You young ones out there probably won’t, but any of you 50 somethings and beyond will certainly remember him. In addition to being a tv personality that most kids in this region watched in the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s, he was also an avid scuba diver and skier, how my parents became friends with him. My siblings and I watched him every weekend.
Howdy there, folks, we’re glad to meet you in Boom- Boom- Boomtown!
There’s a bunch of folks who’d like to greet you in Boom- Boom- Boomtown!
You can bet we’ll have lots of Western fun And excitement for you
We’ll ride and rope, do a square dance and shoot a gun And we’ll sing a song or two
Come along, folks, now we’re gonna start the fun in Boom- Boom- Boomtown!
From six to sixty there’s something for everyone in Boom- Boom- Boomtown!
So do-si-do and swing around, Get your gal and promenade down to Boom- Boom-Boomtown!
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
Ah yes, Rex Trailer. Good old fashioned TV
LikeLike
Rex Trailer
LikeLike
Rexxxxx Trailerrrrrrr! Boom! (At the very beginning I was thinkin’ Howdy Doody, but that’s for the folks who are older than you, EJ!)
Didn’t he also fly a plane out of Beverly Airport?! Talented Guy!
LikeLike
😉 yes I’m an older one! Loved Howdy Doody. Back then I wanted to be Princes Summer Fall Winter Spring. I don’t remember Rex Trailer ~ I must have moved on watching and wanting to marry the Lone Ranger. EJ ~ what’s next? I’ve enjoyed being introduced to you ~
LikeLike
Mary, I remember the Lone Ranger! Hi ho Silver away! and that beautiful white horse would rear up on his hind legs and paw the air. They maybe were repeats that I saw, as I think the show stopped airing when I was just little. I think I also remember having a Lone Ranger toy – Silver in that standing position with the Lone Ranger on his back – made out of plastic or something. And then his sidekick Tonto. and “Who was that masked man?” I’d forgotten all about them! Thanks for the reminder!
LikeLike
I remember going to see him with my father once at some airport where he was (I was just little, so don’t remember where). I think he flew a helicopter. He was very talented, as a tv personality, singer, skier, scuba diver (who dove on sunken ships with my father, Jim Walton, Edward Rowe Snow, Bob Winchell, Harold Hubby and others that dove together back then), pilot, and was just a very nice and generous man who genuinely liked kids. I’m sure I will unearth some more photos of him as I go through old papers and photos at my mom’s house.
LikeLike
Rex Trailer, I was the General Store Keeper on the show.. thanks for the memory
LikeLike
I can so see you as the General Storekeeper!
LikeLike
Did he live in Rockport?
LikeLike
He was born in Texas, died in Florida and lived in Sudbury, and his studio was in Waltham. He may have lived somewhere other than Sudbury at some point, but I don’t believe he ever lived in Rockport.
LikeLike
Hi EJ,
He did visit Rockport and may have lived there as well. I had a hot dog stand in high school and he stopped by one day to get a couple hot dogs on his way to Rockport. I recognized him immediately.
LikeLike
His Mother lived in Rockport and he visited her quite frequently
LikeLike
I remember Rex Trailer because he was the guy who awarded the Governor’s Cup for the largest Codfish caught in Commonwealth waters for the calendar year 1971 by a woman to my then fiancee and now wife of 41 years. It was embarrassing for me, born and raised here in Gloucester and an avid party boat Fisherman with the Yankee Fleet. She won the boat and fleet pools with the ONLY fish she Ever caught on Tilly’s Ledge that year; a 60 pounder and I’d had quite a few more fish plus an ocean cat weighing in at 47 lbs. on that trip. I do not think I will ever live it down as she was from a suburb of Detroit!
LikeLike
Oh the shame! Good for her! What a story, Brian!
LikeLike
YES Rex did live in Rockport. He sold his house in I think 2003. It was sold, torn down, and replaced. In fact, my husband called when it was for sale, and Rex himself called back and invited us to look around the house which was kept unlocked. His sidekick in Boomtown, Pablo, played by Richard Kilbride, also had a home in Rockport. His widow Pauline lived here and also worked at Varian for some years.
LikeLike
Well I didn’t know that, but am not surprised really. They would come here to dive at Folly Cove back in the day, and we all know how easy it is to fall in love with and move to Cape Ann. My father always wanted to move us here, but my mother refused to leave the old homestead in Wilmington.
LikeLike
Wilmington sounds familiar that’s where my mom was born if it’s the MA-Wilmington many moons ago 🙂
LikeLike
I was a friend of Pauline Kilbride’s many years ago. Do you know if she is still living?
LikeLike
Loved Rex Trailer -he was the best!
LikeLike
There’s still a Rex Trailer Studio in Waltham Center. I think of the show every time I drive through.
LikeLike
Rex did live in Rockport, mostly while the show was on the air in from the mid 1950 to the mid ’70s. He often appeared in the town’s parades.
I watched Boomtown religiously when I small, Sgt. Billy was his sidekick then, but his horse Gold Rush was my fave!
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/extras/x1746077024/Beloved-Boston-cowboy-Rex-Trailer-dies-at-84
LikeLike
Yes, he was in Rockport quite a lot
LikeLike
What a nostalgia rush! Thanks for the memory, E.J.
LikeLike
I just sent you a picture of dad and Rex
LikeLike
Got it, and that is a great shot of not only Dad and Rex, but also Edward Rowe Snow and Jim Walton on the Adventure III. Very cool.
LikeLike
We met Rex at Pleasure Island when I was very Young and also at GHS. Great post.
Isn’t Edward rowe snow the man that flew around in a helicopter in New England dropping of gifts to the lighthouse keepers and their families.
LikeLike
Oh Pleasure Island, that brings back lots of great childhood memories! Yes, Edward Rowe Snow did fly around dropping Christmas gifts to lighthouse keepers and their families, and was also an author of many books on maritime history and treasure diving. The Boston Harbor cruise boat, the Edward Rowe Snow, was named after him.
LikeLike
Yes, I’ve been on one of his narrated tours. He was a colorful character.
LikeLike