Rex Trailer Dies at 84; Share Your Memories, Photos
Boston TV icon hosted a children's show in the 1950s-1970s. Do you have any photos from back in the day?
Photos
Videos
Rex Trailer, a Boston TV icon who had been recovering from pneumonia recently, has died.
Trailer hosted “Boomtown,” a children’s show with a Western theme on WBZ-TV from 1956-1974.
How did a Western cowboy make his mark in Boston? According to Wikipedia, his corporate overlords gave him a choice of Cleveland or Boston. But he's remembered for more than his cowboy get-up. The Boston Globe wrote in an editorial last year:
Kids adored Trailer’s rodeo tricks. But mostly they adored him for his consistent kindness and competence.
Trailer was 84. A funeral is being planned, but no date has been set yet, according to his website.
Meantime, what are your memories of Rex Trailer? Did you ever meet him or have your picture taken with him? If you've got a photo, click the "Upload Photos and Videos" button at the top of this story. Or just tell us your memories in the comments section below.
fred
3:26 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
My memory of Rex was when Raymonds opened in Malden, over by South Broadway. Rex was there with his horse in a wood rail enclosure. I was maybe 7 or 8 and idolized Rex from Boomtown. I was standing on the bottom rail when his horse slowly walked over to me. When he got too close, I hit him on the nose with a baloon I had in my hand.
Rex grabbed my arm real hard and screamed at me. Something like, the horse could kick and hurt someone. I was scared to death. I think I walked home with brown underwear.
My sister Patty always said, "That is why you are screwed up. You should call Rex and get some closure"
Too Late
Julie the Jarhead
5:18 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
In all fairness to Mr. Trailer and his horse, he was absolutely right. Horses are wonderful creatures, but they are VERY timid. Someone once said something I'll never forget: Horses are afraid on only two things: things that move, and things that don't move. ----- Don't take it personally, fred.
fred
3:33 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Does anyone remember what year that was? Maybe David
Julie the Jarhead
5:16 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Saw him in a parade in Somerville a couple of years ago. The crowd went nuts!!!
Gene Pinkham
10:40 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Used to see Rex up at Pleasure island. Ride Cowboy, Ride.