I THINK IT'S THE TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE STYLE THAT YOU DON'T SEE ANYMORE.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY NOW WANTS TO HAVE THAT CLEAN, MODERN LOOK.

Mike: I LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE FUNNY AND THEY'RE UNIQUE AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT.

IF SOMEBODY HAD A BIG CHICKEN ALONG THE ROAD, I'D PROBABLY STOP AND WANT TO TAKE A TOUR OF IT.

Bill: I LIKE TO CALL THEM THE ANTI-McDONALD'S.

THEY'RE NOT EVERYWHERE.

IT'S AMERICANA.

NOBODY DOES THIS.

YOU'D BE AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE COME THROUGH TOWN JUST TO SEE THE KETCHUP BOTTLE.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

ANYTHING DIFFERENT CATCHES THE EYE.

THEY'RE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN NOW.

Charlie: THIS IS JUST PART OF OUR GREAT AMERICAN IMAGINATION, I GUESS.

Sebak: IN CERTAIN PLACES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE BUILDINGS IN UNEXPECTED SHAPES.

WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE JUST A FEW OF THEM -- WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY SQUEEZE THEM ALL INTO ONE HOUR -- IN "A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF."

WE WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON GOOFY STRUCTURES THAT YOU CAN WALK INTO, BUT THEN WE ALSO FOUND SOME OTHER STUFF THAT SEEMED WORTH MENTIONING, SO WE HAD NO RULES.

Thomas: IT'S THAT CURIOSITY THAT WE ALL HAVE.

Alexis: MOST OF THE AMERICAN BUILDINGS ARE CORPORATE.

THEY'RE JUST BIG AND UGLY AND GAUDY.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Randy: I THINK THE MAINSTREAM ARCHITECTS THINK OF THIS AS THE ARCHITECTURAL EQUIVALENT OF JUNK FOOD, BUT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT'S STILL TASTY NONETHELESS.

"A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF" WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

Sebak: SO, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW, WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH ALL UNUSUAL BUILDINGS, JUST THE WACKY ONES YOU SOMETIMES SEE, USUALLY ALONG 2-LANE HIGHWAYS, BUILDINGS IN THE SHAPE OF SOMETHING, OFTEN SOMETHING THAT WAS BEING SOLD THERE, PLACES DESIGNED TO GRAB YOUR ATTENTION.

Crystal: PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO DIFFERENT AND WEIRD THINGS, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT WEIRD.

I'VE BEEN PLACES WHERE YOU SAW TEPEE MOTELS AND DIFFERENT OTHER THINGS.

THIS IS ALL WHAT THEY CALL, I BELIEVE, ROADSIDE ARCHITECTURE.

Judy: THESE BIG THINGS WHEN YOU DRIVE BY THEM AND THEY TOTALLY GET YOUR ATTENTION.

IF YOU WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHO REALLY APPRECIATES IT -- AS ADULTS, SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO DO THAT.

BUT KIDS HAVE IT FIGURED OUT FROM THE TIME THEY'RE LITTLE.

Bill: LIKE WHEN YOU WERE A KID AND YOU SEE A GIANT DINOSAUR STATUE, SOME PART OF YOU IS A LITTLE FRIGHTENED AND MOST OF YOU IS JUST THRILLED, BUT THAT TENSION IS NICE.

Rachel: [ British accent ] I THINK PEOPLE LOVE SOMETHING THAT GIVES A PLACE A STAMP THAT MAKES IT LOOK DIFFERENT.

WE THINK BIG OVER HERE.

WE HAVE IDEAS, AND WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO TRY THEM.

AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS.

Nathan: OR PEOPLE WILL STOP RIGHT THERE IN THE ROAD JUST TO TAKE A PICTURE WHEN ALL THE TRAFFIC'S COMING.

IT'S LIKE, "YOU CAN'T STOP TO TAKE PICTURES."

Anthony: TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE A REAL-LIFE OBJECT IS GREAT.

AND TO HAVE IT IN SUCH AN EXAGGERATED PROPORTION REALLY MAKES IT FUN TO LOOK AT.

Ruth: AND YOU CAN'T GET MORE ODD AND MORE UNIQUE THAN THE SHOE HOUSE.

Sebak: WELL, LET'S START THERE, IN PENNSYLVANIA, JUST EAST OF THE CITY OF YORK.

AS THESE SORTS OF BUILDINGS GO, THIS ONE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO FIND.

Ruth: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T COME 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND IT.

EVEN THE PEOPLE HERE IN YORK CAN'T FIND IT.

Sebak: IT WAS BUILT IN 1948.

IT'S CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

RUTH MILLER AND HER HUSBAND, BUD, BOUGHT IT IN 1995.

Ruth: I SAW IT IN THE SUNDAY PAPER FOR SALE.

MONDAY MORNING, I WAS HERE.

WELL, MY WIFE CAME HOME ONE DAY, SHE SAID, "I BOUGHT A SHOE."

Ruth: HE SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU BOUGHT A SHOE?"

Bud: SHE DIDN'T SAY A PAIR OF SHOES.

I FIGURED SHE WAS UP TO SOMETHING.

I SAID, "I DIDN'T BUY A PAIR OF SHOES.

I BOUGHT A SHOE."

I SAID, "THE HAINES' SHOE HOUSE."

Bud: WE BOTH KNEW ABOUT IT, KNEW THE MAN WHO BUILT IT.

AND SHE MAKES GOOD DECISIONS.

Ruth: WHEN YOU SAY, "THIS IS THE ONLY SHOE HOUSE IN THE WORLD," THAT REGISTERS.

THEY THINK, "WELL, CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE AND SEE IT.

I BETTER LOOK AT IT NOW WHILE I'M HERE."

Sebak: WE ASKED RANDY GARBIN TO MEET US THERE.

HE'S A WRITER AND THE EDITOR OF "BY THE WAY" MAGAZINE, AND HE HAS CONSIDERABLE AFFECTION FOR BUILDINGS LIKE THIS AND FOR PEOPLE LIKE MAHLON N. HAINES WHO BUILT IT.

Randy: HAINES OBVIOUSLY HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR.

YOU KNOW, THANK GOD.

THAT'S WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO IT, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING GOOFY.

Ruth: IT WAS AN ADVERTISING GIMMICK, IS EXACTLY WHAT HE BUILT IT FOR.

Randy: HE WAS A SHOE SALESMAN.

WHAT ELSE IS HE GONNA BUILD BUT A GIANT SHOE?

Ruth: FIRST THEY PUT UP A WOODEN SHAPE TO GET THE SHAPE OF IT, THEN THEY PUT A WIRE MESH ON TOP OF THAT WOOD.

THEN THE STUCCO STICKS TO THAT WIRE.

THAT'S HOW IT'S MADE.

Randy: I'M SURE THAT WHEN HE BUILT IT, NEWSPAPER REPORTERS WERE COMING AND PEOPLE WERE TAKING PICTURES OF IT.

WHAT HE DID WITH THIS HOUSE, HE WOULD GIVE IT FREE TO HONEYMOONERS, WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES, AND LATE BIRTHDAYS.

YOU WOULD STAY HERE FREE.

PLUS HE GAVE YOU A MAID, A CHAUFFEUR, AND AN AUTOMOBILE 55 YEARS AGO.

I WANT THE HISTORY OF IT TO BE PRESERVED.

THAT'S WHY I DO TOURS, AND I SELL HOMEMADE ICE CREAM AND SOUVENIRS.

IT'S NOT JUST A BIG SHOE ON THE OUTSIDE.

IT'S ACTUALLY A HOUSE.

Ruth: THIS FIRST LEVEL YOU'RE GOING TO TOUR IS CALLED THE HONEYMOONERS' SUITE.

INSIDE HAS A LOT OF THE APPLIANCES AND ALL LIKE I HAVE IN MY HOUSE.

Ruth: ABOVE THE BED IS A PICTURE OF MR.

HAINES, IF YOU FORGOT WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE.

Don: AND THE TUB IS EXACTLY LIKE MINE AND THE FIXTURES.

Ruth: I'VE HAD PEOPLE COME BACK THAT SPENT THEIR HONEYMOONS HERE.

JUST LAST YEAR, I HAD A COUPLE -- THEIR 48th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

THEY SAID IF THEY'RE LIVING, THEY'LL BE BACK ON THEIR 50th.

THIS IS THE ONLY ROOM WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO THAT HAS A SLANTED CEILING.

WE'RE AT THE SHOELACES.

EVERY ROOM HAS TO FIT IN THE SHOE.

NO TWO ARE ALIKE, RIGHT?

I HAD A LITTLE GIRL COME HERE AND SAID, "IS THIS STINKY LIKE MY SNEAKERS?"

BUT IT DON'T STINK.

[ LAUGHING ] LOOK AT THIS BATHROOM.

IT WAS MADE FOR THE CHAUFFEUR AND THE MAID.

HE DIDN'T WANT THEM DISTURBING THE GUESTS.

I THINK IT'S FUN EVERY DAY I'M HERE.

I MEET SUCH INTERESTING PEOPLE.

I'VE MET PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Randy: AND IT'S VERY TYPICALLY AMERICAN.

AND IT GOES BACK TO, I THINK, OUR INNATE OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE AND ABOUT OUR COUNTRY AND HOPEFULLY ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

Ruth: AND YOU CAN PAY HIM FOR YOUR TOUR WHEN YOU GET YOUR ICE CREAM.

HOW WILL THAT BE?

OKAY?

Sebak: WELL, IN 2003, RUTH AND BUD DECIDED TO SELL THE PLACE.

Ruth: 77 YEARS OLD.

MY HUSBAND'S 75.

WE'D LIKE TO DO A LITTLE TRAVELING.

Bud: I'D LIKE SOMEBODY TO BUY IT AND DO THE SAME AS WE'RE DOING.

BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IT.

Ruth: I DON'T BELIEVE IF A BIG COMPANY CAME AND TOOK IT OVER, IT WOULD HURT IT.

THEY COULD PUT REEBOK ACROSS IT.

WOULDN'T HURT IT.

NIKE.

DR.

SCHOLL'S.

[ LAUGHING ] Randy: IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S A SHOE HOUSE, OKAY?

THEN THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT.

Ruth: I DO LOVE THIS PLACE.

NO MATTER WHO BUYS IT, I WILL BE BACK.

THEY WON'T BE RID OF ME.

[ LAUGHING ] Sebak: THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THESE PLACES ARE CRUCIAL FACTORS IN THEIR SURVIVAL.

AND IF YOU'RE IN SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS, NEAR NEW BEDFORD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO WALK INTO A GIANT MILK BOTTLE.

Scott: THAT'S THE BIGGEST SIGNATURE SIGN IN NEW BEDFORD.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THE FRATES BOTTLE.

