Eric,

I will try what you suggested. I will try disconnecting the 2nd anode and try to run the TV.
I double checked my grounds. They really went all out with CRT grounding on this set: There is a flexible ground strap, which connects to the CRT neck board. And this TV has a metal shield with the degauss coil on it all around the tube. This metal shield has one ground wire also shared with a pin on the CRT neck board. And another ground wire which connects to the chassis ground. All of which are indeed touching the aquadag.
Nothing appears to be burnt or out of the ordinary on the CRT neck board. You are right about it building up a charge without the CRT being connected. I've just never seen this happen before.
And also, I pulled the plug after the first pop. That was me shutting the TV down. And then after 2-3 seconds the second pop occurred and you saw the screen light up.
Also, is there any chance, after removing the HV, that if there is a fault elsewhere, can it still take out the guns? That's what I am afraid of...

Brandon,

It was the HV from when the TV turns on. The smaller snaps are normal. And you should have heard the degauss coil as well. The loud pops are what scared me and immediately caused me to pull the plug.


Radiotvnut,

There is no focus divider. The focus wire just comes right off the flyback as its source, goes to the focus pot on the back of the TV, and then up to the CRT neck board as a black wire. A white wire returning from the CRT back down to the focus pot.
There is no evidence of arcing on this CRT neck board.