For 29 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 29 years, Paul Christensen and his wife Donna Christensen have served as Line and Technical Producers for the live event and television broadcast, which has continued to grow into one of the premier awards shows in the country. For over 36 years, the black-tie ceremony has been shot and televised statewide by the Oklahoma Network (OETA) (PBS). This year Cox Cable Network also aired the event.
This year’s show was especially rewarding in that 2017 was the 90th outing for the venerable project. Well known recording artist Carrie Underwood was slated to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and Singer, Actress Kristin Chenoweth and Musical Artist Vince Gill were slated to host the event. In addition, Actor Tom Selleck and Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton were to be on hand as a presenters. As sometimes happens in show business, Underwood broke her wrist in a fall and Chenoweth was stricken with a serious case of the flu. A few days before the event, both were forced to cancel. As they say, “The show must go on,” so because of the late cancellations, former Miss America, Jayne Jayroe-Gamble, graciously agreed to MC the show with Gill. And the rest is history.
The show was held at the Great Hall, Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, OK, where eight outstanding Oklahomans were inducted into the 90th class of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. The ceremony also included live musical performances by well known recording artist, Vince Gill, the Hall of Fame Orchestra, under the direction of Jeff Kidwell, as well as a National Anthem performance by The Voice artist Olivia Kay.
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, 691 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 2017 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Honorees were: Justice Tom Colbert, Sapulpa, OK, presented by Kenneth J. Levit, Tulsa, OK; Congressman Tom Cole, Moore, OK, presented by Frank Keating, Oklahoma City, OK; Bob Funk, Piedmont, OK, presented by Tom Selleck, Sherman Oaks, CA; Shannon Miller, Edmond, OK, presented by Mary Lou Retton, Houston, TX; Phil Parduhn, Edmond, OK, presented by V. Burns Hargis, Stillwater, OK; and Hal Smith, Ardmore, OK, presented by Barry Switzer, Norman, OK. Those individuals honored posthumously were Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, Chickasha; and Sequoyah, the Cherokee Nation I.T. Biographies of the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees.
Oklahoma natives Vince Gill and Jayne Jayroe-Gamble, served as Masters of Ceremonies for the event. Vince Gill is an American country singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a vocalist and musician have placed him in high demand as a guest vocalist and a duet partner. Jayne Jayroe-Gamble is a successful broadcaster, author, public official and former American beauty queen from Laverne, Oklahoma, who was Miss Oklahoma in 1966 and Miss America in 1967.
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. Madison Nash assisted as Director of Honoree Relations, Hall of Fame Awards. Deputy Director, Mickie Smith served as Show Producer. Jeff Morava Directed. Justice Steve Taylor provided stage and talent direction, assisted by Jeremy Humbert. Leon Smith and William Bennyhoff, Toucan Lighting, provided Lighting Design. William Bennyhoff served as Lighting Director. Toucan has supplied the lighting services for all of the Hall of Fame Shows for many years. Carlos Monzano served as Technical Director (TD). Megan Stephens was Assistant Director (AD). Tanya McHenry served as Teleprompt Operator. Video shading was provided by Derrick Harrington, with Greg Leslie handling video playback and record. Camera operators were Tony Emig, Mark Northcutt, Ilea Shultler, Randy Hayes and Andy Gibson. Dallas based John Johns, In-Sync, Inc., served as Project Video Engineer and provided communications services, assisted by Samuel Roberts.
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. 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 Jeff Alford. 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 Blake Cates, Production Coordinator, assisted by Cory Beyer and Sound specialist Devin Mendez. Michael Rarick 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 90th running of the event – the only one of its kind in the nation.
