OKC Second Time Around

So What's New?

2010-06-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. We're excited over an upcoming announcement that we believe will revolutionize how Oklahoma City history is presented, shared and enjoyed by the entire community. Coming July 15th ... something so new, it's Retro...

Skirvin Sales Are Going Well!

2010-02-25T20:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been awhile since we've posted. Forgive us, but 2009 was a tough year where we had to totally rebuild our main site, www.okchistory.com, while also finishing and getting "Skirvin" published.
The good news is "Skirvin" is almost sold out and a second printing is coming. And the book is also a finalist for best non-fiction and best design at the 2010 Oklahoma Book Awards.
Coming soon: a big new push for OKC history.

Fun update coming soon to www.okchistory.com!

2009-02-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

Steve has interviewed the jingle writer behind many of the most beloved commercial songs that aired locally in the 1970s. Be sure to check in soon to hear the songs you never thought you'd hear again - including the song for "Southwest Ford" and "Evans Furntiture."

Bricktown

2008-08-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that "Bricktown," a publication by Steve Lackmeyer, co-author of "OKC Second Time Around," is set to be published this winter.

Great Show on Cable 20

2008-01-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

I know the programming on Cox Cable 20 isn't always the most exciting viewing, but it's starting to gain more and more appeal now that the networks have resorted to nothing but reality shows with the ongoing writers' strike. Catch the January city council show with Ward 4 Councilman Pete White, and you'll hear a great history of south Oklahoma City with attorney John Michael Williams and Capitol Hill Beacon Publisher Jim Sellers.

I know they play the show on a loop, so my best advice for catching it is to simply flip to Cox 20 every now and then and look for the guy to the left.

-Steve

Ward 4 Councilman Pete White

Aviation History

2008-01-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Shortly before the crash of http://www.okchistory.com/, which is now back in business, we received the following email from Ryan, a student at the Florida Institute of Technology. He was writing a report on the Will Rogers World Airport, and was curious about sources of historic information about city aviation. Can anyone provide some tips on this one?

Awaiting a solution from our ISP

2007-12-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

So why hasn't http://www.okchistory.com/ not been updated in two months? The answer lies with our ISP and our lack of experience in running a web site. So now I ask your advice... the web site as we last updated it still stands for all the world to see. But to update it in the novice-friendly webbuilder program provided as part of our ISP contract, we would have to start from scratch due to a data base crash. Is this true? We are trying to find out... it seems odd everything is still intact, yet we can't save it.
For now, let me recommend a great new book - "Whatever Happened to Molly Murphy's House of Fine Repute," written by the widow of the restaurant's owner, Bob Tayar. Anyone with a memory of this classic restaurant will enjoy this tell-all expose on Tayar's brilliance and extraordinary weakness for not being able to simply be content with success.
- Steve

OKC History... come see what it's all about

2007-07-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.okchistory.com/

It's not up yet, but....

2007-06-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

Coming soon: http://www.okchistory.com/. What is it? A place that celebrates OKC history, provides a central resource for researching Oklahoma City's past, and a watercooler for OKC history junkees.
Got suggestions? Post them here.
-Steve and Jack

COMING SOON!

2007-06-16T14:55:00.000-07:00

An entirely new web site... devoted to providing a place to discuss Oklahoma City history and a central resource for researchers and history buffs (that means you, http://www.dougdawg.blogspot.com/Doug Dawg!).

-Steve and Jack

Check out this month's Downtowner!

2007-06-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

Writer Kent Anderson provides an in-depth look at OKC Second Time Around. Learn about the book, and also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the challenges that must be overcome to get a local history book published.

The work, we found out, only begins once the manuscript is complete.

We're also pleased to announce the manuscript for our untitled Skirvin Hotel book is complete, and we hope to have information to provide soon on when it will be out on store shelves.

Our next scheduled public appearance will be at the opening of the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library cafe on Saturday, July 28. We will release more details about the day in the next few weeks. We also are preparing for visits in Tulsa as OKC Second Time Around hits stores in our sister city.