Sebak: IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL BUILT IN THE 1930s BY A LOCAL DAIRY RUN BY THE FRATES FAMILY.

IN 2003, IT WAS BOUGHT BY CRYSTAL AND SCOTT VURPILLATTE.

Scott: I MEAN, WE NAMED IT AFTER MY DAUGHTER.

HER NAME IS TALI, SO WE CALL IT TALI'S PLACE AT THE FRATES' BOTTLE, JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE ARE NEW OWNERS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP AND DO A FEW THINGS NICE TO IT.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ATTRACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THIS PLACE.

Scott: I THINK ONCE YOU'RE IN HERE, YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS A HUGE BOTTLE SITTING ON TOP OF YOU.

I THINK IT DEFINITELY ATTRACTS PEOPLE IN.

AND ONCE THEY COME IN, I THINK THEY'RE MORE THINKING ABOUT GETTING A BIG ICE-CREAM SUNDAE OR SOMETHING LIKE, BUT... I HEARD THE ICE CREAM WAS GOOD, SO WE CAME HERE TO TRY IT OUT.

OH, YEAH, I LOVE THIS ICE CREAM.

THIS ICE CREAM'S GOOD.

THEY MAKE THE BEST FRAPPES YOU COULD EVER TASTE.

WHO'S GONNA COME TO A MILK BOTTLE TO GET ICE CREAM?

BUT YOU'D BE SURPRISED.

IT DREW PEOPLE IN.

Scott: WE HAVE OVER 50 FLAVORS OF REGULAR ICE CREAM, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE ICE CREAM.

IT'S REALLY GOOD -- THE 14% -- REALLY FATTENING STUFF.

Crystal: SO A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST KNOW THIS BUILDING HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

AND PEOPLE THAT DO DRIVE BY, THEY THINK, "LOOK AT THAT."

AND THEY JUST WANT TO STOP IN.

I LOVE THE BOTTLE, YES.

WHEN WE COME BY, I ALWAYS LOOK AT IT.

Woman: 'CAUSE IT KIND OF STANDS OUT.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING ELSE HAS THIS SHAPE, AND YOU GOT A BOTTLE THAT'S STICKING OUT IN MIDAIR.

IT'S KIND OF COOL-LOOKING.

Bob: IT JUST EVOKES SOMETHING.

IT'S UNUSUAL.

AND YOU COME HERE ALL THE TIME SINCE YOU WERE A KID, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'D HATE TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO IT BECAUSE IT'S A THING FROM YOUR PAST.

Crystal: PEOPLE LIKE US, WE JUST TAKE IT FOR GRANTED 'CAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HERE, BUT WHENEVER YOU TALK TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE AND THE OLDER FOLKS, EVERYBODY HAS A STORY ABOUT THIS PLACE.

EITHER THEY WORKED HERE OR THEY USED TO COME HERE, THEY MET THEIR WIFE HERE, THEY DATED HERE.

EVERYBODY HAS A STORY.

WE USED TO COME IN HERE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL, WHEN IT WAS FRATES.

Anthony: IT'S A LITTLE SPECIAL FOR ME BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER ACTUALLY PAINTED THIS ONCE.

HE PAINTED THE BOTTLE.

Scott: I USED TO RIDE MY BIKE HERE WHEN I WAS A KID TO GET ICE CREAM.

Crystal: I GREW UP DOWN THE STREET.

YEAH, MY DAD.

OOOH!

MY DAD USED TO BRING ME HERE.

AND NOW I BRING MY SON HERE, SO... Crystal: I LOVE THE FACT THAT I CAN BRING MY DAUGHTER HERE TO WORK AND NOBODY CAN TELL ME NO.

AND IT'S GREAT THAT I CAN BE WITH HER.

SHE'S JUST PART -- SHE'S PART OF THE WHOLE AMBIANCE OF THE WHOLE, NEW PLACE.

Sebak: BUT THE NEW PLACE STILL RELIES ON THE UNUSUAL CHARM OF THE OLD STRUCTURE, AND SCOTT SAID HE'D SHOW US UPSTAIRS.

THIS IS OUR LITTLE OFFICE WE HAVE SET UP IN HERE.

THIS IS WHERE WE DO OUR ORDERING AND ANSWER THE PHONES.

THERE'S CRYSTAL HARD AT WORK.

AND OVER HERE, BEHIND THIS LITTLE DOOR, THIS IS OUR ENTRANCE TO OUR MILK BOTTLE.

THEY DON'T GIVE YOU MUCH ROOM.

TAKE A PEEK IN THERE AND SHOW YOU GUYS.

THIS IS INSIDE OF OUR MILK BOTTLE.

THIS IS BUILT IN THE 1930s.

IT'S A 52-FOOT WOODEN STRUCTURE.

THIS IS THE INSIDE OF IT.

IF YOU LOOK STRAIGHT UP, YOU SEE IT'S IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

Sebak: WE LEARNED THAT ALL THIS WOOD WAS MILLED, STEAMED, AND SHAPED IN WHAT'S NOW THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE.

AND IT OFTEN FILLS UP FAST.

Bob: THE CARS ARE COMING HERE FOR OUR WEEKLY SUNDAY CRUISE NIGHT THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE BOTTLE.

Crystal: IT'S NICE BECAUSE THEY ALSO PLAY SOME OLD '50s MUSIC, SO IT'S JUST A GOOD TIME.

PEOPLE COME DOWN HERE, GET SOME ICE CREAM, OR MAYBE SOME FOOD, AND HAVE A FUN NIGHT OUT.

Scott: I GOT TO SAY 90% OF OUR BUSINESS COMES FROM JUST TALKING ABOUT THE MILK BOTTLE, I MEAN, ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE'LL NEVER GET TO CHANGE THE NAME TOTALLY OVER 'CAUSE EVERYBODY STILL CALLS IT FRATES.

THE GUY DEFINITELY HAD VISION WHEN HE BUILT THIS.

IT'S A PRETTY BOLD THING TO DO -- TO BUILD A 52-FOOT MILK BOTTLE ON TOP OF YOUR RESTAURANT.

Crystal: WE WANT IT TO KEEP GOING.

WE'RE NOT JUST IN IT FOR FIVE YEARS AND THEN SELL IT.

WE'RE PLANNING ON PASSING THIS DOWN TO TALI.

SHE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A NICE BUILDING, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT SHE DOES 'CAUSE THIS IS ALL FOR HER.

Sebak: WELL, KIDS DO MATTER IN ALL THIS.

AND ONE MORNING IN WEST MIFFLIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ANDREW, NICHOLAS, AND NATALIE BUTKO ARE UP EARLY WITH THEIR PARENTS, BRIAN AND SARAH.

THIS FAMILY OFTEN USES UNUSUAL ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS AS GOOD REASONS FOR FAMILY VACATIONS.

Brian: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE STARTING 6:30 IN THE MORNING.

NORMALLY, WE TRY A LITTLE LATER, BUT WE WANT TO GET SOME MILES ON THE ROAD JUST IN CASE WE FIND A GOOD DINER OR SOMEWHERE WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME.

WE HOPE TO END UP AT CAPE CITY, KENTUCKY.

IT'S A LONG DRIVE.

LOTS TO SEE AND DO.

WE HOPE TO BE THERE BEFORE SUNDOWN.

Sebak: OUR GOAL WAS NOT TO FOLLOW THE BUTKO'S, BUT TO CATCH UP WITH THEM IN KENTUCKY.

THEY WERE GOING ONE WAY, AND WE WANTED TO CHECK OUT AN UNUSUAL DRUGSTORE ALONG THE WAY IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

Eric: VERSAILLES ROAD, WEST LEXINGTON.

YOU CAN'T MISS IT.

IT'S A BIG, ROUND WHITE BUILDING WITH A BALL ON TOP.

Sebak: ERIC BREWER NOW OWNS AND MANAGES THIS UNUSUAL ROUND BUILDING.

Eric: THIS IS BONDURANT'S PHARMACY.

WE'RE A RETAIL PHARMACY.

THE BUILDING IS IN A SHAPE OF A MORTAR AND PESTLE, WHICH IS WHAT PHARMACISTS HAVE USED FOREVER TO DO COMPOUNDING, TO MAKE THE DRUGS THAT YOU WOULD TAKE OR USE.

Sebak: THE PLACE IS NAMED FOR THE MAN WHO BUILT IT BACK IN 1974.

Eric: JOE BONDURANT HAD AN IDEA.

YEARS AND YEARS AGO, HE WENT OUT TO VEGAS WHEN IT WAS RELATIVELY NEW, AND HE LOVED IT.

AND HE THOUGHT, "THERE'S BIG IDEAS OUT HERE, AND THERE'S PEOPLE TRYING NEW THINGS."

AND HE WAS A PHARMACIST ALREADY.

HE OWNED A PHARMACY ALREADY.

HE HAD A DREAM AND WANTED TO MAKE IT WORK.

Sebak: BUT ERIC'S FAMILY WAS INVOLVED, TOO.

Eric: MY DAD BUILT THE MODEL OF THIS PLACE USING AN OLD KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN BUCKET.

YOU CAN SEE IT HAPPENING, AND JOE LIKED IT, AND JOE AND NANCY BONDURANT CAME TO LEXINGTON AND MY DAD HELPED OUT A LITTLE BIT.

Sebak: WELL, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO GET CHICKEN NEXT DOOR.

Eric: COLONEL SANDERS WAS OVER THERE KIND OF REGULAR BACK IN THE '70s, AND HE WOULD OVER HERE AND HANG OUT.

HE LIKED THE BUILDING A LOT.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG HIT.

AND IT'S MAINLY WOOD.

IT'S GOT A STEEL BEAM OR TWO IN IT AS WELL, BUT IT'S MAINLY A WOOD BUILDING WITH SOME STUCCO ON THE OUTSIDE.

THERE WAS A JOKE EARLY ON.

THE CARPENTERS BUILDING THE THING JOKED, "WHERE DO WE PUT THE CORNERSTONE?"

GOOD QUESTION.

Sebak: ERIC ALSO LIKES TO THINK THAT THIS HAD THE FIRST -- OR A VERY EARLY -- 2-WINDOW DRIVE-UP CONFIGURATION.

THIS WINDOW I'M AT IS THE DROP-OFF WINDOW, THEN YOU JUST PULL AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE.

WE'LL GET RIGHT TO WORK AND FILL IT AND SEND IT OUT THE OTHER WINDOW.

IT SHOULD TAKE 5, 10 MINUTES.

WHEN THEY BUILT IT -- DRIVE-THROUGH SYSTEM -- FIRST IN LEXINGTON, BEFORE McDONALD'S OR ANYBODY ELSE.

WAY AHEAD OF HIS TIME.

