Re-energizing Route 66 in Tulsa – Mary Beth Babcock

06/03/20 • 51 min

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.

My guest on this episode is Mary Beth Babcock of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66. It’s a quirky, fun little retail operation based out of an old 1950s gas station on 11th near Peoria. You’ve maybe seen Buck Atom. He’s hard to miss. Buck is a space cowboy and a big fan of Route 66. He’s also a big statue based on the classic muffler man model. Nearby is a brand new neon sign that is part of a going trend to bring neon back to the Mother Road.

Mary Beth is passionate about everything she does. It started with helping revitalize downtown Tulsa’s Blue Dome District with her retail shop Dwelling Spaces. There she had fun with yetis and coffee robots. Two years ago she opened Buck Atom’s. We discuss why she moved to Rt 66 and what it means to be able to help support the famous Mother Road as global tourists cruise through Tulsa.

A few months back tourism came to a stop as did most of Tulsa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We start this conversation about how she’s been able to continue operating despite having to lock the doors to her shop and how she had to alter her scheduled celebrations, but still had lots of fun.

Despite those setbacks, Mary Beth just kept on trucking. That’s her in a nutshell. Always looking forward and moving ahead to accomplish whatever it is she envisions. I’ve known her for nearly a decade, and she’s always inspired me to pursue my own creative endeavors just by watching her lead by example. She’s full of life and her excitement for things is contagious. I don’t think it’s possible to spend time talking to her without laughing and also getting fired up to go do something.

We recorded this conversation by phone on Tuesday, June 2. I had been covering the protests the past few days and was exhausted, but chatting with Mary Beth gave me new life. That’s what she does. We both really love Tulsa, so we talked about what makes the city great, which includes a lot of creative people doing great things.

Mary Beth also talks about her friendship with friend of the pod, Danny Boy O’Connor, and she shares some tips on the places to eat and places to see on Oklahoma’s portion of Route 66. In our June issue we’ve highlighted fun things to do in all our neighboring states as well as in our state. So make sure you check it out at TulsaPeople.com.

OK, here we go.

This is Tulsa Talks.

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.

OK, here we go.

This is Tulsa Talks.

Previous Episode

Leading during a pandemic - Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and Chief of Police Wendell Franklin

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.

It has been two months since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of Tulsa. It’s been one year since historic flooding created an ongoing crisis in Tulsa.

On this episode Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum discusses how last May’s flooding prepared him to lead the City’s response to the pandemic. He also reflects on the past two months and where he sees us headed.

We kick off our conversation discussing G.T. Bynum the family man. Like many other Tulsans, he’s a partner and a parent, which meant home schooling and everything else that comes with quarantine. As you’ll hear, it’s created some wonderful lifelong memories for the Bynums.

The Mayor also discusses the mental and physical health impact the early days of the pandemic had on him and what he found works for him to improve both aspects of his life.

We did not discuss Tesla. Our 20-minute phone conversation on May 19 occurred hours before the golden driller became giant Elon Musk. Bynum has also previously stated he cannot comment on potential projects.

Following my chat with the mayor, my second guest on this episode is Tulsa Chief of Police Wendell Franklin on policing during a pandemic. More on that later.

Let’s get this going.

This is Tulsa Talks.

Wendell Franklin is a 23-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department. He knows the department well. During his career he led all three TPD divisions.

On Feb. 1 he became the new chief of police. He did not get much time to adjust to his new role before the pandemic forced a shutdown and changed the responsibilities of the department.

Franklin discusses policing during a pandemic and how fortunate he and others were to have a Tulsa pandemic playbook sitting on the shelf. He also talks about what it’s been like to closely work with this episode’s first guest.

There were 10 murders in April. That’s the most in that month dating back to 1989 according to the Tulsa World. Franklin shares his thoughts on why there was a spike in homicide.

On May 11 Tulsa Police made an arrest in connection to the 2011 murder of Peggy Gaytan. Franklin reflects on the importance of closing the 9-year-old case.

Franklin is a lifelong Tulsan, who graduated from Booker T. Washington. He’s a reader and enjoys studying World War 2. The 46-year-old shares how this led him to better understand and appreciate what Tulsa has overcome the last two months and how proud he is of his fellow citizens for how they have responded to the pandemic.

Here is my conversation with Police Chief Wendell Franklin.

Next Episode

Do you want to go faster? The story of Bell's with Bob and Robby Bell

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. I’m really excited to share this conversation with you. For over 50 years, Bell’s Amusement Park was the spot for fun for many Oklahoma kids, including myself. Growing up in Claremore, the trips to Bell’s were among the biggest highlights of my summer for many summers. There was the Zingo and the Wildcat. The Himalaya and Phantasmagoria. The log ride and the arcade. And lots more.

The story of Bell’s Amusement Park is an example of the classic American dream. A family builds a business, the people come and the business grows. It’s also a story of fathers and sons, which is perfect for this week as we celebrate the fathers in our lives on Father’s Day.

I sat down with Bob and Robby Bell on a recent Saturday morning and they recounted the history of the park and their family’s story that spans over 100 years in Tulsa.

We start this conversation with Bob, who is now 80, reflecting on how Bell’s came to be and his many roles in helping his father’s dream become a reality. Bob’s father, Robert Kiwanis Bell, opened a kiddie park post World War 2 with the help of his young son. Bob grew up and took over operations as he raised his own family in the business. Robby, 55, chimes in from time to time to help his father share their story and then he shares his own story about what it was like to be the next generation of the Bells to help his father run the park before taking it over. Did you know the Bell’s founders lived in an apartment in the middle of Zingo?

It was amazing to sit with both of them as they recounted the long, unique history of the family business and what it was like to be sons and then fathers of Bell’s employees. There were a whole lot of laughs and some tears.

It’s been 14 years since Bell’s closed. It remains a sensitive subject for the Bell family. Bob and Robby discuss what happened in 2006 that forced them to shutdown the park and how it brought them even closer as family. They also discuss their plans to open a new Bell’s in the near future. They’ve heard your angst and complaints about it taking too long. They explain why the wait has been long, and how it will hopefully be over soon. More on that later.

This episode is broken down into three sections. The origins of Bell’s is the first 25 minutes, Bob and Robby’s time at the park is the second part and at about the 50 minute mark is the third part, which covers the closure and the future.

Bell’s Amusement Park played an important role in our city and county’s history. It created lifelong memories for lots of people. I’m thrilled to share Bob and Robby’s story with you. As you’ll hear, they are two characters who far from finished having a fun time together.

Let’s get this going.

This is Tulsa Talks with Bob and Robby Bell.