- Steve and Jack

Springtime

2007-04-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

And we're enjoying sharing our stories with Oklahoma City!

We are delighted to announce that thanks to the tremendous response to "OKC Second Time Around," the first printing is nearing a sell-out and our publisher, Full Circle Books, is preparing a second printing.

Look for a story about the book in an upcoming issue of Downtowner Magazine, and for our appearance on the book review show "Read About It."

In other news, we are happy to report we are working with a local publisher to release an in-depth look at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel, with books hitting stores (hopefully) by Christmas.

- Steve and Jack

The Latest

2007-03-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Carl Brune, whose hard work designing "OKC Second Time Around" was recognized with a best design award at the recent Oklahoma Book Awards. We also are flattered that the book was a finalist in non-fiction, was one of only two titles recognized as a finalist in two categories.

We are scheduled to speak at two upcoming gatherings:
Downtown Lions Club, noon Tuesday, April 3, McAlpine Center, 428 W California.
Downtown Rotary, noon Tuesday, April 17, Petroleum Club, Chase Tower.

We are hoping to have books for sale and available for signings at both events. We may also soon have an exciting announcement in the near future about our next literary endeavor.
- Steve

Thanks!

2007-02-14T23:31:00.000-08:00

We want to thank everybody for the great response so far to “OKC Second Time Around.” We are proud to share that the book is a finalist in two categories of the upcoming Oklahoma Book Awards; nonfiction and illustration/design. Winners will be announced March 10.

OKC Second Time Around competed against 62 other titles before being selected as a nonfiction finalist, and is one of only two books, by our count, selected as a finalist in more than one category (more than 130 books were entered in the overall competition).

Another thing that makes it especially sweet for us is that a recently-published book about Oklahoma written by a well-known, best-selling author whom we won't name here also is a finalist. We find ourselves in some rare air, and we are awed by our company.

On to other news -- During the next several weeks, we will be making the rounds at local civic groups, sharing our conclusions from researching the history of downtown Oklahoma City and sharing our thoughts on what’s next.

Upcoming appearances soon include:
Central Oklahoma's chapter of the American Institute of Architects
the Downtown Lion's Club.

Later in the year (April, if we recall correctly), we will present our work at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Oh -- and here's a special TREAT. On Sunday, February 25, The Oklahoman is publishing a special, 12-page special section on the Skirvin Hilton authored by Steve.

It will include rarely-seen historic photos of the hotel, readers' memories, a look at how the public and private sectors came together to bring the landmark back to life, and a look at what’s inside the restored 96-year-old property. The Skirvin Hilton will be “unveiled” to the public on Monday, February 26.

Upcoming Appearances

2006-11-29T12:28:00.000-08:00

Saturday, Dec. 2, 5:30 p.m. - "OKC Metro" on OETA (PBS)
Weekly in December on Cox Channel 20, "OKC Mayor's Show" (just look for the channel with the live shots of skating at Bicentennial Park)

Got Questions? We Might Have Answers!

2006-11-21T19:56:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have questions as you read "OKC Second Time Around," or may want to know more about how we compiled this story.
We welcome your questions. Just leave a comment on this post or others, and we'll do our best to answer.

Interesting questions to date:
1. What do you think was the most viable building destroyed during Urban Renewal?
Answer: (Steve) Probably either the Criterion or Baum Building. Both were architecturally unique and stunning, both would have been very attractive candidates for restoration as tax laws and financing became more friendly to historic preservation in the early 1980s. Both were torn down to make way for one of the biggest failures of the Urban Renewal era - the Century Center Plaza.

2. What inspired you to write this book?
Answer: Insanity. Steve and Jack were hearing conflicting stories of who thought up the Bricktown Canal in the weeks leading up to its opening. It was then the pair of Oklahoman reporters realized they were witnessing history.

3. What stories stand out the most in OKC Second Time Around?
Answer: For Steve, it's the tale of how Neal Horton gambled everything to develop Bricktown and lost everything. For Jack, it's how close MAPS came to not even being submitted to voters.

