>> male announcer: PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.

>> man: ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ♪ ♪ ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, ♪ ♪ AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT ♪ ♪ THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT ♪ ♪ THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT.

♪ ♪ THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART ♪ ♪ IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING, ♪ ♪ SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE GOT THE MAP, ♪ SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ♪ ♪ ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, ♪ ♪ IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT.

♪ ♪ THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART ♪ ♪ IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT.

♪ ♪ THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD ♪ ♪ IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD ♪ ♪ IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ >> Mike: [breathing deeply] OH, OOH, GRASSHOPPER, GRASSHOPPER.

>> Don: DEAR TV MAILBAG, IS THIS ONE OF THOSE ZEN MOMENTS?

HI, DON THE CAMERA GUY HERE, AND I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I'M ITCHIN' TO GET OUT OF BEARDSTOWN, WHERE WE'VE SPENT THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF BURGOO, OR AT LEAST CLOSE PROXIMITY TO IT, SINCE ARENZVILLE, THE BURGOO CAPITAL, IS JUST EIGHT MILES DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Mike: IT'S THAT MEAL ON A STICK THAT YOU EAT OUT OF A BOWL.

>> Don: EVEN IF THEY AREN'T SURE WHAT IT IS, THESE TV WEASELS CAN'T RESIST GETTING SOMETHING FOR FREE.

>> Randy: WE'RE JUST SIMULATING ACTUAL BURGOO CONDITIONS.

>> Mike: BECAUSE TODAY'S NOT THE ACTUAL BURGOO FESTIVAL.

THAT COMES IN THE FALL.

>> Randy: SO WE'RE JUST BURGOOFING AROUND.

>> Mike: I SMELL BURGOO.

>> Randy: TELL US, WHAT IS BURGOO?

>> IT'S A SOUP.

IT USED TO BE--LOOK DOWN THE STREETS OF ARENZVILLE.

DID YOU SEE ANY CATS, DOGS, ANYTHING?

>> Randy: NO.

>> WE ARE CLEAN.

LEGALLY, LEGALLY, IT'S CHICKEN AND BEEF.

THEY COOK IT FOR 12 HOURS, 1,800 GALLONS OF THE STUFF.

AFTER YOU MULCH IT TOGETHER FOR 12 HOURS, IT'S COMPLETELY UNIDENTIFIABLE.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE LEGISLATION.

NO.

>> Mike: WELL, I GUESS THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

>> NO.

>> Mike: OR THERE'S NO TIME LIKE TOMORROW.

>> Randy: THERE'S TENDRILS OR SOMETHING THERE.

OKAY.

>> THAT'S THE BEST TIME TO EAT BURGOO, WHEN YOU'RE STARVING.

>> Randy: TASTES PRETTY GOOD, BUT IT'S KIND OF GELATINOUS, ISN'T IT?

>> Mike: IT HAS A LOVELY FLAVOR.

>> IT IS.

IT IS.

>> Randy: IT'S MULCH.

>> MULCH.

THERE ARE ABOUT 150 COMMUNITIES WHO SERVE BURGOO, BUT THIS IS THE BURGOO CAPITAL.

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE WE CALL OURSELVES THE BURGOO CAPITAL.

>> Randy: BECAUSE YOU DID A SURVEY.

>> YES, WE DID.

>> Don: EVERY FALL, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOCK HERE TO EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY.

AND I SUPPOSE BY THEN, I MIGHT HAVE FOUND MYSELF SOMETHING WITHOUT MEAT TO EAT, THOUGH HERE IN THE FARMLANDS OF ILLINOIS, THAT'S MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

SO I SUPPOSE WHILE RANDY PUTS PEDAL TO THE METAL, I'LL JUST SIT BACK AND PONDER OUR EVENTUAL DESTINATION, THE PLACE OF MY BIRTH AND THE WOMB FROM WHICH OUR NEW, SUPPOSEDLY GRAND VEHICLE HAS SPRUNG.

I'M TALKING, OF COURSE, ABOUT THE MOTOR CITY, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAN WE GO TO MY LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD?

>> Mike: CAN YOU GET US THERE?

>> Don: WHERE I FIRST PLAYED CATCH.

CAN WE GO, DAD?

CAN WE GO, CAN WE GO, CAN WE GO?

AND AFTER WE PLAY CATCH, WILL YOU BUY ME SOME OF THAT LICORICE IN A STRING FROM THE SHACK?