INSIDE HERE, WE HAVE A TRIEVER SYSTEM.

IT'S A MECHANIZED VERTICAL INVENTORY SYSTEM, WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP A LARGE AMOUNT OF DRUGS IN A SMALL SPACE.

IT COMES IN HANDY IN THIS BUILDING.

NOT TOO MANY INDEPENDENTS GO IN BUSINESS AND STAY, BUT WE HANG IN THERE.

IT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE WE'RE SO EFFICIENT, BECAUSE WE'RE SO GOOD AT WHAT WE DO.

I MEAN, AS A DESIGN, IT'S VERY FUNCTIONAL.

ARCHITECTS WOULD BE THRILLED TO HAVE FORM AND FUNCTION FOLLOW AS WELL AS THIS DOES.

SOMETIMES DRIVING INTO WORK, I'M AT THE RED LIGHT, TURNING IN, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST LIKE IT.

I SMILE.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

THAT'S MY STORE.

Sebak: SO, IT WAS WELL AFTER SUNDOWN BY THE TIME WE CAUGHT UP TO BRIAN BUTKO AND HIS TRAVELING FAMILY IN CAVE CITY.

THEY WERE STAYING AT THE WIGWAM VILLAGE MOTEL, WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL ROOMS ARE LIKE LITTLE CABINS IN THE SHAPE OF TEPEES.

WE WANTED TO MEET BRIAN AND SARAH AND THE KIDS HERE BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON A BOOK.

Brian: THE BOOK WE'RE WRITING IS CALLED "ROADSIDE GIANTS."

AND THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND IT WAS THAT WE FOUND WE WERE ALWAYS TAKING OUR FAMILY TO PLACES LIKE THIS.

Sarah: AND WE JUST TALK A LOT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND ONE DAY WE SAID, "HEY, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD BOOK."

AND THEN WE SAID, "LET'S MAKE IT A CHILDREN'S BOOK."

I KNOW CHILDREN.

HE KNOWS ROADSIDE.

"WE CAN COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER."

Sebak: AND CLASSIC ROADSIDE PLACES LIKE THIS WIGWAM VILLAGE ARE WHAT THEY'RE CONCENTRATING ON.

THE FIRST TEPEE MOTEL WAS BUILT AROUND 1930 BY FRANK REDFORD TO HELP ATTRACT BUSINESS TO HIS GAS STATION NOT FAR FROM HERE IN HORSE CAVE, KENTUCKY.

EVENTUALLY, SEVEN WIGWAM VILLAGES WOULD BE BUILT.

THREE STILL REMAIN -- ONE IN ARIZONA, THIS ONE ON ROUTE 66 IN RIALTO, CALIFORNIA, AND THE OLDEST REMAINING SET, WIGWAM VILLAGE NUMBER 2, HERE IN KENTUCKY.

15 TEPEE ROOMS AND ONE LARGE TEPEE WITH MOTEL OFFICE AND GIFT SHOP, ALL OWNED AND OPERATED BY IVAN JOHN SINCE 1996.

Ivan: IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE.

THE FLOORS WERE TERRIBLE.

THE ROOMS HAD TO BE REDECORATED.

I LOVE OLD THINGS AND I THINK WE ALL SHOULD PRESERVE THE OLD, THE THINGS THAT OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS ADMIRED MOST.

Brian: IT'S PRETTY AMAZING THAT PLACES LIKE THIS HAVE SURVIVED.

Ivan: THERE'S A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON THAT REALLY ENJOYS BEING HERE.

THERE'S THIS ENGLISH LADY WHO CALLED ME SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS.

I'VE COME TO SEE THE WIGWAM MOTEL BECAUSE I'M WRITING A BOOK ABOUT AMERICA'S ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS.

Sebak: HER NAME IS RACHEL MORRIS.

IT SUDDENLY SEEMED AS THOUGH EVERYBODY WAS HERE TO WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT THESE UNUSUAL LITTLE BUILDINGS.

Rachel: ANYONE COULD HAVE BUILT HERE AN ORDINARY MOTEL.

BUT FOR SOME REASON, SOMEONE CHOSE TO DO THIS.

IT WAS BECAUSE THEY FELT CREATIVE.

Ivan: EACH WIGWAM HAS A SHOWER, SINK, TOILET, AIR-CONDITIONING, CABLE TV, COFFEE, ONE OR TWO FULL-SIZE BEDS.

Rachel: IT'S INGENIOUS THE WAY THEY'VE MANAGED TO FIT A BED, A DESK, A BATHROOM, A TELEVISION, EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD NEED IN SUCH A SHAPE.

AND THE ROOMS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WERE ALL JUST LIKE THIS HERE, KNOTTY PINE, BUT THEY GOT PAINTED OVER WITH PAINT.

Brian: THESE ARE TEPEES.

I THINK A WIGWAM WOULD BE A MORE ROUNDED STRUCTURE.

SO IT'S WIGWAM VILLAGE, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY TEPEES.

Sarah: AS OUR TRAVELS TAKE US AROUND, WE'RE GETTING PICTURES WITH KIDS IN THEM, WITHOUT KIDS IN THEM.

Brian: WE'RE DOING IT TO HAVE FUN, SO WE NEVER WANT THE RESEARCH TO GET IN THE WAY, SO WE GO OFF AND HAVE FUN.

Rachel: IT'S TRICKY.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO WRITE ABOUT THE TRAVELING YOU'RE DOING WHILE YOU'RE DOING THE TRAVELING.

Ivan: THE IDEA IS TO BRING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.

AND THIS WAS A NICE GATHERING PLACE FOR FAMILIES.

Brian: THE TEPEE-SHAPED BUILDINGS -- PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE COMING HERE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FUN TIME.

IT'S NOT JUST EVERYONE GOING INTO THEIR MOTEL ROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR AND HIDING AT NIGHT.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE WIGWAM MOTEL IS HERE.

IT'S PART OF LIFE AND IT BRINGS NEW THINGS INTO YOUR LIFE.

IT BRINGS AN ELEMENT OF CHANCE INTO YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WOULDN'T GET OTHERWISE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT, BUT I'M STILL WORKING THAT OUT.

Ivan: I THINK IT'S COOL.

Brian: CAN'T HELP BUT WANT TO SLEEP IN A WIGWAM, EVEN IF IT IS A TEPEE.

Ivan: IF YOU HAVEN'T SLEPT IN A WIGWAM, YOU'RE NOT COOL.

Sebak: WELL, IF YOU'RE COOL AND HUNGRY, YOU MAY EVENTUALLY GET TO CALIFORNIA, WHERE IN LOS ANGELES, THERE'S A VERY COOL, UNUSUAL RESTAURANT ON SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD.

ON SAN VICENTE BETWEEN MELROSE AND BEVERLY IN THE HEART OF WEST HOLLYWOOD.

Sebak: DENNIS BLAKE AND HIS FATHER OWN AND RUN THIS PLACE.

Dennis: I'M ANYWHERE FROM THE COOK TO THE JANITOR TO THE WAITRESS.

FOUR YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE ODD, SO THAT'S WHAT INITIALLY BROUGHT ME OVER.

Scotty: WE WERE DRIVING BY THE AREA AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE BY THIS BIG WEENIE AND NOT HAVE A HOT DOG.

I WORK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND I ALWAYS COME HERE FOR LUNCH.

Harold: I WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICING AN AQUARIUM, AND I LOVE THEIR HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS.

WE DON'T STOP HERE AND EAT ALL THE TIME, BUT I WALK HIM EVERY DAY.

I'M A DOG WALKER.

Jamie: ACTUALLY I'M BETWEEN JOBS, SO I JUST CAME OVER TO GRAB A HOT DOG.

I'M HERE BECAUSE MY SON'S WITH ME, AND THIS IS OUR ONLY CHANCE TO EAT HOT DOGS.

I DON'T EAT HOT DOGS.

BUT WHEN I DO EAT HOT DOGS, THIS IS WHERE I COME BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD HOT DOG, AND I LOVE THE BUILDING.

WHEN I FIRST SEEN THE BUILDING, I SAID, "LET ME TRY THAT.

THE DOG'S GOT TO BE GOOD WITH A BUILDING SHAPED LIKE THAT."

Dennis: ROY BLACK WAS THE ORIGINAL PERSON THAT ORIGINATED IT IN 1946, AND MY DAD AND I BOUGHT IT IN '75 FROM VELOZ AND YOLANDA, THE FAMOUS DANCE TEAM THAT WAS IN THE LOU GEHRIG STORY.

USED TO KNOW IT WHEN THEY WERE DOWN ON LA CIENEGA.

THEY MOVED.

Dennis: WE MOVED IN '86 'CAUSE THEY PUT A HOTEL ON THE PROPERTY, AND WE DIDN'T OWN THE LAND.

AND I LOVE THE CONSTANCY OF IT -- THE FACT THAT THEY MOVED THE BUILDING -- THAT L.A.

FINALLY MADE THAT KIND OF A COMMITMENT TO A BUILDING LIKE THIS.. THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING'S PRETTY UNIQUE, SO... IT'S HOLLYWOOD.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY SAY SIZE ISN'T EVERYTHING.

DID YOU GUYS TAKE A LOOK AT HOW... COME ON, THIS IS L.A.

THE BUILDING DOESN'T REALLY DRAW ME HERE.

IT'S THE FOOD.

IT'S THE BEST.

AND YOU'RE EATING IN A BIG HOT DOG.

Dennis: AND IT'S BEEN IN A LOT OF MOVIES, COMMERCIALS... I WANT NUMBER 3 WITH GRILLED ONIONS.

WE HAVE SIX DIFFERENT NAMES OF OUR HOT DOGS.

WE GOT THE BOSTON CELTIC.

IT JUST SOUNDS GOOD.

Young man: I GOT AN EXTREME.

LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

I'M PRETTY HUNGRY RIGHT NOW, SO I'LL JUST EAT THAT UP.

OVER HERE ARE BOSTON BAKED BEANS.

GO ON THE NUMBER 4 -- BOSTON CELTIC.

YOU CAN'T GO DOWN THE STREET AND SEE 25 OF THEM AT EVERY CORNER, YOU KNOW.

AND YOU KNOW THIS IS IT.

THIS IS TAIL O' THE PUP.

THAT'S THE ORIGINAL SIGN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT -- THE LITTLE ONE UP ON TOP.

TAIL O' THE PUP.

IT'S AN IRISH-JEWISH THING.

IT'S LIKE PADDY O' FURNITURE.

TAIL O' PUP.

IT'S AN IRISH THING.

Man: YEAH, IT'S A PUPPY DOG'S TAIL COMING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE BUN, RIGHT?

BUT WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE COME HERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, FOR THE BUILDING.

