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June 29, 2025 • 12 mins
Mindy and Mikaela speak with Earle Burke about Red White and Boom!
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We celebrate our independence day.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yaya's celebrating Independence day soon enough. In fact, we were
just talking about Michayla celebrating her twentieth wedding anniversary, and
I received a text from Alice Nix who said John,
who was her husband. Alice and John will be celebrating
fifty eight years of marriage on July second. She also

(00:25):
said to tell you, Mikayla Triple A if you're a member,
it's free.

Speaker 3 (00:29):
And I am a Triple A member, so to get.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Travelers so much.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, and happy anniversary.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Happy anniversary, fifty eight years. That's a milestone. That's about
how old. Our next guest ismos Eryl Burke, who's been
a great friend of ours for so many it feels
like fifty eight years. Who is the designer, the guy
behind the best fireworks display in the entire Midwest, maybe

(00:56):
even the United States of America. He does it every
year and it gets better.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Every year that far. But now Ralph Piacuadillo is our
designer for Starfire Corporation, which is our firework company we
work with, and we all get together almost all year
talking about different shows, seeing what we can bring in
new to our show. Here in Columbus, and this year
is going to be pretty spectacular. This year is G

(01:22):
and Jay's one hundredth year anniversary for Pepsi, and so
they are bringing up the Drone Show, which is two
hundred and sixteen drones to make a presentation starting at
ten o'clock and we'll run about nine minutes into the
show and then we'll bring the presentation of Red, White
and boom right there.

Speaker 3 (01:41):
So nine minutes of this drone incredible, I'm sure I'm
just thinking about it. Drone Show, and then that goes
into the traditional fireworks to correct.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
And we've got a lot of great We've redesigned some things.
We're trying to make some different spectacular views for people
and creativity. So there's gonna be some different spectacular shells
that go off in different parts of this soundtrack. A
lot of ooze and eyes because it's it's neat. I mean,
I've I've already seen it and I can't wait to see.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Have you already seen it? Does through videos? I mean,
how do you see a fireworks displayed before it goes off?

Speaker 1 (02:20):
Ral has a pretty big production and he puts this
all together on the computer and it gives you an
idea of what it's going to look like it'll do.
That's it's like fun to watch, but it's not you
don't get the percussion and the fund of seeing it
really go up.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
That sound that's pounding in technology is that far that
you can make a computer do what you're going to
see with your own two eyes.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Actually takes the creativity and the thought process of somebody
sitting down and really engineering the show. And that's where
that's where it really builds. So we know when people
come down and go, I can't wait to come to Boon.
We're trying to draw half a million people down, but
you always want to see something new. So that's where
the creativity comes into play to make this a production

(03:07):
and not just so much a fireworks show.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Out of all the years even doing this, what's the
exact number, fifty eight?

Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, everybody likes come on forty one?

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Okay, so one of those forty one years that you've
been a driving force of the fireworks of red, whiten
and boom. And really if you sit there with him
and watch it, he's so proud, Mikayla, like this is
his baby. What has been some things that have you know,
little snapoos or snags along the way that you're like,
oh my gosh, I can't believe it just happened.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
We've had some bad shells that because everything's you know, manufactured,
so you can get some bad shells that go off low.
And I kind of take up personally because I don't
want to see anything, you know, go wrong. I want
everybody to have fun, see a great show.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
But can you tell like the average everyday viewer of
these fireworks, you would know because you've seen a preview
of it, but most people watching would they say, oh,
that shell was too low?

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Well, some people do, yeah, I mean they'll sit there
and say, oh, you had a couple low blows that one.
I go, well, you know, I'm not perfect, but I'm
trying well.