YOU WANT ME TO LIGHT THAT?

>> Mike: YEAH, LIGHT THAT, WILL YOU?

OH, YEAH.

>> Don: HOW'S THAT?

>> Mike: HEY, ARE THOSE CAPE COD CHIPS?

>> Don: NOW, AFTER A WHILE, OUR RURAL ROUTE DID GIVE WAY TO A BIT OF CITY DRIVING, AND THAT BIT OF A CITY WOULD BE PEORIA, DAZZLING US RIGHT OFF THE BAT WITH THIS PONDEROSA-SIZED WORM RANCH.

>> Randy: LOOK, AND IT GOES ON FOREVER.

>> Don: FOLLOWED JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY BY THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE INVENTORY BECOMES INSULATION.

BEST OF ALL, THEY'RE JUST A HOP, SKIP, AND JUMP AWAY FROM A TRUE TRAVELERS' LANDMARK, THIS GIANTESS IN FIBERGLASS WITH A 'DO BORROWED FROM JACKIE O.

AND A WARDROBE FROM MIKE'S IMAGINATION.

>> Randy: HERE, I'LL JUST CIRCLE UNDERNEATH HER STATELY BREASTS.

>> Don: WE CIRCLED SEVERAL TIMES TO VERIFY OUR DATA, THEN SPUN BACK OFF TO THE FERTILE FIELDS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS, TAKING A PAUSE TO ATTEND TO OUR OWN VEHICULAR NEEDS.

>> Mike: SHALL WE CHECK THE FLUIDS?

THIS WOULD BE A FIRST, WOULDN'T IT?

WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

>> Randy: AH.

>> Mike: WE'VE NEVER CHECKED THE FLUIDS.

>> Randy: YOU GO AHEAD.

YOU GO AHEAD.

>> Mike: NO, NO, NO, NO, I THINK--WHY START A BAD HABIT NOW?

>> Randy: I'M GOING TO RELEASE A FEW.

>> Don: NOT THAT THEY TELL ME MUCH, BUT SOMEHOW I'VE GLEANED WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE PRAIRIE MAST, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

>> Mike: DON, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A BIG PRAIRIE MAST, GREAT BIG PRAIRIE MAST.

DO YOU SEE IT?

>> Randy: WELL, I SEE SOMETHING STICKING UP.

>> Mike: OH, I SEE IT TOO.

WOW.

>> Randy: WELL?

NO ONE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> Mike: I KIND OF LIKE IT.

I KIND OF LIKE IT.

I DROVE THIS FAR.

>> Don: THIS BEING A SHOW ABOUT CREATIVITY IN PLACES WHERE YOU'D LEAST EXPECT TO FIND IT, WE WERE GLAD TO FIND THE PRAIRIE MAST, BUT NOT GLAD ENOUGH TO STICK AROUND IN THIS WIND.

>> Mike: IT STANDS ERECT ON THE PRAIRIE.

>> Don: SO NOW CAROL, THE NICE LADY WHO MAKES OUR MAPS, IS GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW WE BLEW OUT OF ILLINOIS, RIGHT PAST INDIANA, INTO MICHIGAN.

ALL WAS CALM AND SERENE UNTIL AN IMPROMPTU TURN TOWARDS GRAND JUNCTION GOT SOMEONE'S KNICKERS IN A TWIST.

>> Mike: I DON'T WANT TO GO SEE THIS BIG, STUPID CHAIR.

>> Randy: WHY?

>> Mike: I'M SERIOUS.

THIS IS BENEATH US.

[both laughing] >> Don: THERE'S A LOT OF THE TV VIEWERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET THE CHAIR.

TURNS OUT THE WORLD'S LARGEST WICKER CHAIR IS INDEED A SIGHT TO BEHOLD, SITTING RIGHT THERE ON MAIN STREET IN GRAND JUNCTION.

>> Mike: THAT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF COOL.

>> Don: JUST ACROSS THE WAY FROM THE MOST BAFFLING SIGN I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE.

NEEDING NEITHER, WE WISELY OPTED TO JUMP BACK IN THE VAN, JUST IN TIME TO SNAP THIS PICTURE-POSTCARD MOMENT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

DETROIT, I'M COMING HOME.

[cow moos] [clattering diner sounds] >> Randy: OH, MAN.

LAST ONE, ABSOLUTELY THE LAST QUARTER.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE IT.

WE GOTTA GO.

