Focusing Memories On `Seattle Today'

Will the real Seattleites please stand up?

You are the ones who will recall the original name of "Seattle Today," the KING-5 talk show that ended a 17-year run this morning. The show debuted as "Seattle Today" in July 1974. But KING started airing a live morning talk show in 1951.

Names from the earlier show will still ring a bell with longtime viewers. They include Tom Franklin, Mike Rhodes, Bea Donovan, Charles Herring, Beth Leonard, Casey Greggerson and Norm Bobrow. Current news anchor Jean Enersen once was a host.

KING's "Evening" will do a retrospective of "Seattle Today" tonight.

But getting back to the show's original name: Award points to anyone who recalls "Telescope."

TWAIN MEET: Seated on opposite sides of the table at lunch yesterday was an odd couple: Democratic Sen. Brock Adams and Republican Sen. Slade Gorton. Gorton joshed, "There is the occasional issue on which Senator Adams and I disagree. But this is not one of them."

What brought the two together was a lunch in their honor, hosted by Channel 9 board members. Both men have been strong supporters of public TV. Nevertheless, it was appropriate that, as lunch guests emerged from Channel 9, what greeted them was a Seattle Center sign that read "Clash of the Titans."

CAMPAIGN 1992: Some Demos are still watching from the sidelines, but others have thrown themselves into Adams' re-election campaign.

Count Mayor Norm Rice in the second camp. Rice is hosting a reception for the senator tonight at the Henry's Off Broadway building. Price of admission is $500 a person. But not to worry. There's "complimentary" valet parking.

MORE POLS: Mount Baker activist Earl Sedlik has made the decision to run for the seat now held by Seattle City Council President Paul Kraabel. (Other contenders include downtown businesswoman Jan Drago, Rep. Dick Nelson and attorney Margaret Pageler.) Sedlik is going to hold a campaign kickoff at Jake O'Shaughnessey's June 6.

THE GRADUATE: Whenever he met someone, Milton Stapp would write the person's name, address and phone number on a card. As acquaintances graduated into friends, Stapp compiled file folders, filled with clippings, letters and pictures. It was one avocation. (Stapp also was an inventor, newspaper columnist and channeler of messages from the mysterious "Dr. Root.")

Stapp died in April, leaving a room crammed with files. Friends and relatives are holding a gathering from 4 to 6 p.m. June 9 at 617 Lee St.

Stapp's friends can pick up their dossiers and celebrate what his friends Trudy and Herb Weckworth called "Milton's graduating to an afterlife."

SCOOPS: Mountlake Terrace resident Jeff Swanson contributed an item to "National Lampoon's True Facts," a just published anthology of boo-boos. Swanson's item, which ran in Brand Y's TV listings, reads: "Test ride the newest ride in Disneyland: Loni Anderson." National Lampoon's headline: "Hi Ho, Loni." Jean Godden's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Northwest section of The Times. Her phone is 464-8300.