>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, I BET WE'VE DONE--WELL, WE'VE DONE COUNTLESS, THOUSANDS OF STORIES ALL OVER OUR STATE.

SO MANY STORIES THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, PEOPLE STOP ME AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SO LONG, AREN'T YOU ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF PLACES TO GO AND STORIES TO DO?

WELL, OF COURSE, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS, THIS IS CALIFORNIA, WE ARE NEVER GONNA RUN OUT OF STORIES AND PLACES TO GO.

AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

NOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE SIDE OF SUNSET BOULEVARD.

KCET IS LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN THE STREET.

I BET I HAVE DRIVEN UP AND DOWN THIS PART OF SUNSET BOULEVARD GOING AND COMING FROM WORK LITERALLY 10,000 TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

AND I HAVE DRIVEN BY THIS BUILDING, THIS LITTLE BROWN BUILDING HERE ON THE SIDE OF SUNSET BOULEVARD, FOR YEARS AND NEVER EVEN NOTICED IT WAS THERE, MUCH LESS KNEW WHAT WENT ON INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING.

WELL, RECENTLY, QUITE BY ACCIDENT, LONG STORY SHORT, I ENDED UP FINDING OUT WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE THAT BUILDING, AND IT IS AN AMAZING, WONDERFUL STORY.

IT IS TRUE OLD HOLLYWOOD.

AND IT IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER THING I COULD THINK OF.

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF STORIES BEING RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES EVERY DAY AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY EXIST.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE THIS BUILDING AND FIND OUT WHAT THE STORY IS.

THIS STORY OF OLD HOLLYWOOD RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF SUNSET BOULEVARD.

OK, HERE WE GO.

WE'RE GOING IN BEHIND THE GATE.

AND HERE TO GREET US, JUST LIKE HE WAS THE DAY I WANDERED IN HERE-- INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> BOB LINDOERFER.

Huell: AND YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT?

>> CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.

Huell: WELL, NOW, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN AWAY WHAT THIS--WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE.

THIS IS WHAT HITS YOU WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR.

LOOK AT THIS.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO.

TELL EVERYBODY WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A VERY HISTORICAL BUILDING.

THE BUILDING WAS BUILT PROBABLY IN THE LATE TEENS, EARLY TWENTIES, AND IT WAS BUILT FOR THE VERY, VERY SAME REASON IT'S BEING USED RIGHT NOW.

Huell: WHAT?

>> YOU HAVE ALL THESE PAINT FRAMES AND THINGS IN HERE.

WE MAKE THEATRICAL BACKDROPS.

Huell: THEATRICAL BACKDROPS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

Huell: SO YOU WERE MAKING THEM BACK IN THE DAY FOR WHAT, VAUDEVILLE AND?

>> THAT WAS WHEN THEY STARTED, YEAH.

WE CAME IN A LITTLE LATER ON.

THIS WAS A DIFFERENT COMPANY BEFORE.

IN THE THIRTIES, WE CAME IN, ROBERT GROSH DID.

AND THEY TOOK OVER THE FACILITY, AND THEY'VE BEEN PAINTING BACKDROPS EVER SINCE.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS COMPANY'S ONLY BEEN HERE SINCE THE THIRTIES.

>> YEAH, IT'S A NEW COMPANY.

Huell: YOU'RE THE NEW GUYS IN TOWN.

>> EXACTLY.

RIGHT.

Huell: BUT LOOK UP HERE AT THE WALLS.

>> YEP.

Huell: AND THE CEILING.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE EARLY-- >> TWENTIES, PROBABLY.

YEAH.

Huell: THE TWENTIES.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

MM-HMM.

Huell: NOTHING'S CHANGED.

>> NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

Huell: WELL, CAN WE--YOU'VE GOT A FULL HOUSE HERE TODAY.

>> YEP, WE DO.

Huell: NOW, WHAT ARE THESE-- WELL, LOOK, WE'VE GOT ONE SIDE OVER HERE, ONE HERE, ONE HERE, ONE HERE.

YOU'VE GOT, LIKE, 6 BAYS HERE.

>> 6 OF THEM, RIGHT.

Huell: AND ARE THEY MAKING THINGS FOR MOVIES?

ARE THEY MAKING THINGS FOR... >> WE'RE MAKING THEM--REALLY, THIS--LIKE, THIS OVER HERE, THIS IS FOR A ROCK GROUP THAT'S GONNA BE OUT TRAVELING.

THAT ONE WILL BE SENT OUT PROBABLY TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY.

Huell: REALLY?

SO IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING IN HERE.

>> CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

Huell: HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE?

