Jack Bogut Is Still Alive
By jharlow on Jun 27, 2009 in Carpe Diem Guy, General Applied Theology, It's A Dog's Life, Seventies Nostalgia
[What's up with Jack Bogut? I wrote this article almost a yearago and it still generates a ton of interest. Go Jack! Send me an e-mail to tell me what you liked most about Bogut In The Morning: jeff@unpackingideas.org]
Every morning I heard Jack Bogut’s voice. Before school while Mom cooked Dad’s oatmeal, the radio would be tuned to KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh for Bogut In The Morning. As Mom stirred the oatmeal, the rest of us wandered into the kitchen for breakfast, or to curl up in front of the heat vent with Weepy the dog, all the while listening to Jack on the radio. Morning after morning, we heard his voice, and his stories.
Jack Bogut is still alive1 . Which is good news for a guy my age. This has been a rough few weeks. Jasmine our old dog died a few weeks ago (Emily the dog died several years ago, and Weepy died decades ago, but that’s another story). Ed McMahon died last week. And now, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson2 . I am feeling old, and as I watch the icons of my generation disappear (along with my own muscle tone and eyesight), Jack Bogut comes to mind. Sorry Jack.
Perhaps I’m thinking about Mr. Bogut because he represents those good mornings in the kitchen. And he was funny. And he is alive. I’m glad he is alive. I’m sure he’d be glad to hear this news, too. He gives me hope, because if Jack is still alive, maybe I’m not so old.
I miss the dogs, and I miss those mornings in the kitchen. I really don’t miss Ed, or Farrah, or Michael (or now, Karl…and now Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, and Mary) in the personal sense. My condolences to their families and friends, but I do not suffer a personal loss because of their deaths. What strikes me about their deaths is this (something that losing one’s dog does not do): Their deaths put me on notice. Pay attention, Jeff. Your generation is dying. You are dying.
Let’s not dwell on this too much, but it’s a good reminder. We know all things come to an end, even good things, even me. You’ve heard the song: “To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die…”. The Byrds released this Pete Seeger song in 1965 when I was in second grade and immortal. It is based on the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in the Bible. Listen to it here: The Byrds – Turn, Turn, Turn . It’s a healthy reminder of my mortality, that good things come to an end.
I’ll bet I first heard that song on KDKA, one of those mornings before school in the kitchen listening to Jack Bogut, who is still alive. I am still alive, too. And I still like that song.
© Copyright by Jeffrey Y. Harlow, Ph.D (2009)
- If you live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area this is no surprise to you. Not only is Jack alive, apparently he is doing well. Check out his website: www.storytellerjack.com.
- Recent update: I just heard that Karl Malden died! Who’s next? It happened. Now Walter Cronkite is dead.
i loved the smell of coffee and bacon and the warm voice of Bogut in the morning. What was kdka thinking when they left him go. ohh those were the days dad mom and me all together, i miss them.
ellie | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Ellie! I miss those mornings too!
jharlow | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply
I got through high school & college listening to Bogut in the morning. I still miss him.
Carla | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply
I’m really glad I stumbled on this blog. If it weren’t for Jack, we never would have had:
Farkleberry tarts
The sneakiest day of the week(tuesday)
TDBF(the day before friday)
I still have fond memories of cold winter mornings listening to Jack lay out the day. And somewhere I still have a tape of “It’s FRIDAY” that I made one friday morning when I was still a student at PITT. And many fond memories of bus rides “dahntahn” to whichever window he was broadcasting from for Childrens Hospital.
Thanks for the fond memories Jack, and thanks to Jeff for reminding me.
Bob Baird
Bob Baird | Oct 19, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Bob. Your comment is very encouraging. I never imagined how many folks would enjoy sharing the memories of those mornings with Jack Bogut. Amazing. — Jeff.
jharlow | Oct 19, 2009 | Reply
Oh, yes, those were the days!
Do you remember Bogut talking through “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road”?
The Good Morning Song? “sung” by the worst female morning voice you can imagine: “It’s morning, it’s morning, you’ve slept the whole night through, so good morning, good morning to you. GET UP!! (I “sang” this one to my kids many times over the years to get them out of bed).
