Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dakota Midday: 'You Can't Unring A Bell'

Bob Glanzer grew up on a farm northeast of Huron with dreams of becoming a world champion bull rider, but fourth place in the regional high school rodeo was about as close as he got. Instead he became a teacher, and helped with the rodeo club at Wessington Springs High School. He later served as manager of the South Dakota State Fair in the late 1970s and was superintendent of the grandstand stage shows and events for two decades. During his first year as manager, he had to rush out and buy boots for country Johnny Cash minutes before the country music legend took the stage.

Glanzer later took a job as an agriculture loan officer for a bank in Huron before retiring three years ago. One of his favorite hobbies is chuck wagon historical re-enactments, and last year his wagon and horses were a part of South Dakota’s 125th Anniversary Wagon Train, which followed a path from Yankton to Pierre.

In 2011, Glanzer began writing articles for the regional Prairie Tracks magazine. 50 of them have been collected in a new book, You Can’t Unring a Bell.  Proceeds go toward the capital campaign for a new 4-H exhibit hall at the State Fair. Glanzer joined Dakota Midday and discussed the book.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
Related Content