>> WELL, WE'RE ON THE WEB A LOT.

AND THE NAME GROSH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

Huell: AND PEOPLE STILL USE BACKDROPS LIKE THIS?

>> THEY STILL USE BACKDROPS.

Huell: FOR WHAT?

>> THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF OUR RENTALS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO IS RENTALS.

THE LARGEST SEGMENT IS SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, DANCE SCHOOLS.

THEY ALL HAVE THEATERS.

Huell: WHAT ABOUT VIDEOS?

MUSIC VIDEOS OR?

>> MUSIC VIDEOS WAS A BIG THING ABOUT, OH, MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO.

Huell: YEAH, NOW IT'S ALL DIGITAL.

>> IT'S ALL DIGITAL, RIGHT.

Huell: CAN WE WALK OVER AND TALK TO SOME OF THESE GUYS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BE MY GUEST.

Huell: LET'S WALK OVER HERE AND SEE--I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON OVER HERE?

>> UM, A DROP FOR THE RAPPER 50 CENT.

Huell: 50 CENT.

SO--OH, LOOK HOW YOU'RE BRINGING THAT UP.

BOY, YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

>> IT'S JUST GRAVITY AND ME.

Huell: WOW, LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, WHAT DO THEY DO?

THEY GIVE YOU THE PRINT OUT OF WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

>> THEY GIVE US THE ART WORK, AND THEN WE TAKE IT AND WE BLOW IT UP TO A CERTAIN SIZE.

AND THEN WE GRID IT OFF.

AND THEN WE MAYBE PROJECT IT.

THEN WE PUT IT UP ON THE CANVAS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

DO YOU TRACE IT OUT FIRST?

HOW DO YOU KNOW--I MEAN, ARE YOU AN ARTIST?

OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, FOR HIM, WHEN WE NEED A REALLY CAREFUL RESEMBLANCE, WE'LL PROBABLY PROJECT THAT, TRACE IT.

FOR THE BUILDINGS, WE JUST--SOMETIMES WE JUST DRAW THOSE 'CAUSE IF THEY'RE A LITTLE OFF, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Huell: DO YOU WORK HERE ALL THE TIME?

OR DO YOU WORK...?

>> YEAH, ONLY 40, 50 HOURS A WEEK.

SO PART-TIME.

Huell: SO YOU COULD PROBABLY END UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS DOING 4 OR 5 TOTALLY DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

>> OH, YEAH, AT LEAST 4 OR 5.

YEAH.

MAYBE 6.

Huell: AND WHERE DOES THIS RANK?

THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'D BE PRETTY EXCITING.

>> THIS IS GOOD.

THIS IS A GOOD ONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA BE TAKING THAT ON TOUR WITH HIM IN EUROPE.

Huell: SO THIS WILL BE PART OF HIS SHOW.

THIS WILL BE THE BACKDROP FOR HIS STAGE SHOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SURE.

FOR, LIKE, PROBABLY 6 MONTHS OR A YEAR OR WHATEVER.

Huell: WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT THIS GUY'S DOING.

YOU'RE CRANKING IT UP, TOO.

NOW, THIS DOESN'T LOOK-- >> I'M CRANKING IT DOWN.

Huell: WELL, HEY, CRANK IT BACK UP FOR A MINUTE.

LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT.

YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK QUITE AS INTERESTING.

>> IT'S NOT AS COMPLEX AS HIS.

IT'S AN AUSTRIAN CURTAIN.

Huell: AN AUSTRIAN CURTAIN.

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS FOR GROSH THAT THEY RENT OUT THESE BACKDROPS FOR DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS.

Huell: WELL, LET'S WALK DOWN HERE AND SEE IT.

HOW MOTIVATED DO YOU GET DRAWING A CURTAIN LIKE THIS?

>> I LIKE IT.

IT'S, LIKE, QUICK AND, YOU KNOW, EASY.

Huell: YOU WERE GONNA SAY "QUICK AND DIRTY," WEREN'T YOU?

>> I WAS.

QUICK AND DIRTY.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE A JOB FINISHED IS A JOB WELL DONE.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.

LOOK AT THIS, THOUGH.

IT TAKES SOME--I MEAN, THAT TAKES WORK, TOO.

>> YEAH.

Huell: TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

DO YOU WORK HERE ALL THE TIME, TOO?

>> ON AND OFF.

I'VE WORKED HERE SINCE 1978.

SO.

Huell: REALLY?

>> YEAH.

Huell: SO YOU'VE DONE-- >> A LOT OFF.

Huell: BUT WHEN YOU'RE ON, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON A LOT OF TOTALLY DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

>> OH, YEAH.

ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.

ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.

Huell: DO YOU THINK HE'S GOT A GOOD ONE RIGHT HERE?

>> YEAH.

EVERYTHING HE DOES IS GOOD.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS JUST... YOU KNOW, IT'S SO BIG, WHEN YOU GET UP CLOSE TO IT, YOU KIND OF LOSE PERSPECTIVE, DON'T YOU?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, YOU GOT TO KEEP WALKING AWAY AND COMING BACK AND WALKING AWAY AND COMING BACK.

Huell: YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T WALK TOO FAR AWAY, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE.

>> OR YOU'LL FALL DOWN, TOO.

[HUELL LAUGHS] >> YOU'LL FALL DOWN THERE IF YOU WALK TOO FAR BACK.

Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S-- WE CAN'T SEE IT DOWN THERE 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF DARK, BUT THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD DROP-OFF DOWN THERE, ISN'T THERE?

>> YEAH, THERE IS.

Huell: YOU'VE NEVER FALLEN DOWN THERE?

>> SOMEONE HAS WHILE WE WERE HERE.

HE LIVED.

BUT YEAH, HE FELL.

SOMEONE SAYS, "DENNIS JUST FELL DOWN THE CUT!"

ANYWAY, AND IT WAS LIKE A BAD THING, BUT ANYWAY, HE LIVED.

Huell: THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN.

>> NO, IT NEVER HARDLY HAPPENS.

Huell: THESE GUYS ARE PROS.

THE EIFFEL TOWER AT NIGHT.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER ARTIST OVER HERE PAINTING IT.

YOUR NAME, SIR, IS?

>> DAVIDD BATALON.

Huell: NOW, ARE YOU A REGULAR HERE AS WELL?

>> YES, I AM.

Huell: WELL, TELL US, WHAT IS THIS GONNA BE USED FOR?

>> UH, I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT USUALLY IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM, LIKE, A LOCAL PERFORMANCE TO SOMETHING IN THE MIDWEST.

OR IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S MADE-TO-ORDER SPECIFICALLY FOR-- Huell: SO PEOPLE ORDER THIS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD?

>> YES, THEY DO.

Huell: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO WHERE THESE THINGS END UP TO SEE YOUR WORK BEING ENJOYED BY EVERYBODY ELSE?

>> WELL, I WENT TO SEATTLE ONCE, AND I SAW A MURAL THAT WE DID.

AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT OUTSIDE OF THE CONTEXT THAT WE'RE USED TO.

BECAUSE IT'S SO MESSY HERE, AND IT'S KIND OF FUN, BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT IN A RESTAURANT, IT'S LIKE, "OH, WOW."

IT'S VERY ELEGANT.

Huell: "I DID THIS."

>> YES, WE DID.

I MEAN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Huell: WOW, LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, SEE, THIS WOULD BE EXCITING, WOULDN'T IT?

TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> YEAH.

IT'S--IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE, TOO.

I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T USED TO WORKING SUCH A LARGE SCALE.

I MEAN, A LOT OF ARTISTS ARE PRETTY USED TO HUMAN-SIZE CANVASES.

Huell: YEAH.

THIS IS HUGE.

DO YOUR FRIENDS EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU TELL THEM WHERE YOU WORK AND WHAT YOU DO?

>> A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM DO.

A LOT OF ARTISTS KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

BUT OTHER FRIENDS WHO AREN'T ARTISTS SAY, "OH, SCENIC ARTIST.

YOU PAINT OUTDOORS.

YOU DO LANDSCAPES."

WELL, WE DO LANDSCAPES, BUT THEY'RE JUST LARGE-SCALE, ALMOST TO-SCALE LANDSCAPES.

Huell: AND, YOU KNOW, I BET YOU THIS HASN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS, HASN'T IT, THE WAY IT'S DONE?

>> JUST THE PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED.

THE TECHNIQUES ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

Huell: WELL, THIS BUILDING'S BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS.

>> YEAH, IT'S QUITE A HISTORY.

Huell: DO YOU FEEL THE SENSE OF HISTORY WHEN YOU'RE IN HERE WORKING?

>> UM, YEAH, AT TIMES.

ESPECIALLY LATE AT NIGHT, YOU GET A GOOD FEEL OF, GEE, THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON HERE IN THE PAST.

AND TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE THAT A LOT OF--I MEAN, I THINK IT USED TO BE A MOVIE STUDIO AT ONE POINT.

Huell: REALLY?

>> SO, UH, JUST TO KNOW THAT THE GHOSTS OF PEOPLE IN THE PAST ARE STILL HERE WATCHING US PAINT.

