This script was based on an interview with Bobby Loudy, a local man with a gift for remembering the kind of story that sounds almost too good to be true, until you realize it happened on a country road in 1965, when gas stations were still service stations and a simple drive could turn into an adventure.
His story begins with an Esso promotion, a tiger tail hanging from a gas tank, and a couple of men laughing over the slogan “put a tiger in your tank.” But before long, the joke takes an unexpected turn involving another car, a loose trunk lid, and something inside that was definitely not a promotional giveaway.
It was exactly the sort of memory that works well for radio: funny, surprising, and rooted in a time when people noticed strange things on the road because they weren’t staring at tiny glowing rectangles. Sometimes history arrives as a major event. Sometimes it arrives with four paws, a tail, and a very questionable transportation plan.
BOBBY
It was the summer of ‘65, a time when the highways were less crowded, and gasoline was cheap. Remember how much fun it was to drive back then? Nowadays, we all want to go straight from point A to point B, but back then visiting a gas station was part of the adventure. Only it wasn’t called a “gas” station, it was a “service” station. As soon as you pulled your car up to the pump, a uniformed attendant would come out and wash your windshield and check your oil while he pumped your gas. Yep, back then you got full service for your car regardless of whether or not you were rich, and for only 30 cents a gallon. Which was about the same price of a pound of chicken or a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
I had a friend by the name of Roy Newberry, and he was part of the highway crew that helped build the road going up through Mountain City and into North Carolina. He had to drive up there from Rogersville so often that he knew the road like the back of his hand, including all the service stations.
(a few notes from the way back machine)
SFX
automobile driving down the road
ROY
Looks like we’re getting close to E on the gas gauge. I’m gonna stop and fill up at the next station. Won’t take but a few minutes.
MAN
But Roy, we just passed a Texaco. Turn around and let’s go back there. They got Top Value stamps and my wife’s saving up for a milk glass punch bowl.
ROY
Now what’s she needing that for? I know y’all already have a perfectly good punch bowl. My wife borrowed it for the church social just last week.
MAN
Aw, you know how it is. She’s been collecting stamps and trading the books in for the past year just to get the whole milk glass collection. There! Slow down, you can turn around right….dang it, you missed it!
ROY
I ain’t gonna turn around. There’s an Esso just down the road. I’m going there.
MAN
Well, all right. Guess you’re going for the Tigerino scratch off cards?
ROY
Nope. I just want a tiger in my tank!
ROY/MAN
laugh
MAN
You oughter get one of them tiger tails they give out to hang on your gas neck door.
ROY
Yeah, maybe I will! Here we are!
SFX
ding ding sound from car running over the hose and bell
ATTENDANT
What’ll it be fellers?
ROY
Fill ‘er up with some of that fine tiger juice. Are you still giving out the tiger tails for a full tank?
ATTENDANT
Yes, sir! You want one?
ROY
Sure! Let me see how you put it on.
SFX
door slam. footsteps on asphalt. clicking sound of a gas pump filling a tank.
ATTENDANT
There you go. Eighteen gallons. And here’s your tiger tail. It goes right inside the door, with the tail hanging out, just like this.
ROY
Would you look at that! It looks like I got a REAL tiger in my tank!
MAN
GRRRRRRR!
ROY/ATTENDANT
laugh
ROY
Here you go, son. Keep the change.
SFX
car starting and driving off, wheels squealing or sounds of engine acceleration
MAN
Whoa! You’d better lasso in that tiger, Roy! The sheriff’s been patrolling this road a lot lately.
ROY
Oh, all right. Looks like we’re catching up to some traffic anyway and there’s no way I can pass them here.
MAN
Hey, look at that car up ahead! Is that something hanging out of their trunk?
ROY
Let me get a little closer….chuckles…it looks like one of them tiger tails!
MAN
Wow, if it is, they got a long one. Guess that’s why they hung it out of the trunk instead of the gas neck. Wonder where they got it?
ROY
Maybe they won it from one of the scratch off cards.
MAN
Yeah, that must be it. Hey, can you get a little closer?
SFX
car acceleration sounds
MAN
They must’ve done something wrong. The trunk lid isn’t latched down. There…did you see it bounce up and down?
ROY
Yeah, I see it. Probably won’t hurt nothin though.
MAN
Yeah, you’re probably right.
ROY
Hey, did you see that?
MAN
Was that a…
ROY
A foot? Yeah, I saw it, too.
MAN
That trunk lid is bouncing up and down a lot higher. Whatever he’s got in there’s gonna get thrown out when he goes up the next hill.
ROY
Lemme see if I can get him to pull over.
SFX
car horn honking
MAN
He’s slowing down!
ROY
(yelling) Hey, pull over! Pull over!
SFX
wheels on gravel. car engine turning off. footsteps on gravel
ROY
Hey, buddy, your trunk lid is loose. Whacha got in there, anyway? Looks like it’s tryin to get out.
SECOND MAN
Oh, thanks! Guess I’d better check it.
SFX
car door, three pairs of feet on gravel.
MAN
Funny thing is, I could’ve sworn I saw a tail hanging out when we pulled over.
ROY
Me too.
SECOND MAN
(chuckling) Aw, you weren’t seeing things. Yep, that rope is still tied down. I can’t open the trunk all the way, but you can look through the crack there. Don’t get too close, though, it might take a swipe at your eye.
MAN
Is that a..
ROY
That’s a mountain lion!
SECOND MAN
Yep. It’s just a cub. Found it up in the woods where I was hunting, and I couldn’t bear to put it down. It seemed confused, like maybe it lost it’s mother. So I’m taking it back to my farm to raise it.
SFX
mountain lion growl
ROY
That’s a pretty good sized cub.
MAN
(whistles) Yeah, hope you don’t have any kids at home.
SECOND MAN
Nope, it’s just me and my wife. And I’d better be getting back to her before she gets worried. Don’t want the trunk smelling like a litter box, either, if you know what I mean.
SFX
footsteps in gravel, car doors slam, engine starting up
ROY
Wasn’t that something? He’s gonna have his hands full. I hope he’s got a way to pen it up, ‘cause his neighbors may not like having a mountain lion near their livestock. Look, that cat’s tail is hanging out of the trunk again!
MAN
(laughs)
ROY
What’s so funny?
MAN
I just thought of something. You might have a tiger in your tank, Roy, but he’s got a tiger in his trunk!
ROY/MAN
(laugh)
