The Offi cial Newsletter of Sanderson Lecture Series The Waltham 7:00 p.m., Tuesday Evening Historical Society MAY 12, 2015 WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS The Vale, Lyman Estate 185 Lyman Street MAY 2015 Waltham, MA 02453 Board of Directors The Edmund L. Sanderson Lecture Series in partnership with Term: 2013-2015 President Wayne T. McCarthy Vice-President Sheila E. FitzPatrick Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Treasurer Mary Selig New England’s Assistant Treasurer Jack Cox Cowboy: Recording Secretary Janis Marchese Rex Trailer’s Corresponding Secretary Edna Dolber Boomtown Curator Vacant Assistant Curator by Jillian Rollock and Winifred W. Kneisel Michael Bavaro Membership Carol DiFranco Rex Trailer learned his cowboy skills kids show, he showed up with his guitar Board Members from professional off-season rodeo riders and bag of tricks and hosted one of the Ruth M. Arena while spending summers on his grandfa- fi rst nationally televised children’s show, Tim Close Joseph Connors ther’s ranch in Texas. Along with herding “The Oky Doky Ranch.” Marie Daly steer, Rex learned trick riding, rope tricks, In 1951, the Westinghouse Broadcast- Dr. Helene Day bullwhips, and marksmanship. ing Company offered Rex a contract as Denise Dube Ron Guertin At age 17, Rex met Western movie star their on-air children’s personality at their Louise Hamilton Gabby Hayes while working as a rodeo WPTZ station in Philadelphia. Rex was Susan Keefe Morton Isaacson performer at Madison Square Garden. the host of three shows, “High Noon Larry Logan Gabby liked Rex and hired him to work at with Rex Trailer,” “Riding the Trail,” and Lou Nocera his Catskills summer ranch for kids. Real- “Rex Trailer’s Ranch House.” By 1955, Joan M. Sheridan David Smith izing Rex was a natural with kids, Gabby with 13 weeks left on his contract, West- encouraged him to break into a new thing inghouse sold the station to NBC. Rex The Weathervane is the called television. was offered to play out his deal at their offi cial publication of the Waltham Historical Society At the dawn of television in 1947, a stations in either Cleveland or Boston. 190 Moody Street Waltham, Massachusetts 02453 genuine singing Texas cowboy showed up Rex chose Boston and that 13-week con- 781-891-5815 at the Dumont Network in New York City. tract would last nearly 20 years. www.walthamhistoricalsociety.org Rex was told, “we don’t hire cowboys © Copyright 2015, all rights reserved Membership in the Waltham Historical here.” Rex exited out the front door and Society includes subscription to this newsletter among other rights and entered through an open back stage door. privileges. The shopkeeper gave him a job painting Registration is recommended. Articles and images submitted for publication, unless otherwise specifi ed, scenery. In a few short months, Rex went Waltham Historical Society become the property of the Waltham Historical Society. Authors submitting from working as a production assistant to members must call to register. material for publication are requested to sign articles and include name, address, director. Later when the executives asked Please call 617-994-5912 for phone number, e-mail if any, and release to print images of any individuals depicted. him if he knew of any cowboys for a new more information. On April 28, 1956, “Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” premiered About the Lecturers on WBZ-TV in Boston. The show was an instant success. Every Saturday and Sunday morning “Boomtown” was Jillian Trailer-Rollock, like her father Rex, on the air live for three hours. Over the years, more than brings a multitalented background to the area of video production. Since childhood, she has had a 250,000 kids would appear on “Boomtown” and over 4 mil- love for the arts and a fascination with media. lion watched from home. The show offered entertainment, Her experience in New York included teaching educational games, fi lms, cartoons, and outdoor adventure Broadway warm-up classes at the Shubert Theatre and brought awareness to children with disabilities. and modeling for The European Fashion Show. As the demand of net- She appeared as a dancer and cast extra member work airtime encroached in “The Cotton Club” and “The Muppets Take on the local television Manhattan.” markets, “Boomtown” She worked as a model, actress and spokesper- signed off WBZ-TV in 1974 son appearing on WBZ Radio with Larry Glick and syndicated until 1976. and Dr. Scott Borrelli, WCVB’s “The Good Day Show” and “People Are Talking” with Tom Meanwhile Rex was host- Bergeron. Jillian used her artistic talents with her ing a nationally syndicated retail management and sales experience at Eileen program called “Earth Fisher, Inc., which included product presenta- Lab,” a science show for tions, fashion shows and events. children and teens. He Over the years, Jillian assisted Rex with video took off