Black Friday

Hagadious

Compiled in 2016, here are Haggard’s biggest selling albums as tallied by the RIAA. In the U.S., gold certification translates to sales of at least 500,000 copies, and the threshold for platinum is 1 million.

Okie From Muskogee (1969) — Certified gold: Oct. 2, 1970. Platinum: Dec. 3, 1991

The Fightin’ Side of Me (1970) — Certified gold: March 11, 1971

The Best of the Best of Merle Haggard (1972) — Certified gold: April 30, 1974. Platinum: Dec. 3, 1991

Big City (1981) — Certified Gold: July 11, 1983

Pancho & Lefty with Willie Nelson (1983) — Certified gold: July 11, 1983. Platinum: Aug. 7, 1984

His Epic Hits (1984) — Certified gold: Aug. 7, 1989. Platinum: Jan. 29, 1997

Super Hits, Vol. 2 (1994) — Certified gold: Nov. 14, 2002.

16 Biggest Hits (1998) — Certified gold: Nov. 5, 2002

For the Record (1999) — Certified gold: Nov. 5, 2002

By the way, friend and bus driver Dean Holloway's words about Los Angeles being "a dirty old city" inspired Haggard to write the song "Big City" in about 20 minutes and to record it minutes later in one take with a band that had not rehearsed it. “We didn’t have an ending, but the band came up with one they thought I’d like and ran me off as we wound down,” Haggard said. He also credited Holloway as a writer of the song, entitling him to half the royalties of it, which amounted to about half a million dollars for Holloway.

 Gap-toothed Red Simpson on early 1966 Buck Owens Ranch Show

 Sam Elliott

I don't recall Trout's being a rough place at all; it was always "a clean well-lighted place," to borrow from Hemingway. The Highland Inn? Now that was a different story.

Eugene Moles says this was his setup when he worked on a tour with Merle Haggard, temporarily replacing Haggard's Strangers band lead guitarist Roy Nichols -- '58 Tele and "Vintage twin. JBL'S"

 Don't know the graphic artist here.. but dig it

Bakersfield Kountry Komix mag back and front cover 

 "The place to have a barrel of fun"

Jimmy Thomason's last TV show

Yes!

Chalk it up as sadly now gone

Walter A. Martin
Walter A. Martin died Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
at Ridgecrest Healthcare Center. He was 92.
Funeral services were held Dec. 10 at the
Trona Foursquare Church. Pastor Mel Wilson
officiated.
Walter was born Jan. 10, 1915, in Joplin,
Mo. He came to the high desert in 1937 when
he helped build the tungsten mill at Atolia,
Calif.
In 1940, Walter found work at the
American Potash and Chemical Company in
Trona and moved his wife Annabelle and their
one-year old son Larry to Crumville (now
Ridgecrest). Walter worked at the Trona plant
until his retirement on Feb. 1, 1980. When
World War II began for the United States in
December 1941, Walter took steps to join the
service. Although he passed his physical,
American Potash wanted to keep him at the
plant and arranged for him to be classified 2A.
Over the years, Walter lived in Crumville,
Poison Canyon, Trona, Onyx, Lake Isabella
and for the past 11 years in Ridgecrest.
In the early 1950s, he was on the
bargaining committee for the International
Union of Mine and Mill Workers (CIO). Walter
served on the Searles Lake Federal Credit
Union board of directors for 35 years from
1954 to November 1989. Over the years, he
owned and operated various used car lots in
Trona.
Family was always important to Walter. In
1999 he and Annabelle celebrated their 60th
wedding anniversary surrounded by his four
sons, their wives and numerous
grandchildren.
Walter is survived by his wife Annabelle of Ridgecrest, sons Larry of Ridgecrest, Wallace of Portland, Ore., Walter of Cookeville, Tenn., and Jim of Ridgecrest; four daughters-in-law; and 42 grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Flowers are acceptable but donations may be sent to Searles Valley Cemetery Association,
P.O. Box 171, Trona, CA 93592.

Arrangements were provided by Holland & Lyons Mortuary.

Current Issue Links
Walter A. Martin
December 12, 2007

NOTE: Mostly correct I guess, EXCEPT, Walter was born in Cave Springs, Mo., at the Martin home bordering the Missouri and Kansas state lines.

