October 9, 2025 • 37 mins
We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!
An update in the last case Sweeney talked about: The disappearance of Christopher Bird… Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Cold Case Files reporter
The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show at the Topsfield Fair! Coming up Oct. 11, 12, & 13th! Show has performed all over the world! Includes log rolling, two men crosscut sawing and axe throwing!
Guest: Lee LeCaptain – with the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show
Battle for the Airfield WWII Re-Enactment Weekend at the American Heritage Museum Guest: Hunter Chaney - Director of Marketing, Communications and Education at the American Heritage Museum
Upcoming Documentary, “CROFT” captures the extraordinary life of Hal Croft - decorated Vietnam veteran, beloved MA teacher, and legendary track coach who led Reading Memorial High School to a national-record 29 consecutive undefeated seasons.
Guest: Brandon Millet - award-winning producer, director, and storyteller dedicated to bringing military and veteran stories to the screen
Click "CROFT" to purchase tickets to see the documentary.
An update in the last case Sweeney talked about: The disappearance of Christopher Bird… Guest: Emily Sweeney – Boston Globe Cold Case Files reporter
The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show at the Topsfield Fair! Coming up Oct. 11, 12, & 13th! Show has performed all over the world! Includes log rolling, two men crosscut sawing and axe throwing!
Guest: Lee LeCaptain – with the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show
Battle for the Airfield WWII Re-Enactment Weekend at the American Heritage Museum Guest: Hunter Chaney - Director of Marketing, Communications and Education at the American Heritage Museum
Upcoming Documentary, “CROFT” captures the extraordinary life of Hal Croft - decorated Vietnam veteran, beloved MA teacher, and legendary track coach who led Reading Memorial High School to a national-record 29 consecutive undefeated seasons.
Guest: Brandon Millet - award-winning producer, director, and storyteller dedicated to bringing military and veteran stories to the screen
Click "CROFT" to purchase tickets to see the documentary.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's nice.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm doing you easy Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Good evening everybody, and happy Thursday. We're almost at the weekend. No,
we still have a couple of nights to go. My
name is Dan Ray, and I am here every weeknight
from eight until midnight, and we'll take you all the
way to Friday, and you think can say the magic
letters of TGIF in the meantime, stay with us and
(00:27):
welcome Rob Brooks, our great producer who is back in
the control room at Broadcast Central headquarters. And we will
start off tonight during the eight o'clock hour talking with
one of my very favorite guests, Emily Sweeney of the
Boston Globe. Emily is with us a couple of times
a month talking about cold case files, and she has
(00:49):
an update on a cold case file that we've talked
about recently. What's going on here, Emily?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Yeah, Dan, thanks again for having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I would have you on every night if they would
let me.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Go.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Right ahead, Well, I'm honored, I'm honored. I the last
time I was on, I was talking about the disappearance
of Christopher Bird. He was a Haverol Public Schools special
education teacher twenty five years old when he vanished in
nineteen eighty four, Three days go by and his cast
(01:26):
shows up abandoned at the mcdouin Mall and he was
last seen. He told his wife he was going camping
with a friend, and I've learned some new details, you know,
since we spoke. You know, this friend's name was Richard Brunt,
and Richard Brunt had a record. He had done prison
(01:50):
time for killing somebody in Florida and somehow got a
job teaching, you know, here in Massachuset. It's at a
private school, and they supposedly go camping, and when Chris
does we come back, his wife reports a missing And
(02:10):
I talked to his wife and I was like, how
did these two meet, you know, like they were just
friends for a few months, And she told me that
they met at the y MCA and Haro and she
said after Chris disappeared, they went into his locker and
they found love letters written to Chris from Richard Brunt.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Okay, yeah, yeah, okay, so a little complicated.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
And you know, so his poor wife finds this out,
you know, find you know, they police took the love
letters and Chris has still never been found.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Did the police know about this correspondence at the time,
you know, shortly after his disappearance.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
Yeah, it was only after he disappeared that that the
police went into his locker at the y and saw
the letters.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So that should have given them something to work on,
I would think.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yeah. So you know, Richard Brent told police that the
last time he saw Chris Chris was they went they
had gone camping, and Chris wanted to borrow a ladder okay, okay,
And the last place Chris was seen was at the stables,
the n Q Stables up in Wyndham, New Hampshire, and
(03:33):
there's a ladder business right across the street from the stables.
So you know, if anybody out there, you know, maybe
maybe saw something or anything.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
What what?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
What What interests me is clearly if there was, you know,
an interest that someone had in someone else, and if
that interest was unrequited and not mutual, sometimes people can
feel spurned, which might be the potential motive for anger.
(04:11):
I'm speculating here, do we know? I mean, you would
think if they found that it was nineteen eighty five, right,
eighty four, okay, But if they found that in the
few days, which I assumed they would have after his disappearance.
That certainly should have given them a potential motive for
(04:36):
you know, for a potential crime. I'm not suggesting that
means that necessarily this other gentleman you know, killed him.
All we know is he disappeared. But this did the police?
Have the police said anything? And again, because it's eighty four,
I assume most of the police officers who were involved
(04:59):
in that investing have long since retired.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Maybe well, the new Nipshire Cold Case Unit has been,
you know, really been actively investigating this case, especially in
recent years. I've found out, dan Is that I confirmed
that Richard Brunt also passed away in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Okay, so.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
You know this is still an open case. You know, Uh,
Chris's family, his mother is still alive, you know, just
wants to know, you know, what happened to her son.
And I'm hoping by putting some of these new details
out there that you know, maybe again maybe somebody saw something,
maybe Richard told somebody something.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah, you know, you know the other thing is that
if let's say the presence of those letters in Richard's locker, uh,
in Chris's locker, excuse me, excuse me, that they were
in the locker of the victim. I don't want to
(06:05):
confuse these names. The victim is Richard, Oh, Chris, Chris Christopher. Okay.
So the love letters were found in Chris's locker and
they appeared to have been written by the fellow who
we went camping with, which okay. So if that individual,
first of all, they should have been maybe investigated back
(06:28):
in eighty four eighty five. But even if once that
person dies, if he was a suspect in the disappearance
or worse of Chris, that might have ended the investigation there,
I assume, and that the police would say, hey, this
(06:49):
is not really an investigation that we're likely to bring
closure to in view of the fact that the person
who we were looking at, who at last has seen him.
Let me put it like that. I don't want to,
you know, in any way, shape or form, suggest that
that Richard did anything improper. But maybe when when he
(07:12):
passed away, they said, hey, we can't pursue this, but
you're right if anybody has any additional information. His mom,
Chris's mom is still alive. Wow, y, have you had
a chance to talk to Chris's ex wife? Has has
(07:32):
she been available at all.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Yeah, So I spoke to you know, Chris's wife, who
gave me a lot of these details. I also spoke
to his sister recently. And I also I've been you know,
finding pictures of Richard Brunt that will be going with
my story to show you know what he looks like,
and also pictures of Chris. And you know, even though
(07:57):
the you know, Richard Runts he has passed away, the
New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is still posting about this
case on social media a word, because Chris it is
out there. And his family told me that, you know,
they would love to you know, find him, you know,
(08:18):
and you give him a you know, proper burial goodbye.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yeah, did his did his wife ever remarry or has
she spent the last you know forty years you know
as a widow?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:30):
No, I mean, you know his wife, you know, obviously
this was nineteen eighty four. They were a young couple,
you know, I mean, and you know, she she's moved on,
she's doing well, okay, but she's well into Yeah, but
she's well into his sixties, I'm sure at this point,
or maybe more. Yeah, they were both in their twenties.
