I was driving home for lunch today, headed east on Rio Grande Street toward John Stockbauer Drive, and I spotted this new billboard:
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance until after 5 p.m. to call Lamar Advertising, which closed before I could visit with the manager. I wanted to ask who placed the ad and if anyone knows what it means.
The billboard reads: "I'm going to tell everybody and show them all the dirt that's going on right here in Victoria."
Either this is a clever advertising kickoff or a local is sitting on some juicy gossip. Either way, somebody's got some 'splaining to do. :)
I talked to John Holl at Auto Expo, 4410 Houston Highway, but he knew little about the billboard other than it went up within the last few days.
Anyone know what this is about?
UPDATED ON MONDAY
And the plot thickens ...
I tracked down the man who placed the billboard. He says he wants to remain anonymous for now and that the ad is not a publicity stunt to kickoff a new business.
“I can’t tell you everything, man. Not yet. I’ve got a billboard coming up in a few weeks. I’m going to reveal everything on May 29. That’s when I’m going to let everybody in on the story. I’ve got dirt, man. There's some stealing going on and nobody in this town wants to talk about it," he said. "It’s happening right under everyone’s nose and no one wants to talk about it. I promise you one thing, I’ll tell you and only you.”
The man also says this isn't a stunt for financial gain.
"This is shedding light on a situation and I’m not scared to be the one to do it. I’m not going to stay anonymous through the whole thing. I’ll come public."
I don't want to push him too much now to give me more details, but I have his word that when he's ready to explain he'll fill me on on the story.
That's the best I can do now -- Gabe Semenza / Advocate public service editor.
IMPORTANT
Teases to juicy information don't necessarily mean 'dirt' exists. We get tips all the time that prove fruitless. Until this gentleman announces what he has to say, and that announcement is proven, then the billboard has no relevance other than to pique our curiousity -- Gabe
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What ever happen to unleashing the DIRT-Gabe??? I was gone last week so I might have missed the latest on this- FILL ME IN!
May 14, 2009 at 2:10 p.m.SmarteePantz: The new billboard is in my latest blog. Be sure to check it out. Thanks -- Gabe
May 7, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.GABE--Time for an update.
I understand the billboard has now been changed to reflect the following:
"I'm going to tell everyone how you steal every chance you get. Victoria, are you paying attention now?"
or something very similar to this.
I'm still going with an ad campaign. There is no way this is going to be a smear against an individual.
May 7, 2009 at 5:59 p.m.hey i am getting ahead of myself here.. May 28th..
April 28, 2009 at 5:34 p.m.Gabe- I am counting on you to keep us informed about this sign.
April 28, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.Tomorrow is the 29th..
He's probably in the construction business and trying to get rid of some "dirt."
April 28, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.Yeah, that's far fetched, but what the heck, that's all I could come up with for now.
"If this same kind of stunt had NOT been pulled..."
Geez--I hate not having the 5th chance to correct my words!
April 28, 2009 at 7:10 a.m.Had this same kind of stunt been pulled several years ago, I might could get my curiosity up; however, all the speculation about who is stealing, etc., will be proven way off the mark when the real purpose is revealed.
"There's some stealing going on and nobody in this town wants to talk about it," ---it's a car dealer with better prices--probably Ben Keeting, or it's some insurance agent, or real estate agent.
Any of you who think there is really going to be some dirt--Lamar is not going to allow someone to slander/liabel someone on their billboards.
But, hey, this dude's got all of you looking. His advertising campaign is working. Got to give him big credit for that!
April 28, 2009 at 7:04 a.m.I asked him why he went the billboard route, Zorro. He said it was easier to advertise than to spread his message face-to-face.
On another note: Teases to juicy information don't necessarily mean 'dirt' exists. We get tips all the time that prove fruitless. Until this gentleman announces what he has to say, and that announcement is proven, then the billboard has no relevance other than to pique our curiousity.
Thanks -- Gabe
April 27, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.Al Capone's Vault?
April 27, 2009 at 2:25 p.m.The unconventional nature of this pre-announcement of a impending "bombshell" has me curious. Why did this person choose this strategy to get attention and publicity? If it turns out that there is any connection to any pending court cases, that is going to make me mighty suspicious.