Steve Turner 2025

November 2 at 10:08 AM ·

This is a rare c. 1910 real photo postcard (rppc) for Atolia, California. Atolia, California which is now a ghost town. It once was one of the world's most important tungsten mining locations. It was located in the northwestern part of San Bernardino County near the border of Kern County and the town of Randsburg. Tungsten deposits were discovered in the area around 1904, and the Atolia Mining Company was established in 1905. The town's name is a contraction of the names of two of the pioneer operators, Atkins and DeGolia. This rppc is part of my collection of vintage Southern California ephemera and photography which encompasses all aspects of the region's development with strong focus on architecture, real estate, mining, transportation and culture. The Mojave Desert region is very well represented and is a strong interest. More examples may be seen on my Instagram page @steveturnerantiquarian

Filed for marriage license, Joplin Globe, June 27, 1964, My very best friend:

 James Michael Shaw 21 Galena Kan., and Seva Marie Ogle 18, Joplin, Mo.

Line a Day Journal

 

December 8, 1941

 Way too cool -- Zingo's is a nice touch too

Bakersfield Theme guitar built by V8 Custom Guitars. The Bigsby vibrato arm is a salute to Oildale and its oil. Eugene Moles Facebook

Best of times movie

Pulled from a "Vintage Taft" website; year of post not noted.

I devoted an entire chapter to that movie in my book, Kern County Sports Chronicles, published in 2013

 Betty Jo Jacks

 ·June 11 ·

Here's some of my personal photos from when I was involved in the movie The Best of Times.

Best of Times was filmed in Taft.

I had my dog, my truck and myself in the movie.

I traveled with him down to Moorpark for continuity.

I got to know Robin Williams while filming the movie.

My dog Buck actually got a credit in the movie.

At the end, it says dog Buck.

The pictures of Buck with football players we're taking down in LA.

This was almost a year after the filming in Taft.

They called and asked if I still had the dog and could I bring him down and get some film rolls, so they could put him into the movie in more places.

They wanted him to be the mascot.

I was told by the sound guy when I met him when I first became an extra on the movie to never let my dog be seen on the Bakersfield side.

And if I did, that my dog would end up getting a part in the movie, and it happened.

I didn't avoid going to the all call when we had to be on both sides as the crowd, but I did not let my dog be seen.

I stayed in the back, but when I was on the Taft side I always made sure my dog got seen.

When they did some previews of the movie everybody liked my dog so much they wanted to see more of my dog in the movie.

Buck lived 14 years, he was born in Riverton Wyoming in 1980.

I brought him out to Taft California in 1983 and then we landed in the movie Best of Times, I was at Wyoming girl with a dream of going to Hollywood and getting in a movie and it happened.

I brought Buck back to Wyoming to bury him in 1994.

Buck is buried in the Tensleep Wyoming Foothills, and I didn't know one day I would end up living back here where he is buried.

I didn't move back to Wyoming until 2012.

If you have any questions about the movie or Robin Williams, I would love to share them.

Betty Jo's chow-husky mix Hollywood star canine, Buck, in front of robin Williams on sidewalk

 Gitcha sum Merle

Former Bakersfield and Los Angeles Dodger Glenn Burke -- the inventor of the "High-Five" (look it up)

 

     

Gene Moles with Mosrite Guitar. Sisters Fran Robertson and Pat Rush L-R

...

The story of the American migrant — from Dust Bowl to a new life

October 24, 2024

By Joe Richman

Pat Rush today. Radio Diaries

 Faded Photographs

L-R: Don Markham, Oscar Whittington, Ed Hill (foreground), Merle Haggard, Gene Moles, Roy Nichols. 1976. (photo courtesy Eugene Moles)

 Wonderful Woolworth's

 El Tejon Hotel -- Baketown

Not that big on sports anymore... like the artwork

Which teams are legit contenders for this year's 2025 college football title? (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)

 

LaDonna Anderson

October 23, 2025

LaDonna Kay “DAWN” Anderson was born in Wichita, Kansas on December 11, 1949. Given up for adoption as an infant, LaDonna was chosen by Don and Violet Anderson of Galena, Kansas. Her father was a preacher for the Assemblies of God, and her mother was a budding young artist who had no idea the incredible human being that God had given to them to care for.

From her earliest days, LaDonna Kay was a force to be reckoned with. The red hair and blue eyes should have been a giveaway that LaDonna Kay would be different than all the rest. She was always big and loud and the center of attention as an only child, and nothing changed her entire life. The little ball of heat and light only got bigger and brighter as she grew older.

LaDonna Kay learned piano as a child to play piano for her father in his services. Her talent became refined as she grew older becoming an incredible pianist. But it didn’t stop there because LaDonna loved to sing, developing into one of the best singers to ever come along.

LaDonna Kay had a penchant for humor and pulling pranks. She was a leader of the pack, not a follower and that stayed true her entire life.