[bed vibrating] OH, MAGIC FINGERS-- CAN'T RESIST IT.

EVERY TIME.

EVERY NIGHT.

EVERY MORNING.

>> Don: SURE, IT'S A STAR, BUT SOMETIMES THAT BIG BALL OF TAPE IS HARDLY WORTH THE TROUBLE.

>> Randy: TELL ME ABOUT IT.

TELL HIM ABOUT IT.

>> Don: ANYWAY, THIS WOULD BE GRAND HAVEN, KNOWN FOR ITS DANCING WATER SPECTACULARS AND, IN SOME CIRCLES, AS THE HOME OF THE SIGN SHRINE.

>> Mike: OH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN VANDALIZED.

>> Don: MISCREANTS AND MICHIGAN WINTERS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL, BUT UP CLOSE, YOU CAN STILL SEE HOW GEORGE ZYSK HAS USED PAINT ON WOOD REPEATEDLY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HIS FEELINGS ABOUT, WELL, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE LAST FEW DECADES.

>> I WOULD BUY IT, AND I'D USE IT.

I'D BUY IT; I'D USE IT.

I'D BUY SOME MORE AND USE IT.

AS LONG AS THERE WASN'T SNOW FALLING ON WHERE I'M PAINTING, I'D BE ON THE LADDERS PAINTING THAT THROUGH A BLIZZARD, EVEN.

YOU BUILD UP A HELL OF A VOCABULARY JUST BY WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.

YOU WRITE, AND YOU FIGURE, "HEY, THIS DON'T SOUND RIGHT."

SO YOU PUT A BETTER-SOUNDING WORD IN THERE.

YOU GET BETTER WITH WORDS.

YOU GET A BETTER VOCABULARY.

OH, YEAH.

>> Randy: WELL, IT'S EASY TO DO IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER WHEN YOU GET A BETTER WORD, BUT WHEN YOU'RE PAINTING IT ON YOUR HOUSE, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU.

I'LL WAKE UP-- WRITE IT DOWN BEFORE YOU FORGET IT.

WRITE IT DOWN BEFORE YOU FORGET IT.

WRITE IT DOWN BEFORE YOU FORGET IT.

AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A BIG SIGN, YOU'VE ALREADY WRITTEN ALL THESE.

ALL THESE LINES WILL MAKE A HELL OF A BIG SIGN.

YEAH, THESE ARE THE BIGGEST.

BUT WHEN I PUT ALL THESE CLEAN ACROSS THE FRONT YARD, 66 FEET, YOU GOT A LOT OF SIGN.

I POUND AWAY AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, STATE, COUNTIES, AND LOCAL MUNICIPAL.

THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT.

>> Randy: SO YOU FEEL LIKE THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING UP HAVE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE.

>> OH, I GUESS SO.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU GO, BECAUSE BOY, WHEN YOU WIN THEM, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEATING THEIR ASS.

[laughs] >> Don: NO, IT WON'T BE CITY HALL STOPPING GEORGE, BUT HE ADMITS GETTING UP ON THE LADDER ISN'T AS EASY AS IT USED TO BE.

GOOD THING THOSE FOLKS FROM IN'TUIT, THE VISIONARY ARTS CENTER IN CHICAGO, HAVE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB DOCUMENTING HIS DECLARATIONS.

>> Mike: THEY THINK OF YOU AS AN ARTIST.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST?

>> HELL, NO, BUT I LIKE IT WHEN THEY SAY THAT.

I GOT AN EXTRA REASON TO DO IT.

HELL, IT'S ART.

THEY TOLD ME IT IS.

>> Don: LIKE JESSE HOWARD'S SOREHEAD HILL BACK IN MISSOURI, THE SHEER VOLUME OF GEORGE'S VERBIAGE PUTS THE SIGN SHRINE IN A CLASS ALL ITS OWN, WHICH, COME TO THINK OF IT, MIGHT DESCRIBE THIS SHOW AS WELL.

>> Mike: DID I SHOW THE GOOD FOLKS AT HOME THE LOVELY NEW HAIRCUT I GOT?

MMM, ISN'T THAT A BEAUTY?

THAT'S WHY I'M WEARING THIS FANCY RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAT.

YOU COULD GET YOUR OWN, THOUGH, RIGHT OFF OUR WEBSITE.

>> Randy: WE HAVE A WEBSITE?

>> Mike: WE HAVE A WEBSITE.

