News and Observations from Wapella, Illinois: Home of the Wildcats.

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Monday, June 29, 2009

RIP Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett has died at age 62.

With much demand from our loyal readers, we offer a tribute to one of the most glamorous of celebrities, Farrah Fawcett. The former Charlie's Angels star was well-liked in Wapella, and seemed like a pleasant person with a wonderful smile when on various talk shows and celebrity appearances.

Fawcett was married to Lee Majors, star of TV's The Six Million Dollar Man, from 1973–1982, though the couple separated in 1979. During her marriage, she was known and credited in her roles as Farrah Fawcett-Majors.

Later, Majors went on to star in The Fall Guy, potraying Colt Seavers, a Hollywood Stunt Man, who also had a knack for solving crime.

Colt's signature truck was an early 1980s GMC 4x4 pickup. It had a 6-inch lift and 35-inch Dick Cepek off-road tires mounted on a 16-inch chrome wagon style wheel. The truck also had a custom-made chrome roll bar mounted with 4 off-road lights, and a custom chrome grille guard mounted with 2 off-road lights and a Warn winch. One unusual characteristic was a secret compartment in the truck's bed, which was used to stash away villains or to hide weapons.

The vehicle was painted brown and tan two-tone; it had an eagle painted on the hood with the phrase "Fall Guy Stuntman Association" underneath. The truck was very often involved in high-speed chases and huge jumps. As a result, it became very popular, especially with children, and numerous toy and model versions were produced.

During the show's run, the stunts took their toll on the trucks, so several different year model trucks are used during the show's initial run. As a result, there are some inconsistencies in the episodes. For instance, in the pilot episode the truck (a 1980 model) has two square headlights and a light tan interior. For the remainder of the series, it almost always had the quad headlight configuration of the 1981 and newer models, with a dark brown interior. The truck usually appeared to be a short bed model, but sometimes a long bed model was used. After destroying several trucks due to the huge jumps, a custom built jump truck was built as a solution. It had a reinforced frame and axles, and a mid-mounted engine. This greatly reduced the number of trucks scrapped during the show's production...

At the end of the series, the remaining trucks were either auctioned or given away in a contest. It is unknown how many still exist or their whereabouts, but one of them was sold on eBay in 2003.

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Here is story of Farrah's famous 1976 poster.

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Ted Trikilis showed the photographs around the office and took notes about differing opinions as to which photo they should use. In the end though, they went with the one Fawcett herself had chosen.

A record six million copies of the infamous Farrah Fawcett red bathing suit poster have been sold since its debut in 1976, turning it into the engine that drove two Ohio brothers from college dropouts to multimillionaires running poster empire Pro Arts Inc.

Mike and Ted Trikilis were trying to make money selling black-light posters to hippies at Kent State before the swimsuit poster turned them into celebrities in their own right, with their services being hightly sought by Hollywood stars. Ted was even crowned the "King of the Posters" by The Washington Post.

Early in the summer of 1976, the brothers received a package containing 25 shots of Fawcett in a red swimsuit. She had marked her favorite with a star. It featured gleaming white teeth, windblown hair, and ... her nipple.

Once published the poster became an instant sensation, and sales continued to increase exponentially over the following months. Pro Arts did $2 million in business that year. In 1977 the company turned over its inventory 24 times, selling 3 million copies of the poster in February and March alone. The sales craze netted $6 million in revenue, $1 million of which was pure profit.

The blitz would later be dubbed "the Farrah Phenomenon." For her one-season run on "Charlie's Angels" Fawcett was paid $5,000 per episode — but she earned $400,000 in royalties from the poster.

In February of this year, the actress sued Bio-Graphics, Inc, Pie International Inc. and author T.N. Trikilis, who collectively claimed to own exclusive rights to the iconic photo.

In the suit, Fawcett claimed that Trikilis had “falsely asserted to third parties that [she] did not own any rights in the photographs.”

