What a beautiful old Pontiac Chieftain Custom Catalina Hadrtop.
Spittin’ image of the one Ray Greenbacks bought for his wife back in the spring of ’53 in celebration of their Silver Anniversary.
He special ordered it on his lunch hour over at Badlands Buick / Pontiac / GMC in Marfa just to throw Rona off the track. His salesman, Burt, let the cat out of the bag when he called the house to confirm whether she wanted Laurel Green on the top or the body because he couldn’t read his own handwriting.
Nonetheless, Rona acted completely surprised when it showed up in the driveway on the big day with a gigantic silver bow on the top. What was a real shock was the two round trip Pan Am tickets to Rome for a second honeymoon tucked away in the massive glove compartment on the passenger side of the dash.
Ray had spilled the beans to a couple friends at the Knights of Columbus Friday Night Fish Fry the week before, but they were able to keep the secret like a priest does a confession.
Rona was as proud of that car as anything, short of the youngest of seven who had just taken her first communion. (A close second was Ray taking a weekend trip to Mason for a secret vasectomy prior to the trip.)
She parked the Pontiac right out front at the Klip-N-Dye a couple days before the big trip. While Trixie was doing her hair, Rona mentioned the trip they were about to take.
“Rome? Why would you go to Rome? It’s filthy. How are you getting there?” Trixie inquired.
“Pan Am. Ray bought tickets as a surprise.” Rona volunteered.
“Pan Am? They’re never on time.” Trixie retorted. “Where are you staying?”
“Ray found a place through the travel agent called Hotel de Plazio and booked it for the week.” Rona explained.
I’ve heard of it. Everyone thinks it’s going to be fantastic. It’s a dump.” Trixie advised.
“Well, we’re going to the Vatican. Maybe we’ll get to see the Pope.”
“And maybe pigs will fly out of my butt. If you do, it’ll be from a mile away and he’ll look like an ant.” Trixie gleefully told her.
A month later, Rona came in to the Klip-N-Dye for her next appointment. The Chieftain absolutely sparkled in the Fort Stockton sunshine parked right out front, especially the Silver Streaks on the hood and trunk. Almost blinding, kind of like Rona’s faith.
Once settled into the chair, Trixie asked her how the trip had been.
“It was incredible. Pan Am overbooked and so we were upgraded to first class. Complimentary wine and food. A young stewardess pampered us and taught us some Italian phrases over the Atlantic.
The hotel had just been completely remodeled. Our suite was the perfect combination of Old World charm and all the best modern amenities.” Rona Explained.
“Well I know you didn’t get to see the Pope!” Trixie threw out.
“Oh my. We were pulled aside in the Sistine Chapel by one of the Swiss Guards and told that the Pope occasionally enjoyed discreetly meeting visitors and asked if we would like a moment with him alone.” Rona divulged. “Seeing him in person was the highlight of the trip.”
“Really?” Trixie said. “What did he say?”
“Who screwed up your hair?”
7 responses to “THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY PONTIAC”
A Papal “Who screwed up your hair?” ?
Badda-Boom, Badda-Bing !
And a reminder not to fall prey to the “Negative Nellies” of your universe !
This beautiful Pontiac brings back memories of 1959-1960, my High School year in Linden, NJ, and the following summer, playing trumpet with my band and driving my Silver-Streak. Sal-Hara was named for Sally and Harry Friedman and their dog “Scrappy” (a play on the big Sahara Resort), formerly Friedman’s Lakeview Hotel outside of Woodbourne, NY in the Catskills Borscht Belt – famous for both aspiring, as well as big-name talent. I played that circuit every summer (and several other weekends) from 1954 through 1964, met a lot of fantastic entertainers, and built some amazing memories. Among those memories was the summer of 1960, driving my $75.00 red 1949 Pontiac straight-eight 3-on-the-tree convertible. Oh, the stories that car could tell if she weren’t so discrete – especially the 3-day trip to Tanglewood, Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Fiedler who was a huge fan of fire engines. Jam sessions at the River Tavern, sitting in with Greg Hines, his brother Maurice and their Dad as “Hines, Hines and Dad” Late Show act at the Pines in South Fallsburg, those summers of late ’50s and into the ’60s filling in at the Nevele, Kutcher’s, Laurels, Grossinger’s, Tamarack Lodge, Aladdin, Harmony and so many smaller venues – those summers meeting and cutting shows for Sammy Davis, Jr., Napoleon Reed, Barbra Streisand, Shecky Green, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Mel Torme, Jerry Vale, Don & Phil Everly, and dozens and dozens of other celebrities, stars, near-stars, singers, comedians, dancers, musicians (Lou Soloff-trumpet, Blood,Sweat & Tears; Mitch Margo and Norman Bergen – Tokens; Bassist Billy Slapin, etc).
That red Silver Streak convertible shone, replete with white (second-hand) Rayco Nylon top.
Several young ladies with thoughts of Vista competed to polish my Silver-Streak, anticipating a ride some evening.
It seems to me that folks a generation before me had such a good time. MARTY ROTH played with giants in the music biz. My dad knew Rod Serling, meeting him when Serling was a Professor in Ohio.
Me, I’m never going to know anyone famous. Still, I’m going to meet good people, and I hope I keep that in mind. No reason to be hateful.
Right? It’s like runnin’ with big dogs.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet good people regardless of their race or religion in every country that I have visited. There have also been some real dicks; one of them was Ex-Prez Nixon but even among Nixons there was a good one named Ken in a bad place called Yemen.
I guess the goal is to keep looking for the good ones and the good times that go with them. I may never meet Rona, Trixie or the Pope, but I’ll meet St Peter someday and I hope it goes well.
Ka-BOOM!
Pontiac… a silver (anniversary) lining for negative Nellies.
Lol, now that was funny 😂