Hey Everyone! My name is Jacques "thehaitianfirefly" Fleury! I am a poet, Columnist, freelance writer producer and host of the LIVE local TV show aptly titled "Dream Weavers w/ Jacques" at Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) on Ch. 9 on Thursdays at 5:30pm eastern time. The show is also on the net same time at: cctvcambridge.org and click on webstream! I am always looking for guests! I also write for "Whats Up Magazine", "Spare Change News" , "Somerville News", "The Bridge" and host my own column in www.TheAlewife.com, the online version of the North Cambridge Alewife and click on category: Jacques Fleury to view my articles! I will also be starting as a columnist with The Boston Haitian Reporter in July 2006! I am also a segment producer with the You Are Here Video News Magazine at CCTV! I have a degree in Liberal Arts and am currently working on my second degree in the Arts at Umass Boston and hope to apply to a Masters of Fine Ars in Creative writing progam at Harvard University and/or Emerson College.

I just self published my first poetry book: "Sparks in the Dark: Selected Poems by Jacques thehaitianfirefly Fleury" !! It is being sold for $5.00 dollars at The Out of the Blue Gallery in Cambridge on Prospect Street across from the Whole Foods supermarket! Half the proceeds will go to the Gallery! There are poems both in French and Creole translated in to English of course. Get yourself a copy and help support the gallery! For more information go to: www.outoftheblueartgallery.com.

Also Should you have any News Tips or a dream to weave on screen or if you have any questions about my poetry, my writings, live appearances or my TV and internet show, please contact me: haitianfirefly@yahoo.com or (617) 272-5057.

Please feel free to forward this page to any interested parties. Just scroll to the bottom and click "email."

REX TRAILER is known to many in Boston! He was on the Television show called BoomTown which aired on WBZ-TV Channel 4 and ran from the 1950's until the 1970's. I was informed that it was the longest running show in Boston, Massachetts. Some of his famous fans include Jay Leno, Tom Bergeron and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, whom also appeared on the documentary ! There is a documentary that has been made about him and it will be screened at "Jimmy Tingles Off Broadway Theatre" in Sommerville, Massachusetts on July 19th, 2006. The director of the documentary Michael Bavaro and Mr. Trailer are tentatively scheduled to come on my TV show "Dream Weavers With Jacques" Channel 9 in Cambridge, MA. and on CCTV's website at 5:30 pm eastern time on July 13th, 2006! The show will be repeated on Friday 11pm eastern time both on TV and the net! Please tune in for this most exciting event. Mr. Trailer is apparently a TeleVision icon in Boston and a plethora of people are anticipating this rare TV appearance!

Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater

& TrailMixx Pictures present:

“Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” Film Screening & Reunion with Rex Trailer - Wednesday, July 19th at JTOB

- Part of the 50th Boomtown Reunion Tour Celebration -

One Wednesday, July 19, Rex Trailer will appear at Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater in Davis Square, Somerville. At 6 p.m. RedBones provides a complimentary Bar-B-Q buffet to kick off the reunion celebration. Enjoy the buffet while meeting Rex and cast members of the “Boomtown” movie. Here’s a chance to say hello to a legend, be a part of the reunion tour, and have your photo taken with Rex.

At 7:30 p.m. the one-hour version of the documentary film, “Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” will screen, followed by a panel discussion with Rex, filmmaker Michael Bavaro, and special guest cast members. Rex will give out prizes to Boomtown trivia fans. The DVD will be on sale along with other memorabilia for Rex to personally autograph.

Hosting the evening’s festivities will be Jimmy Tingle, who appeared on the show as a boy, and was picked by Rex as the Pony Express guy. Join Jimmy as he welcomes his childhood hero.

It’s been 50 years since Boomtown came to Boston, and since 50th anniversaries come around only once in most of our lives, please celebrate with us.

“Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” premiered on WBZ-TV in Boston on April 28, 1956. Every Saturday and Sunday the show aired from 7am to 10am and lasted for nearly 20 years when it signed off in 1974.

