It’s kind of strange not being a part of things this year; after all, I’ve been in 13 of the last 14 Woodward Dream Cruises! (I only missed the first one because I hadn’t moved to WOMC yet!) As I’m sure you do, I have a lot of memories from cruises past – the following are some of my favorites…
- Although we never had a major rainstorm on Dream Cruise Day, a few years ago we were threatened with some pretty amazing lightning. I can still remember Big Al, Jackie, Dana, Ankles and I standing high above the street on a metal – yes METAL – platform with a metal, yes METAL roof as we saw severe lightning strikes coming closer and closer. We suggested that instead of waiting to be killed, we make the quick drive back to the radio station and finish the broadcast from there. Our illustrious Program Director at the time said, “No, you’ll be fine. Stay here”. So of course we packed up our microphones and headed back to the studio. You just can’t beat that kind of leadership!
- Ford used to host a fabulous party the night before the big cruise. It was loaded with celebrities – okay, there were two – James Darren and Connie Stevens. They both looked fabulous – maybe even better than they had when I interviewed them in the 1960’s. I don’t know if any of it was real – but it was spectacular!
- Big Al and I attended another pre-Dream Cruise Party put on by Ford another year – and as always had a great time. We had driven over together in my convertible, and on the way home, I secretly turned on Al’s seat warmer. (Remember, this is in the middle of August). I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he squirmed and began to sweat. He finally looked at me and said, “I don’t know why… but my buns are on fire!”
- Speaking of being on fire… Another year Al and I were driving back towards home from yet another WDC event with the car top down and some – I’d guess I’d describe it as “relaxing” music – on the radio. We stopped at a red light and two guys in a pick-up truck blaring rock music pulled up in the next lane. They looked over at us like we were Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken out for a drive.
- The radio station always had us ride in a classic car up and down Woodward after our morning broadcast and Al and I had heard stories of women along the avenue that would flash the cruisers a la Mardi Gras. As luck would have it, the only person who I ever saw do it, was… you guessed it… Big Al.
- One year, I had to ride in both the Gratiot and the Woodward Cruises. After waving to the crowd for more than three hours, I almost threw my shoulder out. It gave me a new respect for Queen Elizabeth…
- I almost missed one TV Dream Cruise Broadcast altogether… I entered Woodward from a side street around 15 and a half mile. As soon as I turned I realized I was in trouble. It took me an hour and a half to make it to the Channel 7 Broadcast at 13 mile. I haven’t driven that slowly since I was invited to have lunch with Jack Kevorkian.
- For many years I did my radio show in the morning, then would drive home and come back to be part of aforementioned TV Broadcast along with Guy Gordon and my daughter, JoAnne. Many a time JoAnne had to nudge me and whisper ever-so-subtly that I was looking into the wrong camera. (They don’t put those handy red-lights on them like they do in TV studios).
And I can’t tell you how many times my wife Gail, who was watching the broadcast at home called my cell phone to tell me that I was slouching and apparently picking up lint off my pants while on camera. I’m just not a TV guy!
- It was during one of Channel 7’s “Dream Idol” singing contests that I had a bit of a run-in with a former Detroit City Council Woman. No, it wasn’t Monica Conyers (Thank God) it was Martha Reeves. She and I were the two “Celebrity” judges. When one of the contestants did a cover of Martha’s hit “Dancin’ in the Streets”, I said, ON CAMERA, “That was great! In fact I think I liked it better than your version Martha”. One look from her and I realized that Miss Reeves is all for dancin’ but not so much for kiddin’ around.
But my absolute favorite memory has to be the “Woodward Dream Cruise Wedding”. A couple won the chance to have their marriage televised LIVE from the mainstage next to Duggan’s with Big Al and our beloved Doc Andrews serving as “Best Men”. So there stood Al, stuffed into his powder blue tuxedo next to Doc in his spiffy wedding attire waiting for the bride to appear. The image still makes me laugh to this day. Not being a clergyman, (although I do know some good “A Priest, a Rabbi and a Parrot walk into a bar” jokes) I sort of emceed the ceremony. The minister officiated the exchanging of the vows as muscle cars revved their engines on Woodward Avenue below the stage. Then, of course, came the traditional fight between the bride and groom. No kidding. One of them got mad about something and they ended up screaming at each other from the make-shift backstage area in the parking lot. I don’t know how the marriage worked out, but we all had a helluva time!
I hope you, too, have a great time at the Dream Cruise this year! Have a super and safe WDC weekend and we’ll see you right back here Monday!
-Dick