WHAT IS IT?

www.kcpt.org.

>> Randy: SURE.

>> Don: NOW THAT THE SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION IS OVER WITH, WE'RE PUSHING ON TO EAST LANSING, HOME OF ANOTHER WORLD'S LARGEST-- LUG NUT, THAT IS.

NOW, THAT'S FUN TO SAY, BUT ONLY SO MUCH FUN TO SEE AFTER A WHILE.

SO IMAGINE MY DELIGHT WHEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY SAID, "HOW ABOUT LUNCH?

AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TUBAS?"

[tuba oompahing] MUSIC AND FOOD HAVE BEEN COHABITATING HERE SINCE THE TRAVELERS CLUB OPENED IN OKEMOS BACK IN THE '70s.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL STEVE STARTED MOUNTING HIS COLLECTION ON THE WALL THAT IT BECAME A MUSEUM.

LISTEN UP; THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE EDUCATIONAL PORTION OF OUR SHOW.

>> THAT'S THE ONLY ONE KNOWN OF ITS KIND.

IT'S A TRIPLE "E" FLAT.

THE TUBING IS SO LONG, IT GOES AROUND THREE TIMES.

ANOTHER RARE ONE IS THAT DOUBLE-BELL EUPHONIUM, WHICH WAS MADE AROUND THE 1860s.

THERE'S THE SMALLER ONES THAT ARE OFTEN CALLED ALTO HORNS OR TENOR HORNS OR BARITONES.

OFFICIALLY, ANY UPRIGHT VALVED INSTRUMENT THAT IS LIP VIBRATED, CUP MOUTHPIECE, CONICALLY BORED, MUTIVALVED AEROPHONE OF A LOWER REGISTER IS A TUBA.

>> Mike: I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

DO THEY REALLY GROW CORN THIS SMALL IN MICHIGAN?

>> YES.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A JOHN PHILIP SOUSA BAND WAS TOURING THE COUNTRY, AND THERE WERE FOUR PROFESSIONAL TUBISTS, AND THEY JUST HAD A BALL.

THEY TOOK DOWN THE TUBAS ALL OVER THE RESTAURANT.

AN THE FUNNY THING IS, OUR CLIENTELE DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK IT'S ODD THAT THEY'RE SITTING HERE EATING BREAKFAST, THE RESTAURANT IS FULL, AND THERE ARE THESE PEOPLE JUST PLAYING THE HORNS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND EVERYBODY JUST KEEPS ON EATING.

>> Don: PROBABLY BECAUSE THE FOOD IS SO DARN GOOD HERE.

I'M TALKING BLACK BEANS AND GARLIC, AND ANYTHING BUT GRILLED CHEESE AND ICEBERG LETTUCE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK I'D STAY IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT QUEST I'M ON.

DID I EVER TELL YOU THAT I WAS BORN RIGHT HERE?

SO WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO THE TUBAS AND HEADED FOR THE CITY.

[train whistle sounds] FIRST STOP, HAMTRAMCK, PRESIDED OVER BY A GIANT KIELBASA.

>> Mike: BIG WEENIE.

>> Don: HERE AMIDST THESE DENSELY PACKED ROW HOUSES SITS A BACKYARD UNLIKE ANY YOU'VE EVER SEEN, CREATED BY AN EX-G.M.er WHO'S BEEN PUTTING A NEW SPIN ON HIS RETIREMENT YEARS.

>> Mike: I THINK FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED TO REMIND US HOW TO SAY YOUR NAME.

>> DMYTRO SZYLAK.

I COME FROM UKRAINIAN TO UNITED STATES.

>> Randy: WHEN DID YOU START WORKING ON THESE THINGS, THEN?

>> WHEN?

ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

YEAH, EVERY DAY IN THE GARAGE.

EIGHT HOURS EVERY DAY.

>> Mike: YOU BUILT ALL THIS IN EIGHT YEARS?

>> EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE, YEAH.

AND I PUT THEM ON THE TOP FOR PUBLIC UNITED STATES.

PEOPLE SAY, "VERY NICE COLOR."

>> Mike: BEAUTIFUL COLORS.

>> YEAH.

IT'S EVERYTHING WORK WHEN WINDY.

OKAY.

ALL TIME ON TELEVISION?

THAT'S ENOUGH?

>> Mike: CUTTING WOOD.

>> NICE WORK.

>> Mike: WHAT ARE THEY DOING, PUMPING OIL?