April 27, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.Foul mouths, erratic behavior and too many opinions for his own good- Red Rage and Ringer unleash all the DIRT on Victoria -- The new season of The VA’s Threads2dread is now steamrolling the tube and The Prince of Darkness Red Rage leads the way while his side kick Ringer voices way to much opinion about the matter! They’re causing more Havoc and Steamy intuitions than this small town can handle and the Victoria Advocate’s unleashing the DIRT on tomorrows spread, hot off the press~
Get ready for classic rumbling, hard-core laughs, and a bunch of dry-@@s sense of humor- LIVE- Friday nights only at www.threads2dread.com
lol...
April 27, 2009 at 1:07 p.m.And the plot thickens ...
I tracked down the man who placed the billboard. He says he wants to remain anonymous for now and that the ad is not a publicity stunt to kickoff a new business.
“I can’t tell you everything, man. Not yet. I’ve got a billboard coming up in a few weeks. I’m going to reveal everything on May 29. That’s when I’m going to let everybody in on the story. I’ve got dirt, man. There's some stealing going on and nobody in this town wants to talk about it," he said. "It’s happening right under everyone’s nose and no one wants to talk about it. I promise you one thing, I’ll tell you and only you.”
The man also says this isn't a stunt to for financial gain.
"This is shedding light on a situation and I’m not scared to be the one to do it. I’m not going to stay anonymous through the whole thing. I’ll come public."
I don't want to push him too much now to give me more details, but I have his word that when he's ready to explain he'll fill me on on the story.
That's the best I can do now -- Gabe
April 27, 2009 at 12:42 p.m.Thanks for the reminder, SmarteePantz. I got busy doing other things. I'll call now.
April 27, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.Okay, Gabe, it's nearly noon. Lamar has been open for almost 4 hours now. What did they tell you?
April 27, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.I vote vacuum cleaner company.
April 27, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.Interesting, cabijrose. Thanks for the tip.
I missed it on the electronic billboard, enjay, but thank you, too, for that tip. I've got a couple of places I can go to try to find out what it means.
April 26, 2009 at 7:29 p.m.They did something like this in Freeport, Texas a few years back, it was an individual who was angry at what was going on with the city-about an eminent domain situation.
April 26, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.It was up on the electronic billboard on Navarro near Mockingbird a week or more ago.
April 25, 2009 at 11:15 p.m.But I really have no idea what its about.
LOL to mytwocents! Now that made me smile!
April 25, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.Off topic, but what is the problem with getting the letters to the editor on-line in a timely fashion?
Seven campaign letters, three thanks yous and one warning in Saturday's print edition.
Where are the letters?
April 25, 2009 at 10:14 p.m.Home Depot?
April 25, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.SmarteePantz: Your theory that I know what the billboard means (You say, "Gabe already knows what it is, he just wants to see if it's effective.") and that this is some sort of publicity stunt on my part is untrue. If I wanted to place an ad and reach the most readers in this area, I'd have placed it in the Advocate :)
April 25, 2009 at 4:13 p.m.No advertising conspiracies here on my part. Anyone have a reasonable explanation for what the ad means, or who placed it?
If I am not mistaken, and if memory serves me correctly, this very same ad campaign was out there several years ago and it may have involved the media. Like a teaser to get folks to watch, read, listen. It sounded really sordid, but was very funny when revealed. Does anyone else remember this?
Gabe already knows what it is, he just wants to see if it's effective.
It's probably a new section of the Victoria Advocate, written by the Master Gardners.
April 25, 2009 at 1:19 p.m.JeannieD --- LOL @ the vacuum cleaner company! It could be an ad for Rainbow Carpet cleaner or Stanley Steamer or even Kirby...
Or, MaidPro, something like that....
I don't think anyone should read into this that it is some big secret that will be revealed to discredit (multiple choice) Ure, Ratcliff, Tyler, Armstrong, Hagen, ....... That's the hook!
April 25, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.Probably an advertisement for a vacuum cleaner company. ;o)
April 25, 2009 at 8:09 a.m.