The actress claimed that she “owns and possesses all the photographs and negatives taken at the shoot.”

Fawcett initially requested $100,000 minimum, but entered into a dismissal May 11.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Clinton Man Makes TV News

Nick Buraglio a Clinton, Illinois native has made the big time TV news at WCIA Champaign with his tales of technology and intrigue. Buraglio, a major force DeWitt County double naught research and development, is quoted for his expertise on mobile phone "hacking" a term describing a sort of electronic counterfeiting of telecommunication devices.



Yes, our man Nick, who is bethroed to a Wildcat btw, knows how to get the bugs out of a cell phone, but there is one bug he can never be cured of. Dean Jones drove it, Lindsay Lohan caught it, but only George Jones captured it quite right on record. Here to celebrate the itch you just keep scratching is none other than the Old Possum himself catching the Love Bug.





Thursday, June 25, 2009

RIP MIchael Jackson 1958-2009

Michael Jackson has died at age 50.

Hailing from Gary, Indiana doesn't help you much in Motown or Hollywood, so the Jackson 5 took it on their own to be the biggest names ever in the music biz. Michael Jackson, the lead singer of the Jackson 5 had some atrocious behavior better fit for a carnival than for a music fan, yet there was something about the basic tunefulness of anything that Michael Jackson put to record that defined music to the ears.

It was good enough to remember Michael as the highly charged lead of the Jackson 5, but he went on to be literally the King of Pop, owning both the publishing side (including the Beatles rights) and the hits that kept him in the charts well past his brothers. I'll set aside the bizarre behavior, chimp acts, and home based carnivals for one more take at "I Want You Back" which turned 1969 over from the all-to-dour 60's into the 10x more chipper 70's.

Here's MJ +4 with a couple of other greats of the game in a 1972 (?) TV special. Two points if you can pick out the special guest stars.

RIP Michael Jackson.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Solving a Mystery with an Assist from a Great Dane

Up late last night with some of Cook County's top crimefighters, looking for clues, and enjoying a snack while watching Scooby-Doo. This song was actually from last weeks episode, and was suprisingly good. I don't know who the real band was behind the Scooby Chase scenes, but this one rates up there at least with the Archies, and more towards the Boxtops and Big Star.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Hey Hotshot. Why Do The Chinese Want to Keep Wapella.com An Ancient Chinese Secret?

We have at least 2 Wapella resources stationed in China right now who are starved for news (well, mostly 1970's rock videos even tangentially) related to Wapella (at best). What better way to serve up the scoop than using Wapella.com and Google's Blogger to pass the word on the street to the vast Wildcat Public?

Well the Chinese authorities think that Wapella.com is some threat to the Most Illustrious Regime, because the entire Wapella.com website is blocked from Chinese consumption. What is it about Hog City that doesn't play in the Forbidden City? The Central Illinois History? Sports ravings? Hairy Rock Bands? Long winded Obituaries? Pictures of old cars?

Whatever the case may be, it is long since time that the Chinese were exposed to Wapella. How about the Wildcat nation sending an email to Chinese Premier Wen asking for his gracious removal of the block on our site. Premier Wen, Tear down this wall that keeps your country from a full and further understanding of our Village.

Here's something from the Cultural Revolution in about 1975.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Dixie Dee: Ladies and Gentlemen Badfinger

Friday weather was too good to do anything but get out in the sun and surf, so held back till a rainy Saturday to have a fully costumed Kenny Rogers introduce Welsh Rockers Badfinger. Straight from Swansea to Kenny's lame looking set in 1972, Ladies and Gentlemen, Badfinger.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Wilma Jackson

Wilma Jackson (Arthington) 90, of Clinton, departed to her permanent home peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Monday, June 8th, 2009. A celebration service will be held at 2 P.M. Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at the Calvert Funeral Home, 201 Center St., Clinton, Illinois, with her son, Joseph Jackson, and James McMillon officiating. Burial will be at the Clinton Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wapella Christian Church or Little Galilee Christian Assembly.

