Running Bear ~ Teen Beat TV Show
“Running Bear” was another hit song of the day
written by the Big Bopper about a Indian brave and
maiden in love. I thought it would be a great song
to do on TV and so I told Wal I’d like to do it sometime.
Wallace’s eyes lit up and said, “then let’s do it
next Saturday night” . When we showed up next week
he had an authentic Indian set all made up. His prop
people had made a full size teepee with lodge poles
and all the trimmings plus Indian feather headdresses
for the whole band to wear. Me, Mike Condello , Bob
Dearborn and Mike Post all sat on the floor with our
instruments and I sang the song. The sound men had to
set up tiny little microphone stands to make it work and
the cameramen came in real low that day...That’s me
singing in the center of photo.
Ladmo’s Brother ~ Wallace & Ladmo Show
I just loved it how Wal and Lad would improvise
instantaneously on everything. I came in one day and
Wal said he wanted someone to play Ladmo’s Brother.
In other words to dress up like Ladmo’s brother and
do an impromptu skit. He looked around and I think
I was chosen because I was the tallest and lankiest
guy in the room that day. I was given a tall Ladmo
style top hat, long, long Ladmo neck tie, striped shirt
and then stepped out on Stage with Ladmo and Wallace.
Conversation went something like this: Wallace
saying “We need someone else to sing tonight, but
couldn’t afford to pay anything”. Ladmo says “well
my Brother Frankmo is here today”. Wallace asks,
“is he expensive?” Well says Ladmo “you sure don’t
pay me much, and my Brother Frankmo will work for
Nothin’ “.....That clinched it... I became Frankmo and
Lad and I sang our first funny song together. In the
Photo that’s Me on the far Left. The routine worked so
well that we did it many times, both on TV and around
the Valley at live shows like Legend City and Shopping
Malls. The fans really liked it, and I always felt it
a special honor to be Ladmo’s Brother Frankmo.
