Thanks for Tuning in

When the Arizona Historical Society created its hall of fame, the first inductees included Barry Goldwater, Sandra Day O'Conner and Wallace and Ladmo. This is the story of "Wallace," who was born Bill Thompson and was the creator of Arizona's most celebrated children's television show. It is a broadcasting story, chronicling how Thompson was able to keep a children's show on the air for 35 years, long after every other kids' show across the nation got the axe, longer than most shows in television history. It is also an Arizona story, telling how a wide-eyed college dropout who grew up the scion of a wealthy family in upstate New York decided to reinvent himself out west. Thompson's relatives found fortune discovering copper in the ground of Arizona. This book tells how Bill Thompson came back to claim the airwaves. What he created in Arizona was unique across the nation--"a funny, topical, edgy show that entertained not only children but also teenagers, college students, and adults. For those who didn't grow up with Wallace and Ladmo, it's a chance to see what all the fuss is about. For fans, it's an illuminating glimpse into the person who greeted them on television every day. Consider it a "thanks for tuning in."