Your boomtown memories
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| Fri, July 4th, 2008 Hi Bob, I talked with you earlier today at the Natick parade. My name is Joe Ranucci. I grew up in Brighton,Ma and now live in Natick. Some of my fun memories as a kid growing up in Brighton was sending away for my 'Carnival Kit' from Rex Trailer to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. My friends and I would put up posters on the telephone poles around the neighborhood. We sold drinks, candy and made up games for kids to play to raise money to send to Mr. Trailer for his Charity. One year, I'm not sure of the exact year, (possibly 1967-68), my mom got my friends and I tickets to the Rex Trailer show, Boomtown. We watched the show all the time and were very excited we were going. One of the best parts of the show was the line-up when everyone would walk in front of the T.V. camera and wave. A sheriff and deputy were picked from the audience to pick out the person was disguised as a "bad guy". I could not believe that I got picked to be the sheriff. I picked the right one and got the game 'Avalanche' as a prize. I can remember being so excited that I got this game. I had placed my Boomtown Sheriff badge in a can that I put special things in such as ticket stubs, old coins and some other things. When I moved to Natick 14 years ago, I saw Rex Trailer in the 4th of July Parade. I remembered my badge and thought of bringing it with me to the parade the following year. The next year on the 4th, after running a road race in the A.M. all my neighbors told me to go home and get my Sheriff badge to show Mr Trailer. I ran home and put my badge on. By the time I got back to the parade Rex had already gone by. I ran again, half way to Natick Center to catch up with him. I showed him my badge and he was really surprised. He told everyone, with his microphone, that I was a sheriff on the old show. Everyone clapped and I thought it was great! Every year I proudly wear my Sheriff badge to the parade and say hello to Mr. Trailer. He is always excited to see me as I am to see him. It has been 40-41 years since I was on Boomtown. It will always be a fun story to tell my children and friends. I wish Mr. Trailer the very best as he has brought so much joy and fun to so many people. He is a very special person to many, many people. Thank you so much, "Sheriff Joe Ranucci |
This letter should have been posted the same day it was sent to me here at Boomtownmemories.com SOMEHOW I never saw it! Months later,cleaning out the mailbox, THERE IT IS, the letter I had been waiting for Joe to send in!!! Sorry I goofed, Joe! |
Boomtown's 'Sheriff' Joe Ranucci steps out to see Rex Trailer
A fixture on WBZ for two decades, Rex Trailer helped me fund raise for The Muscular Dystrophy Association. Here I am with the famous Rolls Royce, the 'Poster Boy for MD,that year. I was a District Director of MDAA this particular visit. We brought the 'Poster Boy' to Rex's studio in the Rolls Royce. The year was probably 1968 or so. It was to promote the first Jerry Lewis Telethon which had a local Boston tie-in. Rex Trailer was the National Spokepman that year. The person to the right in the photo was my roommate at the time, Wayne Gath. |
| Hi! When my twin brother and I were around (?)years of age,maybe around 1961, Rex had a special how to raise money for dystrophy. His show showed clips on how to make carnivals in your back yard and raise money. Boy, oh boy, we had the neetist carnival show going! All pitched in to make carnival booths and like everyone had come and we made home made items....I just renenber it all! The best part was bringing the money raised and appearing on the Backyard Carnival foe Dystrophy series with a group of us who worked to do it.... I would love to buy a clip of that program when we were on, because my twin brother has passed away for 12 years now at the age of 41 and honestly, I really don't have any pics of us being together at that age. Dear God, how I would adore seeing my twin brother and I together at that age...and the memory of the biggest smiles on our faces,(hope I wasn't too shy then). -John and Deborah Hachey |
| Greetings. I came across your website and was compelled to send you a note. My father, David Duhaime, worked for Rex at Air General for many years. Rex was close to my father and I recall him coming to the house occasionally. I was probably 5 or 6 at the time and was obviously star struck. I can recall the days when my father would wake me up at 4 in the morning to drive to Hanscolm field and pull out the Jet Ranger. We'd fly to local fairs in New Hampshire. My father would slip me some money and send me on my way while he gave rides to the paying customers. At the end of the day he'd have me paged and I'd walk past the lines of envious kids and climb in for the flight home. I'm 47 now and still remember those days so clearly. I can also recall the time that my father landed back in an open field next to my house. To my delight, Santa Clause stepped out and gave me and some of the neighborhood kids a present! What I didn't find out until many years later was that my father flew Santa to an orphanage in Manchester, where Santa delivered gifts to homeless children. I was both humbled and thrilled by the experience. I actually still have a picture of my father in front of the helicopter with Santa and other dignitaries. It's ironic that my father was a fixed wing and helicopter instructor. He taught the person who was in charge of the Digital Equipment Corporation's helicopter fleet how to fly! How do I know that? Because my first job was working as a helipad attendant at Digital! My father passed away over a decade ago. he was a hero to me and my family. It's ironic that some of my fondest memories of my father are tied to Rex Trailer's helicopter adventures. If Rex somehow reads this, please pass along my sincere gratitude. - Kevin Duhaime |
| Hi Bob! I remember Boomtown and was a faithful viewer for a LONG time, ( I must admit I even watched it into High School, but don't tell my Sorority sisters, LOL!!!). I remember that my niece and nephew got to be on the show, ( '66 or '67,- I was 10 or 11) and I went along. I wasn't able to be on the show because they had tickets and I didn't-BUT I was told I could watch behind the camera as long as I promised to be quiet - and was I EVER QUIET!!! Not a peep! The show was fantastic; what a talented group of actors. Now that I look back on it, no scripts? AMAZING! I honestly never outgrew my love of Rex and admiration for him to be able to keep so many children of various ages entertained. Rex made A LOT of people happy over the years, even those who didn't get on the show. We were just privileged to view his show. - Debi Pare-Bulmer Peabody, MA |
| What a thrill finding this page. It's so funny reading all the memories others shared. I was on Boomtown in 1964 I think. My twin brother and I went with our Mom and her girlfriend and her 2 sons. I was the only girl that day on the show and being a twin, WELL WELL !!!! Pablo went absolutely nuts over THAT! He was running all over the place shouting things. I so wish I remembered this all more clearly. I do remember being chosen for the GENERAL STOREKEEPER and my brother Johnnie was chosen for the PONY EXPRESSMAN. What a thrill it was! I also remember everyone got a package of those Hostess Cup Cakes. The pink marshmallow with the chocolate cake inside. I can't help smiling while typing this e-mail. What a HOOT this is! I wish also that we had pictures from that day. To this day is my only CLAIM TO FAME, as they say. HAHAHAHA! Thank you so much, Bob, for having this site. I can't wait to tell my brother about it ! - Janet Odgren, (General Store Keeper) (The Marshmallow Cup Cakes were known as 'Snow Balls', sorry, couldn't resist. my father was a salesman for Hostess,HaHA!!!- Bob Jordan ) - John Fallstrom, (Pony Expressman) -Hahahaha, this is just too funny! |
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