How about the Carpenters singing “We’ll be right back, as soon as we go to the bath…room”?
Jack Bogut is practically family!
Donna | Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
Wow! And here I was just looking up names of past personalities and Jack Bogut popped into my mind. Guess I don’t have alzheimers yet!
Bogut in the morning. All of us who lived anywhere in KDKA’s airspace grew up on that!
Been gone from the Pittsburgh area for many years now but never left the Steelers, the Battling Buccos-(except the Clemente, Law and Stargell Bucs, to name a few, are certainly a memory of the past seemingly never to return!)
the Pens, the Brady Street Bridge Cafe’, South Hills Mall, my old HS stinking in football during my entire career there, Forbes Field hot dogs and not at all the least, Bogut in the morning. Did I say Permanti Brothers? And Lou Kairey’s?
Bogut used to do a skit with somebody else a lot. I think it was a skit. Anybody remember who he did that with and what it was?
Andy
Andy | Nov 20, 2009 | Reply
He used to play the Moon Township high school quoir singing the “Song of Mary” at Christmas time. My mom bought the 45 rpm, the $$ went to Children’s Hospital. I still have that recording and I bring it out at the holidays. Always makes me a little misty.
“Get your big wam chicka”
gail kaschub martin | Nov 29, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Gail! I continue to be amazed at how many of us have vivid and detailed memories of Bogu In The Morning. Those were good days, and was a hoot!
jharlow | Nov 29, 2009 | Reply
Does anyone remember Keenotata? It always made my day when I heard it before school! And of course, the Frankelberry tarts during the Christmas holidays……
Linda O | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
My sister and I were just talking about Jack Bogut a few days ago and remembering my mom making oatmeal on those cold Pittsburgh winter days waiting to hear if our school would be closed for the day; the Children’s Hospital fund drive (Farkleberry whatever it happened to be that year), “The Shortest Song in The World” and the “I Like Beer” song. I could go on and on. Thanks for this blog!
Ms. Jaxn | Dec 18, 2009 | Reply
As a radio announcer over in east-central PA myself back then, I made frequent trips to southwestern PA to visit a then pen-pal, now my wife for nearly 30 years. (Where have the years gone!!)
When I’d visit Carol, I always enjoyed Jack’s show. I always loved his Friday morning jingle of all the kids yelling, “IT’S FRIDAY!!”
But my favorite line from Jack was one snowy morning. He told us there were “alot of flakes out there on the highways, oh, no, not you; I mean snow flakes!”
Jack is definately one of a kind!
Roger | Feb 25, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the connection about Jack. Yes, he’s one of a kind…and still on the air in Pittsburgh!
jharlow | Feb 26, 2010 | Reply
I just heard someone refer to over-the-hump day (Wed) and wonder where that saying came from. I said Jack Bogut used to say it! When I lived in Pittsburgh in the good old days, I used to listen to him in the morning. I’d get my cup of “flavored hot water” and listen to his morning show until I had to go to class. Good memories.
Rachel | Mar 16, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Rachel — yes, great memories!
jharlow | Mar 17, 2010 | Reply
What vivid and fond memories the comments have spawned! Growing up in the middle of the PA, KDKA was one of the few radio stations we could pick-up on our little battery operated radio.
Who could forget “Start your heart with a farkleberry tart!”
Thanks for the opportunity to revisit a very special time in my life.
Kevin | Apr 4, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Kevin. I share those memories!
jharlow | Apr 4, 2010 | Reply
Jack Bogut could bring tears of laughter to my eyes. I remember listening in the 1970′s when he would introduce the recording done by an award winning high school band of Straus’ “Thus Spake Zarathustra” (think of the opening of the movie 2001 Space Odyssey). He was solemn and respectful of the piece but the recording was an absolute riot of off-key brass.
Does anyone know where to find this recording?
David | Jul 3, 2010 | Reply
I would love to hear Keenotata again.
Bogut in the morning was an every day ritual for our family.
Robert M | Jul 28, 2010 | Reply