>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE INDUSTRIAL SECTION OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT HERE THAT HAS ALWAYS--I'VE ALWAYS FOUND IT INTERESTING TO COME DOWN HERE AND NOSE AROUND, BUT WHEN I DO COME DOWN HERE, I NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING TO STUMBLE UPON.

NOW, LET'S SET THIS STORY UP.

RECENTLY I WAS HAVING LUNCH AT MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTION OF DOWNTOWN, THE FRENCH GARDEN.

I WAS SEATED AT MY TABLE, MINDING MY BUSINESS, AND RIGHT OVER AT THE TABLE NEXT TO MINE, THESE TWO PEOPLE WERE HAVING LUNCH TOGETHER AND THEY WERE WAVING AND WINKING AND SAYING HELLO AND ALL THIS, SO I FINALLY WENT OVER AND INTRODUCED MYSELF.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR?

>> GEOFF ANENBERG.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> BETH GIBSON.

>> OK, I KIND OF SET IT UP RIGHT, DIDN'T I?

YOU ALL WERE OVER THERE KIND OF GOING LIKE THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO I WENT OVER AND WE STARTED A CONVERSATION, AND I FOUND OUT THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE... >> WE BOTH WORK IN INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE.

>> REAL ESTATE, BUT YOU DON'T WORK FOR THE SAME COMPANY.

>> NO, WE DON'T.

>> BUT YOU'RE FRIENDS.

YOU WERE HAVING LUNCH TOGETHER.

>> ISN'T THAT ODD?

HA!

>> IS IT UNUSUAL FOR REAL ESTATE PEOPLE, COMPETING REAL ESTATE PEOPLE TO BE AS FRIENDLY AS THE TWO OF YOU?

>> IT JUST DEPENDS.

WE HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS, SO IT WORKS OUT PERFECT.

>> AND THE SIMILAR INTEREST YOU HAVE IS YOUR LOVE FOR DOWNTOWN INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE.

LET'S TALK JUST A MINUTE ABOUT THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE BOTH SHARE A GREAT, GREAT PASSION FOR THIS STUFF, AND IT'S IN PART BECAUSE OF THE GORGEOUS ARCHITECTURE AND THE HISTORY IN THESE AREAS AND SEEING THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE GEMS THAT WE COME ACROSS WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR THING, IF YOU WILL.

>> YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I AGREE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DRIVE BY, IT CAN BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATING IF YOU'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING.

AND YOU CAN SEE AT SOME OF THE ENTRANCES TO THESE BUILDINGS THE BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE.

A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS WERE OWNED BY SOME OF THE CURRENT TENANTS' GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, GOING BACK TO THE TWENTIES THROUGH THE FIFTIES, ACTUALLY.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY STILL MAKE THINGS DOWN HERE.

AMERICANS DON'T MAKE THINGS LIKE WE USED TO.

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND A LOT OF THESE PLACES ARE MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING IS MADE IN THE U.S.A. >> OK, SO THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AT LUNCH, AND THEN WE WENT ONE STEP FORWARD FROM THAT, AND YOU ALL INVITED ME TO COME DOWNTOWN TO VISIT SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF GEMS THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.

>> OK, SO YOU BROUGHT US TO WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE A HOME RUN?

>> I THINK SO, YEAH.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE WHAT YOU FIND INSIDE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE WHAT THEY MAKE, TOO.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY JUST MAKE IT IN THE U.S., BUT THEY MAKE IT BEAUTIFULLY.

THEY DO A FIRST-CLASS JOB.

>> OK, WE ARE INSIDE THE BUILDING, GETTING READY TO GO THROUGH THE SECRET DOOR, AND THERE ON THE DOOR IS OUR FIRST HINT AS TO WHERE WE ARE: "WHOA!

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" AND THEN THERE ARE SOME LITTLE HORSESHOES.

I'M BEGINNING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

COME ON.

LET'S GO INSIDE.

OH, BOY, AND THERE THEY ARE TO GREET US.

>> HELLO.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> YOUR NAME?

>> BERTHA.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, BERTHA.

>> SANDRA.

>> AND SANDRA.

OK, THE NAME OF THIS COMPANY--WE HAVEN'T GIVEN IT AWAY YET.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE?

>> CHAMPION TURF EQUIPMENT.

>> CHAMPION TURF EQUIPMENT, WHICH MEANS ARTIFICIAL GRASS, SPRINKLERS?

>> NO.

HA!

HORSE EQUIPMENT.

>> HORSE EQUIPMENT.

HA HA!

>> HORSES THAT RUN ON THE GRASS WAS THE ORIGINAL IDEA.