his cowboy hat production, television workshops, auditions and and explored other worlds script writing and in 2012, she was his teaching that were of as much inter- assistant at Emerson College for his “Performance est to him as it was to his for Television” class. audience. The show enjoyed a successful run through the Jillian continues her father’s legacy by offering an avenue for talent, creativity and learning at late-1970’s. Rex Trailer Studios. She has established “The Rex In 1977, Rex was invited to teach on-camera performance Trailer Collection,” a digital collection of Rex’s and television production at Emerson College in Boston. media archives. Many of his students have gone on to great success in news and entertainment. Rex had a long career as a producer and Michael Bavaro is a creative strategist and director of numerous video content with his company, Rex digital fi lmmaker in the Boston area providing Trailer Studios. Rex has written and recorded many songs clients with original entertainment and marketing over the years and performed at personal appearances and content. parades throughout his life. A natural artist and storyteller, Bavaro learned Rex was the subject of Michael Bavaro’s documentary fi lmmaking while in high school and college in Massachusetts. He spent most of his professional fi lm, “Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” which received the 2005 career in Hollywood and New York City creating Mass Impact Award, was nominated for an Emmy, and is award-winning promotional content for the Walt now part of the permanent collection at the Paley Center Disney Studios, the American Film Institute, for Television in New York City. NBC, ABC, CBS, web development for Miramax/ Rex was recognized for many causes and recognized Talk Magazine, Cònde Nast, and the legendary by his broadcast peers with the 2004 Governors Award “Siskel & Ebert.” from the New England Chapter of the National television In 1993, Bavaro embraced the digital age and Academy along with the 1985 Silver Circle Award and 2008 established Digital Freeway®. He was soon invit- Gold Circle Award. Rex was the fi rst inductee into the New ed to join the Bell Atlantic’s (Verizon’s) pioneer- England Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame. ing venture, Tele-TV. His creative leadership and Hollywood experience was key in the development Please join us for this interesting presentation. The lecture of the world’s fi rst on demand streaming service will be held at Historic New England’s the Vale, Lyman and was responsible for its on-air promotion. Estate, 185 Lyman Street in Waltham. It will be preceded by Bavaro’s work has won numerous awards in- a brief business meeting of the Historical Society. cluding a Clio Award, a New York Art Director’s Seating is limited so please arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 Club Award, and was nominated for two Emmy® PM. Light refreshments will be available. Free to Historic Awards for his documentary fi lms, “Rex Trailer’s New England and Waltham Historical Society members, Boomtown” and “Voices from the Basement.” $5 nonmembers Bavaro is also a writer, illustrator, published cartoonist and professional voice-over actor. Images courtesy “The Rex Trailer Collection” Images from the collection of the Waltham Historical Society Rex Trailer on Moody Street Waltham High School History Club: Class of 1965 meets Parmenter Building Class of 2015: Erected 1879 -- Burned 1999 50 Years! Through the extraordinary Waltham Watch Company efforts of Society member circa 1860s Marie Daly, the Waltham His- torical Society worked with the Waltham High School History Club to bring together members of the WHS Class of 1965 and the WHS Class of 2015. This was an opportunity for students in this year’s graduating class to learn about their counterparts of 50 years ago. Michael DiLuzio and Tracey Kerns, with the support of Direc- tor of History Mr. Derek Van- dergrift brought together these folks separated by 50 years but with much in common. Students learned about what it was like to live in 1965, experiencing the assassination of a President and other major events of the time. The members of the Class of 1965 learned how talented and bright are today’s graduates. Main Refreshments were provided Street by the Historical Society, and opposite the school Library was made City Hall available through the courtesy of Joyce Guelli and Kendal Boninti at the high school. We’re now looking for Class of 1966 representatives for next year’s graduates! The Board of Directors of the Waltham Historical Society wishes to express our appreciation for the support of the indi- viduals and organizations listed on this page. They have been very generous to the Historical Society this past year and we encourage you to thank them for their generosity by patron- izing the businesses identifi ed, and by expressing thanks to the individuals.