Speaker 3 (04:08):
And I just think what you guys do in terms
of safety is so important. And that's what my state
fire Marshall lens on right, Like, I know what it
takes to put on these shows and how they could
go wrong, and the fact that you guys, you guys
do a lot to make sure safe secure. Talk a
little bit about that if you could.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
You know, our big thing is before we even do
a show in an area, we look at safety. How
much clearance do we have to put the show on
and to keep people back and keep people safe. We
want people to come down and be as close to
the show as they can, because it's really spectacular when
you get downtown versus you know, maybe a couple miles out.
But safeties first, We don't take any shortcuts. We work

(04:45):
with the Homeland Security atf and everybody. They come down
and they'll look at our show, see how we're doing things,
and if it's something wrong and not right, we'll have
to correct it before we go any farther. And that's
what counts. We have a lot of good reputation with
Homeland Security and everybody in the city Columbus on how

(05:06):
we do this show.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
Quick follow up question. I know that downtown, depending on
what is being put on, they've had some challenges in
the last few months. Can you talk a little bit
about security and how much you guys invest in that
too to make sure everybody's having a safe time on
the street.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
We look at everything at a hole on all the events.
We're always watching events and seeing what's being done. But
people have to be respectful. If you come down, get
your little bit of real estate that you're going to
set up, but also look around if you see some
say something to somebody. We have plenty of police marked
and unmarked out there walking around. So we want everybody

(05:44):
to come down and have good time. That's the biggest thing.

Speaker 2 (05:47):
You know, the earl. I know people who have personally
said I won't go to Boom because it don't feel
safe anymore. What do you say to those people?

Speaker 1 (05:54):
Well, I'm going to know a bunch of TNT. I
feel pretty good since I do too, and I'm with you,
you know, And it is because you really think about
our country as a whole and everything that comes up
and you go, how can that happen? But there's that
many people that always have a grudge against something, and
we're trying to entertain as many people with their families

(06:18):
and their kids to come down enjoy Columbus. I mean,
it's a beautiful city downtown, especially at night, and when
we were doing this show, you guys have seen it
and it just lights everything up. And if you look her,
I look around at people because I want to see
that everybody's having a good time. I want to see
the reaction of a different shell here and there, and
that tells me, Okay, now we know where to get

(06:39):
that part a little bit better and draw them in.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
But please don't bring your dogs. That drives me crazy.
Every year you warn people, and every year you see
so many people bringing their dogs downtown for red, White
and boom. That is the stupidest thing you could do.
I'm just saying it right now, because think of the fear.
First of all, their ears are so much more sensitive.
And then think of the size of a dog. And

(07:04):
then that crowd of people. They can't see anything but
these mountains over them, mountains meaning bigger people, right, and
they're you know, knee level if that. And then there's
so many reports of dogs that run away on July
fifth every single year, or fourth every year after the fireworks.
It just doesn't make any sense.

Speaker 1 (07:23):
People love their pets, and God love them. I have
my own dog, but I wouldn't bring him down here.
And we know you hear next day, everybody's going I
lost my dog. My dog went wild and left the fence.
Think about your own family, part of your family, So
you take care of them. They'll take care of you
when you get back home.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
Leave them home, Leave them home. When it comes to
activities and bands and all that good stuff. What have
you been hearing about some of the hot things.

Speaker 1 (07:49):
That are country. The bands will come on at twelve
o'clock on the third and they'll play all the way
into after the fireworks on three stages. So we have
all that and we have a lot of activity over
the kids are at Dory and Green, so that'll be
that'll be something new for kids to come over and
look at. We still have a lot of VIP tickets
available for that area too.

Speaker 3 (08:10):
Doory and Green is over by the Commons.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yes, is that what it is?

Speaker 1 (08:13):
On the other side of Kosai.

Speaker 3 (08:14):
It's on the other side of Coasi Okay.

Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yes, yes, So there's a lot of area over there.
And let me tell you that the way everything is
going downtown, there's so much building. People have great views everywhere.
I mean, it's it's superb. I have I feel honored
to be down there and working with a bunch of
men and women that help me out and put the
show together. But it's just it's fun. There's a lot
of activity for kids. There's all sorts of things that

(08:39):
they've recreated in kids areas, so it's not just all adults.
There's a lot of stuff for kids to do and
have fun.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
Soundtrack. I think that makes your break boom, honestly, because
it's one thing just to sit there and see it
and to hear it to you. There's boomers. But when
you can listen to patriotic music and it choreographs with
the displays that you're seeing, it's it's It's just a
huge part of the show itself. Is there going to
be anything different soundtrack? Is there going to be a

(09:08):
buck eye thing? There's always some type of always because
it makes sense in Columbus, Ohio.