>> AH!

>> SO WE CAME UP WITH "TURF."

>> OK, AND THAT EXPLAINS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

LOOK OVER HERE.

COME ON, LADIES.

LOOK AT THIS.

WE GOT SADDLES HERE.

>> FOR HORSES.

>> SO YOU MAKE SADDLES.

>> SADDLES, BRIDLES, EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HORSES THAT'S LEATHER.

>> OK, SO YOU MAKE THE LEATHER EQUIPMENT THAT GOES ALONG WITH HORSEBACK RIDING.

>> MM-HMM, YES.

>> NOW, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY WORKING DOWN HERE.

>> THIS IS THE SHIPPING DEPARTMENT AND THE STORAGE.

>> OK, WHERE ARE THEY DOING THE WORK?

>> UPSTAIRS.

WE CAN TAKE THE ELEVATOR.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

YOU RIDE A LOT OF THESE?

>> OH, ALL THE TIME.

IT'S A THRILL.

>> WOW, LOOK AT--THIS GOES BACK HOW FAR?

>> THIS GOES TO 1930.

THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1930.

>> OH, WOW.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

WE JUST COME ON UNDER HERE, TAKE A-- >> YEAH, JUST SQUEEZE UNDER.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

OH, I LOVE THESE OLD THINGS.

YOU SEE THESE IN MOVIES.

>> YES, SIR.

>> NOW, IS IT GOING TO BE A JOLT WHEN WE START?

>> NO, IT'S A SMOOTH RIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

>> SMOOTH RIDE.

>> OH, THERE WE GO.

YOU'RE THE ELEVATOR OPERATOR.

>> HA HA!

YEAH.

>> HA HA!

AND WHICH SIDE DO WE GET OUT?

>> EITHER ONE.

>> EITHER-- >> WE CAN START OVER HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> DOWN HERE IS WHERE WE STORE ALL THE LEATHER AND SEPARATE IT INTO THE DIFFERENT TYPES.

AND YOU CAN SEE HIM.

HE'S SCYTHING IT DOWN BECAUSE SOME ITEMS NEED TO HAVE VERY THIN LEATHER, SOME NEED REALLY THICK, BULKY LEATHER.

>> WOW.

>> SO WHEN IT NEEDS THINNER, HE SCYTHES IT DOWN.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS ALL LEATHER.

GOOD MORNING.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> JESUS.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, JESUS.

NOW, THIS EMPLOYEE'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME?

>> OH, YEAH.

EVERYONE'S, LIKE, 15, 20 YEARS.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?

>> I'VE BEEN HERE 23 YEARS.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

AND WHAT IS HE DOING THERE WITH THE LEATHER?

>> HE'S GOING TO SCYTHE IT DOWN.

HE'S CUTTING IT INTO THE THICKNESS THAT HE NEEDS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> THE WORKERS TELL HIM WHAT THEY WANT.

>> LOOK AT--AND WHAT ARE THESE?

>> THESE ARE THE TREES, THE BASES, THAT GOES IN THE--MAKE YOUR SADDLE.

>> SO THESE ARE LIKE-- >> SADDLE TREE.

>> THE TREE.

>> AND THEY BUILD UP AROUND IT.

>> OH, WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS MADE OF FIBERGLASS.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS THE WOOD, PINE WOOD WITH FIBERGLASS COVER, AND THEN THERE-- >> SO THIS IS ORIGINAL PINE WOOD.

>> YES.

>> WOW, AND THESE ARE DIFFERENT SIZES, DIFFERENT SHAPED SADDLES.

>> DIFFERENT STYLES.

>> DIFFERENT STYLES.

>> THIS IS A RAWHIDE COVER.

THIS IS BULLHIDE, RAWHIDE-COVERED TREE, AND THEY LACE IT ALL IN.

>> THIS IS A PIECE OF ART RIGHT HERE.

>> AND I'LL SHOW YOU--THIS IS THE MEDIUM LEVEL.

OVER HERE, WE CALL IT THE JEWELRY.

>> THE JEWELRY?

>> HA HA HA!

>> THIS IS THE HIGHEST, MOST EXPENSIVE TREE YOU CAN BUY.

>> OH, LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON.

>> THIS IS CALLED THE Qs.

>> THE Qs.

>> NOW, THIS HAS-- >> LET'S GET OVER HERE SO WE CAN SEE IT.

>> SPECIAL WOOD, COTTONWOOD.

>> CAN I PUT IT RIGHT DOWN HERE?

BOY, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND THAT'S MADE OF?