>> THEY CUT WOOD TOO; SAME.

DIFFERENT FACTORY.

>> Mike: SO YOU LAID IN BED AT NIGHT, AND YOU THOUGHT, "I GOTTA MAKE A CONCORDE."

>> CONCORDE I MAKE IN SIX MONTHS.

>> Mike: SIX MONTHS?

>> SIX MONTHS, CONCORDE.

>> Mike: IT TOOK THEM TEN YEARS TO MAKE THE CONCORDE.

>> OH, NO, NO, NO.

>> Randy: WHAT DO THE NEIGHBORS THINK?

ARE THEY HAPPY THAT YOU'VE DONE THIS?

>> SO FAR, NOBODY SAY NOTHING.

EVERYBODY STEP QUIET.

NO NOISY.

EVERYBODY LIKING THIS.

>> Mike: THAT MUST MAKE YOU FEEL REALLY GOOD.

>> IT'S NICE.

EVERY SHAKING HAND, SHAKE YOUR HAND.

OKAY.

OKAY, BUT CAMERA, THAT'S ENOUGH.

>> Mike: LOOK AT THAT.

"I LOVE YOUR GOOD INVENTION.

I LIKE EVERYTHING AROUND IT.

P.S.

: I HAVE THAT SAME MICKEY LUNCH KIT AT HOME."

"THIS IS WHAT CHILDREN NEED TO SEE."

YOU LIKE THAT ONE?

>> YEAH.

>> Mike: "THIS IS A VERY CREATIVE JOB.

HOPE NOBODY MESSES WITH IT."

"AS AN ARTIST, I THINK YOUR EXPRESSION IS VERY VIVID."

JOE CHASE FROM CONNECTICUT.

>> Randy: I LIKE THIS: "PLEASE TURN THE LIGHTS ON MORE.

IT LOOKS COOL."

>> YEAH.

>> Mike: THAT IS SOMETHING NICE, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT'S VERY-- THAT'S THE PROOF.

>> Mike: THAT'S THE PROOF.

>> PROOF FROM PEOPLE.

>> Randy: RIGHT THERE.

>> Mike: RIGHT THERE.

IF THAT DOESN'T PROVE IT, WHAT DOES?

>> Don: HOW'S THAT FOR A JAW-DROPPING WAY TO START MY HOMECOMING?

FROM WHAT I'M TOLD, THERE'LL BE EVEN MORE TOMORROW.

JUST DON'T LET THEM LEAVE ME IN THE THIS ALLEY.

DON'T LEAVE ME HERE.

>> Randy: GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS DARING MANEUVER.

>> Don: YOU KNOW, IT WAS BRIGGS STADIUM WHEN I LIVED HERE.

>> Randy: REALLY?

>> Don: DURING THE EISENHOWER YEARS, LAST TIME I PLAYED CATCH HERE.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HEADING DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S THE GIANT REN CENTER LOOMING ABOVE, AND THIS WOULD BE CHRYSLER AVENUE, BUT WHERE WE'RE GOING IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE POINT OF THE HEIDELBERG PROJECT, NAMED FOR THIS STREET, WHERE TYREE GUYTON WAS RAISED.

THE RIOTS OF 1967 DID TAKE A TERRIBLE TOLL ON THIS PART OF TOWN, BUT THE MONUMENTAL WORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL ART THAT GUYTON CREATED HAS SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS BACK TO SEE WHAT HAS EMERGED FROM THE ASHES.

>> THE HEIDELBERG PROJECT STARTED IN 1986.

I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT HERE, AND ALL AROUND HERE, WE HAD-- IT WAS JUST BLIGHT.

IT WAS JUST A SAD SITUATION.

AND I WAS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY OF THAT HOUSE, AND I HAD LOOKED OUTSIDE, AND I WAS LIKE, "WOW."

IT HIT ME.

I HAD THIS VISION, AND I SAW WHAT IT COULD BECOME.

AND I SAID, "WELL, OKAY, I GOT A BACKGROUND IN ART.

AND LET ME USE MY ART SKILLS TO DO SOMETHING."

THERE WAS A HOUSE IN THIS LOT HERE, AND I CAME ON AND STARTED ON THAT HOUSE.

AND THEN I JUST KIND OF WENT UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK SIMULTANEOUSLY, JUST WORKING ON THE DIFFERENT HOUSES AND THE VACANT LOTS AND THE TREES AND STREET AND EVERYTHING.

