Radiotopia.

From PRX.

From PRX's Radiotopia, this is Radio Diaries. I'm Joe Richmond.

Today's story, Busman's Holiday.

In 1947, a New York City bus driver named William Sumillo became, for a time the most famous bus driver in the country.

I read a bunch of accounts of what

he did, but my favorite is from a TV interview. It unfolds kind of slowly in this telling,

but that's what I like. Pepsi Cola presents Hay Emerson. Hello again. Do you ever think of

getting away from it all? A bus driver had that same feeling,

and he made every headline in the country. So I asked him to come up here and tell us all about it. Hello, Bill. Pleasure to meet you. Thank you. Come on, sit down and let's talk. Hey, Charlie, you got a couple of Pepsi's here for it? Pepsi's right here. Thanks, Charlie. Yes, ma'am. Let me stop this for a second and describe what's happening.

It's black and white footage.

The set of the show He's right here. Thanks, Johnny. Yes, ma'am. Let me stop this for a second and describe what's happening.

It's black and white footage.

The set of the show is a living room, a complete living room, everything.

Window blinds, paintings on the walls, a credenza.

So a butler hands the host, Fay Emerson, a silver tray with a bottle of Pepsi in two glasses.

Then, Fay pours your guest to drink.

Will you tell us what happened, please?

Oh, wonderful. Well, it's one of those things. I was on a job for about 20 years, and I really got tired of it all, you know.

Up and down, every day, the same people, the same stops, nickels nickels dimes transfusion and well this morning

I thought I tried something different so I come out of my garage instead of making a right

time to go off my route I thought I'd make a left time and that was the first that you'd really

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