Tacky Lights at 25

Note: In December of 2010, I wrote "Tacky Lights at 25" for Richmond.com. Click on the link to read it on the RT-D website, if you like. Or you can just keep reading here. I snapped the photo of Chuck Wrenn and his friend at a stop to view one of the light shows.

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Oh, the weather outside was frightful!

There was a dusting of snow on the ground with plenty more of it in the forecast. The temperature outside the cozy bus was dipping into the teens, as Barry Gottlieb read Mayor Dwight Jones’ proclamation:

It began with this: “WHEREAS, originally called ‘Richmond’s Tacky Light Xmas Decoration Contest and Grand Highly Illuminated House Tour,’ the Richmond Tacky Lights Tour was founded by local radio deejay, Barry “Mad Dog” Gottlieb in 1986; and…”

Five paragraphs later it pronounced: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dwight C. Jones, Mayor of the City of Richmond, Virginia, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, December 15, 2010, as ‘RICHMOND TACKY LIGHT TOUR DAY’…” 

The assembled bus-full of kitsch lovers applauded and off we went to look at zillions of twinkling lights and other illuminated Christmas decorations. By the way, on this Winn Transportation tour almost anything might be considered a Christmas decoration if its lit up enough.

The bright idea began with Mike Garrett suggesting to his friend at Winn, Mark Pounders, that Gottlieb ought to be on hand to kickoff the 25th year of the tours. As Gottlieb has lived in San Francisco since 1998, Winn had him flown in for the occasion.

Garrett, an old friend of Gottlieb’s, had been on the first tour in 1986. So had Garrett’s wife Betty and his daughter, Erin, who was then five years old. For this special tour Garrett’s granddaughter, Ryan, completed the quartet. 

Several others on board had been on that inaugural tour with Gottlieb that launched the wintry tradition. Some of the houses we visited were on the tour when it started, others were new.

My ticket to ride stemmed from having been one of the judges for the tour back in 1989. Back then I rode around with Gottlieb, Chuck Wrenn and a couple of others in a limousine, looking at the houses and rating them according to a set of standards that I’m sure was suitably bogus.   

For this year’s tour Wrenn called me to say there would be a spot on the bus for me, if I could make it. Back in the 1980s he and Gottlieb were partners in the Rockline (353-ROCK), a service that served up prerecorded nightlife information on the telephone. The two of them played it for laughs, so some followers called just to hear what amounted to a regularly updated comedy routine.  

Normally, I’m a bah! humbug! sort of guy. But as it was a great chance to see some old friends, of course I went. As it turned out it, in spite of how cold it was when we got off the bus a half dozen times to closely inspect one of the outrageous displays, it was an agreeable way to spend the better part of an evening.

We visited about a dozen sites. Being in a large group made it much more interesting. At each stop there were vehicles large and small hauling other gawkers.  

At one stop the homeowner had copies of a flier for visitors to pick up, announcing that the entire rig of lights and sundry accouterments is for sale. After 10 years of it the family wants to pass the tradition along down the line.  

From the flier: “Just to give you a little more background: Mark is a Richmond City firefighter. We were deeply affected by the 9/11 events in New York and Mark wanted to do something to honor the fallen firefighters. That’s what the ‘FDNY 343’ on the roof represents -- the 343 firefighters that lost their lives that horrible day on September 11, 2001. This has been our way of keeping those brave men in our thoughts each year. It would be especially nice of whomever acquires the lights continues this tribute.”

Barry "Mad Dog" Gottlieb and Frank Hudak 

The last time we got off the bus was at 2300 Wistar Court, Frank Hudak’s house, which has been on the tour from the start. Gottlieb went up to the door to surprise Hudak, who promptly threw on his ceremonial seasonally-themed outfit and came outside to greet his public.   

Back on the bus, Gottlieb recalled his first meeting with Hudak in 1986. Apparently, it took Hudak a while to figure out whether the tour concept was mocking his elaborate display or celebrating it. Once he got to know Gottlieb, Hudak stopped worrying and became the tour’s most willing participant.  

Kudos to Winn Transportation for the gesture. Everyone’s seat on the bus was a gift from the bus line. Pounders said the local family-owned company runs about 100 bus tours each year.

“Like old times, again,” said the wisecracking, mustachioed, beret-wearing Mad Dog.

Indeed, it was delightful.  

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