After working in the auto glass industry in Fort Worth, Texas in the 1980’s, LaDonna Kay learned a skill that would carry her on for the rest of her days. After marrying David Kuhler, whom she introduced into the industry, they ended up relocating back home to Joplin, Missouri where they started the business Anderson Glass in 1993, until retiring in 2022. She and her husband Dave, and eventually her children Darrin Dean and Jace would develop Anderson Glass into the top auto glass repair shop in the entire Joplin area. But that only led to a greater life ministry for her that would touch the lives of thousands, creating friendships that would last a lifetime.

LaDonna Kay Anderson became a local celebrity doing commercials and cooking shows, as well as being a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Missy famously she was for being Hug Lady on 3rd Thursdays in downtown Joplin.

LaDonna Kay never met a stranger, and she knew how to make strangers into friends. Nobody did it better than her.

Behind the scenes LaDonna’s piano playing and singing were always a major part of who she was and the source of joy to all who heard.

Ladonna was the rebel who gave her life to Jesus making her life work touching others by loving them the way He did.

On October 18, 2025, Jesus came to take LaDonna home to be with her mother and father and husband David who preceded her in death, along with her entire family who were waiting for her.

LaDonna Kay is survived by her children Dean and Nicole Campbell and Jace and Leslie Kuhler, along with 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, as well as her brothers Kevin Ray Anderson and Steven Bliss, and the many others whom she loved deeply and were like children to her.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Christpoint Church, Galena. Travis Goad and Mandy Meadows will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena.

Man of the cloth -- Don Anderson, husband of my cousin Violet Rice

Ladonna Anderson

.

 Awl Country

Menton, France

©Nella/Shutterstock

 First-ever RV:1910s

©Library of Congress/Bain Collection

 Big Sur

©ClassicStock/Getty Images

Central California’s Big Sur is one of the most popular road trips in the country. Highway 1 is the iconic route which takes travelers along this rugged coastline, with the most visited stretch running between Santa Barbara and Monterey.

Steelers on Parade

Spoke with Eugene Moles -- said he will play guitar for all 11 hours of the show, mostly rhythm guitar but some lead for Perley Curtis. Show opens 11 a.m., Saturday, October 18, 2025, at The Troubadour, located in Music Valley Village across from Gaylord Opryland and Convention Center. Get your steel on!

 I'm an old songhand...

                              Buck, Don, Wayne, Willie, Tom

 

.

Galena, Kansas

.

 Let me hear an amen!

Eugene Moles B-Bender, Clock Tower and Father Garces decals

 Bakersfield's Valley Plaza Stores 1977

 From: Eugene Moles Facebook

Recording with Buddy Emmons playing on Shot Jackson Tribute Session with Chet Atkins and others.

Gene Breeden asked me to come back next morning and play acoustic, day 2. at 10 am I asked who am I working with. Gene said "Chet Atkins. Chet's going to talk about Shot Jackson while you're playing acoustic. Just you two." I watched Chet in the vocal booth while I played. A wonderful memory. Love Chet's sense of humor.

 Maybe best movie ever made -- "Lawrence of Arabia"

                                                                             Peter O'Toole as Lawrence

 A return to normalcy! -- 'bout time

"We became the woke department. But not anymore," Hegseth said. "No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions. No more debris. We are done with that."

-- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, September 30, 2025

 Buckaroos 

Front L-R: Don Rich, Buck Owens, Doyle Singer. Back: Ronnie Jackson, Jerry Wiggins, Jim Shaw

 

    Cousin Ebb Pilling and his Ozark Squirrel Shooters at the Pumpkin Center Barn Dance

L-R Travis Funderburk, Shane Spencer, James Elbert "Cousin Ebb" Pilling on the banjo, Gene Oldham, Troy Smith, Lester Stout, unk, Tommy Hays, unk.

From Bryce: extreme far right resembles Spade Cooley, a frequent guest at PCBD; also I'm not sure that is Tommy Hays

BC, December 31, 1953, Page 26

The Bakersfield Californian

Sat, Jan 29, 1955 ·Page 17

 Babe Ruth League 13-15 Spencer Chemical

L-R Top Row: Manager Don Montee, Carl Wilson, Bob Debusk, Mike Shaw, James Michael Shaw, Byron Elsten, Coach Charlie Cunningham. Front row: Everett "Heavy" Hamilton, David Debusk, Danny Webb, Charley Rogers, Vernon Hayes, "Skipper" Stewart.

Identified by Bryce Martin

 Cousin Lois Martin

Lois Lavern (Martin) Wells, second child born to Dan and Mildred Martin on Nov. 30,1933, in Galena. Lois married Otis Chuck Wells on Dec. 1, 1951, in Huntsville, Ark.