Star Is Launched

If the success of a forthcoming movie called "That Girl From Boston" hinges upon whether or not Bob Boomer of Phoenix finds it enjoyable, it's a guaranteed smash.

But that standard has to be clarified by pointing out that Boomer has more than a casual interest in the movie.

The film features Mamie Van Doren, Alexandra Hay and the Delta Queen. The first two are actresses; the latter is Boomer's boat.

Boomer, general manager for Mohawk Distributors here, built the 27-foot houseboat in his back yard, spending two years and nine months - and $7,000 - on the project.

When the Delta Queen was completed. Boomer hauled it to Lake Havasu and made a lot of his critics look foolish, particularly those who said it wouldn't float. It's been there about a year now, and is working better than even Boomer expected.

The boat's big break happened just like in the movies.

"The film company had a prop man looking around Lake Havasu for a particular kind of craft. Somebody said the Delta Queen might be what he had in mind. and it was exactly what they wanted." Boomer said.

Actress Alexandra Hay aboard the Delta Queen during the filming of "That Girl From Boston".

Jeff Richards, production manager for Moonstone Films, called Boomer at his Phoenix office to make arrangements for the boat's debut.

"I've taken so much ribbing about the boat that while I was talking to Richards long distance, I put him on hold and called a contact in California who checked out the telephone number to make sure it was legitimate," Boomer chuckled.

Satisfied, Boomer made the deal. In the movie, which is based on a novel by Robert Rimmer, the Delta Queen is not treated much like a lady. She portrays a riverboat used to smuggle whisky down the Colorado River into Mexico. and the movie carries an "R" tag.

"I built the Queen like a battleship, and now I'm glad because those film guys climbed all over it," Boomer said after his connection with the movie ended last week.

"One time there were seven people, cameras and other equipment in the galley at the same time. That thing can't be more than 36 inches wide and 10 feet long. I don't know how they did it."

One of the reasons the film will be restricted (R) is because of a scene featuring a female water skier, supposedly Miss Van Doren, clad in a topless and bottomless outfit. But it won't be Mamie.

"They got a local girl to ski without any clothes on," Boomer said. "It was too cold for Mamie. Even the girl they got had to be pulled out of the water after 10 minutes. Too cold. Her muscles started tightening up."

Although the experience was exciting, the rewards were minimal - a new paint job for the Delta Queen.

"The paint job is all they offered, and I never asked for more," Boomer said. "In fact, I would gladly have done it for nothing." They fed us and put us up in the hotel. They treated us very well."

But the future looks good for Boomer's starlet. Another movie producer happened by during the filming and wants the Delta Queen for his Colorado River-based film next summer.

Thus are stars born.

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