Howdy Rex!
Rex Trailer's "Boomtown" was a Cowboy children's television show broadcast from 1956 to 1976 mostly on the local NBC affiliate Channel 4 (now CBS). Attended by children from the Boston area, this show was full of games, stories, animals on "Critter Corner," local music like the "Bunker Hillbillys!", cartoons, and a cast of characters played by local talent. This show ran so long that the original child audience from the 50's could have their children go to it in the 70's!
Each program started in the Bunkhouse where Rex and his trusty Mexican companion Pablo (played by Dick Kilbride who tragically passed away from illness in 1968) would discuss what would be on the show that day thus keeping the kiddies watching at home interested through out the morning. Then Rex would ride his horse "Goldrush" into the studio with it's audience of kids.
Starting right after the test pattern, the National Anthem, and a "Big Picture" Armed Forces short, this show ruled Saturday AM for up to fours hours per episode (depending on sponsors and the time of year), kids could be waiting a long time to see what they had heard about in the Bunkhouse. There was also a Sunday edition as well. Other characters that appeared were Cactus Pete and Sgt. Billy. Sgt. Billy replaced Kilbride and was with the show until the end and still works with Rex on occasion.
Most of the shows were live, took place out doors in the summer(weather permitting) in a western town set behind the TV studio. It featured the usual western fair spiced with references to modern goings on. At the time I was watching the show JFK was President and their was a lot of references to the space race. Rex was and is a flying cowboy and worked that into the show as well. Rex still is an avid aviator.
There was also the usual western cowboy gun play until the assassination of JFK. After that Rex discontinued wearing his six guns and toned down that part of the show.
It's most noted episode was when a live Tiger appearing on the show went out of control pinning it's owner to the floor. As the trainer pleaded to "Get him off! Get him off!", Rex had to coax the tiger away in front of a studio of children who thought it was all part of the act. It has been said by Rex that the smell of the horse in the studio and a tiger do not mix. No one was hurt but a normal "Critter Corner" this was not.
Rex sponsored travel trips to Universal Studios and Disneyland where planes would be chartered for several hundred fans. Rex made more than 1,000 episodes, spanning three decades. He ran a Television training school and taught at Emerson College.
Rex currently still appears at parades and other events in the Boston area and currently has a web page where he hawks merchandise about his show. Rex was originally a singing cowboy and his old LP albums are still available via E bay.