IF YOU DON'T COME HERE AS A TOURIST, THEN THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THEN.

THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES YOU HAVE TO COME AS A TOURIST.

AS SOMEBODY WHO'S FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THIS IS FULLY AMERICAN, YEAH.

YEAH.

OH, YOU -- OH, YOU -- WOW.

DO THAT ONE MORE TIME.

Rachel: IT'S NOT PLASTIC FANTASTIC.

IT'S AUTHENTIC.

Dennis: IT'S A DYING PHENOMENON IN ESPECIALLY CALIFORNIA TO SEE THESE KIND OF PLACES AROUND ANYMORE.

Rodney: YOU COULD LOSE SIGHT OF IT ONCE YOU COME HERE SO MUCH, BUT THE FACT IT'S A HUGE HOT DOG MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING.

IT MAKES ME SMILE.

IT'S NICE TO SEE UNUSUAL BUILDINGS.

THERE'S THAT BIG GIANT GLAZED DOUGHNUT USED TO BE DOWN ON LA CIENEGA AND JEFFERSON.

RANDY'S.

IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?

WOW.

Sebak: BIG DOUGHNUT.

RANDY'S IS NOT FAR FROM THE L.A.

AIRPORT AND HAS GREAT DOUGHNUTS, AS DOES THE DONUT HOLE NOT TOO FAR AWAY IN LA PUENTE, CALIFORNIA, WHERE YOU CAN DRIVE THROUGH A GIANT DOUGHNUT TUNNEL.

BUT CALIFORNIA WAS ONCE HOME TO LOTS OF CRAZY BUILDINGS, SO WE WENT TO TALK WITH JIM HEIMANN, A WRITER, ILLUSTRATOR, EDITOR, AND A SORT OF VISUAL HISTORIAN WHO, IN 1980, PUT TOGETHER A BOOK ABOUT THESE SORTS OF GOOFY BUILDINGS.

Heimann: "CALIFORNIA CRAZY" WAS THE FIRST BOOK THAT I DID, BUT I FOUND ALL THE PHOTOS, DID ALL THE RESEARCH, AND NO ONE HAD EVER DONE A BOOK ON THIS STUFF BEFORE.

SO THEN, BY DEFAULT, I BECAME THE AUTHORITY ON ODDBALL ARCHITECTURE.

Sebak: AND SO JIM HAS SEARCHED AND FOUND AND COLLECTED ZILLIONS OF PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS.

Heimann: THE MOST POPULAR PERIOD FOR THESE BUILDINGS PROBABLY WAS 1925 TO '35.

IT STARTS TO DRIFT OFF IN THE LATE '30s, CERTAINLY FOR CALIFORNIA AND THE LOS ANGELES REGION.

PART OF THAT WAS THAT THE RISING PROPERTY VALUES STARTED TO CUT OUT THAT REALLY INEXPENSIVE PROPERTY.

AND THEN PEOPLE'S TASTES CHANGED.

AND SO THE STUFF THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE CLEVER AND FUNNY AND SO ON, SUDDENLY WAS LIKE, "THAT STUFF IS REALLY DATED.

IT'S TERRIBLE, IT'S KITSCHY, AND SO ON."

OF COURSE, THAT KIND OF WHIMSICAL NATURE TO THEM WAS ABHORRED BY SERIOUS ARCHITECTS.

THEY FELT THEY WERE REALLY A BLIGHT ON THE LANDSCAPE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHO COULDN'T REALLY LAUGH AT A GIANT WOMAN AND YOU'RE WALKING INTO HER SKIRT TO GO GET ICE CREAM?

OR A GIANT PIG THAT YOU WOULD DRIVE UP TO AND GET A PORK SANDWICH OUT OF ITS MOUTH?

SO IT'S TRULY KIND OF A FANTASY LAND, WHICH, AGAIN, WORKED WELL WITH LOS ANGELES -- THIS WHOLE IDEA OF NOTHING WAS REALLY REAL HERE.

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY WASN'T REALLY SOMETHING PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

Sebak: BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOME PEOPLE LIKED THE ARCHITECTURAL EXUBERANCE, AND TRAVELERS CAME TO LOVE BIG SURPRISES BESIDE THE ROAD.

THESE BUILDINGS REALLY BECAME THESE EXCLAMATION POINTS ALONG THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IF YOU HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF AN AVERAGE-LOOKING BUILDING, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU SEE SOME GIANT PICKLE OR A GIANT KETCHUP BOTTLE OR A GIANT... THEY REALLY JUST KIND OF -- ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOUR ATTENTION WAS GRAVITATED TOWARDS THESE BUILDINGS AND THEY GRABBED PEOPLE OFF THE ROAD WITH THAT IDEA.

Sebak: WELL, YOUR ATTENTION MIGHT GET GRABBED IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN ILLINOIS, JUST EAST OF ST.

LOUIS, WHERE YOU MAY PASS THROUGH THIS SMALL TOWN.

COLLINSVILLE -- THIS IS THE MIDWEST OF THE U.S.A.

Sebak: IT'S A TOWN WITH AN UNUSUAL OLD WATER TOWER THAT'S A GREAT GIMMICK.

Chuck: THE KETCHUP BOTTLE?

I THINK IT'S A GREAT LANDMARK.

Mike: WHEN YOU COME TO TOWN, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IT AND YOU DON'T SEE IT, BUT WHEN YOU GET ON 159 AND YOU HEAD JUST SOUTH OUT OF DOWNTOWN, YOU COME DOWN OUT OF THAT HILL, AND IT JUST RISES UP OUT OF THESE TREES.

AND IT'S JUST A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL US THAT IT JUST TAKES THEIR BREATH AWAY FIRST TIME THEY SEE IT.

Judy: THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE KETCHUP BOTTLE, I WAS WITH THIS WONDERFUL REAL-ESTATE AGENT WHO HAD SHOWN ME A THOUSAND HOUSES.

AND WE'D DRIVE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I'D GO, "NO, NO."

Doug: I WAS RAISED UNDERNEATH THE KETCHUP BOTTLE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF GETTING OUT OF THE CAR.

WHEN I SAW IT, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

Mike: A LOT OF KIDS LIKE IT FROM THE TIME THEY GROW UP BECAUSE WHAT KID DOESN'T LIKE KETCHUP, YOU KNOW?

Judy: I WAS GOING, "WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT?"

AND SHE'S LIKE, "WELL, I BELIEVE WE MADE KETCHUP, YOU KNOW."

AND THEY DID.

WE HAD AN OLD KETCHUP FACTORY HERE FOR YEARS.

Chuck: I REMEMBER WHEN THEY BUILT THAT.

I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.

WELL, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT BECAUSE I USED TO WORK THERE.

Mike: IN THE EARLY '60s IS WHEN THE KETCHUP FACTORY SHUT DOWN.

Judy: EVERYBODY KEPT SAYING, "OH, IT NEEDS TO BE PAINTED."

BUT ACTUALLY, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS GONNA BE TORN DOWN, I THOUGHT, "OKAY, THAT'S IT.

MAYBE I DIDN'T GROW UP HERE, BUT SOMEBODY'S GOT TO DO SOMETHING."

AND I HAD A BACKGROUND IN ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND I ENDED UP BEING THE KETCHUP BOTTLE LADY.

Doug: A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS BROUGHT THE KETCHUP BOTTLE BACK TO LIFE, REPAINTED IT.

IT'S JUST A ROADSIDE LANDMARK.

Mike: JUST BY SELLING T-SHIRTS AND RAISING $5, $10 AT A TIME, RAISED $80,000 TO GET THIS THING RESTORED.

Judy: THE KETCHUP BOTTLE IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY FUNNY, AND IT IS ONE OF A KIND.

Mike: THE DESIGN THAT'S ON THE KETCHUP BOTTLE NOW IS THE ORIGINAL LABEL DESIGN THAT WAS ON THE KETCHUP BOTTLE WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1949.

Sebak: WHEN THE RESTORATION WAS COMPLETE IN '95, THE KETCHUP BOTTLE LADY, JUDY DeMOISY, WHO'S ALSO COLLINSVILLE'S DOWNTOWN MANAGER, GOT TOGETHER WITH THIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER NAMED MIKE GASSMAN... PLEASE PASS THE KETCHUP.

WHOM SOME CALL "THE BIG TOMATO," AND THEY DECIDED TO KEEP PROMOTING THE OLD WATER TOWER EVERY SUMMER AROUND THE 4th OF JULY WITH A FESTIVAL.

Mike: THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN COLLINSVILLE WORLD'S LARGEST KETCHUP BOTTLE SUMMERFEST BIRTHDAY PARTY CUSTOM AND CLASSIC CAR SHOW BASH.

I THINK I GOT IT ALL.

AND IT'S THE ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST KETCHUP BOTTLE.

Thomas: I FOLLOW THE KETCHUP BOTTLE.

Doug: THIS ISN'T THE BIG CITY.

THIS IS SMALL-TOWN AMERICA.

Mike: AND WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE THE LARGEST CUSTOM AND CLASSIC CAR AND TRUCK SHOW IN THE ST.

LOUIS AREA.

Thomas: I DID THE LAST YEAR'S SHOW WITH THE KETCHUP BOTTLE.

SO WE HEARD ABOUT IT THIS YEAR, AND I SAID, "I'M GONNA MAKE THAT SHOW."

Chuck: I THINK IT'S REAL GREAT, AND IT'S GREAT FOR COLLINSVILLE.

KEEPS PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.

Mike: WE DO MUSICAL CHAIRS.

WE PLAY A GAME CALLED PASS THE KETCHUP.

Thomas: THE KIDS AND THE FAMILY REALLY LOVE IT.

Mike: WE HAVE A HULA-HOOP CONTEST.

Doug: THIS IS IT.

THIS IS AMERICA.

Mike: WE HAVE A KETCHUP-TASTING CONTEST.

Doug: WE'RE TASTING FOUR MAJOR BRANDS HERE -- BROOKS, HEINZ, RED GOLD, AND HUNT'S.

AND WE'RE SEEING IF THEY CAN PICK IT OUT AND SEE WHICH ONE MIGHT BE THE TANGIEST.

Judy: YOU TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING GREAT WHEN YOU SEE IT.

AND THAT KETCHUP BOTTLE WAS JUST AS IMPRESSIVE TO ME AS THE EIFFEL TOWER.

Mike: IT APPEALS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

Judy: WE DID JUST GET IT LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORICAL PLACES... Thomas: I LOVE THE KETCHUP-BOTTLE DEAL.

Judy: AS MIMETIC ARCHITECTURE OR SOMETHING THAT MIMICS A PRODUCT, SO IT HAS THAT STATUS NOW.