Speaker 1 (09:13):
Don't you think people.

Speaker 2 (09:13):
Wait for that part of the show.

Speaker 1 (09:15):
I don't.

Speaker 2 (09:20):
I mean, what kind of a man would be a
little when he was a little boy to think, Oh,
I'm gonna grow up and I'm going to set things
on fire. I get to blow things up and watch
them the sky.

Speaker 1 (09:29):
But it's fun. I mean, this is not my full
time job.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
But no, I know.

Speaker 3 (09:33):
But the soundtrack, Yeah, give us a teaser or something,
give us a little something, Yeah, teaser of what's coming
our way for the soundtrack.

Speaker 1 (09:41):
Throw everything out there.

Speaker 3 (09:42):
No, you can't, but baby, I'm a fun I mean
that's guaranteed.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
What's the one that's John Greenwood.

Speaker 1 (09:52):
What's his name?

Speaker 2 (09:53):
Proud to be an American leg.

Speaker 3 (10:00):
If you can like, who's the guy who's like West Virginia,
John Denver? Denver.

Speaker 1 (10:07):
We tried to put a whole bunch of different music
in there for everybody to have fun, because it's hard
to play every song that everybody comes to you and says,
can you play this? Can you play that? I'm sure
And you know, when you're looking at twenty five minutes,
time goes by fast. But we put a lot of
different things different different years. We always try to give
you some bizazz, like with this Drone show when we

(10:28):
start from the drones to the show, it's pretty nice opening.
How long does that last?

Speaker 2 (10:33):
The Drone Show?

Speaker 1 (10:34):
Did you say about nine minutes? Oh? Really?

Speaker 2 (10:38):
I didn't hear him say how.

Speaker 1 (10:39):
Long it'll start like I said, it'll start into at
ten o'clock right on the button.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yeah, I don't think it started right on the button.
Was it last year or two years ago that there
was kind of a delay.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
Well, we you know, we have to look at weather,
and we have to look at if we have any
of our own computer promise.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
Maybe it was the TV version because there was such
a delay. I can't remember we were. We were in
West Virginia last year, Mountain MoMA.

Speaker 3 (11:03):
We were and there you go, John. Any celebrities, Why
do I feel like I remember celebrities coming in for this.
Mario Lopez came in and talked to us.

Speaker 2 (11:11):
He was not very nice.

Speaker 3 (11:12):
Nindy and I have stories about him and their separate stories.

Speaker 1 (11:15):
Very these to bring somebody in Channel four, would bring somebody.

Speaker 3 (11:19):
Channel four who didn't Okay, I didn't know.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
It's as you know, it's hard to get people to
come out for one day or you know, to see it.
I don't even know how they organize. I'm just supposed
to make sure that the show. Everybody's happy.

Speaker 2 (11:31):
Just make sure to keep blowing things up, Earl.

Speaker 1 (11:33):
We're trying and then we you know. The idea too,
is with people down there, they actually take care of
their area, that they sit down, clean up after themselves, gosh.

Speaker 2 (11:42):
And they'll go down there like all early morning hours
everything just to set up shop, to sit there and
wait for the entire day for this show.

Speaker 1 (11:50):
And then the thing is at seven o'clock in the
next morning, you'll go down there and you never saw
anything down there. It's all gone.

Speaker 2 (11:57):
Chris has given us the break. Earl, so good to
talk to.

Speaker 3 (12:00):
You are just a wealth of information about this.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
You know, we all have fun and it's good seeing
you guys every year.

Speaker 3 (12:06):
Where do people go? It's great to see where do
people go.

Speaker 2 (12:08):
To learn more?

Speaker 1 (12:10):
Red Ltenboom dot org dot org, got it. That's confusing.

Speaker 3 (12:14):
Not happy fourth or happy third is what I should
say to you.

Speaker 1 (12:21):
Happy third.

Speaker 2 (12:22):
The weather holds out to yeah hope. So this is
what matters On six n W
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