Favorable buzz

2006-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

Bloggers Charles Hill and Michael Bates talk about OKC Second Time Around:

www.batesline.com/archives/002895.html

http://www.dustbury.com/backlog/2006/11/saturday_spottings_e.html

More Signed Copies Available!

2006-11-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

Writer's cramp? Let's hope not. But we have signed 180 more copies of our work at Full Circle Books, so there's plenty available (we were down to 1) -- but hopefully, only for a little while. Get them while you can, folks. Eventually, we will run out!

Update on Sales Locations

2006-11-17T13:22:00.000-08:00

Full Circle Book Store, 50 Penn Place
The Painted Door, Bricktown
Myriad Gardens Gift Shop
Oklahoma City Museum of Art Gift Shop
Oklahoma City National Memorial Gift Shop (coming soon)
Best of Books, Kickingbird Plaza, Edmond (coming soon)
Bricktown Visitor Center (coming soon)
Oklahoma History Center gift shop (coming soon)

Our first, first review!

2006-11-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/11/okc-2nd-time-around.html

Once again, thanks so much for the high praise. For those of you not familiar with attorney Doug Loudenback's web sites, he has assembled an impressive collection of vintage city images and stories that range from the early days of the Oklahoma River to old downtown theaters to Deep Deuce.

First Review

2006-11-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

"OKC: Second Time Around" is a remarkable preservation of a slice of Oklahoma history that gives credit where credit is due and maps for future generations the elements of success that can be emulated in any major city in the nation. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the story of the successful rebuilding of downtown Oklahoma City. "
- Sunday, Nov. 12 book review by Bob Burke, award-winning Oklahoma history author
To read the entire review, visit http://www.newsok.com/article/2969218/

OKC Second Time Around

2006-11-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to OKC Second Time Around, a blog established in connection the newly released book by the same title. Authors Steve Lackmeyer and Jack Money will answer questions addressed to this site, and from time to time will share additional bits of history that did not make it into the book.

So what is OKC Second Time Around about?

From the run of 1889 when 10,000 strangers came together in one day to build a city until the beginning of the turbulent sixties, Downtown had been the commercial, retail and entertainment heart of Oklahoma City. In the subsequent forty years, the city struggled to re-imagine and rebuild and in the process overcome the centrifugal forces of suburban growth and a brutally commodity based economy.

OKC Second Time Around is the narrative and visual history of that unique experience. Steve Lackmeyer and Jack Money's narrative pulls together the almost serendipitous combination of circumstances that resulted in today's growing, vibrant, downtown Oklahoma City. Illustrated with more than 250 historic photographs, OKC The Second Time Around will provide fascinating reading for those who have lived this renaissance, for students of Oklahoma history, as well as all those interested in the peculiar, frail and highly individual nature of a city's reinvention.

OKC Second Time Around is sold at Full Cirlce Books, 50 Penn Place, The Painted Door in Bricktown and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art gift shop. More sales locations will be added in the near future. Books can be ordered at www.fullcircle books.com.

Upcoming appearances:
5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, KSBI TV, channel 52, Cox channel 9, Oklahoma News Tonight

7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, KOKC 1520 AM, Steve and Jack visit with Randy Renner and will be available to answer questions, discuss topics in OKC Second Time Around with callers.

OKC Second Time Around

So What's New?

Skirvin Sales Are Going Well!

Popular Posts and Features at OKC History

Fun update coming soon to www.okchistory.com!

Bricktown

Great Show on Cable 20

Aviation History

Awaiting a solution from our ISP

OKC History... come see what it's all about

It's not up yet, but....

COMING SOON!

Check out this month's Downtowner!

Springtime

The Latest

Thanks!

Upcoming Appearances

Got Questions? We Might Have Answers!

Favorable buzz

More Signed Copies Available!

Update on Sales Locations

Our first, first review!

First Review

OKC Second Time Around