Doug: I MEAN, IT'S PART OF OUR HISTORY.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE FROM TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

Judy: THAT'S WHAT THE KETCHUP BOTTLE DOES FOR YOU.

IT GIVES YOU THAT TOTAL SENSE OF PLACE.

YOU'RE NOT AT ST.

LOUIS.

YOU'RE NOT AT THE ARCH.

YOU'RE RIGHT THERE IN GOOD OLD COLLINSVILLE.

Sebak: WELL, LOCAL PRIDE IN AN UNUSUAL STRUCTURE IS REINFORCED WHEN IT'S CONNECTED TO A LOCAL SPECIALTY.

AND IN IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS, YOU'LL WANT TO FIND THE CLAM BOX.

Alexis: IT MAKES YOU THINK OF THE FOOD, YOU KNOW.

YOU SEE A BIG HOT DOG, YOU'RE LIKE, "MMM, HOT DOG.

I WANT ONE."

SEE A BIG CLAM BOX, YOU'RE LIKE, "MMM, CLAMS."

WELL, IPSWICH IS FAMOUS FOR CLAMS.

I THINK THE CLAMS HERE ARE SPECIAL.

Sebak: OF COURSE SHE DOES.

THAT'S MARINA AGGELAKIS.

EVERYONE CALLS HER "CHICKIE."

NUMBER ONE, PLEASE.

NUMBER ONE.

AND SHE'S OWNED AND RUN THIS PLACE SINCE 1985.

IT'S ALWAYS BUSY HERE.

AND YOU'LL OFTEN FIND CHICKIE'S SON, DIMITRI, IN THE KITCHEN OF THIS BUILDING THAT'S IN THE SHAPE OF A SMALL CARDBOARD CONTAINER.

Dimitri: I THINK THAT ATTRACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY.

AND SINCE IT'S THE CLAM BOX, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SPECIALIZE IN -- CLAMS -- YEAH, YOU KNOW?

THE CLAM BOX.

IF YOU SAY, "THE CLAM BOX AT IPSWICH," YEAH, IN THEIR MIND, THEY VISUALIZE A CLAM BOX.

Amelia: HE SAID, "THE CLAM BOX," AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING.

AND I LOOKED UP AND GO, "OH, IT IS A CLAM BOX."

I GUESS IF YOU WERE TO PUT IT IN AN URBAN SETTING, IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE A CHINESE TAKEOUT.

Donna: IT'S JUST EYE-CATCHING.

IT'S JUST THE IMMEDIATE GRAB.

I THINK.

BUT YOU WALK UP TO IT, AND YOU'RE ALREADY SALIVATING BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT A CLAM BOX IS LIKE.

Rich: EVERY TIME WE PASS, WE HAVE TO SEE THIS PLACE, THIS CLAM BOX, AND IF YOU DON'T STOP, THEN HALF AN HOUR LATER, WE GOT TO STOP SOMEPLACE ELSE FOR CLAMS.

Butch: USUALLY, THERE'S A LINE AROUND THE BUILDING.

Chickie: THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF THE BUILDING DRAWS AN ATTRACTION.

BUT MY FEELING IS AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT THEY COME HERE BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD AND THE CLAMS.

Andy: WE HEARD IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO EAT, AND WE DECIDED TO STOP IN AND CHECK IT OUT.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING.

Dimitri: IT'S AMAZING.

YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM LONG DISTANCES BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE CLAM BOX, AND IT'S LIKE A BOX, YOU KNOW.

THE SHAPE OF THE BOX BRINGS YOU IN BECAUSE YOU SEE IT AS AN ATTRACTION, BUT THE FOOD HERE IS GREAT.

Young woman: NUMBER 87 PLEASE.

Chickie: IT ACTUALLY WAS BUILT IN 1935.

THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD CHANGED IT A LITTLE BIT AND ADDED THE DINING AREA AND THE BACK KITCHEN AREA.

Dimitri: TO MAKE A CLAM, I'M GONNA FIRST JUST MEASURE THE CLAMS OUT IN MY CUP HERE.

Chickie: AND WE DIP THEM IN EVAPORATED MILK.

Dimitri: I DUMP THE CLAMS IN THE EVAP.

AND THEN I DUMP THEM IN THE MIXTURE OF THE FLOUR.

Chickie: THE BLEND OF YELLOW CORN FLOUR AND PASTRY FLOUR.

THE PASTRY FLOUR IS ACTUALLY PUT INTO THE YELLOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE YELLOW FLOUR STICKS TO THE BELLY.

YOU JUST HAVE TO PLAY WITH YOUR FINGERS LIKE THIS.

YOU WANT TO PUT AS MUCH FLOUR ON THE CLAM AND TAKE AS MUCH OFF AFTER.

Chickie: 'CAUSE YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO EAT A CLAM AND NOT HAVE THE BELLY COVERED.

Dimitri: PUT A LOT OF FLOUR ON TOP OF THEM, SHAKE THEM OFF.

I'M GONNA THROW 'EM IN THIS FRYOLATER RIGHT HERE.

THEY ONLY STAY IN THIS FRYOLATER FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS TOPS.

THAT TAKES ALL THE EXCESS FLOUR OFF THE CLAM.

THEN HE PULLS IT OUT, AND HE COOKS IT IN THIS ONE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT CRISPY AND NICE.

Chickie: NOT ONLY IS THE QUALITY GOOD, BUT THE QUANTITY IS ALSO GOOD.

I WILL NEVER CHANGE THAT AS LONG AS I'M HERE AT THE CLAM BOX.

Sebak: IT'S IMPRESSIVE.

YOU KNOW, THE CLAM BOX IS NOT THAT OUTRAGEOUS A STRUCTURE.

IT'S REALLY JUST A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED ROOFLINE ON THAT ONE PART OF THE BUILDING, BUT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ENOUGH.

Young man: WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, YOU DON'T REALLY NOTICE IT.

BUT ONCE YOU START WORKING HERE, YOU'RE JUST KIND OF LIKE, "WOW.

THE PLACE I WORK IS IN THE SHAPE OF A BOX."

YEAH, I AM IN THE BOX.

[ LAUGHS ] Butch: IT'S KIND OF NEAT TO BE SITTING IN THE PLACE, YOU KNOW.

GIVES IT, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF CHARM.

Rich: NOW, THE SADDEST THING WOULD BE TO SEE THEM FRANCHISE IT INTO A BUNCH OF CLAM BOXES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT THEY DON'T.

THERE'S JUST ONE AND IT'S THIS ONE.

Pat: THERE'S A UNIQUENESS HERE WITH A BUILDING LIKE THIS OR ANY BUILDING THAT IS SHAPED IN A CERTAIN FASHION.

Chickie: I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I LOVE MY BUILDING.

Sebak: WELL, AFFECTION FOR A BUILDING IS OFTEN A KEY TO ITS HEALTH AND MAINTENANCE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN IT.

AND IF YOU'RE TRAVELING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, ALONG HIGHWAY 476, YOU MAY NOTICE THE UNUSUAL HOUSE WHERE MARIE STACY NOW LIVES.

Marie: IT'S A MOTHER GOOSE MARKET, AND THIS IS A MOTHER GOOSE HOUSE.

THAT'S IT.

Alice: THIS IS HAZARD, KENTUCKY, AND THIS IS NORTH MAIN STREET.

YOU COME IN ON MAIN AND ASK ANYBODY.

THEY CAN TELL YOU WHERE THE GOOSE IS.

Sebak: YOU'LL OFTEN FIND MARIE'S NIECE, ALICE MACINTOSH, HERE HELPING HER TAKE CARE OF THE PLACE.

LOTS OF PEOPLE STOP TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE GOOSE, EVEN LOCALS LIKE CHARLIE HAMMONDS, WHO'S SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR OF HAZARD.

Charlie: EVERYBODY GETS EXCITED WHEN THEY SEE THE GOOSE, BECAUSE IT IS SO UNUSUAL.

I LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND TAKE PICTURES.

NOBODY REALLY BOTHERS US, NO.

YEAH, THEY TAKE PICTURES ALL THE TIME.

Charlie: AND THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE AND OWN IT, THEY HAVE A GREAT ATTITUDE, AND THEY'RE VERY PROUD.

AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE GOOSE.

Sebak: IT WAS FINISHED IN 1940 AFTER YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK.

LIKE SO MANY OF THESE UNUSUALLY SHAPED BUILDINGS, IT WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF ONE DETERMINED INDIVIDUAL.

Marie: MY FATHER-IN-LAW, GEORGE D. STACY, HE OWNED IT AND HE BUILT IT.

HE WORKED ON THE RAILROAD FOR YEARS, THEN HE BUILT THE GOOSE.

I HAVE SOME PICTURES I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU OF THE GOOSE.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF GEORGE STACY, WHO DESIGNED, DREAMED UP THE GOOSE IDEA.

HE WANTED TO BUILD A GOOSE, AND HE BOUGHT HIM A BIG GOOSE.

AND THEY COOKED ALL OF THE MEAT OFF THE BONE AND TOOK IT TO THE BLUEPRINT OFFICE AND MADE THE BLUEPRINT OF THE GOOSE.

Charlie: THIS WAS JUST AN IDEA HE HAD, AND I SUPPOSE HE JUST WANTED TO SEE IF HE COULD DO IT, AND HE DID.

Alice: HE HAD AN IMAGINATION, A BIG IMAGINATION.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF HIS WIFE, OLLIE, WHO TALKED TO ME A LOT ABOUT THE GOOSE.

EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW GEORGE, SHE TOLD ME A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE GOOSE.

Sebak: ACTUALLY, BEFORE THE GOOSE WAS BUILT, GEORGE HAD STARTED TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS BY BUILDING AN UNUSUAL OVAL SERVICE STATION AND DAIRY BAR NEAR THE ROAD.

IT HAD THREE ROUNDED ROOFS THAT WERE CALLED "THE EGGS."

AND THIS PICTURE IS THE COMPLETED GOOSE WITH THE OVAL SERVICE STATION.

THIS IS THE GROCERY STORE THAT WAS BELOW THE GOOSE, AND THIS IS THE GOOSE WHERE GEORGE AND OLLIE LIVED.

Marie: MM-HMM.

THEY LIVED HERE.

YEP, RAISED HIS FAMILY HERE.

Sebak: ALICE OFFERED TO GIVE US A TOUR OF THE GOOSE.

COME ON IN.

I'LL BE GLAD TO SHOW YOU AROUND.

THIS IS OUR LIVING ROOM.

AND IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE CEILING, YOU'LL SEE WHERE IT'S SHAPED JUST LIKE AN EGG.

Sebak: IT IS OVAL, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT.

IN HERE WE HAVE A BEDROOM.

Sebak: ACTUALLY, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM.

AND IN HERE, WE HAVE ANOTHER BEDROOM.