Huell: WELL, GO BACK TO WORK.

WE GOTTA WATCH YOU.

>> YEAH, DON'T WANT TO GET PAINT ON YOU.

Huell: YEAH.

WE'LL GO BACK AND WATCH YOU DO YOUR THING.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

>> JUST THE WATER.

Huell: JUST FIXING THE WATER UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> JUST FIXING IT UP.

Huell: LET'S SEE YOU WORKING ON THE WATER.

THERE HE GOES.

HE'S WORKING ON REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER.

AND THIS IS PARIS AT NIGHT.

THE TOUR CONTINUES.

YOU'RE CRANKING THINGS UP.

IS IT CRANKED UP?

>> IT'S UP.

Huell: YOUR NAME, SIR?

>> PETER LIME.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WHAT'S YOUR POSITION HERE?

>> UH, I'M KIND OF THE OFFICE MANAGER, CATCH-ALL.

I DO EVERYTHING FROM FRAMING TO SHIPPING TO BILLING TO-- Huell: TO CRANKING UP.

>> RUNNING UP THE FRAME, YEAH.

Huell: IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?

>> HELPING THEM LAND THE DROP.

Huell: RUNNING UP THE FRAME.

>> YEAH, RUN IT UP, RUN IT DOWN.

IT'S SIMPLE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE?

BECAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE THE EARLY STAGES OF SOMETHING GOING ON.

>> YEAH, THIS IS--HE JUST STARTED.

HE STARTED THIS DROP THIS MORNING.

IT'S GONNA BE FOR A STAGE PRODUCTION, OBVIOUSLY "WIZARD OF OZ."

IT'S THE MUNCHKIN LAND.

AND WE GRID IT OFF WITH THE STRING, SO YOU CAN KEEP THE PROPORTION AS YOU DRAW IT OUT.

AND HE'LL BLOCK IT IN WITH THE CHALK LIKE HE'S DOING.

Huell: SO HE'S KIND OF DOING-- HE'S LAYING DOWN THE FOUNDATION WITH JUST CHALK, AND THEN HE'LL FILL THAT IN.

>> YES.

Huell: AND HOW OFTEN DOES THIS WHOLE THING CHANGE OVER?

>> LIKE A DROP LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3 DAYS TO PAINT.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND WE TRY TO KEEP THEM GOING ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER, AND JUST MOVE THEM OUT AS QUICK AS WE CAN.

Huell: SURE, YOU WANT TO KEEP BUSINESS COMING IN.

>> YEAH.

Huell: HOW DO THESE--WHERE IS THIS GONNA BE USED?

>> WELL, THEY CAN USE IT PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE THEY WANT.

BUT IT'S LIKE HIGH SCHOOLS WILL RENT IT.

WE'RE PAINTING IT FOR THE RENTAL COMPANY NEXT DOOR.

Huell: OH, OK.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RENTALS.

>> YEAH.

AND THEY'LL RENT IT OUT TO HIGH SCHOOLS OR THEATER PRODUCTIONS, ANYONE THAT WANTS US TO DO "WIZARD OF OZ," OR IF IT'S A PARTY EVENT, THEY CAN RENT IT.

Huell: DO MOVIES STILL USE THESE THINGS?

>> THEY STILL USE THEM SOME.

NOT AS MUCH AS THEY HAD IN YEARS PAST, BECAUSE COMPUTERS AND DIGITAL, THEY CAN ADD IT IN.

BUT WE STILL GET, YOU KNOW, A FEW CALLS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING PAINTED.

Huell: ARE THERE OTHER COMPANIES THAT DO THIS KIND OF THING?

>> A FEW.

NOT AS MANY AS THERE USED TO BE.

THERE'S STILL A FEW LEFT IN TOWN.

Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST LIKE--I DON'T WANT TO SAY A DYING ART BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A MARKET FOR IT, BUT THIS IS SO OLD-FASHIONED.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, IT IS.

AND WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW THAT STILL HAVE THE OLD RUNNING FRAMES, WHICH WE'RE FORTUNATE.

I KNOW A LOT OF ARTISTS THAT COME IN ARE KIND OF JEALOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE CAN RUN OUR FRAMES UP AND DOWN, AND THEY USE A STATIC FRAME BUILT ON A WALL.

SO WE HAVE SOME ADVANTAGES HERE.

Huell: LET ME GO DOWN HERE AND TALK TO THIS GUY.

I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT HIS TRACING.

HI.

>> HI.

Huell: HUELL HOWSER.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> PETER CAULDERON.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHAT IS--I KNOW YOU'RE TRACING OUT.

