Thanks for Tuning In [Paperback]

Richard Ruelas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2006

When the Arizona Historical Society created its hall of fame, the first inductees included Barry Goldwater, Sandra Day O’Conner and Wallace and Ladmo. This is the story of "Wallace," who was born Bill Thompson and was the creator of Arizona’s most celebrated children’s television show. It is a broadcasting story, chronicling how Thompson was able to keep a children’s show on the air for 35 years, long after every other kids’ show across the nation got the axe, longer than most shows in television history. It is also an Arizona story, telling how a wide-eyed college dropout who grew up the scion of a wealthy family in upstate New York decided to reinvent himself out West. Thompson’s relatives found fortune discovering copper in the ground of Arizona. This book tells how Bill Thompson came back to claim the airwaves. What he created in Arizona was unique across the nation—a funny, topical, edgy show that entertained not only children, but also teenagers, college students, and adults. Thanks for Tuning In reveals behind-the-scenes details of Arizona’s most beloved show, while telling, for the first time, Thompson’s own story. It reveals how Thompson’s privileged childhood served as fodder for the show’s villain, Gerald. It tells the tale of Thompson’s adventures as a bullfighter. And it chronicles the truth behind the end of the show, and the deterioration and reconciliation of Wallace’s friendship with his partner Ladmo. For those who didn’t grow up with Wallace and Ladmo, it’s a chance to see what all the fuss is about. For fans, it’s an illuminating glimpse into the person who greeted them on television every day. Consider it a "thanks" for tuning in.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A welcome and highly recommenced addition to the growing library of books about influential and popular American television programming of the mid=20th to late 20th century”—The Midwest Book Review

From the Inside Flap

When the Arizona Historical Society created its hall of fame, the first inductees included Barry Goldwater, Sandra Day O'Conner and Wallace and Ladmo. This is the story of "Wallace," who was born Bill Thompson and was the creator of Arizona's most celebrated children's television show. It is a broadcasting story, chronicling how Thompson was able to keep a children's show on the air for 35 years, long after every other kids' show across the nation got the axe, longer than most shows in television history. It is also an Arizona story, telling how a wide-eyed college dropout who grew up the scion of a wealthy family in upstate New York decided to reinvent himself out West. Thompson's relatives found fortune discovering copper in the ground of Arizona. This book tells how Bill Thompson came back to claim the airwaves. What he created in Arizona was unique across the nation--a funny, topical, edgy show that entertained not only children, but also teenagers, college students, and adults. Thanks for Tuning In reveals behind-the-scenes details of Arizona's most beloved show, while telling, for the first time, Thompson's own story. It reveals how Thompson's privileged childhood served as fodder for the show's villain, Gerald. It tells the tale of Thompson's adventures as a bullfighter. And it chronicles the truth behind the end of the show, and the deterioration and reconciliation of Wallace's friendship with his partner Ladmo. For those who didn't grow up with Wallace and Ladmo, it's a chance to see what all the fuss is about. For fans, it's an illuminating glimpse into the person who greeted them on television every day. Consider it a "thanks" for tuning in. "Your show inspired me, made me laugh, made me think, and even raised my level of expectations whenever I looked around at things that could make me laugh. . . . When my mom saw me and my three sisters parked in front of the TV set watching 'The Wallace and Ladmo Show,' she knew, except for bathroom breaks, we wouldn't be anywhere else." -Steven Spielberg --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: Boffo Books (August 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975282212
• ISBN-13: 978-0975282212
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,138,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you'd want to know is here!!, August 19, 2010

By 

Tuco (Phoenix, Az USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thanks for Tuning In (Paperback)

Wow!! I read this in one sitting it was so interesting. This is the full story from beginnng to end - 198 pages with a dozen or so pages of rare pics from the beginning thru the end.

Bill is completely honest and very detailed about his reminices and tells it all. Makes the show seem even more special once you know all the behind the scenes stuff that is presented in this book.

You'll read about:

- How the Wallace character was created by Bill in junior high
- His early desire to just make people laugh for a living
- How Ladmo came to join the show
- Who named him 'Ladmo'
- How the Gerald character was created
- Bill's very cruel recurring practical jokes on poor Pat
- How and why each of Pat's characters were created
- Many recounts of the verbatim dialouge from early and classic skits
- The chaos and violence of Geralds first public stage show appearance
- Why Ladmo was fired from the show
- Why Pat McMahon was fired from the show
- Why Bill finally decided to end the show
- The Ladmo Cookie
- Why Ladmo quit speaking to Bill and Pat for a year after the show ended
- Details behind the last days of Ladmo and suicide death of Mike Condello that shortly followed
- Many other stories of all of the behind the scenes fun, the stage shows, the Ladmo Burger joints, Legend City shows, the Hub Kapp frenzy, Grudgemeyer, the national syndication of the show, the old time movies, the Ladmo sports movies, Salt River Navy Band, and more.

This book is an amazing testament to persistance and of finding your place in the world. Recommended for anyone who shared in the fun at anytime over their 35+ years on the air!!! Thanks to Wallace and Long Live Ladmo!!! But Gerald is still a brat...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of Bill Thompson who as "Wallace" created Arizona's most celebrated children's television show, November 13, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thanks for Tuning In (Hardcover)

Thanks For Tuning In by Richard Ruelas (a native Arizonan and metro columnist for "The Arizona Republic") is the story of Bill Thompson who as "Wallace" created Arizona's most celebrated children's television show which was on the air for 35 years -- longer than all other kid's shows in the nation. Readers will learn about a wide-eyed college dropout who grew up the scion of a wealthy family in update New York who decided to reinvent himself out West. Here are also revealed behind-the-scenes details of Thompson's beloved children's show and its characters -- some of which were based on Thompson's own childhood experiences. A welcome and highly recommended addition to the growing library of books about influential and popular American television programming of the mid-20th to late 20th century, Thanks For Tuning In is quite candid about the end of the show, including the deterioration and reconciliation of Thompson's friendship with his partner Ladmo.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of Bill Thompson who as "Wallace" created Arizona's most celebrated children's television show, November 13, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thanks for Tuning In (Hardcover)

Thanks For Tuning In by Richard Ruelas (a native Arizonan and metro columnist for "The Arizona Republic") is the story of Bill Thompson who as "Wallace" created Arizona's most celebrated children's television show which was on the air for 35 years -- longer than all other kid's shows in the nation. Readers will learn about a wide-eyed college dropout who grew up the scion of a wealthy family in update New York who decided to reinvent himself out West. Here are also revealed behind-the-scenes details of Thompson's beloved children's show and its characters -- some of which were based on Thompson's own childhood experiences. A welcome and highly recommended addition to the growing library of books about influential and popular American television programming of the mid-20th to late 20th century, Thanks For Tuning In is quite candid about the end of the show, including the deterioration and reconciliation of Thompson's friendship with his partner Ladmo.