The documentary film of the same title aired as a broadcast special on CBS-4 Boston on June 18, 2005. The film was nominated for a 2006 New England Emmy Award for best historical drama and the broadcast is now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. Relive an age of innocence, “WANTED” posters, and live one-take TV in this moving documentary about Boston’s beloved cowboy and pioneer of children’s television. The comprehensive film has been described by Jim Braude on New England Cable News as “a colossal documentary.”

The film features interviews with 100 grown-up “Boomtown” fans including: Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino; television stars Tom Bergeron, Jay Leno, Mike O’Malley; and comedians Steven Wright, Lenny Clarke, Jimmy Tingle, Tony V, Brian Kiley, Eddie Brill; local television and radio celebrities Juli Auclair, WHDH-7; Frank Avruch, WCVB-5; Steve Burton, CBS-4; Gene Lavanchy, FOX-25; Jordan Rich, WBZ Radio and Paul Sullivan, WBZ Radio; as well as Ernie Boch Jr. of Boch Motors; Barry Tatelman, of Jordan's Furniture; Vin DiBona of Vin DiBona Productions; and many others.

The film is told through the memories of these individuals, interviewed from Boston to California, eager to honor Rex.

“Boomtown”, a Western-themed television show, was a weekend staple for the 4 million children who watched on WBZ-TV in Boston and reached into most states of New England. More than 200,000 kids appeared live on the show during its run. The 3-hour show offered music, games, storytelling, cartoons, environmental education and life learning lessons.

“Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” Film Screening & Reunion with Rex Trailer
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
At Jimmy Tingle's OFF BROADWAY Theater in Somerville, MA

Schedule of Evening Events:

6 p.m. - Texas Bar-B-Q with Rex provided by RedBones

7:30 p.m. - Screening of “Rex Trailer's Boomtown”

8:30 p.m. - Panel discussion with Rex, filmmaker Michael Bavaro, and cast members
WHERE:

Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater
255 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville MA
(near Red Line Davis T)

TICKETS:

Admission: $ 25
- includes RedBones buffet at theater, and screening & panel to follow –

For tickets: 1-866-811-4111

For Theatre Information Please Contact:

(617) 591-1616 or jtoffbroadway.com

Rex Trailer Bio:

Rex Trailer grew up in Texas and learned his cowboy skills while spending summers on his grandfather’s ranch. The ranch workers were rodeo riders who advised the young Rex to stay away from the “rough stock” and stick to rodeo performing.

With that sage advice, Rex learned trick riding, rope tricks, bullwhips, and marksmanship. As a rodeo performer, he met Western movie star Gabby Hayes at Madison Square Garden in New York. Hayes took Rex under his wing and hired him to work at his Catskills summer ranch for kids. Hayes realized Rex was a natural with kids and encouraged him to break into television as an on-air personality.

In the fall of 1947, Rex moved to New York City and applied to the Dumont Network but no on-air positions were available. He knew working from the inside would be more beneficial so he accepted a job as a production coordinator and worked his way up to producer and director. One day, Rex heard of a casting call for a cowboy to host a new kid’s show. Rex landed the job as the host of the Oky Doky Ranch and began his career in children’s television on the Dumont Network.

In 1950, the Westinghouse Broadcasting Company offered Rex a contract as their on-air children’s personality at their WPTZ station in Philadelphia. From 1950 to1955, Rex was the host of three shows, “High Noon with Rex Trailer,” “Riding the Trail,” and “Rex Trailer's Ranch House.” With 13 weeks left on his contract, Westinghouse sold the station to NBC. He was offered to play out his deal at their stations in either Cleveland or Boston. Rex chose Boston and that 13-week contract would last nearly 20 years.

On April 28, 1956, “Rex Trailer's Boomtown” premiered on WBZ-TV in Boston. The show was an instant success. Every Saturday and Sunday morning “Boomtown” was on the air live for three hours. More than 200,000 kids would appear on “Boomtown” over the years and over 4 million watched from home. The show offered entertainment, educational games, films, cartoons, and outdoor adventure.