Sebak: WE LEARNED THAT GEORGE STACY MAY HAVE AT FIRST EXPECTED THIS TO BE A RESTAURANT AND BAR.

WE HAVE A FULL-SIZED BATH.

Sebak: BUT GEORGE'S WIFE, OLLIE, DECIDED THEY'D LIVE HERE.

AND IN HERE IS OUR KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM WHERE WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME.

AND IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE CEILING, YOU'LL SEE IT'S SHAPED JUST LIKE THE LIVING ROOM, JUST LIKE THE OTHER HALF OF AN EGG.

Sebak: WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S ACCESS THROUGH ONE CLOSET DOOR TO THE BODY OF THE GOOSE.

Alice: THAT'S THE ATTIC.

IT'S SHAPED LIKE A -- TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE A BOAT THAT'S TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

[ LAUGHS ] THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

IT'S SO UNUSUAL.

I DON'T THINK THAT YOU COULD EVER STOP IT FROM LEAKING.

ARCHITECTS TEND TO RUN WHEN I ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME AND REROOF IT, SO... Marie: WELL, IT'S A HOME.

I LOVE IT, ALWAYS HAVE.

Charlie: YOU KNOW, IN THE BIBLE, THE MAN LIVED IN THE BELLY OF THE WHALE.

AND THIS LADY LIVES IN THE BELLY OF THE GOOSE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY BUILT A WHALE, DO YOU?

Sebak: WELL, ONE OF THE BEST BELLIES OF THAT SORT IS UP IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN IN THE TOWN OF HAYWARD, WHERE THERE'S AN UNFORGETTABLE FISH.

THAT'S A MUSKIE.

THAT'S A MUSKELLUNGE.

Sebak: AND THAT'S TED DZIALO, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRESHWATER FISHING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM HERE AT THE BIG MUSKIE.

Ted: AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S THE BIGGEST FIBERGLASS STRUCTURE BUILT ANYWHERE.

Mary: THE KIDS -- EVERY TIME WE DRIVE BY, THE KIDS WILL GO, "WE GOTTA SEE THE BIG FISH!"

WHEN I HAD HEARD ABOUT IT, IT WAS LIKE, "OVER A BLOCK LONG" IS HOW THEY PLUGGED IT.

Jay: WE JUST DECIDED TO COME HERE AND ACTUALLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS BIG FISH WAS HERE.

WE JUST CAME TO THE MUSEUM, AND IT WAS LIKE, "WHOO!"

George: THE BIG FISH IS OKAY.

IT'D SCARE THE HECK OUT OF ME IF I HOOKED ONE IN A BOAT.

Chris: HE'S BIG.

SOMEBODY HAD A WILD HAIR AT ONE POINT IN TIME TO BUILD A BIG MUSKIE.

THE BIG MUSKIE WAS PUT UP IN 1978 AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1979.

I LIKE IT.

IT'S KIND OF NEAT.

Ted: IT'S LIKE THE CASTLE IN DISNEYLAND.

THAT'S OUR SIGN OF FAME, THE BIG MUSKIE.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

George: OH, YEAH, IT'S PRETTY REALISTIC, LOOKS LIKE A TIGER MUSKIE.

BUT MUSKIES ARE KIND OF UGLY TO BEGIN WITH.

IT'S BUILT OUT OF 500 TONS OF CONCRETE, STEEL, AND FIBERGLASS.

THE SKIN ON THAT FISH IS ABOUT A INCH AND A QUARTER THICK.

THIS IS ALL I KNEW THAT WAS HERE.

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD A REAL MUSEUM GOING ALONG WITH IT AND ALL THESE OTHER FISH.

Chris: I COULD WALK AROUND ALL DAY LONG.

George: I STILL USE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THEY'VE GOT THAT THEY CALL ANTIQUES.

I LOVE TO LOOK AT THE ANTIQUE OUTBOARD MOTORS THERE.

THEY'RE REALLY FUN TO LOOK AT.

I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT SOMEBODY ACTUALLY BUILT A GIANT FISH OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

[ LAUGHS ] Cherrie: YOU CAN'T BE INSIDE OF A BELLY OF A FISH TOO OFTEN.

Sebak: WELL, TED SAID HE'D GIVE US A QUICK TOUR.

Ted: ENTERING THE BIG MUSKIE, THE FIRST THING WE SEE IS OUR JIM BEAM BOTTLE COLLECTION, OUR MEMORIAL TILES, OUR DONOR TILES, AND THE REPLICA OF HOW THE FISH WAS BUILT OVER THE YEARS.

AS WE REACH THE TOP, WE'LL BE LOOKING OVER LAKE HAYWARD AND THE GROUNDS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW FROM UP HERE.

Mary: WHAT DID YOU GUYS SAY WHEN WE GOT TO THE TOP?

"COOL!

LOOK AT THE TEETH!"

Ted: WHAT DO I SAY?

WE HAVE A WOMAN THAT BRUSHES THE TEETH ON THIS MUSKIE TWICE A WEEK.

KEEP 'EM CLEAN.

Sebak: ARE YOU SERIOUS?

NO.

[ LAUGHS ] IT'S A LITTLE STINKY WHEN YOU GET IN THE MOUTH, THOUGH.

IT SMELLS A LITTLE BIT LIKE FIBERGLASS.

Ted: AND YOU CAN SEE, AS DONATIONS CAME IN FOR THE VARIOUS FISH -- WE'VE GOT EIGHT FISH ON THE GROUNDS UP THERE.

THEY'RE ALL BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED GROUNDS.

SO, IT'S AN ENJOYABLE PLACE TO VISIT.

IT TAKES US OUT OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE INTO THE WORLD OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO INTO A BIG BUILDING ANYWHERE, BUT WHERE CAN YOU GO INTO A BIG FISH?

Sebak: WELL, DIFFERENT PLACES HAVE DIFFERENT BIG THINGS.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH KISSIMMEE, YOU MAY COME UPON THE BIG ORANGE.

YOU'RE ABOUT 2 1/2 MILES EAST OF THE ENTRANCE OF DISNEY, OFF OF 192.

Sebak: THAT'S ELI SFASSIE FROM GARY, INDIANA.

HE CAME DOWN TO THIS PART OF FLORIDA WHEN THERE WERE STILL ORANGE GROVES EVERYWHERE.

TURN AROUND AND LOOK ACROSS THE STREET.

THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE -- NOTHING, JUST TREES.

WHEN DISNEY CAME HERE IN 1971, I CAME OVER HERE.

AND EVER SINCE THEY BEEN HERE, I GRAB AHOLD OF THEIR SHIRTTAIL, AND THEY PULL ME ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

Joe: I SAW THIS BIG OLD GREAT ORANGE, AND I WAS DOWN IN FLORIDA, SO YOU HAVE TO STOP AND GET SOME ORANGES.

Sr.

Francesca: AND THAT'S WHY WE CAME HERE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BUY ORANGES.

I WANTED TO SEND ORANGES BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT I LEFT BEHIND.

Eli: I BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY.

IT HAD AN ORANGE BUILDING ON IT, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE THE DOME.

SO, WE'RE SITTING IN THE RESTAURANT THERE ONE DAY, AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS COME BY.

AND I'M TELLING HIM, "WE OUGHT TO PUT A DOME ON THAT THING AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE AN ORANGE."

AND THE GUY SAID, "WELL, I CAN DO THAT."

COME TO FIND OUT HE'S IN THE FIBERGLASS BUSINESS, BUT THE ONLY THING HE WAS MAKING IN THE FIBERGLASS WAS OUTHOUSES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Sebak: BUILDING ORANGE WORLD WASN'T EASY.

LOTS OF THINGS WENT WRONG.

THEY CALLED IT ELI'S FOLLY.

BUT IN THE MID-80s, SIX IRONWORKERS FROM MICHIGAN FINISHED THE BIG ORANGE.

Eli: THERE IT IS.

AND IT PROBABLY TRIPLED OUR BUSINESS WITHIN TWO MONTHS.

Nathan: NOW THEY CONSIDER IT AS A LANDMARK.

IT ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE TO SEE PEOPLE THAT THEY COME HERE TO MEET AND KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

John: THIS KIND OF PLACE MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE.

LIKE IF THEY HAVE FRESH-SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE FOR YOU.

IT DEFINITELY GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

Nathan: AS THEY PASS BY, YOU SEE THIS PLACE AND LIKE, "OH, MY GOD!

A BIG OLD ORANGE!"

Tina: THEY THINK IT'S ALL FRUIT.

SO THEY GET A BIG SURPRISE WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THE DOOR.

Eli: IF IT WAS JUST A PLAIN GIFT SHOP, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.

Karen: THEY THINK WE SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING THAT HAS AN ORANGE ON IT.

THEY WANT ORANGE KEY CHAINS, THEY WANT ORANGE CUPS, THEY WANT ORANGE SHIRTS.

Eli: IF YOU'RE COMING TO FLORIDA AND SAY, "LET'S GO TO DISNEY, DAD," YOU'RE GONNA GO.

IF THEY SAY, "WELL, LET'S GO AND GET AN ORANGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT," AND THEY'LL COME.

PEOPLE THAT STOP HERE, YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE.

YOU SEE THIS PLACE, YOU GOT TO GET A PICTURE.

Eli: THAT'S A PRETTY THING TO COMPARE -- THE LITTLE ORANGE AND COMPARE DISNEY, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP AND GRAB ME -- "GET THE FRUITY MAN OVER HERE, TAKE A PICTURE WITH HIM, TOO."

SO I TAKE PART IN A LOT OF PICTURES MYSELF.

Eli: IT'S UNUSUAL.

SEE, IT'S JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AT NIGHT, IT'S LIT UP.

WE HAVE NEON ON IT.

WE'VE HAD MOVIES TAKEN OF IT.

MERYL STREEP.

DIANE KEATON, YOU KNOW.

WE DON'T CARE WHETHER PEOPLE KNOW IT'S FAMOUS OR NOT.

I JUST LIKE IT BECAUSE I OWN IT.

Sebak: WELL, OWNERSHIP CAN BE IMPORTANT, BUT A ZANY IDEA SEEMS TO BE THE KEY TO SUCCESS.

IT'S NOT FAR FROM ORANGE WORLD TO ORLANDO.

Jackie: THIS IS INTERNATIONAL DRIVE THAT WE ARE ON.

AND IT'S A PRETTY HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA, LOTS OF TOURISTS AND FAMILIES COME OUT TO THIS AREA.

Sebak: IT'S CALLED WonderWorks.

AND JACKIE VASQUEZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING FOR THE COMPANY THAT CREATED THIS AMAZING BUILDING IN THE SHAPE OF AN UPSIDE-DOWN BUILDING.