HOW MANY OF THESE DO YOU DO DURING THE YEAR?

>> OH, GOSH.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE AVERAGE TIME IS ABOUT, LIKE, I GUESS, 3 DAYS.

3 TO 5 DAYS, DEPENDING ON THE-- Huell: LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

NOW, LOOK AT THIS.

HERE IS THE--THIS IS KIND OF WHAT THEY WANT, RIGHT?

SO THE CLIENT WILL GIVE YOU THIS.

THIS IS THE "WIZARD OF OZ."

RIGHT OR?

>> WELL, DEPENDING ON WHATEVER DESIGN IT IS.

BUT THEY'LL GIVE US THE SKETCH OR THE RENDERING, AND THEN WE TAKE IT FROM HERE.

WE JUST PUT THE GRID, SCALE IT TO SIZE.

Huell: DO YOU JUST FOLLOW IN EXACTLY THE SAME COLORS THEY'VE GIVEN YOU?

>> CLOSE TO IT.

Huell: HOW MUCH FREEDOM DO YOU HAVE TO KIND OF ARTISTICALLY CHANGE THINGS AROUND?

>> WELL, NOT TOO MUCH.

BECAUSE, LIKE, A LOT OF THESE, WHICH ARE, LIKE, THEATER PRODUCTIONS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE IMAGES AND STUFF THAT ARE ALREADY ONLINE, SO I GOTTA GET IT CLOSE TO THAT.

THE ONLY THING I'LL PROBABLY DO RIGHT HERE IS, BECAUSE IT'S JUST A COPY, I'LL SATURATE THE COLOR A LITTLE MORE, MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE VIBRANT, FRESHEN IT UP, MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A NEW, YOU KNOW.

Huell: NOW, IS IT MORE FUN TO TRACE IT OUT OR MORE FUN TO ACTUALLY START PAINTING?

>> IT'S ACTUALLY, FOR ME, BOTH.

Huell: REALLY?

>> BOTH.

YEAH.

I LIKE THE BEGINNING AND THE END.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE DOING THIS PART OF IT, AND THEN JUST REFINING IT AS I GO AND, YOU KNOW, TAKING IT TO THE-- Huell: IF WE CAME BACK TOMORROW, HOW FAR ALONG WOULD YOU BE?

>> UH, NO PROMISES, BUT I'LL HAVE A LOT OF COLOR IN THERE ALREADY.

I SHOULD HAVE MOST OF IT COLORED IN.

AND THEN THE THIRD DAY WOULD BE JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING THE FINAL.

Huell: THIS IS OLD-SCHOOL, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

Huell: DO YOU DO COMPUTER STUFF AND DIGITAL STUFF, OR DO YOU JUST HANG OUT WITH THE OLD STUFF?

>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS THE MAIN THING THAT I DO.

I PLAY A LITTLE BIT ON THE COMPUTER, VERY LITTLE, BUT NOTHING'S LIKE HANDS ON.

Huell: SO YOU'RE OLD-SCHOOL, AREN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

Huell: AND THERE'S MORE.

OFF TO THE SIDE, THERE'S ANOTHER WHOLE SECTION OF THIS BUILDING.

LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF HERE.

AND HERE TO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT'S GOING ON BACK HERE--BOY, THERE ARE LOTS OF TWISTS AND TURNS IN THIS BUILDING AND THIS COMPANY, AREN'T THERE?

>> THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

>> RALPH CICHETTI.

Huell: OK, RALPH.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

>> YOU'RE IN THE SEWING ROOM.

Huell: THE SEWING ROOM.

AND WHAT GOES ON IN THE SEWING ROOM?

WHAT ARE YOU SEWING?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE PREPARE THE DROPS FOR PAINTING IN HERE.

WE GET THE RAW, NATURAL MUZZLING IN DIFFERENT SIZES.

AND THEN WE SEW THEM TOGETHER TO CREATE THE SIZE OF THE MURAL OR THE BACKDROP THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAINT.

Huell: BEFORE ANYTHING EVEN GOES ON THEM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WOW.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

>> THEN THEY TAKE THEM OUT INTO THE PAINT FRAMES, AND THEN THEY FRAME IN THE FRAME TO THE APPROPRIATE SIZE OF THE DROP FOR THE PARTICULAR PROJECT.

Huell: AND THEN YOU KEEP--YOU SEW IT AGAIN.

>> AND THEN, WELL, SOMETIMES IT'LL HAVE TO COME BACK HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CUT OUT AN ARCHWAY OR WE HAVE TO PUT SOME VELCRO ON IT OR WE ADD ANOTHER PIECE TO IT.