As the demand of network airtime encroached on the local television markets, “Boomtown” signed off WBZ-TV in 1974. Westinghouse then developed a program called “Earth Lab,” a science show for kids and teens and chose Rex as the host. He took off his cowboy hat and explored other worlds that were of interest to him such as NASA’s space expedition. The show was nationally syndicated and enjoyed a successful run in the mid-1970’s.

In 1977, Rex found his current home at Emerson College teaching on-camera performance and television production. Many of his students have gone on to great success in news and entertainment. Rex has written and recorded many songs over the years and still enjoys performing at personal appearances and parades with his horse Goldrush. He is president of RTV Productions in Waltham, Massachusetts producing commercials, industrials, and documentaries. Rex is currently developing a new educational, family-interest television show.

The recipient of numerous honors and citations, Rex Trailer received the 2005 Governor’s Award at the New England chapter of the National Television Academy. He was also awarded the MASS IMPACT award at the 2005 Boston Film Festival for this documentary film titled, “Rex Trailer’s Boomtown.”

CAMBRIDGE MAYOR KEN REEVES has been re-scheduled to appear on my CCTV Be Live Television show "Dream Weavers w/ Jacques" on May 25th due to scheduling difficulties, 2006 Thursday at 5:30pm on Channel 9 and on CCTV's website which is mentioned above! Some of the questions I have submitted to the Mayor's Personal Assistant Bernard Hicks are: What are some of the duties of a Mayor? What are some of the current issues needing immediate attention? What has the mayor accomplished in the past and what are his current ambitions for the betterment of the city of Cambridge? Please watch and call the number on the screen with questions for the Mayor! I hope that the community utilize this opportunity to get involved with the city officials elected to represent them in office!

Recently, I was invited to be the performing poet and also served as a publicity agent for the Third Annual Urban Walk for Haiti! My article on the walk was published in "The Boston Haitian Reporter", "The Bridge", "Sommerville News" and in my column on the online version of "The Alewife" newspaper! It was estimated that a thousand people were in attendance and that we raised close to $50,000.00 dollars and counting! We had art vendors, music, dance and general AMBIENCE! My mom was there joyfully selling my poetry book! The weather was awsome! We walked to raise money to build a new school in Haiti and to support the ubiquitous Dr. Paul Farmers Boston Based Organization for Haiti called Partners in Health (PIH) designed to provide much needed medical aid to the poor in Haiti. DR. Farmer has two hospitals under his name in Haiti free to all patients! The book written about him "Mountains Beyond Mountains" is a NewYork Times best seller! Farmer himself wrote a book titled "The Uses of Haiti" which I have in my library and I think is essential to all who are curious about America's foreign policies, some of which gravely affects Haiti! Thank you to all who supported the walk! Hope to see you all next year with your walking shoes in hand!

HERE IS THE POEM I EXCLUSIVELY WROTE FOR AND PERFORMED AT THE WALK!

Walk for Haiti, Walk for Humanity!

By Jacques Fleury The Haitian fireflY

Today, we celebrate the presence

And participation of the youth culture

The next generation for a brighter future

All joined together so that Haiti and optimally

Humanity can be better!

When I left Haiti I could not stop

From looking back in my rear view mirror

Leaving behind all the beauty and horror,

And I remember thinking to myself

There has to be more to life than constant strife!

So now I got poems burning on my breath

To cure misery and death like Partners in Health!

But I must emphasize,

Haiti for me was not all about death and debris!

It was also about beauty.

I remember staring in stupor

The dance of the Caribbean wind

Over the blue eyed sea a crystallized lagoon

Rising and falling with the grace of a ballerina,

The deep green elegance of palm trees,

Picnics by moonlight and sweet memories of mangoes,

The sounds of laughter resounding from the young

As they run about playing hide and seek,

A game adults knew very well in the face of

Domination and intimidation!

