The Gatekeeper

An Appaloosa Radio Original Story

1958 —

He graduated from Florida State University where he had majored in being a fraternity brother. After his college experience, he drifted into what for some types of people is the easiest of all jobs — selling.

Tony Bochs was a natural. People instantly trusted and liked him. He was not handsome, but he had an easy boyish smile and he always looked at you directly, never turning aside or evading. Easy to trust. Very likable.

Please sign here. Lots of places to sign, way too much paperwork to read it all now. So, sign here and here and her.

Congratulations! You are now a Florida property owner. Lot 117 C of the Whispering Pines Senior Resort Community.

Have you thought about what kind of mobil home that you would like us to move onto your property? Our affiliates over at Action Manufactured Homes have just the one for you. The one that you have always dreamed about. If you wish, I’ll drive you over now and help you get the process started.

They gave him award after award after award. Tony Bochs, salesman of the month. Tony Bochs, salesman of the month. Congratulations! Tony Bochs the 1958 Salesman of the Year.

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His former fraternity brothers never understood why Tony would give up such a good thing and move to Los Angeles. All he ever told them was that he was tired of selling swampland to tourists. They laughed. That was Tony’s perpetual joke. What do you do for a living? Oh, I sell swampland to tourists, complete with alligators and mosquitos.

Selling lots in the Whispering Pines Senior Resort had been a goldmine for him. He now owned his own boat, was buying a house, and he drove a blue Triumph sportscar.

Yet, Tony Bochs had another dream. He had a deep sonorous voice. He dreamed of becoming a voice actor, doing commercials, and narrating films. His ultimate dream job would be to become the voice announcer for a gameshow.

“Welcome to America’s favorite gameshow! Where anyone can win big.  Featuring our host!”

Fill in a name. Maybe —  Jack or Pete or Bill or Clint or Johnny

“Tony, please tell them what prize they have just won.”

“They have just won a brand -new car from our friends at Gleason Brothers Buick! Buick the car of distinction. The car of pride.”

Tony Bochs sold his boat, cancelled his purchase on the house, and loaded one suitcase with clothes onto the passenger seat of his Triumph sportscar and began the drive west.

Los Angeles proved not to be the land of infinite opportunity that he thought it would be. After a few weeks, Tony Bochs accepted a job that was very different from what had been his Hollywood dream. He was hired as a student recruiter for a non-descript college located on Western Avenue, in East Hollywood, just down from Barnsdall Park.

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