(08:53):
They had both graduated right after graduating college in eighty
it is when they got married.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Okay, so we do the math. Okay, so if they
were born in you know, circing the late fifties there there,
she's probably in her late sixties, early seventies. This is
one that I think maybe maybe when is the story
going to be in the Globe? Do you know yet
on that?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I'm hoping it will be in the Globe next week.
I'm wrapping it up and I'm taking my time just
to get as much information out there as possible.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Well, Emily, I will find out if you want to
give me a call, I will draw it to everyone's attention,
because this is really an interesting story. Clearly, you know,
they talk about, you know, in any sort of a
murder case, they talk about the acronym mom M O
M meaning a motive, opportunity and means so if there's
(09:45):
a motive, maybe an opportunity to go camping with someone,
you know, you're kind of out there in the wilderness,
so that, you know, I would assume any police investigator
would be thinking, maybe something bad happened when they're camping.
But if you let me know what day you think
it's going to be in I will alert people so
(10:06):
they have an opportunity to look at the pictures and
maybe someone's memory will be refreshed. Fair enough.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Oh great, that'd be excellent, Dan, I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Emily. Thank you very much for working on all these cases.
It's a fascinating series of stories, and I think on
sadly that it's an endless series of stories that you're
going to be presented with. Thanks my friend, you'd be well.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Take care.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Thanks Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe Cold Case Files, and again
I remind you you can get a free subscription. Just
go to the Boston Globe Slash Cold Case Files if
I recall correctly and you can sign.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Up correct yep.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Thanks, how to do it perfect?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Thanks Emily, Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
All right, Thanks all right.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Coming up, we're going to talk about the Paul Bunyan
Lumberjack Show at the tops Field Fair. We'll be back
on Night Sideboy. That was a fascinating development with Emily
Sweeney and just shows what a good reporter like her
can do in pulling together a case and a story
and who knows, maybe there is an answer somewhere somewhere
(11:09):
here in New England. We'll be back on my side
right after this very quick break.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm w BZ, Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
All right, welcome back everybody as we head two hour
second interview during this eight o'clock hour. Delighted to welcome
Lee the Captain. I'm hoping I'm pronouncing that name correctly,
Lee the Captain. How are you, sir?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Oh, I'm great, and you got a perfect again. Nice
to hear from you all there. And I got to
tell you, since I was a little child, I actually
followed your station. My family actually came from Leminster, Pittsburgh area,
and then they moved to the Midwest to Michigan, and
that's where I kind of learned my craft.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
So you are, you're the star of the Paul Bynyen
Lumberjack Show as I understand it.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I don't know about that. I'm the old man of it,
that's for sure. But we got a lot of talent
that's going there. I am actually leaving the South Carolina
State Fair just to come and see you guys, finish
the job with you and going back to the State Fair.
And my son, who is a world champion lumberjack and
the world's most famous Lumberjack will be there, folks. One
of his videos from a fan that in California, Shout
(12:21):
It Out, has done four hundred and three million views.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Whoa, WHOA? So okay, so you gonna well the Lumberjack
Show with you. I don't know if you're participating or running.
The show at this point will be October eleventh, twelfth,
and thirteenth, which, of course is this weekend Columbus Day weekend.
This show has been performed all over the world. It
(12:46):
includes log rolling, two men, crosscut sarring, and axe throwing.
How do you become a lumberjack? I mean, I think
everyone knows the legend of Paul Bunyan, but how does
guy from Leminster, Massachusetts. I'm sure when you were in
the first grade and you wanted to be a firefighter
or police officer, as most first grade is, you didn't
(13:09):
say I want to be another I want to be
a Paul Bunyon lumberjacket I grew up. How did you
get into this line of work?
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Well, like I said, my family moved to Upper Michigan
and it was a sport that's there where they we
practiced it behind our house, just like a bunch of
kids practice a little league in baseball, you know, and
then later on I started competing competitions, and by the
time I was eleven years old, I won the Junior
Boy World Championships, and from there I went to the
Senior Boy World Championships. And then I want a bunch
(13:36):
of cricket, fancy log rolling, and then a regular log
rolling road championships and a bunch of other stuff. And
I've been doing it now since I've been just basically
a little kid. I started the business basically learning at
eight years old.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Whoa, whoa. You know, it's funny. I have family roots
in Leminster too. My mom was born in Leminster a
long time ago, so I'm very familiar with Lemonster. And
so this is what you do for a livelihood. You
performed in all over the world, as I.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Understand it, Yes, me do.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
We just got back from Australia. We've done our shows
on five different continents, China, Japan, Africa, Bermuda, France, England.
We've done it all over the place. Canada of course,
you know, and in the United States. It's a lot
of fun and amazing thing is it's good old fashioned
family fund. It's the stuff that things grew up with,
and you know what the big two hundred and fifty
(14:32):
years celebration that's coming up with all these events now
that the Trump Organization's putting on. Lumberjacks sports and entertainment
was one of the very first entertainments ever done for
fairs and festivals. They would take these lumberjack camps, need
tough lumberjacks. Who's the biggest, who's the bessest, who's the best,
Who's Paul Bunyan And they competed against each other to
(14:53):
see who it was. And that was the entertainment back then,
and it is still as exciting when then as it
is now now.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Paul Bunyan was a mythical character.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Correct, Well, I've done a little bit of research and
I think personally that he was a very real character.
And there's a lot more to get into it. There's
a guy by the name of John Bunyan and he
wrote The Pilgrim's Progress. Well, some say that he was
also a lumberjack back in England, and so there's actually,
I believe, a statue of this guy in believe it
(15:25):
or not, in the Carolinas. So it was kind of
a kind of a fictitional character that came about, but
it was also i think based off a real character
from over in Europe and then came over here to
the United States and became really big.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Okay, that's almost like a historical novel. Someone can write
a novel, but it is the storyline is based on
actual facts in history. Okay. So of everything acts throwing,
log rolling, crosscut, sawring, which is the most difficult in
your opinion or have you done it so often and
(15:59):
for so long that all of them for you are
like rolling out of bed in the morning.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Well, it's kind of like rolling in the bed. Log
rolling if you learn when you're kid. When you're a kid,
it's much easier because weight spends a log. When you
become an adult, it actually, you know, the more weight
to fashion, the log's going to want to go. So
if you learn those skills before you get big and large,
then of course you're going to be very good at it.
As I believe it or not, is one of the
(16:25):
toughest anybody can throw an axe, But to get really
good at it, it takes years of practice and dedication.
Crosscuts signs tough. Chain sign is tough. It's just these
skills you've got to practice. Just like if you're playing
professional baseball or basketball or football, you just got to
really hone your skills to be the best. And even
those that are very very good at it, you will
(16:48):
have to be lucky and born with special kills to
even achieve more.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Well, Lee La Captain, I think it's going to be
a great weekend for you up at the tops Field
Fair beginning on Saturday the eleventh, Sunday the twelfth, and
Monday the thirteenth. If I'm reading my calendar correctly and
people can stop by and see what time does the
(17:13):
show start each day or is it different.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Times, there's three shows a day that are going to
be going on and it's going to be really exciting.
