My name is Ben Gilley
As with most Skate Houses, Birmingham Alabama’s White House is known more for its personality than cleanliness. What’s the breakdown of functioning to non-functioning toilets?
I guess it’s pretty standard minus the mini ramp. There’re plenty of bathrooms and only one works, random people hang out or just show up, and the rest of the city hates us. You know, the standard skate house.
During your tenure at The White House, what was the craziest thing you saw go down?
I saw a car get driven down the front lawn and crashed into our neighbor’s house, the living room turned into a dance floor complete with strobe lights and smoke, and a bunch more stuff I can't remember.
What’s the farthest you’ve gone on your bike in one day? Where? When? Conditions?
About 1000 miles in one day from Birmingham , AL to somewhere near Odessa, TX. Got a little rain and it was kinda cold, but nothing too bad.
Both You and Matt Winterberg are notorious for your food preferences. Who has a greater palette variety, you or the berg?
I'm not sure yet. I think I do sometimes then he ends up eating something I want nothing to do with.
What’s you fondest memory of Black Box employee and personal hero to many, Danny Dean?
Too Many!! But a very mild one I remember is when I was staying at his house one night, and he came home hammered drunk and got into an argument with his upstairs neighbor. He ended up throwing their glass coffee table off the balcony shattering it in the parking lot with him laughing his ass off. Cops show up and somehow only Danny gets out of it.
Fakie Ollie
Where did the nickname “guillotine” come about?
I think Jub first started calling me that back in the day.
What were you for Halloween?
Scooter, frat boy poster boy
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
Working at a Ruby Tuesday washing pots and pans. There’s this whole area in the back called dish-land and your whole body is soaked at the end of your shift every time.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
Living somewhere for more than 8 months and finishing this Zero part I’m working on.
Best trip you’ve ever been on?
I have about 5 trips in my top 3 cause its too hard to figure out which one was the best one. This last one I went on back to Bama was the best until I got hurt, but one that stands out in my mind was when me and about 4 other friends jumped a train from Birmingham to Chattanooga and skated for the weekend.