Blog 3584 – 08.29.2025

The Bob Brandy Show

From 1958 to 1978 on WTVC (Channel 9) broadcast from high atop Signal Mountain for the Chattanooga viewing area, the King of the Cowboys was Bob Brandy with his lovely wife Ingrid and his faithful palomino horse Rebel. My Central High School Class of 1968 and all the area children of our era could hardly wait to get home from school in the afternoons to watch the Bob Brandy Show.

Someone posted these pictures on Facebook and I just had to share them with my friends and family again. I make it a habit not to spend too much time looking back for like the enchanted mirror in the Harry Potter books it can be a trap that keeps us from enjoying today. A line from a Carol King song comes to mind, “These Are The Good Ole Days.”

When we are tempted to think the Good Ole Days are some golden era in the past or some happily ever after future we have chosen myth and fairy tale over fact.

Today is the day of salvation because it is the only day we get to live. Still if we do not linger too long, sweet memories from the past or sweet hopes about the future can offer some encouragement to help us make the most of today.

Bob Brandy gave us kids something to look forward to and something to look back on fondly. One of my fondest childhood memories took place at the Roger’s Theater in downtown Chattanooga at the Lady MacBeth sponsored Summer Theater Program where kids could get in free to see a matinee of a G rated movie if they brought an empty Lady MacBeth bean bag. Bob Brandy, Ingrid, and Rebel were there out front of the theater and hundreds of kids lined up to get to sit on Rebel. I was one of those very happy children.

Someday I hope to have a little house, a barn, a corral, and a couple of horses on my little ranch in Bon Wier, Texas. My ulterior motive is to get as much quality time as possible with my granddaughter Emma Grace and any siblings that she may one day have who will undoubtedly learn the phrase, “Mommy and Daddy, let’s go see Poppa so I can ride my horse.”

Smart Poppa.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White

From the 1970s community on Reddit: “Anticipation/These Are the Good Old Days” – Carly Simon

From the 1970s community on Reddit: “Anticipation/These Are the Good Old Days” – Carly Simon