I know. Last time we were there many years back,
the stands were packed to full, so people actually started
coming in an hour and a half just to get
a decent seat in there. The best part about it
is when you're watching this show at thirty to forty
(17:36):
five minutes a show, it's action packed, it's exciting, no politics,
and believe it or not, it's good old fashioned family humor.
It's dad jokes to the best, and I can't tell
you any more than that, you're gonna have a blast.
You got to come and see it.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Well, I'm sure a lot of people are marketing on
the calendar. What time is the first show if you
want to let us know that way people might be.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Able to get there early with I want to say
it's right around the noon. Is one o'clock time? I
may be wrong. I really don't know, but I know
that it will be also on the fair's website.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Tops Field Fair. I wish you good luck. I hope
the weather is going to hold off. We may have
a little bit of rain on Sunday, but I'm sure
the Lumberjacks will We'll work on through that, that's for sure. Lee.
Thanks very much, Lee, the captain of the Paul Bunyan
Lumberjacks show at the tops Field Fair. Thanks so much. Lee.
I enjoyed it too, all right, thank you. All right,
(18:32):
we get back right after the news. Are going to
talk about another weekend activity for families the American Heritage Museum.
But we have the news coming up, and right after
that we will talk to you on the other side.
My name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside. Stay right
with us. You're listening to WBZ Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
All right, well, and welcome hundred Cheney. He's the director
of Marketing, Communications and Education at the American Heritage Museum.
Haunt to Cheney, Welcome. Tell us about the American Heritage Museum.
I know that people here in New England, some people
know a lot about it, but there are some people
who might not be familiar with The American Heritage Museum
(19:17):
is not physically in the city of Boston, but it's
easy to get to from anywhere in New England, including Boston.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Yeah, it's located in Hudson and so this really an
extraordinary museum. We opened up the American Heritage Museum in
twenty nineteen, an institution dedicated to preserving and presenting the
history of American military innovation through military and of course
(19:46):
a fight for freedom. And the museum features one of
the most really extensive collections of armored vehicles and military.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
Artifacts, historic aircraft that.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
Really span the history of the United States. So it
features mostly a large portion of it is the Jacques
Littlefield collection of armored vehicles and tanks, but the museum
really spans from the Revolutionary War up through the Civil
War into World War One, world War Two, both a
(20:23):
European Theater and the Pacific Theater, and then it goes
on to Korea, Vietnam all the way up to current times.
So as you tour through this, it's really an expansive museum.
When you walk through it, you're walking basically a chronology
of American history through the military.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Well, this is a great location, and certainly you opened
it a tough time twenty nineteen, just before cold Yeah,
it's almost amazing that you're doing as well as you
had done. How tough was it during the COVID years
where nobody was going anywhere? And what is it like
now you're open year round?
Speaker 6 (21:00):
Yes, yeah, yeah, Dan, the COVID really that the brutal
part to that is we had just opened up in
twenty nineteen and we were open for about three months
when COVID hit and that put.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
Us down for about a year and a half.
Speaker 6 (21:18):
But the museums open from Wednesdays through Sundays ten to
five o'clock, and it's it's.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
But year round, but it was its summertime, yeah, spring, summer,
winter and fall. Everything. I know that you have a
lot of activity there. Not only there is the museum
a place that people, as you said, can walk through,
but you also had demonstrations that people can watch. Correct.
Speaker 6 (21:48):
Yeah, and so coming up this is actually our eighteenth
year hosting this extraordinary living history event. So think of
World War Two. It's a World Two reenactment called Battle
for the Airfield. So kind of the picture this scenario
where it's mid nineteen forty four, the Allied forces have
(22:11):
just landed in Normandy, they're making their way through France,
and the Germans have captured the airfield. So we have
this area where all these encampments are set up, and
it's up to the Allied forces that are over the
horizon in another area of the property, and it's up
to them to kind of take over the German forces
(22:33):
in this dynamically choreographed battle. And we do two of
them per day. We have one at eleven and another
one at three o'clock. And so during these these battles,
these reenactments, this is a great chance for us to
pull out a lot of the armor that we have
in the museum, and other people, other operators bring their
(22:57):
equipment to the museum and we have all kinds of
World War Two armor, the Sherman tank and the Chaffey
tank and the German equipment, and they're all out operating
and it's really kind of a neat way, very immersive
way to look at World War two history. And the
re enactors themselves, they really act as docents. They're telling
(23:22):
the life of a World War Two soldier.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Now you have an admission, and again I think it's
a reasonably priced admission. Tell us about that.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
So the admission for a single day admission is forty
four adults, thirty five for seniors and veterans, and twenty
five for the kids under sixteen. And we also have
weekend passes that either seventy or sixty or forty that
we offer as well. And the neat thing to this too,
(23:56):
if you have, if they have the financial wherewithal and
you want to do something kind of neat during this weekend.
In addition to the reenactment in our Veterans round table,
we also offer rides in the tank for a fee,
and so it's quite an experience, but it's also pretty expensive.
(24:17):
For instance, M twenty four to Chaffy ride is five
hundred and ninety five dollars for three people, and you
also have the opportunity to ride in the m for
Sherman tank and in this case we take two people
for that same cost.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
So first, well, thanks very much for letting us know that.
I want to make sure if anybody goes up there,
they understand the price of admission gets you. The tour,
gets you to sit or stand and watch the choreographed battles,
which I'm sure no live fire, probably I hope, so
it's no dangerous or anything like that. And then if
(24:52):
there are people up there who go up and want
to have this once in a lifetime experience, that it's
a little pricey, but people need to know that, need
to know that in advance. Is the museum doing well?
I have to assume, do you do you have people
coming in from different parts of the world, because I
kind of imagine there are too many museums around the
(25:14):
country which has as much original legitimate paraphernalia on equipment.
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Yeah, and especially a museum like this that really spans
from the very very early years of the United States
all the way up to current time. It's the only
museum like this in North America. There's other similar military
history museums around, but This one's unique, primarily through the
(25:43):
collection itself is very rare, and the way it's presented
is also very immersive. It's really fascinating, and we really
try and capture a lot of the human interest in
this too as well. So it's a real journey when
people come through it.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Now, at what age do kids I mean, I'm assuming
that adults and teens are going to be fascinated by
this because they have a sense of history, But at
what age do kids lock in? I mean, I'm assuming
that you that kids you can come, whether they're one, two, three, four, five, six,
But at what age does it really do you think
(26:25):
these kids connect and realize, Hey, this is part of
our country and the history.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
I've been amazed Dan at how.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Many of the young kids, we're talking four to five
year olds absorb the history that they're seeing and acknowledge it.
It is a family friendly museum. Of course, it's around war,
so you got to consider that, right. The subject matter
is is something pretty important to.
Speaker 7 (26:56):
Get across the kids.
Speaker 6 (26:57):
But the way the narrative of the museum really appeals
to the full range of audiences, and it's a it's
a it's something that families really enjoy and it gives
a time also for the parents to kind of share
a little bit about their knowledge of the history that
(27:17):
they're seeing too with their kids as a way to
better understand it. And that's what the museum's all about,
is remembering this history right, and so it's it's done
thoughtfully that way, it's.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
It sounds like a great, great take. If folks want
to get tickets, ae wume, it's always good to purchase
in advance, or if they want to get more information,
give us the website.
