Smiley Anders for May 10, 2008

• By SMILEY ANDERS
• Advocate columnist
• Published: May 10, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Dear Smiley: Over the past 25 years I have returned to Baton Rouge several times a year for various reasons.

And I’ve jokingly stated that the two best sales jobs in America are light bulb salesman in Las Vegas and traffic signal salesman in Baton Rouge.

After recently reading in The Advocate that Baton Rouge is replacing and synchronizing 29 traffic signals at $341,379 each ($9.9 million) I am convinced that the Baton Rouge job wins hands down.
Glenn Hardin
McKinney, Texas

Think green
Dear Smiley: Some areas of my lawn have remained bare in spite of repeated attempts to grow grass.

However, I may be on the verge of a scientific discovery that will solve the problem.

I will plant tomatoes on those barren places, and lots of grass should come up around them.

Hey, it works in my vegetable garden!
Doug Johnson
Watson

Buss stop
Dear Smiley: At The Speakeasy (mentioned by a reader) in the early ’70s we did a forerunner of what was to become the Cabaret Theatre 20 years later.

Folks could get a “Smiley root beer” and a burger, sit at tables and watch a controversial (at the time) play: “The Boys in the Band.”

As you probably know, the play is a gathering of a group of men for the birthday party of one, namely Harold.

One of his presents is a hustler named Cowboy, who gives Harold a “Hello/Happy Birthday” kiss.

I played Harold. My brother-in-law, Rickey Eisler, played Cowboy.

So it was like kissing your sister. Sort of.