Memories of Rex Trailer

This week, there were many stories about the passing of Rex Trailer who resided in the Boston, MA area.

Many of us, myself included remember watching Rex Trailer on Boomtown. Boomtown was a western setting show seen on Channel 4, WBZ TV in Boston on Saturday mornings and later Sunday mornings. Rex would be dressed in a cowboy suit with a cowboy hat, rode in on his horse, and had his guitar with him. He would get off his horse and came into the studio where there would be boys and girls ready to sing the theme song "Boomtown" with him. 

Rex would have a sidekick named Pablo for many years. Pablo was an older man who would also sing and play a smaller guitar. If I remember right, Pablo had a moustache. Both men would do tricks with the rope and tell stories about the western frontier.

The show also featured cartoons and talked with the boys and girls on the show. The hour long show was shown live on television usually inside the studio with the western scenery as backdrop. There were times when the show would be outdoors especially in the summer where Rex Trailer would do tricks with his horse.

After several years, Pablo died and soon after Sgt. Billy came on the show to be the new sidekick for Rex Trailer. Sgt. Billy was dressed as an Army Calvary officer and played the guitar. During the Christmas Season, Santa Claus would appear on the show for a couple of weeks.

I am not sure how many years Boomtown was on television but it was a great children's show. I know I enjoyed it. Boston television stations had several shows that were produced locally. How many remember Romper Room on Channel 5 WHDH in the early 1960s. The show was on Monday thru Friday at 9 a.m. or possibly at 8:30 a.m. Romper Room featured Miss Jean as the teacher and was set in a classroom. There were eight to 10 students seated at desks. Miss Jean told stories and taught the students many things.  At the conclusion of the show, Miss Jean would be looking through her magic wand seeing many boys and girls calling them by their first name. This was a half hour show.

Now there were two other shows  that I remember watching on my black and white television. Bozo the Clown also seen on Channel 5 in the afternoon Monday thru Friday. Bozo would have a studio audience sitting in an a semi circle something like a him circus ring. He would do tricks with the children, cartoons would be shown and everyone enjoyed refreshments. One time Bozo went on a trip to the Far East and he announced his brother Nozo would cover for him. Both clowns had red hair and beautiful blue clown suit.

The last show I can remember seeing on Boston Television was Major Mudd, seen on Channel 7. Major Mudd was an astronaut who had this make believe rocket and also had cartoons shown through the show and had boy and girls in the studio audience.

Of course, Channel 9 in Manchester had Uncle Gus seen in the afternoon. I went on Uncle Gus with my sister and two cousins. I think I was 9-years-old, got Bonamo Turkish Taffy, Jiffy Pop corn, and played Simon Says. We watched Popeye cartoons. I also took a youth group down to be on the show as well.

That's enough of watching kid television shows and remembering Rex Trailer and Boomtown. Thanks for the memories, Rex, we will always remember the show and singing Boomtown.