She was born July 4th, 1918, to Asa and Sarah Elsie (Nelson) Arthington in their home outside of Wapella. On September 23, 1939 she married Kenneth W. Jackson, the love of her life, in Clinton by Rev. Wheaton. They had 69 wonderful years together, having lived in Illinois, Florida, and back to Illinois for their final years. Wilma lived a long and blessed life, one of serving and giving as a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother. She was a friend, teacher, cook, and organizer. Her love, guidance, quick wit, and get-it-done attitude, were evident to all she met. She was a very devoted mother of her family, instilling rich Christian values and strong work ethics, which will be carried on for generations to come. She continued the tradition of her family being an active member of Christian Churches wherever she lived, and also assisted in establishment of three new churches. She was also a teacher, always giving direction and guidance to those around her. She began teaching Sunday School at 14 years of age and was also an elementary school teacher for several years.

Wilma is survived by her loving husband, Kenny, two sons, Frederick (Fritz) of Wapella and Joe of Miami, FL; two daughters, Kellen Yeater of Champaign and Aricka Calianno of New Port Richey, FL; two daughter-in-laws, Linda and Elizabeth; grandchildren, Keith Jackson, Kenda Herberts, Dr. Kenneth Jackson, Joseph Jackson (Andy), and Jami Ellis; three great grandchildren, Donnie Jackson, Kayla Jackson and Kenneth Jackson (Andy); a great great grandson, Reese Patrick English. Her parents, brother (Glen), grandsons (Kent, Jeremy, and Joshua), and many friends have preceded her to her everlasting home.

Our condolences to the Jackson family.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Congratulations Grads! Now on to more Creation and Recreation

Nothing says summer is coming like the end of the school year, and 39 degree temperatures in Wapella this week. If I may start the thread, Brian Finger will graduate from ISU this term, and a shout out to all others that you may want to list.

So to see new grads off into the worlds work and relaxation how about something from The Creation from the schoolish movie "Rushmore" with their should-have-been-a-hit "Making Time"


...and a bonus version from German TV

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Myron Storey


Myron Leslie Storey, 89, Clinton, died at 8:12 p.m. Thursday (May 28, 2009) at Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton.His funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, with J. Kent Hickerson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Clinton, with military rites at the graveside. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, DeWitt County Friendship Center or a charity of the donor's choice.He was born July 6, 1919, at Clinton, son of Joseph William and May Bell Cooley Storey. He married Lucille McCubbin on Jan. 6, 1942, at Clinton. Lucille passed away June 18, 2002.Surviving are his children, Patricia (Bob) Carter, Weldon; Linda (Scott) Harrold and Deanna (Tom) Langley, both of Clinton; and David (Susan) Storey, Lincoln; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents.He was a member of First Christian Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in Company D of the 3rd Armored Division. He was a retired farmer and retired from Wallace Business Forms in Clinton. He was a member of the DeWitt County Farm Bureau.


Wapella flies the flag at Half Mast today for US Army Veteran, Myron Storey

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

From The Archives: Official Vehicle, Thy Name is "Ranchero"


Here's a gem from the 1989 meeting minutes of the Board of Wapella Historians.

The 1974 Ford Ranchero has been named the official vehicle of Wapella, Illinois. As of this day, the members of the Board of Wapella Historians will exclusively travel to all Wapella related civic functions in a 1974 Ford Ranchero. Failing the availability of the Ranchero, a Plymouth Scamp will be an acceptable.

Recalls one old-timer

"The endorsement brought generous dollars into the kittyfrom the Ford Motor Company, while GM refused to return our calls to certifiy the El Camino, in fact they told me never to call them again and hung up on me. The Scamp didn't get any endorsement checks, but the board liked the name so much, we made it the alternate. The Ranchero had the looks we liked and the style that makes Wapella go. We probably shoulhd have chosen a newer model, but Ford quit making them in 1979"

Is the Ranchero still spotted in Wapella?

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