Speaker 6 (27:39):
Yeah, American Heritage Museum dot org.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Perfect, perfect, real, simple, all one word American Heritage Museum
dot org. Hunter Cheney, thank you so much. The best
explanation that I have heard of what is involved at
the American Heritage Museum. And it seems to me that
it's in all of our backyards. Everyone at some point
you take an opportunity to stop by and see the
(28:06):
weirs that you folks have assembled and the shows that
you put on. Thanks so much for being with.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
Us, Hunter, an absolute pleasure.
Speaker 7 (28:13):
Dan, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
All Right, we get back on the other side. We're
going to talk about an upcoming documentary that has a
local twist executive producer of the film is Gary Sonise.
I do want to mention to you that we still
have our talkback feature iHeartRadio Talkback feature. I hope remind
you that it is really an easy way to become
(28:35):
part of the night Side broadcast or have your input
at WBZ. All you have to do is utilize the
talkback feature in the iHeartRadio app. Make sure you download
and have the free iHeart Radio app. While you're listening
to Nightside or listening to wbzuri BZ during the day,
you tap on a red microphone talkback button. You have
about thirty seconds It's located in the top right corner
(28:57):
of the app to send. It's a personalized audio message
and as long as you keep it clean and within
thirty seconds, we can play it back on Nightside for you.
It's that simple. Once again, hit that red microphone button
in the top right corner of the app while listening
to WBZ or particularly Nightside, and tell us what you
think about the show. We'll take constructive criticism, of course,
(29:19):
compliments are always welcome. My name's Dan Ray. This is Nightside.
We'll be back with an upcoming documentary that is really
about a very interesting and well recognized Massachusetts teacher.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on wb Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
All right, welcome back. We are going to talk with
Brendan Mallett. Brendan's an award winning producer, director with storyteller
dedicated to bringing military and veteran stories to the screen. Brandan,
Welcome to Nightside. How are you this evening?
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Hi?
Speaker 5 (29:53):
Dan, I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
And you have produced a documentary which is entitled cross
c R O F T. That is not an acronym.
That is the last name of the person whose life
you focus on. His name is Halcroft, decorated Vietnam veteran,
beloved Massachusetts teacher and a legendary track coach at Reading
Memorial High School. Tell us about the subject, hal Croft,
(30:18):
how did you folks find about this story and bring
it bring it to life? Although Halcroft, as I understand
that it is still very much alive. This is a
documentary in conjunction with Gary Sinisee, the famous actor from Hollywood.
Speaker 5 (30:34):
Yeah, first and foremost, how was my teacher and coach
back in high school?
Speaker 3 (30:40):
And I knew him?
Speaker 5 (30:41):
Well, that's a good well, and so I was aware
even back then in high school that he was a
larger than life character. I've said this many times over
the years, but it was almost as if he was
lifted out of one of the Hemingway novels he was
teaching us in English class. He was sort of mythological
in that sense. But then, of course there was this
(31:01):
astonishing winning streak, so he led them. He led the
Writing Memorial High school teams twenty nine consecutive undefeated seasons.
I knew all about that because I was on the team.
I was a sprinter on the team, and so that
was astonishing to me, and those two things alone were
worthy of the story. But then some years later I
would learn about his incredible combat heroics and Vietnam, which
(31:22):
earned him both the Silver and Bronze Stars, And then
I felt like this was a story banging to be told,
and I just feel lucky I'm the guy that gets
to tell it.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Okay, so how long was I mean? You had to
get him to agree? Number one? Normally, someone like that
probably is a little tough to persuade because I think
people who have extraordinary backgrounds are you know, they allow
their life to speak for themselves. In their life, you
(31:52):
had to say, hey, look, we want to do a
documentary on you. How long did it take you to
pull the whole thing together?
Speaker 5 (31:58):
I got to tell you the very first conversation with him,
he was definitely ready to do the film. And I think,
you know, he's retired now in a reflective space, probably
you know, looking back upon his life, and I think
he was excited about the prospect of not only telling
his story, but reconnecting with people from his past. And
so from that very first conversation, you know, I said, I,
(32:19):
you know, this is something I'm thinking about doing, and
he said, I'm in. Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
And so we.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Met at the Endover Public Library. It was our first
first meeting, and that was now going back almost three
years ago. But from there it just sort of took
on a life of its own. And here we are
ready to premiere in a couple of weeks at globedocs.
So very excited about it.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
So where where will the premiere be?
Speaker 5 (32:41):
The premiere is at the Globedox Film Festival. So this
is a documentary film festival in Boston run by the
Boston Globe. It's the perfect venue for this film because
he's a Boston legend and we can't.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
Do this in his backyard.
Speaker 5 (32:56):
So very excited about it. So October twenty fourth is
the world and so you have.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
A world premiere. Is this the sort of film or biopic?
I don't know if it's correct to call it a biopic.
You're talking about somebody who wanted to a bronze star
on a silver star. That had to be a story
in of itself, never mind the legendary record as a coach.
Where do you eventually take this documentary? Does it end
(33:25):
up on a Netflix or a peacock? Does it end
up in movie theaters? What's the what's the aspiration?
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (33:33):
Sure, And by the way, you've identified the greatest challenge
of this film, and it's trying to boil Halcross's life
down to ninety five minutes, which was very difficult. But
you know, I think through through sit down interviews and
through you know, archival footage but also some really highly
stylized recreations, we bring this story to life. And to
answer your question, I think, you know, the dream is
(33:56):
to get this in front of as many people as possible.
So you go to a film festival like Lodos hope
to get a little bit of buzz, a little bit
of energy, and then find a distributor who's going to
help you get it, you know, either on a streaming
platform or in theaters.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
It's tough.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
It's a tough go for documentaries in theaters, but it's
not unheard of, so it's certainly a possibility. But I
think a streaming network is certainly a goal for us
as we entered this part of the process.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Now, how did Gary Sinise get involved? Obviously Gary Sinise
played the Lieutenant Dan, if I'm not mistaken, so he
certainly has a connection to the Vietnam era.
Speaker 5 (34:33):
He does for sure. And he was actually the first
call I made when I decided to make a film.
I'd actually met him twenty years ago at a film
festival my wife and I co founded called the gi
Film Festival. It was a military film festival, and so
he brought him out. We screened Force Gump, you know,
you know, and of course, as you mentioned, he played
Lieutenant Dan, and he just sort of he's a big
(34:53):
support of the military. His heart is really pure for
the military, and so he kept coming back year after year,
and we became friends and and I'd decided to do
this story. I called him up. I started to tell
him how story. He stopped me halfway and said, I'm
one hundred percent and just tell me what you need.
So he's been We're We're very lucky to have him involved.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Boy, that's that's fabulous. I wish your best of luck
with it. How can the average person who's listening tonight
and is interested, how can they somehow connect with you
or connect with the film. I'm assuming that the Globe
doc is probably something that's invitation only, or am I
(35:31):
wrong on that?
Speaker 5 (35:33):
No, there are some tickets now, We've sold a lot
and they sold really quickly, but I think there's still
limited number of tickets left, possibly for that screen on
October twenty fourth. But what I tell people is to
go to holcroftfilm dot com and sign up for our
Insider's newsletter. That's what we post everything about this film.
That's those are the people who will learn first and
(35:54):
before we go to social media. So howcroftfilm dot com Okay?
