For a fleeting moment, a Trailways Scenicruiser was more than a figment of the imagination
By David Hubbard
In his book of remembrances on the road, Square Wheels on the Interstate, veteran Trailways driver emeritus, Robert J. Beard, tells the rest of the story on what appears to be one of the only Trailways Scenicruisers in existence.
The bus, which belonged to one Pete Brenenstuhl, is shown parked on location for the movie, That Night. Based on the novel by Alice McDermott, this 1992 romantic drama written and directed by Craig Bolotin, starred C. Thomas Howell and Juliette Lewis, and tells the story of a young girl coming of age in Long Island in the early 1960s.
According to Beard, the set crew first painted this vintage Scenicruiser in the authentic Greyhound colors complete with lettering and the iconic running greyhound. However, the plan changed suddenly when the director failed to get the okay from Greyhound to use the company name and logo.
Beard writes in his book, Working quickly in fading light, crew members removed the dogs, covered the other markings and numbering, and instead lettered TRAILWAYS BUS LINES on both sides of the bus.
To true diehard bus aficionados and Greyhound drivers then and now, this competitive signage on a beloved Scenicruiser must come across as an absolute sacrilege.
But as Beard says, at one time or another everyone has been told, “Hey, it’s just a movie.”
In his book of remembrances on the road, Square Wheels on the Interstate, veteran Trailways driver emeritus, Robert J. Beard, tells the rest of the story on what appears to be one of the only Trailways Scenicruisers in existence.
The bus, which belonged to one Pete Brenenstuhl, is shown parked on location for the movie, That Night. Based on the novel by Alice McDermott, this 1992 romantic drama written and directed by Craig Bolotin, starred C. Thomas Howell and Juliette Lewis, and tells the story of a young girl coming of age in Long Island in the early 1960s.
According to Beard, the set crew first painted this vintage Scenicruiser in the authentic Greyhound colors complete with lettering and the iconic running greyhound. However, the plan changed suddenly when the director failed to get the okay from Greyhound to use the company name and logo.
Beard writes in his book, Working quickly in fading light, crew members removed the dogs, covered the other markings and numbering, and instead lettered TRAILWAYS BUS LINES on both sides of the bus.
To true diehard bus aficionados and Greyhound drivers then and now, this competitive signage on a beloved Scenicruiser must come across as an absolute sacrilege.
But as Beard says, at one time or another everyone has been told, “Hey, it’s just a movie.”