Sat 5th Dec JOK – Johnny O’Keefe
Editor and co-producer Justin arrived back from NZ and immediately tackled the task of getting the JOK tribute to air. Remember he has a daily radio job and a family to consider.
I will await the audience reaction and make my decision to do a part 2 and even a part 3 JOK special. Alan Ramsey has loaned me an amazing library of JOK material and during my trip to Canberra this week I found out that Songland also have a dubbing service and now will negotiate with Brian “Frog” Harris to dub off some of the VHS material Alan supplied.
On the surface there is some amazing footage but it is only after seeing the finished dubs that I can make a programme decision.
In tonights 55 minute JOK show we have only scratched the surface of the career of John Michael O’Keefe and restricted by copyright to some major material. Still the Umbrella Entertainment DVD unearthed content that was previously thought to have gone to the that mysterious hole where so much of our TV history has been lost. Hence we are indebted to Umbrella for making a strong business decision to release this material and I add a very costly exercise, so I ask you to support this decision and order the DVD.
JOK was one of my early inspirations and we shared many interesting times over the years I knew him some I will cover if I ever finish my book. To work with him was a joy, to socialise was sometimes hazardous to my health and wellbeing especially when he introduced me to Cognac.
Hope you enjoyed our tribute to a REAL legendary Australian and if all works out as planned a future show will be produced.
Ken Sparkes