Jackie: ONE OF OUR OWNERS CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT, MR.

BARRY FRANK.

AND HE HAD THIS IDEA, AND IT WAS CERTAINLY A GREAT ONE AT THAT.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID, "HOW DID YOU THINK OF THAT?"

ONE DAY IT JUST HIT -- UPSIDE-DOWN, ON AN ANGLE.

IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST THING ON I-DRIVE.

Maya: I THINK IT DOES WORK.

IT MAKES PEOPLE TAKE NOTICE AND WANT TO COME INSIDE.

AND ONCE THEY HEAR ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE INSIDE, THEY USUALLY WANT TO COME IN.

Sebak: MAYA BLOUNT WORKS IN THE LOBBY, TELLING PEOPLE THE STORY ABOUT HOW WonderWorks HAPPENED.

Barry: WE HAD TO FIGURE A WAY OF HOW IT GOT HERE.

Maya: WE USUALLY TELL THEM THAT IT WAS A SCIENCE-RESEARCH LAB.

Barry: IT WAS A SCIENCE LAB IN THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE.

Jackie: A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS WERE WORKING TO HARNESS THE POWER OF A MAN-MADE TORNADO.

Barry: THEY HAD A PROBLEM, AND IT ENDED UP ON I-DRIVE ON TOP OF A CITRUS WAREHOUSE.

Jackie: IT WAS A PEPSI WAREHOUSE.

THE BUILDING WAS A BIG HEADACHE.

IT WENT WAY OVER BUDGET.

Jackie: IN THE REAL WORLD, IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

Barry: IT WAS A LOT OF NIGHTMARES AND A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT.

AND IF YOU GO BACK FAR ENOUGH AND TURN IT RIGHT SIDE UP, IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY FAMOUS BUILDING IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Jackie: WHEN YOU FIRST ENTER, THE LOBBY AREA IS UPSIDE DOWN, KEEPING WITH THAT.

AND THEN YOU GO THROUGH AN INVERSION TUNNEL THAT WILL TURN YOU RIGHT SIDE UP SO YOU CAN NOW EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING.

Maya: OH, THERE'S VIRTUAL ROLLER COASTERS, THERE'S SIMULATORS FOR HURRICANES, EARTHQUAKES.

Barry: IT'S AN INTERACTIVE, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH A HUNDRED DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES INSIDE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING TO DO BESIDES GOING TO THE BIG PARKS.

Maya: IT STILL AMAZES ME -- THE ARCHITECTURE OF IT.

Barry: IT'S MADE OF STEEL AND BRICK AND CONCRETE.

Jackie: MY FAVORITE PART IS THE MAILBOX HANGING FROM THE TOP.

Barry: I REALLY LIKE THE TREES HANGING UPSIDE DOWN.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, SO IT WAS KIND OF COOL.

Barry: PEOPLE, THEY'LL STOP... PEOPLE JUMPING OUT OF THEIR CARS TO GET A GOOD PICTURE.

IF I COULD GET A DOLLAR FOR EVERY PICTURE, WE'D LET EVERYBODY IN FREE.

Maya: IT'S UNIQUE.

Barry: WELL, IT'S A WOW, AND WE'RE IN THE WOW BUSINESS.

Sebak: WELL, ALL THESE UNUSUAL BUILDINGS ARE SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THE WOW BUSINESS.

AND IF YOUR BUILDING ISN'T IN AN UNUSUAL SHAPE, YOU CAN DECORATE IT UNTIL IT'S A WOW.

THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS DO IN MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA, AT THE CORN PALACE.

Brenda: IT BRINGS A LOT OF TOURISTS.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU SEE CORN STAPLED ON A BUILDING.

Troy: WE ARE THE WORLD'S ONLY CORN PALACE.

NOBODY ELSE CAN SAY THEY HAVE A CORN PALACE.

IF THAT BUILDING WASN'T THERE, WHY WOULD PEOPLE STOP HERE?

Dean: YOU GET EVERYTHING FROM HOW UNUSUAL IT IS, HOW UNIQUE IT IS, HOW INTERESTING IT IS, AS TO "WHY?"

Brenda: THE REASON FOR THE CORN PALACE TO BEGIN WITH AND THE REASON THAT SOMEBODY HAD THE IDEA TO PUT ALL THE GRAINS UP THERE IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO HOMESTEAD HERE.

Dean: THE DEVELOPERS THAT WERE HERE THOUGHT THAT IF THEY COULD DESIGN A BUILDING, DECORATE IT IN GRAINS, THAT PEOPLE WOULD REALIZE THIS WASN'T JUST A BIG VAST WASTELAND OUT HERE, THAT INDEED CROPS COULD BE GROWN.

Brenda: AND WE DO DIFFERENT MURALS ON IT, WHICH ALWAYS MAKES IT INTERESTING.

EVERY YEAR WE CHANGE THE THEME.

Sebak: THE DESIGNS FOR 2003-2004 WERE CREATED BY A LOCAL ARTIST AND TEACHER CHERIE RAMSDELL.

Cherie: THESE ARE JUST QUICK SKETCHES AND IDEAS IN ACTUALLY THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE GONNA GO ON THE CORN PALACE.

Mike: SHE DRAWS OUT THE PICTURES AND BLOWS THEM UP.

WE STAPLE THEM TO THE WALL, CUT THEM OUT, AND JUST KIND OF FOLLOW HER, WHAT YOU'D CALL, A BLUEPRINT OR PAINT BY NUMBERS.

Sebak: WELL, THE "PAINT" IS EXTREMELY RARE CORN IN VARIOUS COLORS, NOW GROWN EXCLUSIVELY BY DEAN STRAND ON HIS FARM NEARBY.

THERE'S ONE THAT'S KIND OF A SMALL EAR, BUT IT'S ONE THAT COULD BE -- COULD BE CORN PALACE QUALITY AND -- NO, THERE'S A WHITE KERNEL.

Brenda: HE MAKES SURE THAT HE GETS THE RIGHT COLORS GROWING IN THE RIGHT FIELD, FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM EACH OTHER SO THEY DON'T POLLINATE AND MAKE A FUNNY-COLORED CORN.

THERE'S ONE LOOKS A LITTLE BETTER, YEAH, YEAH.

THERE.

THAT'S CORN PALACE QUALITY.

YOU LOOK AT THE ROWS, THEY'RE ALL NICE AND STRAIGHT.

PLUS EVERY KERNEL IS THE SAME COLOR.

CUT THEM IN HALF FIRST IN THE SAW, THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE CUT THE ENDS OFF SO THEY'RE SQUARE ON THE ENDS WITH A HATCHET.

THAT WAY, THEY'LL BUTT UP TIGHT LIKE THIS.

Sebak: THE TOWN HOLDS A BIG CORN PALACE FESTIVAL EVERY AUGUST WHEN PART OF THE EXCITEMENT IS WATCHING THE MURALS GOING UP.

Cherie: IT IS VERY EXCITING.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE, ESPECIALLY THE ONE OF THE KEELBOAT ON THE END, 'CAUSE IT HAS THE AMERICAN FLAG IN THE BACKGROUND.

Mike: A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK WHY WE CHANGE IT EVERY YEAR.

IT'S TO KEEP THAT FRESH LOOK.

AND IF YOU GET A REAL, REAL BAD WINTER, THE BIRDS WILL EAT HALF OF IT, MAYBE.

Brenda: EVERYBODY REFERS TO IT AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST BIRD FEEDER.

AND I TEND NOT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S THERE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WERE CELEBRATING THE HARVEST.

Troy: I MEAN, IT'S A SERIOUS THING FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FUN WITH IT.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH A BUILDING YOU COVER IN CORN EVERY YEAR?

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WAY TOO SERIOUSLY.

Dean: IT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE TO BEING AN AMERICAN ONE-OF-A-KIND THING OF ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD.

Sebak: THE WORLD IS LUCKY THAT FOLKS WILL WORK TO KEEP BIZARRE BUILDINGS IN SHAPE.

NEAR NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, THERE'S A STRUCTURE IN THE SHAPE OF A MAMMY, AN OUTDATED AFRICAN-AMERICAN CARICATURE.

DORIS KEMP AND HER FAMILY RUN A RESTAURANT HERE.

Doris: THE BUILDING'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1940, DESIGNED FOR JUST WHAT IT DOES -- TO ATTRACT THE TRAVELER TO STOP, LOOK, AND BUY, AND LEAVE THEIR MONEY.

IT WAS BUILT BY HENRY GAUDE IN 1940 OR 1941 FOR HIS WIFE.

Linda: WHEN MY MOTHER ORIGINALLY OPENED IN THE BUILDING, SHE WAS GONNA BE A GIFT SHOP AND DESSERT.

EVERYONE WOULD COME IN AND SAY, "WELL, WHY DON'T YOU SERVE SOMETHING FOR LUNCH?"

Martin: PEOPLE CAME IN AND SAID, "CAN YOU MAKE ME A SANDWICH?"

Doris: SO I REALIZED THAT IF I WANTED TO STAY HERE, WE HAD TO HAVE FOOD.

AND THAT'S HOW IT BECAME A RESTAURANT.

Laurie: IT'S WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT AT YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S KITCHEN, ACTUALLY.

IF YOU GO TO MAMAW'S HOUSE, THERE'S GOOD, DELICIOUS DESSERTS AND THE HOMEMADE FOOD.

Shirley: WE EAT HERE ALL THE TIME.

WE LOVE DORIS TO DEATH.

WE THINK SHE'S THE SWEETEST PERSON.

Jerry: IT'S BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANTS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

Martin: IT STARTED OFF AS A SHELL FILLING STATION.

Linda: AND THEY BUILT IT TO COINCIDE WITH THE PILGRIMAGE THAT'S HERE IN NATCHEZ.

Sebak: THE PILGRIMAGE IS A POPULAR SPRINGTIME TOUR OF OLD HOMES AND PLANTATIONS NEAR HERE.

Lisa: WE COME HERE EVERY TIME WE COME TO THE PILGRIMAGE.

AND WE'VE BEEN HERE THREE DAYS, AND THIS IS OUR THIRD DAY TO EAT HERE.

Jerry: AND SHE HAS FANTASTIC DESSERTS THAT YOU'D DRIVE 100 MILES FOR.

WITH MAMMY SITTING ON TOP, IT'S DIFFERENT.

Jerry: IT'S SO INCORRECT POLITICALLY, BUT I GUESS BACK IN THE '30s AND '40s, YOU COULD DO THAT.

BUT IT SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTED NOW.

THERE COULD STILL BE SOME RESENTMENT, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY.

Jerry: BECAUSE IT'S HISTORIC.

Doris: PART OF OUR HISTORY, AND WE'RE FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE.