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Perfect? J L CROs Film filmall one word dot com
really enjoyed the conversation, Brandon, best of luck. We need
more movies like this, need more documentaries like this. There
are a lot of people who have done extraordinary things,
but this has to be really at the top of
the pile. It decorated Vietnam veteran Bronze Star, silver Star,
(36:19):
and a legendary track and field coach. Boy, that's quite
a resume. Thanks Brendan. We'll look forward to helping you
out on this at some point along the way.
Speaker 5 (36:27):
Okay, that sounds terrific. Thanks Dan, appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
You very welcome. When we get back, we're going to
talk about the development of the last twenty four hours
and that is the prospect for an actual piece in
the Middle East. We have a two guests coming up.
Jeff Kosowski from Newton. I think you remember him. I
interviewed him a year and a half ago. They had
(36:51):
posters of all of the hostages which were defaced and
then a huge rally in Newton. I will also be
speaking with the Israeli Consul General, Benny Sharoni. And this
has been an extraordinary development development. Let's hope it can
stay on track and we can finally have peace in
the Middle East, genuine peace. Coming back on nightside right
(37:12):
after the nine o'clock news
It's nice.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm doing you easy Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Good evening everybody, and happy Thursday. We're almost at the weekend. No,
we still have a couple of nights to go. My
name is Dan Ray, and I am here every weeknight
from eight until midnight, and we'll take you all the
way to Friday, and you think can say the magic
letters of TGIF in the meantime, stay with us and
(00:27):
welcome Rob Brooks, our great producer who is back in
the control room at Broadcast Central headquarters. And we will
start off tonight during the eight o'clock hour talking with
one of my very favorite guests, Emily Sweeney of the
Boston Globe. Emily is with us a couple of times
a month talking about cold case files, and she has
(00:49):
an update on a cold case file that we've talked
about recently. What's going on here, Emily?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Yeah, Dan, thanks again for having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I would have you on every night if they would
let me.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Go.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Right ahead, Well, I'm honored, I'm honored. I the last
time I was on, I was talking about the disappearance
of Christopher Bird. He was a Haverol Public Schools special
education teacher twenty five years old when he vanished in
nineteen eighty four, Three days go by and his cast
(01:26):
shows up abandoned at the mcdouin Mall and he was
last seen. He told his wife he was going camping
with a friend, and I've learned some new details, you know,
since we spoke. You know, this friend's name was Richard Brunt,
and Richard Brunt had a record. He had done prison
(01:50):
time for killing somebody in Florida and somehow got a
job teaching, you know, here in Massachuset. It's at a
private school, and they supposedly go camping, and when Chris
does we come back, his wife reports a missing And
(02:10):
I talked to his wife and I was like, how
did these two meet, you know, like they were just
friends for a few months, And she told me that
they met at the y MCA and Haro and she
said after Chris disappeared, they went into his locker and
they found love letters written to Chris from Richard Brunt.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Okay, yeah, yeah, okay, so a little complicated.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
And you know, so his poor wife finds this out,
you know, find you know, they police took the love
letters and Chris has still never been found.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Did the police know about this correspondence at the time,
you know, shortly after his disappearance.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
Yeah, it was only after he disappeared that that the
police went into his locker at the y and saw
the letters.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So that should have given them something to work on,
I would think.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yeah. So you know, Richard Brent told police that the
last time he saw Chris Chris was they went they
had gone camping, and Chris wanted to borrow a ladder okay, okay,
And the last place Chris was seen was at the stables,
the n Q Stables up in Wyndham, New Hampshire, and
(03:33):
there's a ladder business right across the street from the stables.
So you know, if anybody out there, you know, maybe
maybe saw something or anything.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
What what?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
What What interests me is clearly if there was, you know,
an interest that someone had in someone else, and if
that interest was unrequited and not mutual, sometimes people can
feel spurned, which might be the potential motive for anger.
(04:11):
I'm speculating here, do we know? I mean, you would
think if they found that it was nineteen eighty five, right,
eighty four, okay, But if they found that in the
few days, which I assumed they would have after his disappearance.
That certainly should have given them a potential motive for
(04:36):
you know, for a potential crime. I'm not suggesting that
means that necessarily this other gentleman you know, killed him.
All we know is he disappeared. But this did the police?
Have the police said anything? And again, because it's eighty four,
I assume most of the police officers who were involved
(04:59):
in that investing have long since retired.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Maybe well, the new Nipshire Cold Case Unit has been,
you know, really been actively investigating this case, especially in
recent years. I've found out, dan Is that I confirmed
that Richard Brunt also passed away in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Okay, so.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
You know this is still an open case. You know, Uh,
Chris's family, his mother is still alive, you know, just
wants to know, you know, what happened to her son.
And I'm hoping by putting some of these new details
out there that you know, maybe again maybe somebody saw something,
maybe Richard told somebody something.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah, you know, you know the other thing is that
if let's say the presence of those letters in Richard's locker, uh,
in Chris's locker, excuse me, excuse me, that they were
in the locker of the victim. I don't want to
(06:05):
confuse these names. The victim is Richard, Oh, Chris, Chris Christopher. Okay.
So the love letters were found in Chris's locker and
they appeared to have been written by the fellow who
we went camping with, which okay. So if that individual,
first of all, they should have been maybe investigated back
(06:28):
in eighty four eighty five. But even if once that
person dies, if he was a suspect in the disappearance
or worse of Chris, that might have ended the investigation there,
I assume, and that the police would say, hey, this
(06:49):
is not really an investigation that we're likely to bring
closure to in view of the fact that the person
who we were looking at, who at last has seen him.
Let me put it like that. I don't want to,
you know, in any way, shape or form, suggest that
that Richard did anything improper. But maybe when when he
(07:12):
passed away, they said, hey, we can't pursue this, but
you're right if anybody has any additional information. His mom,
Chris's mom is still alive. Wow, y, have you had
a chance to talk to Chris's ex wife? Has has
(07:32):
she been available at all.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Yeah, So I spoke to you know, Chris's wife, who
gave me a lot of these details. I also spoke
to his sister recently. And I also I've been you know,
finding pictures of Richard Brunt that will be going with
my story to show you know what he looks like,
and also pictures of Chris. And you know, even though
(07:57):
the you know, Richard Runts he has passed away, the
New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is still posting about this
case on social media a word, because Chris it is
out there. And his family told me that, you know,
they would love to you know, find him, you know,
(08:18):
and you give him a you know, proper burial goodbye.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yeah, did his did his wife ever remarry or has
she spent the last you know forty years you know
as a widow?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:30):
No, I mean, you know his wife, you know, obviously
this was nineteen eighty four. They were a young couple,
you know, I mean, and you know, she she's moved on,
she's doing well, okay, but she's well into Yeah, but
she's well into his sixties, I'm sure at this point,
or maybe more. Yeah, they were both in their twenties.
(08:53):
They had both graduated right after graduating college in eighty
it is when they got married.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Okay, so we do the math. Okay, so if they
were born in you know, circing the late fifties there there,
she's probably in her late sixties, early seventies. This is
one that I think maybe maybe when is the story
going to be in the Globe? Do you know yet
on that?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
I'm hoping it will be in the Globe next week.
I'm wrapping it up and I'm taking my time just
to get as much information out there as possible.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Well, Emily, I will find out if you want to
give me a call, I will draw it to everyone's attention,
because this is really an interesting story. Clearly, you know,
they talk about, you know, in any sort of a
murder case, they talk about the acronym mom M O
M meaning a motive, opportunity and means so if there's
(09:45):
a motive, maybe an opportunity to go camping with someone,
you know, you're kind of out there in the wilderness,
so that, you know, I would assume any police investigator
would be thinking, maybe something bad happened when they're camping.