WELL, YEAH, YOU SEE THE SHOES AND THE DOTS AND THE FACES.

YEAH, YOU SEE A LOT OF FACES.

THESE ARE THE FACES OF GOD, THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE, SO YOU SEE A LOT OF THOSE.

>> WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF WHAT IS CALLED THE O.J.

HOUSE.

AND THAT ACTUALLY STANDS FOR "OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE," NOT O.J., BUT IT DID MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT TRIAL WHEN IT WAS GOING ON.

AND THE ARTIST BASICALLY WAS POKING FUN AT, YOU KNOW, THE MEDIA FRENZY THAT WAS GOING ON DURING THAT TIME WHEN WE HAD SO MANY OTHER ISSUES AND SO MANY OTHER AREAS THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.

SO HE FASHIONED IT IN HIS HEIDELBERG FASHION, WHICH CONSISTS OF A LOT OF CASTOFFS AND FOUND OBJECTS.

AND MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT HAVE BEEN FOUND RIGHT WITHIN THE PROJECT, FROM CLEANING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CLEANING UP THE COMMUNITY.

>> I'M DRIVING AROUND ALL THE TIME, LOOKING FOR OBJECTS, AND I HAVE A TENDENCY OF TAKING FOUND OBJECTS AND BRINGING THEM BACK HERE AND PAINTING ON THEM AND GIVING THEM LIFE AGAIN.

SO I PAINT ON ANY AND EVERYTHING.

I HAVE EVEN STARTED TO POLKA-DOT MYSELF.

>> ONE HOUSE BECAME TWO, BECAME THREE, BECAME FOUR.

THE NEIGHBORS GOT INVOLVED.

THE CITY OF DETROIT SAID, "HEY, THIS MAN'S A HERO.

HE'S GREAT.

HE'S BRINGING FOLKS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY."

WE WOULD KEEP THIS AREA REALLY NICE AND CLEAN AND SAFE, TO THE EXTENT THAT NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE ON THE BLOCK WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY A PART OF THE PROJECT COULD SIT OUT ON THEIR PORCH COMFORTABLY.

AND THAT COULDN'T HAPPEN TWO BLOCKS OVER, BECAUSE IT'S A WAR ZONE.

I MEAN, YOU ARE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR ZONE.

>> WE SAW A NEIGHBORHOOD OF PEOPLE THAT WAS JUST IDLE AND WAS BRAIN-DEAD.

IT HAD NOTHING TO SAY.

BUT DAMN IT, THIS PROJECT GAVE THEM A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

IT WAS A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS.

PEOPLE WANTED THEIR HOUSES DECORATED.

THEY WANTED SOMETHING UNIQUE.

>> A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "WELL, WOULD YOU WANT IT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD," YOU KNOW?

"THIS IS DEPLORABLE.

IT'S JUNK."

WELL, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T NEED A HEIDELBERG PROJECT, BUT THIS IS A DRASTIC NEIGHBORHOOD; DRASTIC MEASURES WERE TAKEN.

AND IT WORKED.

>> Don: TROUBLE IS, THE SAME CITY THAT GAVE TYREE AWARDS IN THE BEGINNING HAD A MAJOR CHANGE OF HEART ALONG THE WAY, DROPPING HEIDELBERG FROM V.I.P.

TO P.O.W.

SEVERAL DEMOLITIONS LATER, WITH THE CONSTANT THREAT OF MORE HANGING OVER, TYREE'S FOUND THAT DOING THE LEGAL DANCE IS AN ART IN ITSELF.

>> THEY CAME WITH A MAP, AND IT SHOWED MY ATTORNEYS THAT, "WELL, WE OWN THIS AND THIS AND THAT."

AND WE ALSO HAVE A MAP, AND I THINK THAT THE MAP THAT WE HAVE SAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR SAID SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THERE'S A CONFLICT HERE.

BUT, YEAH, THEY PUT THESE STAKES HERE AND THEY SAID, "WELL, YOU CAN'T USE THIS LAND ANYMORE."

>> Mike: WE CAN MOVE THOSE FOR YOU IF IT'LL HELP YOU.

>> Randy: IF IT'LL HELP.

>> WELL, I WON'T TELL ON YOU IF YOU DO.

>> Don: NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THEY DID, AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY DIDN'T, BUT IF ANYBODY EVER DESERVED A BREAK, IT'S THE FOLKS WHO'VE HUNG IN HERE ON HEIDELBERG.