Jerry: IF SHE HAD THE SAME RESTAURANT IN A LITTLE, FLAT BUILDING, SHE WOULDN'T GET THE BUSINESS.

Doris: IT'S PART OF NATCHEZ, PART OF MISSISSIPPI, AND PART OF THE WORLD NOW, SO... Sebak: SO, YOU CAN WONDER WHAT THE MAMMY MIGHT SAY IF SHE COULD TALK.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING WITH ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS, NO ONE IS MORE EXPERIENCED THAN ZIPPY THE PINHEAD, THE UNCONVENTIONAL AND UNPREDICTABLE COMIC-STRIP CHARACTER WHO OFTEN TALKS WITH A GIANT DACHSHUND HEAD THAT WAS ONCE A SIGN FOR THE DOGGIE DINER RESTAURANTS AROUND SAN FRANCISCO.

WE DECIDED TO TRY TO TALK WITH ZIPPY'S CREATOR, BILL GRIFFITH, WHO LEFT THE BAY AREA FOR CONNECTICUT IN THE LATE '90s.

Bill: WHEN I MOVED, I SUDDENLY BECAME HYPERAWARE OF WHERE I WAS.

AND I STARTED TO NOTICE MUFFLER MEN IN THE AREA AND GIANT BOWLING PINS AND GIANT HOT DOGS AND DINERS.

AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, "IF ZIPPY CAN TALK TO THE DOGGIE DINER DOGGIE HEAD, WHY CAN'T HE TALK TO THESE GUYS" -- THESE BUILDINGS IN SOME CASES.

OR WHY CAN'T THEY TALK TO HIM?

AND THEY CAN PICK UP ON IT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THE STRIP FOR 18 YEARS AS A DAILY, 33 YEARS SINCE I STARTED IT.

WHEN ZIPPY CONFRONTS A NEW ROADSIDE ATTRACTION EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I'VE BREATHED MORE LIFE INTO THE STRIP.

UNEXPECTED THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE REALLY THRILLED ABOUT ZIPPY MAKING THIS LEAP ONTO THE ROADSIDE BECAUSE HE HAD ESCAPED INTO REALITY.

REALITY TO US IS MUNDANE, AND YOU DON'T NOTICE IT.

MOST PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO DON'T NOTICE ROADSIDE STUFF, IT GOES RIGHT BY.

ZIPPY NOTICES EVERYTHING, BECAUSE TO ZIPPY, HE'S ENTERED A NEW WORLD, AND HE'S GONE OUT INTO WHAT, TO HIM, IS A FANTASY WORLD, BUT ACTUALLY IS REAL, IT'S A REAL WORLD.

Sebak: SO BILL AND ZIPPY HELP READERS APPRECIATE SOME OF THE SURPRISES OF ROADSIDE REALITY.

Bill: I JUST LOVE TO DRAW.

AND THE MORE SPECIFIC I CAN MAKE IT, THE MORE INTERESTING IT IS FOR ME.

I GET ENOUGH -- I GET LOADS OF PEOPLE SAYING, "DON'T STOP."

SO I'M NOT GONNA STOP.

I HAVEN'T FINISHED WITH IT YET.

Sebak: WE'RE NOT FINISHED EITHER.

ONE MORE STOP AT ONE OF ZIPPY'S FAVORITES -- IN NEW YORK, ON LONG ISLAND, THE BIG DUCK.

Anthony: I USED TO PASS BY THIS BIG DUCK EVERY DAY DRIVING TO WORK.

WE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM FLORIDA TO SEE THE BIG DUCK.

THAT'S RIGHT.

MY WIFE AND I WERE GOING BY -- ACTUALLY WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE, AND IT DIDN'T SHOW UP, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THE BIG DUCK.

Sebak: INSIDE THE DUCK, THE FRIENDS FOR LONG ISLAND'S HERITAGE RUN A COOL LITTLE GIFT SHOP AND THERE'S A MERRY MUSEUM OF SORTS THAT THIS WOMAN HAS PUT TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.

Babs: WELL, I'M BABS BIXBY.

I'M CALLED THE DUCK LADY OR ANYTHING FROM THAT TO THE CURATOR OF THE BIG DUCK, A NATIONAL HISTORIC PLACE.

Sebak: THE DUCK WAS BUILT IN 1931, MODELED AFTER A PEKING DUCK.

Babs: THE DUCK HAS NEVER BEEN NAMED.

IT'S JUST BIG DUCK OR THE BIG DUCK.

Anthony: WELL, ACTUALLY, I JUST LIKE THE ARCHITECTURE OF IT.

I THINK IT'S A NEAT, LITTLE BUILDING.

IT USED TO BE FURTHER UP THE ROAD IN FLANDERS ITSELF.

Babs: THE FLANDERS DUCK, THE RIVERHEAD DUCK, DEPENDING ON WHERE IT IS.

IT STARTED OUT IN RIVERHEAD.

IT WAS THE BIG WHITE DUCK OF RIVERHEAD.

AND THEN THE FLANDERS DUCK.

MOST PEOPLE JUST KNOW IT AS THE BIG DUCK.

Alice: OUR PARENTS USED TO TAKE US WHEN WE WERE KIDS, AND WE USED TO BUY STUFF, AND IT WAS SO EXCITING BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG DUCK!

IT WAS A DUCK AND IT WAS HUGE.

Anthony: AND IT ACTUALLY WAS AN EGG STORE AT ONE TIME, AND I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS AN EGG STORE, SO I'M DATING MYSELF A LITTLE BIT.

Joe: THEY USED TO SELL DUCK EGGS OUT HERE, AND LONG ISLAND WAS FAMOUS FOR ITS DUCKS.

MAKES ME THINK OF THE GENIUS WHO MUST HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

IF YOU HAD TO USE THIS AS AN EGG STORE, THIS IS PERFECT.

Babs: THIS WAS BUILT BY AN ORDINARY FELLOW, A DUCK FARMER BY THE NAME OF MARTIN MAURER.

Sebak: IN THE 1920s, HE WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Babs: AND WHEN HE GOT TO CALIFORNIA, HE SAW THESE ODD BUILDINGS, LIKE THE TAIL O' THE PUP, THE BROWN DERBY.

AND HE JUST SAID, "OH, THAT'S IT.

I'M GONNA DRIVE BACK TO NEW YORK AND BUILD A DUCK."

AND SO HE BUILT A WHOLE DUCK.

Sebak: THE DUCK WAS MOVED IN THE LATE 1930s.

IT CHANGED OWNERS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE LAST OWNER DONATED IT TO THE PEOPLE OF LONG ISLAND IN THE LATE 1980s.

THAT'S WHEN IT WAS MOVED HERE.

Babs: YOU JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

YOU JUST EXPERIENCE IT.

IT'S A DUCK.

IT HAS TO DO WITH LIKE, JUST A GOOD -- IT'S A GOOD, HAPPY FEELING.

THERE'S NO RATIONAL THING ABOUT IT, REALLY.

Joe: I'M SURE PEOPLE CAME BY THE BIG DUCK WHEN GRANDPA WAS HERE.

AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAYING -- AND NOW THEY'RE SHOWING THEIR CHILDREN THAT.

IT PRESENTS KIND OF A HISTORICAL CONTINUUM.

Anthony: I MEAN, IT'S JUST GREAT.

I LIKE COMING AT CHRISTMASTIME, TOO.

THEY PUT A WREATH AROUND HIS NECK, AND IT'S REALLY GREAT.

Babs: I'M ALWAYS TAKING PICTURES AND LOOKING AT THE DUCK, AND I'VE BEEN KEEPING THE FLAG ON THE DUCK ALL SEASON.

'CAUSE THE DUCK REALLY REPRESENTS AMERICANA AT ITS BEST AND MOST WHIMSICAL.

AND PEOPLE LOVE WHIMSY, YEAH.

Sebak: YEAH, I THINK WE DO.

WE LOVE THESE UNUSUAL BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY REMIND US OF OUR OWN GOOFY POTENTIAL.

Jim: I NEVER GET TIRED OF THIS STUFF.

AND PART OF IT IS THE FACT THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL STUFF THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN OUT THERE.

Randy: I THINK YOU'RE CRAZY IF YOU DON'T LOVE THESE.

I MEAN, WE SHOULD APPRECIATE THESE THINGS MORE.

Rich: IT'S GETTING OUT IN YOUR CAR, IT'S GOING SOMEPLACE.

IT'S THE WILD WEST.

IT'S EXPLORING.

Pat: I MEAN, YEAH, THERE'S AN APPEAL THERE THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO PARTICIPATE, MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO GO.

Bill: ALWAYS GLAD THEY'RE THERE.

ALWAYS WORRIED I'LL MAKE THE TURN, AND THEY'LL BE GONE.

Sebak: THESE BUILDINGS ARE WACKY, IMPORTANT, AND WORTH SEEKING OUT.

SOMEHOW THEY HAVE THE POWER TO GRAB OUR ATTENTION, TO INTRIGUE US, AND TO LIFT OUR SPIRITS.

Eric: AND TO SEE SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, TO SEE SOMETHING INTERESTING, IT MAKES YOU SMILE, MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD, MAKES YOU WONDER, MAKES YOU DREAM AGAIN.

"A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF" IS AVAILABLE ON VIDEOCASSETTE OR DVD.

TO ORDER, CALL PBS HOME VIDEO AT 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

I GOT ALL EXCITED, SO I HAVE TO GO SEE THE BIG CHICKEN.

YOU USED TO SEE THINGS LIKE THE LEANING TOWER OF PIZZAS.

DO YOU WANT TO ASK ME ABOUT THE GOOFY BUILDING?

WE'RE ALL GOOFY.

Matt: I THOUGHT FISHERMEN JUST LIKED TO DRINK.

THERE MIGHT BE A GIANT TOOTH LOOMING AROUND THE NEXT CORNER.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

LIKE A HAPPY VISION.

George: BEFORE WE GOT CIVILIZED, WE PROBABLY USED TO RUN LIKE HECK FROM THINGS LIKE THAT.

OH, YEAH, THEY'RE GOOD TO EAT.

THE ONE THING I THINK I AM IS A HUMAN ROAD MAP.

CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH, YOU KNOW.

Ruth: I'M JUST TOO OLD FOR THAT.

Scotty: LET ME ASK YOU A SERIOUS QUESTION.

DON'T YOU HAVE ANY BETTER QUESTIONS TO ASK?

Dennis: IF THEY ASK YOU, ONLY SAY NICE THINGS.

OF COURSE.

YOU WILL EDIT THAT PART, RIGHT?

[ LAUGHS ] FIRSTLY, IT ALL HAS TO PERCOLATE IN MY LITTLE HEAD FOR A WHILE, I THINK.

I'M HAPPY.

"A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF" WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com WE ARE PBS.