But if you let me know what day you think
it's going to be in I will alert people so
(10:06):
they have an opportunity to look at the pictures and
maybe someone's memory will be refreshed. Fair enough.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Oh great, that'd be excellent, Dan, I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Emily. Thank you very much for working on all these cases.
It's a fascinating series of stories, and I think on
sadly that it's an endless series of stories that you're
going to be presented with. Thanks my friend, you'd be well.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Take care.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Thanks Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe Cold Case Files, and again
I remind you you can get a free subscription. Just
go to the Boston Globe Slash Cold Case Files if
I recall correctly and you can sign.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Up correct yep.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Thanks, how to do it perfect?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Thanks Emily, Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
All right, Thanks all right.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Coming up, we're going to talk about the Paul Bunyan
Lumberjack Show at the tops Field Fair. We'll be back
on Night Sideboy. That was a fascinating development with Emily
Sweeney and just shows what a good reporter like her
can do in pulling together a case and a story
and who knows, maybe there is an answer somewhere somewhere
(11:09):
here in New England. We'll be back on my side
right after this very quick break.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm w BZ, Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
All right, welcome back everybody as we head two hour
second interview during this eight o'clock hour. Delighted to welcome
Lee the Captain. I'm hoping I'm pronouncing that name correctly,
Lee the Captain. How are you, sir?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Oh, I'm great, and you got a perfect again. Nice
to hear from you all there. And I got to
tell you, since I was a little child, I actually
followed your station. My family actually came from Leminster, Pittsburgh area,
and then they moved to the Midwest to Michigan, and
that's where I kind of learned my craft.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
So you are, you're the star of the Paul Bynyen
Lumberjack Show as I understand it.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I don't know about that. I'm the old man of it,
that's for sure. But we got a lot of talent
that's going there. I am actually leaving the South Carolina
State Fair just to come and see you guys, finish
the job with you and going back to the State Fair.
And my son, who is a world champion lumberjack and
the world's most famous Lumberjack will be there, folks. One
of his videos from a fan that in California, Shout
(12:21):
It Out, has done four hundred and three million views.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Whoa, WHOA? So okay, so you gonna well the Lumberjack
Show with you. I don't know if you're participating or running.
The show at this point will be October eleventh, twelfth,
and thirteenth, which, of course is this weekend Columbus Day weekend.
This show has been performed all over the world. It
(12:46):
includes log rolling, two men, crosscut sarring, and axe throwing.
How do you become a lumberjack? I mean, I think
everyone knows the legend of Paul Bunyan, but how does
guy from Leminster, Massachusetts. I'm sure when you were in
the first grade and you wanted to be a firefighter
or police officer, as most first grade is, you didn't
(13:09):
say I want to be another I want to be
a Paul Bunyon lumberjacket I grew up. How did you
get into this line of work?
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Well, like I said, my family moved to Upper Michigan
and it was a sport that's there where they we
practiced it behind our house, just like a bunch of
kids practice a little league in baseball, you know, and
then later on I started competing competitions, and by the
time I was eleven years old, I won the Junior
Boy World Championships, and from there I went to the
Senior Boy World Championships. And then I want a bunch
(13:36):
of cricket, fancy log rolling, and then a regular log
rolling road championships and a bunch of other stuff. And
I've been doing it now since I've been just basically
a little kid. I started the business basically learning at
eight years old.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Whoa, whoa. You know, it's funny. I have family roots
in Leminster too. My mom was born in Leminster a
long time ago, so I'm very familiar with Lemonster. And
so this is what you do for a livelihood. You
performed in all over the world, as I.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Understand it, Yes, me do.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
We just got back from Australia. We've done our shows
on five different continents, China, Japan, Africa, Bermuda, France, England.
We've done it all over the place. Canada of course,
you know, and in the United States. It's a lot
of fun and amazing thing is it's good old fashioned
family fund. It's the stuff that things grew up with,
and you know what the big two hundred and fifty
(14:32):
years celebration that's coming up with all these events now
that the Trump Organization's putting on. Lumberjacks sports and entertainment
was one of the very first entertainments ever done for
fairs and festivals. They would take these lumberjack camps, need
tough lumberjacks. Who's the biggest, who's the bessest, who's the best,
Who's Paul Bunyan And they competed against each other to
(14:53):
see who it was. And that was the entertainment back then,
and it is still as exciting when then as it
is now now.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Paul Bunyan was a mythical character.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Correct, Well, I've done a little bit of research and
I think personally that he was a very real character.
And there's a lot more to get into it. There's
a guy by the name of John Bunyan and he
wrote The Pilgrim's Progress. Well, some say that he was
also a lumberjack back in England, and so there's actually,
I believe, a statue of this guy in believe it
(15:25):
or not, in the Carolinas. So it was kind of
a kind of a fictitional character that came about, but
it was also i think based off a real character
from over in Europe and then came over here to
the United States and became really big.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Okay, that's almost like a historical novel. Someone can write
a novel, but it is the storyline is based on
actual facts in history. Okay. So of everything acts throwing,
log rolling, crosscut, sawring, which is the most difficult in
your opinion or have you done it so often and
(15:59):
for so long that all of them for you are
like rolling out of bed in the morning.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Well, it's kind of like rolling in the bed. Log
rolling if you learn when you're kid. When you're a kid,
it's much easier because weight spends a log. When you
become an adult, it actually, you know, the more weight
to fashion, the log's going to want to go. So
if you learn those skills before you get big and large,
then of course you're going to be very good at it.
As I believe it or not, is one of the
(16:25):
toughest anybody can throw an axe, But to get really
good at it, it takes years of practice and dedication.
Crosscuts signs tough. Chain sign is tough. It's just these
skills you've got to practice. Just like if you're playing
professional baseball or basketball or football, you just got to
really hone your skills to be the best. And even
those that are very very good at it, you will
(16:48):
have to be lucky and born with special kills to
even achieve more.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Well, Lee La Captain, I think it's going to be
a great weekend for you up at the tops Field
Fair beginning on Saturday the eleventh, Sunday the twelfth, and
Monday the thirteenth. If I'm reading my calendar correctly and
people can stop by and see what time does the
(17:13):
show start each day or is it different.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Times, there's three shows a day that are going to
be going on and it's going to be really exciting.
I know. Last time we were there many years back,
the stands were packed to full, so people actually started
coming in an hour and a half just to get
a decent seat in there. The best part about it
is when you're watching this show at thirty to forty
(17:36):
five minutes a show, it's action packed, it's exciting, no politics,
and believe it or not, it's good old fashioned family humor.
It's dad jokes to the best, and I can't tell
you any more than that, you're gonna have a blast.
You got to come and see it.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Well, I'm sure a lot of people are marketing on
the calendar. What time is the first show if you
want to let us know that way people might be.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Able to get there early with I want to say
it's right around the noon. Is one o'clock time? I
may be wrong. I really don't know, but I know
that it will be also on the fair's website.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Tops Field Fair. I wish you good luck. I hope
the weather is going to hold off. We may have
a little bit of rain on Sunday, but I'm sure
the Lumberjacks will We'll work on through that, that's for sure. Lee.
Thanks very much, Lee, the captain of the Paul Bunyan
Lumberjacks show at the tops Field Fair. Thanks so much. Lee.
