Tybee’s 32nd Annual
Introducing the Grand Marshall,I asked Alan what it meant for him to be asked to be the Big Kahuna and he
It is that time of year again and I am flat out delighted to announce the worst
kept secret in all the land! Each year, founder and master planner of the
Beach Bum Parade and surrounding events, Jack Boylston, swears everyone
involved to secrecy until the Coronation event. Well, we are on Tybee and
there are no secrets here! However, for those of you that actually mind your
own business and keep your nose out of others’, here is the official Officials
of our 32nd Annual Beach Bum Parade: Our Grand Marshall is Johnny
Herald aka The Bug Man! Our Queen is Esther Guy aka Essie!! Our Big
Kahuna is Alan Burn aka A-J’s Dockside!!!! What a fantastic team of
people to lead us all in our quest to get absolutely drenched and have a rip
roaring good time! I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with these
three long time Tybee people and finding out what earning this majestic
(dubious?) honor means to them.
The Big Kahuna: Alan
Burn has been on Tybee
since 1972! Born in
Savannah at Hunter as
military brat, the family
moved everywhere,
but eventually returned
here to stay. Alan met
the love of his life,
Jackie, on Tybee and
early in his day he
worked for Gulf Stream.
Finding an opportunity
on the Back River to
start their own bar/
restaurant, Alan and
Jackie opened A-J’s
Dockside in January,
2003. The rest is
history.
A-J’s always had a float
in the Beach Bum during the early years, but as the restaurant’s fame and
word of their fabulous food spread throughout the land, it became more and
more difficult to run the float. One year, all of the employees were on the
float. When the parade was over, they all (keep in mind were soaking wet)
went to go open the restaurant. There was a line around the block of anxious
patrons waiting to get in and nothing was ready!!!
8 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | MAY 2018
gave me a big ol grin and said, “I feel honored!” Alan loves the diversity of the
Beach Bum in that every one of all ages can come and enjoy the festivities!
It’s not for one age bracket or person and it’s interactive. Naturally, I had
to ask Alan what he was going to wear (this day and age it’s a must know
question, y’all). He pondered for a moment and said, ‘A wet suit for sure.
Maybe a mask and snorkel.’ I say look for this long haired Big Kahuna
wearing a kayak and aim for him!!
The Queen, Esther
Guy, was up next and
I was looking forward
to it. Having seen Essie
driving around on her
motorized cooler (with
real beer inside, y’all),
I was dying to talk
to her and get to the
bottom of this fabulous
lady! Esther has been
a Tybeeite since 1984!
She is a retired lady
of leisure now, but for
22 years she was a
Recreational Therapist
at Georgia Regional!
You know she’s got
some stories from
that (For those in the
unknow, GA Regional is
a facility for those of us
who cannot make wise
life decisions...).
Essie says that she was drawn to Tybee because it is such a welcoming
place and she has met so many wonderful people here. Unfortunately, many
great friends have passed, but the memories are there and some of her
fondest are of the old softball days when it wasn’t just about the game, it
was about surviving the damn thing! She thinks she really made it as an
official Local when Earl’s Grill (located at the time just up from where the
Wind Rose is today), put her name on the antique mirror behind the bar. You
know you hit the big time when Earl took the time to write you down!!
By Alaina Loughridge - Photos by Wen McNally