Today we’d like to introduce you to Retro Myrtle Beach Guy
Hi Retro, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Well, I began making my show because I wanted folks to see what it was really like living in Myrtle Beach. I would often hear or see stuff about our city that I didn’t feel like reflected the reality of our every day lives here, and I wanted people to get a firsthand look at what it was like from a local’s perspective.
I had been doing social media and marketing for a couple large businesses here so I had some experience behind the camera and in the editing room, the only thing I had to get used to was being in front of the camera.
So, I began a couple years ago and the reception from visitors and locals alike has been really encouraging and heartwarming. And, of course my personal signature retro style was something that was going to express itself on the show so I leaned into it concentrating on the kinds of good times activities and local retro points of interest that I found interesting.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I first began it was a little difficult to get my foot in the door at some places, but luckily some local business owners/community leaders had been following my channel and supported and encouraged me which was very helpful.
I think the sincerity of my love for our community and its history and culture was obvious from watching my show, and that made it easier to open up to some transplant who wants to put a camera in their face.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I try my best to give visitors, new transplants to Myrtle Beach, and even long time locals info on events, attractions, and destinations and a firsthand look at the best stuff in Myrtle Beach on my website retromyrtlebeachguy.com and my YouTube channel Retro Myrtle Beach Guy! I visit historic local locations, businesses and events and interview local personalities to give folks a better feel for what Myrtle Beach is really like as well as what it used to be like back through the years.
What makes my channel different from others is definitely my concentration on history and retro style, but also I’ve found I’m one of the few guys doing this kinda thing. There’s lots of ladies who love to show the stuff they enjoy on the grand strand and, I like providing the fellas with info on the kinds of activities that appeal more to them. Not to say I don’t enjoy a fancy restaurant with table cloths but I can also show you the spots for the best chili dogs and chicken wings.
I would have to say that I’m most proud of the way that I connect with my audience. I always say, Paris makes baguettes, Switzerland makes watches and Myrtle Beach makes memories. When I get to show people pieces of their childhood and youth through tours of Myrtle Beach it means a lot to them. Some folks who have memories here of loved ones, glory days, or just last summer with their family or friends and they’re watching in January, they’ll watch my channel to reconnect with those memories and when I meet these folks in person you can tell that it has an effect on them. It makes me happy I can give them that. I won’t ever embarrass anyone but I can’t tell you how many fans of my show have come to me with tears in their eyes talking about their memories and how my show lets them relive them whenever and wherever they like.
And I’m not immune myself! My father passed long ago and my grandfather more recently and there’s few places I go in this town where I don’t have memories with them, and not just memories, they’re vacation memories, arguably the best of memories.
It’s also nice to see how much my family means to my viewers. As you may not know, my wife has Cerebral Palsy and cannot walk or perform certain tasks on her own as a result, so our courtship and marriage seemed to strike an emotional chord with many people. And when we decided to have a child, she bravely volunteered to become the sole provider to our family so that I could take on full time father duties, which made a lot of folks root for us and our situation. Then of course, our son was born three months premature in another emotional cliff hanger of sorts which kept my fans tuning in. Luckily everything has worked out fine and our son James (named for my late father) is as strong as an ox. But, it was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster the last couple years so, understandably folks were interested in our story. It’s almost like a Truman Show of sorts as you see the yearly events and fun times, but you also see my family grow and change as the years progress as well as Myrtle Beach which is having a bit of a renaissance of its own. It’s been an incredibly fulfilling couple years.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Well, I’m a bit of a dreamer when it comes to the future, we started with our YouTube channel which has turned into a website and a whole community online, which turned into cinematic ambitions with our first movie last year, “Retro Myrtle Beach Guy: The Movie”, a sci-fi comedy biopic where me and show regular Radioactive Tiki take on a Space Vampire (played by local talent Duane Farmer of Carolina Christmas and local notoriety), which is turning into our second movie Mint Jelly a sci-fi mob movie set in Myrtle Beach and based around the events of the year 2024, a whole series of adventure mystery novellas starring myself and the aforementioned Radioactive Tiki, to who knows what?
My ultimate goal is to make Myrtle Beach not just a destination for families and fellas, but for filmmakers as well! There’s a long history with Myrtle Beach and film and I think it’s time the two finally came together, even if it’s just with amateur local filmmakers like me. There’s so much talent and so many stories to be told right here that I would love to find more ways to foster it all.
We also founded a local fraternal organization which I’m very proud of, a local Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes chapter. It’s a no-dues, no strings attached way to get out of the house, meet some local fellas, make a friend or two, and do something for the community. We meet up and have a beer or go bowling or mini golfing and we raise money for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital when the parade comes to town and we’re organizing for the Polar Plunge in February right now to raise money for the special Olympics taking pledges and initiating new members and soliciting sponsorships from local businesses.
I just found (from first hand experience) that it can be awful hard on a fella moving here and not knowing anyone and trying to make friends as an adult is daunting enough without putting it against our often transient population. I wanted to put something together that would get these guys together and help foster new friendships and connections and at the same time support the community while making the guys feel good about doing good for others.
It’s been wildly fun and pretty successful. And with such a goofy subject matter it allows the fellas to let their hair down a little while we do good! We dress up in our ceremonial horns for the polar plunge and make it a fun event, they even played the Flintstones theme song for us when we arrived last year . It’s my understanding that this year will even have a “best costume” prize that I can’t help but think we had a hand in creating! It’s been lots of fun and we hope we can really build something big and positive for Myrtle Beach and other communities with this project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Retromyrtlebeachguy.com
- Instagram: @retromyrtlebeachguy
- Facebook: @retromyrtlebeachguy
- Twitter: @retrombguy
- Youtube: @retromyrtlebeachguy
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/9RtsSXURhAVMjuh36