I enjoyed it too, all right, thank you. All right,
(18:32):
we get back right after the news. Are going to
talk about another weekend activity for families the American Heritage Museum.
But we have the news coming up, and right after
that we will talk to you on the other side.
My name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside. Stay right
with us. You're listening to WBZ Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
All right, well, and welcome hundred Cheney. He's the director
of Marketing, Communications and Education at the American Heritage Museum.
Haunt to Cheney, Welcome. Tell us about the American Heritage Museum.
I know that people here in New England, some people
know a lot about it, but there are some people
who might not be familiar with The American Heritage Museum
(19:17):
is not physically in the city of Boston, but it's
easy to get to from anywhere in New England, including Boston.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Yeah, it's located in Hudson and so this really an
extraordinary museum. We opened up the American Heritage Museum in
twenty nineteen, an institution dedicated to preserving and presenting the
history of American military innovation through military and of course
(19:46):
a fight for freedom. And the museum features one of
the most really extensive collections of armored vehicles and military.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
Artifacts, historic aircraft that.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
Really span the history of the United States. So it
features mostly a large portion of it is the Jacques
Littlefield collection of armored vehicles and tanks, but the museum
really spans from the Revolutionary War up through the Civil
War into World War One, world War Two, both a
(20:23):
European Theater and the Pacific Theater, and then it goes
on to Korea, Vietnam all the way up to current times.
So as you tour through this, it's really an expansive museum.
When you walk through it, you're walking basically a chronology
of American history through the military.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Well, this is a great location, and certainly you opened
it a tough time twenty nineteen, just before cold Yeah,
it's almost amazing that you're doing as well as you
had done. How tough was it during the COVID years
where nobody was going anywhere? And what is it like
now you're open year round?
Speaker 6 (21:00):
Yes, yeah, yeah, Dan, the COVID really that the brutal
part to that is we had just opened up in
twenty nineteen and we were open for about three months
when COVID hit and that put.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
Us down for about a year and a half.
Speaker 6 (21:18):
But the museums open from Wednesdays through Sundays ten to
five o'clock, and it's it's.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
But year round, but it was its summertime, yeah, spring, summer,
winter and fall. Everything. I know that you have a
lot of activity there. Not only there is the museum
a place that people, as you said, can walk through,
but you also had demonstrations that people can watch. Correct.
Speaker 6 (21:48):
Yeah, and so coming up this is actually our eighteenth
year hosting this extraordinary living history event. So think of
World War Two. It's a World Two reenactment called Battle
for the Airfield. So kind of the picture this scenario
where it's mid nineteen forty four, the Allied forces have
(22:11):
just landed in Normandy, they're making their way through France,
and the Germans have captured the airfield. So we have
this area where all these encampments are set up, and
it's up to the Allied forces that are over the
horizon in another area of the property, and it's up
to them to kind of take over the German forces
(22:33):
in this dynamically choreographed battle. And we do two of
them per day. We have one at eleven and another
one at three o'clock. And so during these these battles,
these reenactments, this is a great chance for us to
pull out a lot of the armor that we have
in the museum, and other people, other operators bring their
(22:57):
equipment to the museum and we have all kinds of
World War Two armor, the Sherman tank and the Chaffey
tank and the German equipment, and they're all out operating
and it's really kind of a neat way, very immersive
way to look at World War two history. And the
re enactors themselves, they really act as docents. They're telling
(23:22):
the life of a World War Two soldier.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Now you have an admission, and again I think it's
a reasonably priced admission. Tell us about that.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
So the admission for a single day admission is forty
four adults, thirty five for seniors and veterans, and twenty
five for the kids under sixteen. And we also have
weekend passes that either seventy or sixty or forty that
we offer as well. And the neat thing to this too,
(23:56):
if you have, if they have the financial wherewithal and
you want to do something kind of neat during this weekend.
In addition to the reenactment in our Veterans round table,
we also offer rides in the tank for a fee,
and so it's quite an experience, but it's also pretty expensive.
(24:17):
For instance, M twenty four to Chaffy ride is five
hundred and ninety five dollars for three people, and you
also have the opportunity to ride in the m for
Sherman tank and in this case we take two people
for that same cost.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
So first, well, thanks very much for letting us know that.
I want to make sure if anybody goes up there,
they understand the price of admission gets you. The tour,
gets you to sit or stand and watch the choreographed battles,
which I'm sure no live fire, probably I hope, so
it's no dangerous or anything like that. And then if
(24:52):
there are people up there who go up and want
to have this once in a lifetime experience, that it's
a little pricey, but people need to know that, need
to know that in advance. Is the museum doing well?
I have to assume, do you do you have people
coming in from different parts of the world, because I
kind of imagine there are too many museums around the
(25:14):
country which has as much original legitimate paraphernalia on equipment.
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Yeah, and especially a museum like this that really spans
from the very very early years of the United States
all the way up to current time. It's the only
museum like this in North America. There's other similar military
history museums around, but This one's unique, primarily through the
(25:43):
collection itself is very rare, and the way it's presented
is also very immersive. It's really fascinating, and we really
try and capture a lot of the human interest in
this too as well. So it's a real journey when
people come through it.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Now, at what age do kids I mean, I'm assuming
that adults and teens are going to be fascinated by
this because they have a sense of history, But at
what age do kids lock in? I mean, I'm assuming
that you that kids you can come, whether they're one, two, three, four, five, six,
But at what age does it really do you think
(26:25):
these kids connect and realize, Hey, this is part of
our country and the history.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
I've been amazed Dan at how.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Many of the young kids, we're talking four to five
year olds absorb the history that they're seeing and acknowledge it.
It is a family friendly museum. Of course, it's around war,
so you got to consider that, right. The subject matter
is is something pretty important to.
Speaker 7 (26:56):
Get across the kids.
Speaker 6 (26:57):
But the way the narrative of the museum really appeals
to the full range of audiences, and it's a it's
a it's something that families really enjoy and it gives
a time also for the parents to kind of share
a little bit about their knowledge of the history that
(27:17):
they're seeing too with their kids as a way to
better understand it. And that's what the museum's all about,
is remembering this history right, and so it's it's done
thoughtfully that way, it's.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
It sounds like a great, great take. If folks want
to get tickets, ae wume, it's always good to purchase
in advance, or if they want to get more information,
give us the website.
Speaker 6 (27:39):
Yeah, American Heritage Museum dot org.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Perfect, perfect, real, simple, all one word American Heritage Museum
dot org. Hunter Cheney, thank you so much. The best
explanation that I have heard of what is involved at
the American Heritage Museum. And it seems to me that
it's in all of our backyards. Everyone at some point
you take an opportunity to stop by and see the
(28:06):
weirs that you folks have assembled and the shows that
you put on. Thanks so much for being with.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
Us, Hunter, an absolute pleasure.
Speaker 7 (28:13):
Dan, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
All Right, we get back on the other side. We're
going to talk about an upcoming documentary that has a
local twist executive producer of the film is Gary Sonise.
I do want to mention to you that we still
have our talkback feature iHeartRadio Talkback feature. I hope remind
you that it is really an easy way to become
(28:35):
part of the night Side broadcast or have your input
at WBZ. All you have to do is utilize the
talkback feature in the iHeartRadio app. Make sure you download
and have the free iHeart Radio app. While you're listening
to Nightside or listening to wbzuri BZ during the day,
you tap on a red microphone talkback button. You have
about thirty seconds It's located in the top right corner
(28:57):
of the app to send. It's a personalized audio message
and as long as you keep it clean and within
thirty seconds, we can play it back on Nightside for you.
