I was thinking about trying something I hadn’t done in 60-something years: a “Show and Tell” column of assorted items collected through my BOOMerhood. Let’s get started!
ITEM 1– The May issue of BOOM had been out for a couple of days when my “war” with the City of Montgomery over a dangerous (to cars and The Awkward) sinkhole on charming Magnolia Curve was miraculously solved! A ridiculous sequence of “fixes,” including gravel and orange drums warning of the tenacious hole, frustrated many Cloverdale residents.
As soon as the May BOOM was out, complete with photos of the mess, I drove by, and to my astonishment, the hole was filled and paved. It’s as flat as a dinner plate. Beautiful. Magazine Power!
Here’s a pic of the cosmetic completion!
ITEM 2– I’ve been trying to distill my “stuff” (BOOM-April 2025) and discovered a box with some cool memories. BOOMers will remember the “Great One”, Jackie Gleason. I was a huge fan at a very young age, 10 or so, and wrote him a fan letter. Weeks later, this picture arrived. It was signed (probably not by him, but still); however, the ravages of time erased the signature. With all the moves I’ve made in my life, I’m far more amazed to find it in my possession! It’s a keeper. #bangzoom
ITEM 3– This picture has many stories within. It’s the 70s. I have a bushel of hair. I am wearing the tuxedo from my first wedding (I did not get married in a Styx t-shirt but was working with them at the time). I am not the “show” part of this photograph. The “tell” is the car, a 75 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, and if you look closely, I am wearing platform shoes. I am ashamed of everything but the car.
The shoes were my chance to see the world from 6 feet 2 inches, and I enjoyed it while it lasted. The Trans Am had to go after Styx’s John Curulewski (“JC”) called it a “grease mobile.” I never felt right about it after that. I traded it for a 72 Corvette, which later burned in a fire caused by a fallen flaming hot marijuana seed. No suspect in that blaze was ever found.
ITEM 4– My baseball card. Midwestern BOOMers should be familiar with the name “Veeck,” as in Bill, who long ago owned the Cleveland Indians and, later, the Chicago White Sox. Bill had a son, Mike, who had his own baseball career but is most remembered for engineering a “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park in 1979. He packed the house with disco haters on the promise a pile of albums would be blown up at second base between games of a doubleheader. Fans, however, drank their way through game 1, and rioted during the demolition. The White Sox were forced to FORFEIT the second game.
Mike eventually owned a minor league team called the Miami Miracle. He hired me and my newsman, Jeff Chase, to do the TV broadcasts, and it was a blast. And I did make a childhood dream come true- broadcasting pro baseball and having my own authentic baseball card. Collectors tell me it’s worth 17 cents!
ITEM 5– The excitement over the first American Pope makes this souvenir all the more special and, uh, controversial.
In 1987, I had the honor of being selected by the Archdiocese of Miami to host a Mass by Pope John Paul II. It was the experience of a lifetime!
After being cleared by the Secret Service, FBI, and Treasury Departments, I had to attend numerous rehearsals for the event. We did a dry run the day before. One of the organizers pointed out the various accomplishments of the event and motioned toward this massive, cement-based chair. “That’s where the Pope will sit”, he said. “And you’re not supposed to sit in it. Pope only!” So, of course, when an opportunity to test-seat it occurred, a friend grabbed this quick pic.
I am revealing this publicly now because I feel guilty about violating that rule. I have now come clean. I pray the Gates of Heaven will still swing open for me!
See you at the Confessional.
Greg Budell has lived in Montgomery for 20 years. A 50+ year veteran of radio, TV and writing, Greg hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas, Susan Woody, and Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday – Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with Pamela Dubuque and a variety of sidekicks. His favorite topic is life! Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com.