OR-- Huell: WHAT'S SHE DOING RIGHT NOW?

IS THIS WHAT THE--IS THIS WHAT THE BACKDROP LOOKS LIKE BEFORE IT'S--LET'S WALK DOWN HERE AND TAKE A LOOK.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> MARIA'S MAKING--ACTUALLY, SHE'S MAKING A FLAG.

Huell: A FLAG?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, SHE'S-- Huell: YOU'RE MAKING A FLAG?

>> RIGHT.

Huell: WOW.

>> SHE'S CUTTING THE FABRIC AND GONNA SEW IT TO AN APPROPRIATE SIZE.

IT'S GONNA BE A 3x5.

BUT THEY'RE GONNA SEW A CUSTOM FLAG ONTO THIS.

THERE CAN BE PAINTED A CUSTOM FLAG ONTO THIS BACKDROP.

Huell: SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING FROM DAY TO DAY, DO YOU?

>> NO.

Huell: A FLAG ONE DAY, A BACKDROP ANOTHER.

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

>> YES.

Huell: HOW MANY YEARS YOU BEEN WORKING HERE?

>> FOR RIGHT NOW?

Huell: YEAH, HOW MANY YEARS?

>> FOR YEARS?

7.

Huell: 7.

SO SHE'S NEW TO THE PLACE.

>> SHE'S PRETTY NEW.

Huell: YOU'VE BEEN HERE HOW MANY YEARS?

>> 30.

31.

Huell: HE CAME HERE AS A SMALL BOY, RIGHT?

>> I WAS A SMALL BOY, YEAH.

Huell: HA!

>> WE ALSO DO DRAPERY HERE.

WE MAKE DRAPERIES FOR--WELL, YOU KNOW THE EL CAPITAN THEATER IN TOWN?

Huell: YEAH.

>> ALL THE DRAPERIES THAT ARE IN THERE, WE FABRICATED HERE.

Huell: THOSE BIG, HEAVY-- >> THOSE BIG, HEAVY SWAG DRAPES WITH ALL THE TASSELS AND THE FRINGE IN IT.

WE MADE THEM RIGHT HERE.

Huell: OK, WE'VE HOOKED UP WITH DAVE A SECOND TIME.

THE FIRST TIME WE WERE TALKING WITH YOU EARLIER TODAY, I KIND OF SAID IT WAS KIND OF BORING WHAT YOU WERE DOING, JUST KIND OF MAKING A CURTAIN, JUST DRAWING A CURTAIN ON THERE.

>> COMPARED TO THIS, IT'S BORING.

Huell: COMPARED TO THIS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU JUST COMPLETED.

YOU WERE DOING THIS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S A LITTLE ROLLER CURTAIN TO COVER SOMEONE'S WIDESCREEN TV.

Huell: WHAT?

>> YEAH, IT'S A CUSTOM JOB FOR GROSH.

AND SOMEBODY WITH A LOT OF MONEY IS GONNA HAVE THAT IN THEIR HOUSE.

Huell: SO THEY CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.

>> RIGHT.

A DESIGNER CAME UP WITH IT, AND I PAINTED IT.

Huell: AND IT'S GONNA COVER UP THEIR WIDESCREEN TV.

>> IT ROLLS UP ON AN AUTOMATIC ROLLER.

AND SO, WHEN THEY WANT TO WATCH TV, THEY PUSH WHATEVER, AND IT'LL ROLL UP AND YOU'LL SEE THE TV, AND THEY'LL WATCH TV, AND THEN IT'LL COVER THE TV WHEN THEY'RE NOT WATCHING TV.

Huell: SO REALLY, YOU DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

Huell: DON'T YOU?

>> JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT.

Huell: THIS PLACE IS HUGE.

BOB, HOW MANY SQUARE FEET DO YOU HAVE IN HERE?

>> WELL, UP AND DOWN, I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE PRETTY CLOSE TO 80,000.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN UP AND DOWN?

>> WELL, WE HAVE ROOMS ABOVE US, UP HERE, AND SEVERAL ROOMS DOWN BELOW US.

Huell: HOW MANY YEARS YOU BEEN WORKING HERE?

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO FIND YOUR WAY AROUND HERE?

>> UH, 19 YEARS.

IT TOOK A WHILE.

YOU GET LOST DOWNSTAIRS WITH ALL THE DROPS AND STUFF.

Huell: WE HAVEN'T EVEN GONE DOWNSTAIRS.

WE ARE NOW IN THE-- >> MILL.

