Forget It History Channel Won’t Be Coming To Your Cable Box

A reader called and asked us a question of historical significance last week: “Is Cox Cable going to carry the History Channel?”

Well, that was a question that I, a proud holder of a history degree, also have been contemplating, so I called Cox Cable and put the question to them.

“We have no plans to launch the History Channel,” said Kim Boston of Cox Cable. “We’re getting to the point where we have just about filled up our channel capacity.”

Apparently, there are still some channels open, but they need to keep them open for technical reasons.

Also, under new regulations, they have to pass on a per-channel fee to all subscribers for every new channel they launch. Everyone’s bill would go up, even people who couldn’t care less about the History Channel.

The History Channel launched nationwide on Jan. 1. It’s a 24-hour station that carries historical documentaries (example: a series on the Holocaust called “The Final Solution” and a documentary about the Crusades hosted by Terry Jones of Monty Python). Boston said Cox Cable has already received a number of requests for the channel.

“The History Channel and the Golf Channel are the two big ones right now,” she said.

Cox has no plans to launch the Golf Channel either.

However, there is always the possibility that the History Channel could be added to the “Select” package, which is an extra-pay package that includes Bravo, Court TV and others. Boston says they’ll be looking to see what kind of demand there is.

Cablevision in Coeur d’Alene also has no plans to carry the History Channel. They, too, are at capacity.

O’Boyle update

Maureen O’Boyle, formerly of “Current Affair” and before that an anchor at KREM-2, has landed a new gig.

She debuted last week as weekend anchor and weekday reporter with the syndicated show “Extra.” She also has signed a development deal for her own talk or magazine show with Telepictures, which produces “Extra.”

Art in the mall

The Cheney Cowles Museum has come up with a good way to get art where the people are. On Saturday, Cheney Cowles will open an exhibit on the skywalk level of River Park Square downtown.

The exhibit title is “Indian Images - Art of the American West,” and it will include 30 paintings and bronzes from the former MONAC collection of western art. The pieces were selected to show how the American Indian has been depicted in the last 150 years.

Artists include E. Irving Couse, Ransom G. Holdredge, Edgar S. Paxson, R.C. Gorman, Gary Schlidt, George Flett, Caroline Orr and Michael Paul.

There will be an admission fee of $2 for adults, and $1 for seniors and children under 16. The exhibit will be open during regular mall hours through April 15.

Hollywood types

Three actors with strong Hollywood credentials will present a special reading called “Bits and Pieces” on Feb. 19 at the Interplayers Ensemble, S174 Howard.

Jack Bannon and Ellen Travolta are already familiar to local audiences, having done a fine production of “Love Letters” for Interplayers last year. Bannon is most familiar as one of Ed Asner’s colleagues in “Lou Grant.” Travolta was a regular on “Happy Days” and “Charles in Charge” and also happens to be the sister of John Travolta. Bannon and Travolta are married (to each other), and they now make their home in Coeur d’Alene.

The third actor, Christina Pickles, is currently appearing in the hit film “Legends of the Fall” and has recurring roles in the TV shows “Cybill” and “Friends.” She was also a regular on “St. Elsewhere.”

“Bits and Pieces” is described as a collection of plays, poetry and prose. The three actors first performed it in L.A.

It runs next Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Call 455-PLAY for reservations.

KISC of the year

KISC-FM is one of five adultcontemporary radio stations in the large market category to be nominated for a Gavin “Station of the Year” Award. Gavin is a radio and record industry trade publication, and this is a prestigious award in the radio biz.

They’ll find out on Thursday if they won.

The older audience

I have here Arbitron’s fall ratings for the 35-64 age group. These are interesting because they show what Spokane’s more mature (translation, older) radio audience is listening to. Here are the Top Five:

1. KEYF-FM/AM (oldies).

2. KDRK-FM (country).

3. KISC-FM (adultcontemporary).

4. (tie) KKZX-FM (classic rock).

4. (tie) KXLY-AM (news-talk).

The top oldies

Speaking of KEYF-FM/AM, better known as Oldies 101.1, they recently did a random survey of their listeners to find the names of their favorite oldies. Here are the results:

1. “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Roy Orbison.

2. “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” Everly Brothers.

3. “Sounds of Silence,” Simon and Garfunkel.

4. “Surfer Girl,” Beach Boys.

5. “Rhythm of the Rain,” Cascades.

6. “Something,” Beatles.

7. “Unchained Melody,” Righteous Brothers.

8. “House of the Rising Sun,” Animals.

9. “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay,” Otis Redding.

10. “Yesterday,” Beatles.

I have no quarrel with any of these, but it is a shame that “Wild Thing” by the Troggs or “Wooly Bully” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs couldn’t have cracked the Top 10. They are, of course, masterpieces.

Bald DJs

Jeff Connor and Darren Johnson, the morning team over at KEZE-FM, are both a little bit more sensitive to drafts these days. Both had their heads shaved last week as part of a food-drive challenge.

They said they would shave their noggins if listeners forked over 2,106 pounds of food. Before it was all over, listeners had come up with 7,000 pounds.