From The KOTV Vault: The 1980 "Who Shot JR?" Craze

Rick Wells dug into the KOTV vault again and found 1980 footage about the craze over "Who Shot JR?"<br />

Wednesday, June 13th 2012, 4:29 pm

By: News On 6


Editor's note: We're preparing to move into a new building in late 2012, so we're taking inventory of everything in our old building, including thousands of old videotapes. We're finding some interesting stories and sharing them here on NewsOn6.com.

Larry Hagman, the actor who played iconic J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," died Friday at 81. Here's a look back at his most famous moment.

Ready to go back to Southfork, the home of the Ewing clan from Dallas?

The series about the glamorous life of Texas oil magnates ran for 14 seasons on CBS, and starting tonight, it's getting a re-boot on TNT.

Dallas created perhaps the greatest "Who done it?" moment in television history: Who shot "JR Ewing?"

The infamous season ending murder attempt aired on CBS and Channel 6 on March 21, 1980. The next eight months were filled with stories about who pulled the trigger.

In the time between the shooting episode airing and the Fall when the answer was revealed, there was time for "JR" beer to come out, T-shirts, contests—it was a worldwide craze.

Betting parlors posted odds. The Turkish parliament reportedly adjourned early so the members could watch Dallas.

Rick Wells found several stories our reporters did about the mystery back in 1980, and pulled them out for you to enjoy.

The new Dallas premieres tonight on TNT at 8 p.m.

One of the stars, the new "John Ross Ewing," is from right here in Tulsa. Josh Henderson graduated from Tulsa Memorial High School.

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