Kermit’s Blog

I just got the final results in from my Oshkosh sales.  While I didn’t sell as many Gee Bee Books as last year, I definitely sold more product!  Last year was the first year the book came out and I sold 420, although I did run out of books with three more days left of the Fly-In.  This year I sold 350 Gee Bee Books, as well as, 100 Audio Experience CD’s, and 120 Wizard of Orlampa DVD’s.   EAA rolled out the red carpet for me and gave me my own spot, Kermit’s Corner, in the EAA Wearhouse Merchandise building near Aeroshell Square.

I introduced two showings of the Wizard of Orlampa in the EAA Museum Theater and got a great response.  When I arrived for my second showing on Thursday morning, the AV guy came out and told me it was the biggest crowd he had seen all week!  All the seats were filled with many people sitting in the aisles!  I also got a chance to read the Gee Bee Book several times at Kid Venture and gave away six Gee Bee Books as prizes.

Handing out three Gee Bee Books as prizes after reading to the crowd!

On Thursday night, at the Young Eagles event, I was an auction item and my Vision Tour package including an airplane flight raised $4000!  All in all it was a great trip!

Kermit

The Wizard of Orlampa DVD is now for sale in the Fantasy of Flight gift shop.  It’s 51 minutes long and begins with what we currently do at Fantasy of Flight regarding the airplane collection then slowly morphs into where Fantasy of Flight is headed in the future.

Check out a quick preview of the beginning of the show at http://www.wizardoforlampa.com.  The site is just preliminary and we currently don’t have our online sales set up yet.  If you don’t get out to Fantasy of Flight to pick one up, check back from time to time on the website.  We just ordered some DVD’s in the European PAL type version, which will be available as well.

Currently, we are working with two different PBS outlets for show on television and will let everyone know when that might happen.

Kermit

Last Friday I got to attend a kick off Investor Party for Air and Space Television.  It was a great event with a number of aviation and broadcasting notables in attendance.  I am happy to have been one of the original investors in this exciting endevor to bring a quality channel about flight into being. 

I had been originally approached by Phil Hurst over a year ago about the idea while he was still working at the Golf Channel.  He was the first employee hired when the Golf Channel was at the stage Air & Space Channel Television is today.  Phil had a dream of using his knowledge, connections and passion for aviation to create Air & Space Television and kept me in the loop as his dream unfolded.  Recently I became one of the initial investors to help take it to the next level.  The Golf Channel was recently valued at over $1 Billion!

I have several motives for being involved.  One, I think there is a void for a product like this if delivered properly.  Second, I see it as a great opportunity and outlet for some of what Fantasy of Flight can contribute in the way of product content and direction.  And third, I want to learn and understand this business because . . . who know’s? . . . You might see a Fantasy of Flight Channel one day!

There is some great talent behind the beginnings of this so stay tuned as Air & Space Television begins to sprout its wings!

Kermit

The show came about when I was approached last summer by some film people out of Orlando with the idea to create a TV show. We did about five days of filming at Fantasy of Flight that showed who we are, what we are, and where we are headed. It mainly focused on myself, the Aircraft Department and what we do with the airplanes at Fantasy of Flight. It also showed a bit of my vision of what I think we can create as well.

It has to potential to serve two purposes. First, it is at a minimum a one-hour stand-alone show. Secondly, it could be seen a a possible pilot for a “reality” series. We certainly have a lot of exciting stuff happening at Fantasy of Flight, that’s for sure. I think the production value of the aircraft collection and the facility combined with my vision for what I hope to create, someone could make for an interesting show.

The WIZARD OF ORLAMPA title was actually suggested by the production company after spending a lot of time with me discussing Fantasy of Flight and what I hoped to create with it.

Many years ago there was an article in the Orlando Sentinel about me called “The Mayor of Orlampa!” I originally coined the phrase Orlampa and actually trademarked it. It is an obvious combination of Orlando and Tampa and describes our location perfectly as we are exactly halfway between. While I am the Mayor by default because I own all the property, I am striving to become a Wizard! When you see the show you will understand the metaphor.

We premiered the “Wizard of Orlampa” for the Fantasy of Flight employees and it was a big hit. We then began sending out copies to various cable networks. There has been interest but nothing conclusive yet. We’ve had some good comments from directors and producers and have no problem easily tweaking the show in the studio to make it better. Not ever having done this before, I couldn’t tell you when we might see it on the air but if something doesn’t happen soon, I will at least start selling DVD’s of it in the Gift Shop!

I wrote the theme song for the show and had it recorded at a local Florida Studio and it sounds great!

Hope you get to see it soon!

Kermit