>> WE'RE NONPROFIT.

WE HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE DONATIONS, YOU KNOW, WHICH WE NEED.

NOW, DON'T EDIT IT OUT; WE NEED IT.

>> Don: NO TELLING WHAT WILL COME NEXT FOR TYREE AND HIS SUPPORTERS, BUT I AT LEAST KNOW I AM ONE STEP CLOSER NOW TO MY OWN FIELD OF DREAMS AND THAT GAME OF CATCH THAT'S BEEN ON HOLD FOR 40 YEARS.

BUT NOT JUST YET.

FIRST, WE'RE STOPPING TO SEE SILVIO, A PIZZA MAKER OUT ON PLYMOUTH ROAD WHO DISHES UP FOOD AND FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

>> HEY, LISTEN, WELCOME TO DETROIT, AND WELCOME TO THE FIRST ITALIAN-AMERICAN ARTISTIC HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

♪ SEMPRE "NO."

♪ ♪ ARRIVEDERCI, ROMA.

♪ ♪ WELL, I WAS BORN IN AUSONIA, NEAR NAPOLI, AND I MADE THE MISTAKE OF COMING TO DETROIT LONG TIME AGO.

AND I LOVE IT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

>> Mike: WHAT YEAR DID YOU COME?

>> I CAME IN 1956, MIKE, ON THE CRISTOFORO COLOMBO BOAT, AND I LEFT FROM THE SAME PLACE THAT CARUSO LEFT.

♪ THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN, ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE RIPPLES, ♪ ♪ HOW THEY SHINE.

♪ ♪ I WANT TO KEEP THE ITALIANS THE WAY THEY WERE BEFORE THEY CAME OVER HERE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO HELP MY AMERICAN FRIENDS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M AMERICAN CITIZEN.

COST ME $75 AND EVERYTHING, LONG TIME AGO.

THE DUTY OF ART, I THINK, IS TO STUDY AND GUIDE LIFE, TO DO, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE DEAR TO US, TRY TO DO WHAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M ABOUT.

♪ TE VOGLIO BENE ♪ ♪ SEI TUTTA LA MIA VITA ♪ ♪ IO TI VOLESSE DI'... ♪ ♪ >> Mike: NOW, WHAT'S GOING ON ON THIS WALL HERE?

>> MIKE, THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL STANLEY CUP.

>> Mike: I THOUGHT THE STANLEY CUP TRAVELED WITH THE TEAM.

>> YEAH, BUT, SEE, YOU KNOW, I FELT SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE.

SOMETIMES WHEN THE WINGS DON'T WIN THE CUP OR SOMETHING, PEOPLE SEEM TO SUFFER SO MUCH.

I SAID, "WELL, WE'LL HAVE ONE ALWAYS HERE."

>> Randy: AND DID YOU TAKE ANY ARTISTIC LICENSE, OR ARE THERE REALLY FAUCETS?

>> NO, THOSE ARE REALLY FAUCETS.

YOU CAN PUT IN FIVE LITERS OF WINE.

♪ MAMMA, SOLO PER TE ♪ ♪ LA MIA CANZONE VOLA.

♪ ♪ I START RIGHT FROM THE BOTTOM.

WHEN YOU START FROM THE BOTTOM AND GO UP, IT'S CALLED FABBRICARE, FABRICATING.

IT'S EASY.

IT'S ALMOST THE SAME THING AS BAKING BREAD, BECAUSE YOU'RE USING ALMOST THE SAME--WELL, NOT THE SAME MATERIAL, BUT YOU KNOW, IF THE CEMENT IS A LITTLE BIT TOO WET, YOU PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE CEMENT, OKAY?

THE SECRET'S IN THE MIXING.

YOU'VE GOT TO MIX IT WELL.

IT'S CALLED MISCHIARE IN ITALIAN.

♪ I LIKE PASTA E FASOL, ♪ ♪ OUI, OUI, OUI, OUI.

♪ ♪ WE GOT ROMULUS AND REMUS HERE.

AND THE LATIN VILLAGE IS WHERE ALL THE LATIN STARTED.

AND THERE'S THE BELL OF FREEDOM FROM THE SALVATION ARMY.

IT COST ME $65.

[clanging] >> Mike: JEEZ O'PEAK.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHERE DO YOU FIND TIME TO BAKE?

>> THIS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES HERE.

THIS IS CALLED THE TORCH: UNITY AND SPIRIT OF AMERICA.