So now I got poems burning on my breath to

Cure misery and death like Partners in Health.

When I revisit these memories,

I can’t decide whether I want to

Remember

Or whether I want to

Forget.

I remember those who lived under

The roof of tragedy!

I often forget that I was lucky!

I lived a sheltered life since we

Were considered middle class.

Women had very few choices,

In Haiti, the heterosexist macho male culture

Does not make things sturdy for mothers

Defying gravity to rise above economic scarcity,

So they often turned to God for spiritual energy.

So now, I got poems burning on

My breath to cure misery and death

Like Partners in Health.

When I lived in Haiti,

Black outs were as constant as

The pain in the eyes of mothers

Watching their children starving.

Then the moon descended like a

Familiar friend to keep shadows in misery company.

The children would all run around happy just to be.

Their carefree laughter inviting the winning shapes

Of eternity in their haunted voices.

Then shadows of the world would appear

Attired in fear the message was clear:

There must be something better than this!

So I like to remember the tropical sea

A blue hue at the end of Carfou on

Jean Claude Duvalier Avenue where we lived,

Coconut trees swaying with the wind

to the rhythm of beauty and brutality!

The sky separated in two: black and blue,

Under black skies, the moon hovered like

Halos over Haitian heads restless spirits

Searching through the night with darkness riding

Heavy on their backs

So they often sang their misery away

Their music bending the night to make

Room for a little light,

I listened to them sing their songs of

hope and inspiration:

“De Galilee, sa nap gade,

De Galilee, sa nap gade,

Jesus ki paret la, sa nap gade,

Lap retounin enko, sa nap gade�x2

I remember crying when I saw this sight.

I am sorry to have seen.

But glory has a history of curing misery!

And so I wait for Haiti’s endless nights to turn

Into endless days,

And so I wait for Haitian children to shine like

The colors of May,

And so I wait for Haiti’s hungry to be fed,

And so I wait for Haiti’s sick to be cured,

And so I wait for Haiti’s sun to shine like

The glossy innocence in the eyes of a child,

And so I wait.

With poems burning on my breath to cure misery

And death like Partners in Health.

So today let’s all walk and sing

until our voices ring ripples in the Caribbean sea,

so today let’s all walk and sing until Haiti is

set free from torture!

set free from horror!

set free from hunger!

A great man once said

“I fed the poor and the call me a saint

I ask why they are poor and they call me a communist.�

I say release all Haitian birds!!!

I've learned that some birds are not meant to be caged,

Their colors are just too bright!

The cross roads of time is on our side!

There will come a time when holy generosity

will fall from the sky,

there will come a time when the land of scarcity

will become the land of the plenty!

There will come a time when Haiti will reclaim it’s

Original vision of bliss and beauty,

There will come a time when Haiti will be set free!

But for now, all I got is poems burning on my breath

To cure misery and death like Partners in Health.

Yet still I am compelled to listen to the sounds in the trees

To the somber voices of our ancestors

Feeling compelled to say something to our generation

So pay attention!

Listen closely to the absent songs of democracy!

Go up to the hills of Haiti and there you will hear

Clearly hidden meanings humming in the wind,

So listen closely to the temptations of power,

So listen closely to the maltreatment of your brother,

So listen closely to the maltreatment of your sister.

No blood needs to be shed for Haiti to be fed!

On Haitian terrains we got mountains of pain

Dancing in the rain.

But one day, Haitian children will wake up to

Shiny silver mornings and hummingbirds singing

Promising a glossy wire string strong enough

To pull Haiti out of misery,

A glossy wire string strong enough to pull

Haiti back into its original grace and beauty.

Yet still I got poems burning on my breath

To cure misery and death like Partners in Health.

So thank you for walking, with each step

Haiti is brighter,

So thank you for walking, with each step

Haiti is stronger.

So thank you for walking to better the lives of the living!!!

COPYRIGHT 2006 BY JACQUES FLEURY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.