Huell: IN THE MILL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, IT USED TO BE--THIS USED TO BE WHERE THEY BUILT SCENERY WHEN IT WAS A FULL SCENE SHOP, AND THEY HAD SAWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO IT WAS LIKE A WORKING SAWMILL.

Huell: WOW.

>> NOW WE JUST USE IT--WE HANG THE BACKDROPS, WE HAVE A SMALL PAINT FRAME WE BUILT ON THE WALL.

WE DO SOME PAINTING IN HERE.

Huell: HANGING THE BACKDROPS.

THAT IS YOUR CUE.

COME ON OVER HERE TO MEET EVERYBODY.

YOUR NAME, SIR, IS?

>> ERIC.

ERIC MUELLER.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW, WE ARE IN THIS ROOM NOT BY ACCIDENT.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE PREPARED SOMETHING TO SHOW US TODAY.

NOW, WITHOUT GIVING IT AWAY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT, YOUR ARCHIVES, WHAT YOU HAVE IN STORAGE, WHAT IS THIS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SOMETIME AGO I WAS ASKED TO GO THROUGH OUR INVENTORY AND FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE IN INVENTORY.

THEN ANYTHING THAT WAS STILL ON THE SHELVES, PULL IT OUT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT, HANG IT.

WELL, THIS IS ONE I FOUND ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT I CAN ACTUALLY PUSH THE BUTTON, RIGHT?

SO I GOT THE BUTTON OVER HERE.

AND I'M GONNA--COME ON OVER HERE WITH ME, 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO PUSH THE BUTTON.

AND IS THIS THE BUTTON RIGHT HERE?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

YES.

GO AHEAD.

Huell: THERE IT GOES.

OH, BOY.

THIS IS THE REAL THING RIGHT HERE.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA STOP THE BUTTON.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO WALK IN FRONT OF THIS THING AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S CALLED AN AD CURTAIN.

IN THE DAYS OF OLD, HUELL, THEY HAD--IN THE MOVIE THEATER AS PEOPLE WALKED IN, THEY WANTED SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, SO THEY'D HANG ONE OF THESE IN THERE.

AND THE AD STANDS FOR ADVERTISING.

THEY WOULD USE THIS TO ADVERTISE THE LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN OR IN THAT AREA, IF YOU WILL.

Huell: IS THIS FROM L.A.?

SURE IT IS.

>> NEAR AS WE CAN TELL, IT'S FROM LOS ANGELES.

Huell: DR. MacKAY, SANTA MONICA'S DEPENDABLE DENTIST.

THE BRENTWOOD DAIRY--THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY.

WE'VE GOT TAYLOR'S ALL PORK SAUSAGES.

BOY, THIS IS--SEE, THIS IS A PIECE OF HISTORY RIGHT HERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT TRULY IS CORRECT, YEAH.

Huell: NOW, HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS DO YOU HAVE IN STORAGE?

DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT'S ON ALL OF THEM?

>> YEAH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, SINCE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, THEY HAD ME GO THROUGH IT.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE STILL IN OUR INVENTORY, AND WE KEEP THEM FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES.

WE DON'T RENT THESE ANYMORE.

Huell: THIS COULD BE IN AN ART MUSEUM.

>> THIS COULD BE.

Huell: THIS SHOULD BE.

YOU SHOULD LOAN THIS OUT TO SOME BIG MUSEUM TO SHOW, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY PART OF HISTORY, HOLLYWOOD HISTORY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT TRULY IS.

Huell: WOW.

NOW, THIS--HOW LONG--HOW COMPLICATED WOULD IT BE?

WAS THIS ALL DONE BY HAND?

>> ALL DONE BY HAND.

AS NEAR AS WE CAN TELL, WE DID IT HERE ON OUR PAINT FRAMES.

Huell: HERE, IN THIS PLACE?

>> IN THIS BUILDING, THAT'S CORRECT.

Huell: DO YOU KNOW THE NAMES OF THE ARTISTS WHO DID IT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S SINCE BEEN LOST IN OUR CARD FILES AND SO ON FROM YEARS PAST.

Huell: WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> THIS IS A REALLY NEAT PIECE ALSO BECAUSE ON THE BACK, WHEREVER THEY WANTED PEOPLE TO SEE THROUGH IT, THEY PAINTED AROUND IT, IF YOU WILL.

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THEY HIT IT WITH LIGHT FROM THE BACK, AND ALL OF THESE SIGNS ACTUALLY LIGHT UP, BECAUSE IN THE MOVIE THEATER IT WOULD BE DIM.

Huell: THE SIGNS WOULD LIGHT UP.

>> YEAH.

