennard.
Clint Daily served as Stage and Production Manager for the project assisted by Tommy Harjo. Baker Boys, Oklahoma City, provided the labor crew. Jeff Kidwell contracted the Hall of Fame Orchestra and served as Music Director for the show.
Kelly Barnett served as EIC, Video. Joel Beasley provided video shading along with Kallie Langham, who handled tape duties. San Francisco based Recording Engineer, Dave Luke, provided the on-air mix. High Definition (HD) mobile television facilities were provided by David Kearnes and Kodiak Mobile Television, Tulsa, OK. Omega contracted David Habegger and his Watermark Communications audio mobile unit, Nashville, TN, to record the soundtrack, assisted by Samuel Roberts. Omega brought in sound consultant, Joey Baker, Sulphur Springs Sound, to mix the live show for the more than 1400 in attendance during the formal dinner and show. TES Productions, Tulsa, provided Sound Reinforcement, Projection and Soft Goods services, as they have for countless Hall of Fame shows. TES Personnel responsible for the success of the show were Mike Frankenburger, TES President and Keith Watson, Production Coordinator, assisted by Cory Beyer and Sound specialist Jacob Yarbrough. David Carr served as Monitor Sound Engineer along with Scott Hight, Projection Technician.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame, formerly the Oklahoma Heritage Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the unique heritage and history of Oklahoma and fostering pride in the state. The organization was established in 1927 by Mrs. Anna B. Korn and a group of prominent citizens who met at the State Capitol. The first Hall of Fame Awards show was held a year later on November 16, 1928, Statehood Day. Since that first affair, the show has been held annually during the month of November. This year’s outing celebrates the 87th running of the event – the only one of its kind in the nation.