It's that simple. Once again, hit that red microphone button
in the top right corner of the app while listening
to WBZ or particularly Nightside, and tell us what you
think about the show. We'll take constructive criticism, of course,
(29:19):
compliments are always welcome. My name's Dan Ray. This is Nightside.
We'll be back with an upcoming documentary that is really
about a very interesting and well recognized Massachusetts teacher.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on wb Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
All right, welcome back. We are going to talk with
Brendan Mallett. Brendan's an award winning producer, director with storyteller
dedicated to bringing military and veteran stories to the screen. Brandan,
Welcome to Nightside. How are you this evening?
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Hi?
Speaker 5 (29:53):
Dan, I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
And you have produced a documentary which is entitled cross
c R O F T. That is not an acronym.
That is the last name of the person whose life
you focus on. His name is Halcroft, decorated Vietnam veteran,
beloved Massachusetts teacher and a legendary track coach at Reading
Memorial High School. Tell us about the subject, hal Croft,
(30:18):
how did you folks find about this story and bring
it bring it to life? Although Halcroft, as I understand
that it is still very much alive. This is a
documentary in conjunction with Gary Sinisee, the famous actor from Hollywood.
Speaker 5 (30:34):
Yeah, first and foremost, how was my teacher and coach
back in high school?
Speaker 3 (30:40):
And I knew him?
Speaker 5 (30:41):
Well, that's a good well, and so I was aware
even back then in high school that he was a
larger than life character. I've said this many times over
the years, but it was almost as if he was
lifted out of one of the Hemingway novels he was
teaching us in English class. He was sort of mythological
in that sense. But then, of course there was this
(31:01):
astonishing winning streak, so he led them. He led the
Writing Memorial High school teams twenty nine consecutive undefeated seasons.
I knew all about that because I was on the team.
I was a sprinter on the team, and so that
was astonishing to me, and those two things alone were
worthy of the story. But then some years later I
would learn about his incredible combat heroics and Vietnam, which
(31:22):
earned him both the Silver and Bronze Stars, And then
I felt like this was a story banging to be told,
and I just feel lucky I'm the guy that gets
to tell it.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Okay, so how long was I mean? You had to
get him to agree? Number one? Normally, someone like that
probably is a little tough to persuade because I think
people who have extraordinary backgrounds are you know, they allow
their life to speak for themselves. In their life, you
(31:52):
had to say, hey, look, we want to do a
documentary on you. How long did it take you to
pull the whole thing together?
Speaker 5 (31:58):
I got to tell you the very first conversation with him,
he was definitely ready to do the film. And I think,
you know, he's retired now in a reflective space, probably
you know, looking back upon his life, and I think
he was excited about the prospect of not only telling
his story, but reconnecting with people from his past. And
so from that very first conversation, you know, I said, I,
(32:19):
you know, this is something I'm thinking about doing, and
he said, I'm in. Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
And so we.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Met at the Endover Public Library. It was our first
first meeting, and that was now going back almost three
years ago. But from there it just sort of took
on a life of its own. And here we are
ready to premiere in a couple of weeks at globedocs.
So very excited about it.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
So where where will the premiere be?
Speaker 5 (32:41):
The premiere is at the Globedox Film Festival. So this
is a documentary film festival in Boston run by the
Boston Globe. It's the perfect venue for this film because
he's a Boston legend and we can't.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
Do this in his backyard.
Speaker 5 (32:56):
So very excited about it. So October twenty fourth is
the world and so you have.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
A world premiere. Is this the sort of film or biopic?
I don't know if it's correct to call it a biopic.
You're talking about somebody who wanted to a bronze star
on a silver star. That had to be a story
in of itself, never mind the legendary record as a coach.
Where do you eventually take this documentary? Does it end
(33:25):
up on a Netflix or a peacock? Does it end
up in movie theaters? What's the what's the aspiration?
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (33:33):
Sure, And by the way, you've identified the greatest challenge
of this film, and it's trying to boil Halcross's life
down to ninety five minutes, which was very difficult. But
you know, I think through through sit down interviews and
through you know, archival footage but also some really highly
stylized recreations, we bring this story to life. And to
answer your question, I think, you know, the dream is
(33:56):
to get this in front of as many people as possible.
So you go to a film festival like Lodos hope
to get a little bit of buzz, a little bit
of energy, and then find a distributor who's going to
help you get it, you know, either on a streaming
platform or in theaters.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
It's tough.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
It's a tough go for documentaries in theaters, but it's
not unheard of, so it's certainly a possibility. But I
think a streaming network is certainly a goal for us
as we entered this part of the process.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Now, how did Gary Sinise get involved? Obviously Gary Sinise
played the Lieutenant Dan, if I'm not mistaken, so he
certainly has a connection to the Vietnam era.
Speaker 5 (34:33):
He does for sure. And he was actually the first
call I made when I decided to make a film.
I'd actually met him twenty years ago at a film
festival my wife and I co founded called the gi
Film Festival. It was a military film festival, and so
he brought him out. We screened Force Gump, you know,
you know, and of course, as you mentioned, he played
Lieutenant Dan, and he just sort of he's a big
(34:53):
support of the military. His heart is really pure for
the military, and so he kept coming back year after year,
and we became friends and and I'd decided to do
this story. I called him up. I started to tell
him how story. He stopped me halfway and said, I'm
one hundred percent and just tell me what you need.
So he's been We're We're very lucky to have him involved.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Boy, that's that's fabulous. I wish your best of luck
with it. How can the average person who's listening tonight
and is interested, how can they somehow connect with you
or connect with the film. I'm assuming that the Globe
doc is probably something that's invitation only, or am I
(35:31):
wrong on that?
Speaker 5 (35:33):
No, there are some tickets now, We've sold a lot
and they sold really quickly, but I think there's still
limited number of tickets left, possibly for that screen on
October twenty fourth. But what I tell people is to
go to holcroftfilm dot com and sign up for our
Insider's newsletter. That's what we post everything about this film.
That's those are the people who will learn first and
(35:54):
before we go to social media. So howcroftfilm dot com Okay?
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Perfect? J L CROs Film filmall one word dot com
really enjoyed the conversation, Brandon, best of luck. We need
more movies like this, need more documentaries like this. There
are a lot of people who have done extraordinary things,
but this has to be really at the top of
the pile. It decorated Vietnam veteran Bronze Star, silver Star,
(36:19):
and a legendary track and field coach. Boy, that's quite
a resume. Thanks Brendan. We'll look forward to helping you
out on this at some point along the way.
Speaker 5 (36:27):
Okay, that sounds terrific. Thanks Dan, appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
You very welcome. When we get back, we're going to
talk about the development of the last twenty four hours
and that is the prospect for an actual piece in
the Middle East. We have a two guests coming up.
Jeff Kosowski from Newton. I think you remember him. I
interviewed him a year and a half ago. They had
(36:51):
posters of all of the hostages which were defaced and
then a huge rally in Newton. I will also be
speaking with the Israeli Consul General, Benny Sharoni. And this
has been an extraordinary development development. Let's hope it can
stay on track and we can finally have peace in
the Middle East, genuine peace. Coming back on nightside right
(37:12):
after the nine o'clock news
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.