Look at Me...I'm on TV

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

I was looking for an idea to write about by reviewing what I had written in my journal for this week in 1964 and came upon an ironic happening. I found that on January 29th I made a note that I was on television and seen as part of the fans at a Lee basketball game. Other items noted were my grades for the first semester of the year and that Bob Walker, LHS '64, had failed English and would have to go to summer school. English was divided into two subjects during my senior high school curriculum - English literature and English grammar. Each subject was independent so a good grade in one could not offset a bad grade in the other. I do not remember which came in which semester. Back then I wrote:

Wednesday, January 29, 1964

29th Day - 337 days to follow

Clear

We got our report cards at school.  My six-week grades went like this: English, C+; Physics, C; Geometry, A; Democracy, B.  Semester grades were: English, B-; Physics, C; Geometry, A; and Democracy, B.  I got an A in Journalism for both.  Poor Bob failed English with a 58 and may not get to graduate with the senior class.

I was on T.V. tonight, on the basketball game films.

Going back to the appearance on T.V. caught my attention for a very good reason. As I have noted in the last couple of weeks, I have been acting as a member of the background talent for the television series “Young Rock” which is aired on NBC on Friday nights. At the end of the filming, I accumulated ten times I was on set for the series. Most of the time I was a part of about 240 or so fans watching wrestling matches and was just a blur in the crowd at most. All the wrestling matches I worked on were filmed in Memphis, but represented places such as Miami, Hawaii, France, Dubai and some others unknown to me – I was just there. I did appear in some other scenes such as a wedding scene supposedly in Hawaii, and a bar scene which was meant to be filmed in Paris. Again, all were done here in Memphis.

So, in 1964 I was on T.V. as a basketball fan. This coming Friday, February 3rd, the Paris bar scene should be aired. On the last day I worked one of the film crew came over and told me I had done an awesome job as a patron sitting at the bar when Andre the Giant walked in. I have not seen the episode so I do not know if I will be seen or if I ended up on the cutting room floor (or the digital equivalent). Anyway, almost 60 years ago this week I was on television. Of course, back then we did not have video recorders or any method for the common man to preserve things shown on television.

The rest of the story would include that I took a course in elementary acting as an elective in college at Memphis State. I have actually been acting in several shows filmed here in Memphis since my retirement. Way back in 1987 I did my first acting job as an extra in “War and Remembrance”. Since then I have had parts in “Million Dollar Quartet (Sun Records)”, “Christmas at Graceland”, “Wedding at Graceland”, “Bluff City Law”, Uncorked”, “Brian Banks”, and now “Young Rock.” It is a fun hobby-job for a retiree.

Here is the information about this week’s show.

Young Rock Series Three, Episode 10

Genre: Comedy

Network: NBC

Air Date: Feb 3, 2023

Pat Patterson finds love in Boston, Andre the Giant meets his destiny in Paris and Peter Maivia teaches Sean Connery how to fight in Dwayne's tales of their younger years.

Please don't take this as a brag session I am doing on myself. I just found it funny I was on television this week back in 1964 and now am on television again this week in 2023.

I somehow missed a few comments on the chain gang story so I have included them this week.

Thanks go out to all of you who took the time to respond to the short-shorts commentary. I love to have other's share their stories for me to print.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, and Comments

Sammy Gilbreath, LHS ‘66, "I was invited to speak at Angola prison in Lousiana around 2008.  After speaking to 5,000 inmates I got a tour of the 18,000 acres!  I saw many chain gangs with men on horseback with shotguns guarding them."

Richard 'Ricky" Simmons,  LHS ‘64, "I have seen "Cool Hand Luke" at least twice...when viewed I do not remember.  It was a really good movie.  I need to see it again."

David Mullins, LHS ‘64, "Loved Sam Cooke; also I actually did see a group of "trustees" working on the side of the road a few months ago. That was more noticeable since it had been such a long time since I have seen it."

Cecilia LeVan Watson, LHS ‘68, "My friends only went to the basketball games to see the boys in their short shorts!! I remember thinking girls can’t wear pants to school because it would be a distraction but oh those short shorts!"  

Woody Beck, LHS ‘65, "Just a small footnote: "Short Shorts" was written by Bob Gaudio of the Royal Teens. Later he was part of the Four Seasons and wrote "December, 1963" a.k.a. "Oh, What A Night", and other hits. I recall being told that "Short Shorts" was written when Bob was in high school."

Joel Weinbaum, LHS ‘64, "World events often dictate fashion. The military draft of the late Fifties gave deferments if you were married, then that ended but if you had a child another deferment was in order. Poodle skirts, bobby socks, and spaghetti straps, all drew attention but shorts and the arrival of the mini skirt were definite morale boosters, along with the likes of Playboy magazine. The Vietnam era went from November of 1955 to the end of April 1975. Today, we all know things have carried to the far side of all that. That era has certainly brought changes."

Jerry Robinson, LHS ‘68, "The story on short shorts reminded me of my first car wreck. I was driving home from a doctor's appointment when I saw two girls coming toward me from downtown.  Of course, my eyes were on them and when they passed my head followed them. This was due to my teenage hormones.  Anyway, as I was watching them the car in front of me stopped. I didn't! Well, I did but only after their bumper was in the trunk of my parent's 65 VW. The only redeeming thing was I wasn't hurt. I looked back to see the girls laughing because they were watching me stare at them. Thanks for the memories,  I guess."

Mary Ann Bond Wallace, LHS ‘64, "Thank you Tommy for bringing back memories which I had forgotten or had not thought about in a long time.  Acceptable dress for girls were skirts or dresses.  Yes, short or slacks were worn when you were involved in something physical - biking, hiking, etc.  I do remember when I went to college we were not allowed to wear shorts or slacks unless we were signing out of the dorm to go on a picnic or biking, hiking, etc.  Of course, everyone signed out that they were going to an activity that pants were needed even if they weren't.  Sweet memories that you bring to all of us Lee Grads each week.  I really appreciate your dedication and your diary/journal thoughts of the days at Lee High School."

Andrea Roberson, LHS ‘66, "I was thinking about a party my husband and I went to in 1968 and I had on light blue Hot Pants and white GoGo boots! WOW! It was lots of years ago but I remember looking good!"