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO READ.

WE GOT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MADONNA IN THE UNITED STATES, I THINK.

SEE, WE ITALIANS, WE CATHOLICS, WE LOVE MARIA, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WELL, SHE'S THE MOTHER OF JESUS.

THIS IS A ROMAN EMINENZA.

IT'S CALLED PORTA ROMANA.

>> Randy: UH-HUH.

>> AND A LITTLE BIT OF MY OWN TOWN.

>> OOH, THAT'S PRETTY.

>> THIS LITTLE THING--BECAUSE MY OWN TOWN IS ON THE HILL, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS.

OVER HERE, WE HAVE THE STOOGES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE--WELL, WE HAVE SILVIO WITH MOE AND CURLY AND LARRY.

NYUCK NYUCK!

WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO!

[boink, boink] >> Randy: YUH-UH-UH-UH!

>> AH-AH-AH, HI, MOE-Y.

WHY, YOU-- NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK!

THIS IS A REPLICA OF THE IMPERIAL SENATE OF ROME.

>> Randy: THAT THING TOO?

>> WELL, THAT'S THE COLISEUM OF ROME, AND ACTUALLY THAT IS THE CENTER OF THE WESTERN WORLD.

AND THIS--THIS ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN IN THE WORLD, CESAR OCTAVIANO AUGUSTO.

HE GOT A REAL BIG NOSE, YOU KNOW.

HE LOOK--WHAT A HAIRCUT-- A LITTLE MOSS.

I DRIVE YOU GUYS CRAZY.

>> Randy: NO.

>> Mike: NO, NOT AT ALL.

WE COULD STAY FOR A WEEK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU FEED US.

>> MICHAEL, YOU SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> Mike: WELL, THANK YOU.

>> LISTEN-- >> Mike: THANK YOU.

DID YOU GUYS HEAR THAT?

>> WELL, MICHAEL MURPHY... >> Mike: I'M STAYING.

I AM STAYING.

>> MICHAEL MURPHY, RUDOLPH VALENTINO, AND DON PAISANO.

♪ E PAISANO, SPEAK ITALIANO.

♪ ♪ E BAMBINO, ♪ ♪ DRINK A LITTLE VINO.

♪ ♪ YOU GOTTA LEARN HOW TO CUT THIS PIZZA, OKAY?

>> Mike: WITH SCISSORS?

>> WELL, YOU CANNOT CUT IT WITH YOUR FEET, SON.

>> Don: NOW, MAYBE IT'S THAT MISCHIARE, BUT SILVIO'S PIZZA IS PURE PERFECTION, AS HIS REGULARS CAN ATTEST.

I NEED IT NOW.

SO FROM HERE IN DETROIT, SALUTING A TRUE CRUSTONIAN-- DID I MENTION I WAS BORN HERE-- THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY, SIGNING OFF.

>> ♪ STA NFRONTE...A TE!

♪ [applause] Captioning provided by KCPT Television.

Captioning byCaptionMax www.captionmax.com >> Don: I USED TO MAKE THEM CRY, MIKEY, WHEN I HIT THEM WITH MY WILD PITCH OR MY FAST PITCH OR MY FAST, WILD PITCH.

DON MOSSI WAS MY INSPIRATION-- PLAYED FOR THE TIGERS.

>> Randy: YOU SPITTING ON THESE?

>> Don: [spits] NO.

THAT WAS JUST TO SHOW YOU I'M HUMAN.

>> Randy: NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TAUGHT YOU ABOUT TELEVISION, PLAYING BALL HERE?

>> Don: SECOND STRING AIN'T SO BAD.

>> Randy: THAT'S WHAT WE TELL OURSELVES EVERY DAY.

IT'S JUST TOO BAD THERE AREN'T SOME TEN-YEAR-OLDS WE COULD WHIP UP ON, BECAUSE I THINK WE COULD TAKE 'EM.

>> Mike: GET IN FIGHTS OUT HERE?

>> Don: I GOT IN A FIGHT BACK AT THE GRADE SCHOOL.

>> Mike: KISS ANY GIRLS?

>> Don: UH, NO.

I USED TO HAVE THIS THING FOR MUFF MORRIS.

AND I WAS OVER AT HER PARTY WHEN THE GROCERY STORE BURNED DOWN, ABOUT 1959.

>> Randy: AND THAT'S STILL YOUR ALIBI, RIGHT?

>> announcer: PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.