IF YOU LOOKED AT IT FROM THE BACK, YOU WOULD SEE PORTIONS NOT PAINTED, SO YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.

Huell: THIS IS--I'M OVERWHELMED.

I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA HAVE SOMETHING HERE FOR US TO SEE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS GONNA BE.

THIS IS A REAL TREASURE.

>> IT REALLY IS.

WE'RE TRULY FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT.

Huell: AND IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE...?

>> LOOK AT THE CARS ON THERE.

LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AND HOW THEY'RE DRESSED.

THAT'S ABOUT HOW LONG IT'S BEEN HERE.

Huell: OK, WE'RE ENDING UP WHERE WE STARTED, HERE IN THE MAIN FRONT ROOM.

WE GOT THE WHOLE GROSH FAMILY.

GIVE US A WAVE.

THIS IS THE BUSINESS FAMILY.

IT'S ALSO LITERALLY THE FAMILY.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> AMANDA.

Huell: AMANDA.

AND HOW ARE YOU PART OF ALL THIS?

>> I AM HIS DAUGHTER, AND I'M FOURTH GENERATION.

Huell: FOURTH GENERATION.

AND YOUR NAME IS?

>> I'M TERRY.

Huell: GROSH?

>> NO, LINDOERFER.

SAME AS HIM.

I'M HIS BROTHER.

>> AS--YEAH.

Huell: WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

WHERE DID GROSH COME FROM?

>> MY MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME.

Huell: OH, SEE.

OK.

BUT IT'S STILL FAMILY.

>> STILL FAMILY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW, YOU'RE CARRYING ON-- >> YES.

Huell: THIS TRADITION.

AND HOW DO YOU SEE THIS TRADITION FITTING INTO TODAY'S HOLLYWOOD, INTO TODAY'S WORLD?

BECAUSE THIS IS OLD-SCHOOL.

>> CORRECT.

YEAH, AND IT REALLY HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME.

AND I THINK WITH THE HELP OF ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYONE HERE, WE'VE REALLY MADE IT TO SOMETHING THAT'S A USEABLE TRAIT FOR MOST PEOPLE NOW--SCHOOLS AND DANCE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

Huell: IN TODAY'S WORLD.

>> YES.

Huell: BUT ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT YOU'RE STILL DOING IT, YOU'RE STILL LITERALLY CRANKING IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

>> EXACTLY.

IT HAS A NEW APPLICATION, IT REALLY DOES NOW.

Huell: WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE, ARE THEY JUST BLOWN AWAY?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK WE'RE SO USED TO SEEING THIS ON A DAILY BASIS, SO IT'S REALLY REFRESHING TO HAVE NEW PEOPLE COME IN AND HAVE A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR WHAT WE DO.

Huell: WELL, I HOPE THAT YOU'VE GATHERED THAT FROM ME.

'CAUSE I GOTTA TELL YOU, I WAS BLOWN AWAY THE FIRST TIME I CAME IN HERE.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY TODAY AGAIN.

YOU FEEL THE HISTORY HERE.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

Huell: YOU FEEL THE SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND PRIDE IN WORK AND PART OF WHAT MAKES HOLLYWOOD AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHAT IT IS.

>> RIGHT.

IT RESONATES HERE, I THINK.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS FOURTH GENERATION WE'RE COMING THROUGH.

AND IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE.

NOT A LOT OF FAMILY BUSINESSES CAN SAY THEY'VE STUCK AROUND FOR OVER 75 YEARS.

Huell: IN THE SAME BUILDING.

LOOK AT THIS.

BOY, IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK.

I JUST HOPE THEY TALK BEFORE THEY FALL DOWN.

[LAUGHTER] >> 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME PRETTY GOOD EARTHQUAKES.

Huell: I LIKE THE HISTORY THAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU LOOK UP AT THIS.

THIS IS THE REAL THING.

THIS ISN'T A MOVIE SET.

>> NO, IT SURE ISN'T.

Huell: THIS IS THE REAL THING.

>> YEP, IT IS.

Huell: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF YOUR DAY.

I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, I'VE BEEN DRIVING BY THIS PLACE FOR DECADES.

KCET IS RIGHT UP THE ROAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

Huell: AND NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS IN HERE.

NOW I KNOW AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL PLACE THAT'S CARRYING ON FOURTH GENERATION.

THIS AMAZING BIT OF HOLLYWOOD AND LOS ANGELES AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HISTORY.

LET ME GET OUT OF THE WAY.

GIVE US ANOTHER WAVE.

THERE THEY ARE.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO IT EVERY DAY, JUST LIKE THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

THANK YOU.

GOOD-BYE.

>> BYE!

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]