>> THIS IS COTTONWOOD, BULLHIDE, RAWHIDE, DEERHIDE LACING, AND HE TUCKS IT ALL IN.

ALL THESE NAILS KEEP IT FROM EVER WARPING OR CHANGING.

>> SO THIS BECOMES PART OF THE SADDLE RIGHT HERE.

>> THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE FIT FIT YOUR HORSE.

>> THIS IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE LEATHER.

>> THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT SIZE-- HOW IT'S GOING TO--DO YOU ACTUALLY GO OUT AND MEASURE SOMETHING ON THE HORSE?

>> THIS IS MEASURED THROUGH THE SEAT SIZE AND THROUGH THE-- >> OF THE RIDER.

>> YEAH, AND THE GULLET SIZE HERE.

>> AND THEY'VE PROBABLY BEEN DOING THAT THE SAME WAY-- >> FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

>> FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THAT DOESN'T CHANGE, DOES IT?

>> NO, NO.

>> SO YOU HAVE A SADDLE MADE FOR A PERSON, A RIDER.

>> MOST OF OUR SADDLES ARE ALL CUSTOM-MADE.

LIKE, IF YOU WANTED ONE, YOU GIVE US YOUR MEASUREMENTS, YOUR HORSE MEASUREMENTS, AND WE MAKE IT EXACTLY LIKE YOU WANT IT.

>> BUT THE HORSES COULD CHANGE OVER THE YEARS.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHEN, LIKE, IF THEY AGE OR WHATEVER, YOU HAVE TO GET, LIKE, A SPECIAL PAD, MAYBE IF THEY GET A LITTLE SUNKEN.

>> YEAH, AND OF COURSE, YOU COULD CHANGE, TOO, OVER THE YEARS.

>> YES.

HA HA HA!

YEAH.

>> THE COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS.

>> YOU GET A NEW SADDLE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, YOU GET A NEW ONE.

>> OK, THE TOUR CONTINUES.

WE ARE NOW GOING INTO--WELL, WE'VE JUST BARELY GOTTEN INTO THE MANUFACTURING AREA, HAVEN'T WE?

>> THIS IS ALL THE CUTTING ZONE, WHERE HE CUTS ALL THE DIFFERENT LEATHER.

SOME ARE CLICKED OUT, SOME ARE CUT IN THESE KNIVES.

>> LET'S GO OVER HERE.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER HERE.

>> THESE ARE THE MASTERS.

>> SEE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE?

>> HE'S MAKING THESE HEADSTALLS.

>> WHAT ARE THESE?

>> THESE ARE GOING TO BE HEADSTALLS.

THESE ARE THE CHEEKS... >> LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

>> THAT GO ON THE SIDE OF THE HORSE'S HEAD.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BROWBAND AROUND THE TOP OF THE HEAD.

>> SO DOES EACH PERSON IN HERE HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIALTY OR DO THEY SWITCH JOBS FROM YEAR TO YEAR?

>> NO, SOME SWITCH AROUND.

EVERYBODY KNOWS, PRETTY MUCH, BUT THESE 3 HERE ARE THE EXPERTS.

>> DO YOU LEARN THIS BEFORE YOU GET HERE OR IS IT KIND OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING?

>> ERIC'S LEARNED.

HE CAME FROM THE--NOT DOING THIS.

>> YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS?

>> NO.

>> YOU LEARNED?

>> YEAH, I LEARNED.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?

>> 7 YEARS?

I THINK 7 YEARS.

>> SO HE'S THE BABY IN THE GROUP.

>> YEAH, AND HE MAKES ALMOST ALL THE RACEHORSE EQUIPMENT FOR ALL THE RACETRACKS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> OH, WOW.

DO YOU GO TO THE RACES?

>> YEAH.

>> OH!

HA HA HA!

I BET!

YOU'VE GOT THE INSIDE SCOOP.

LOOK AT THIS GUY OVER HERE.

>> THIS IS OUR MANAGER FOR UP HERE AND HE TEACHES.

>> I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> ARTURO.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW, TELL US WHAT YOU--THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

>> I'M DOING THIS SPECIAL.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

YOU DO THE SILVER WORK.

>> YES, SIR.

>> WOW!

>> THIS IS MY SPECIAL WORK OVER HERE.

>> SO DO YOU MAKE ALL OF THESE YOURSELF?

>> NOT THIS ONE.

JUST PUT IT ON THE-- >> YOU PUT IT ON THE LEATHER.

>> ON THE LEATHER.

>> SO THIS WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF WORK YOU DO?

LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!

>> THANK YOU.

I THANK YOU.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?

>> FOR 30 YEARS.

>> YOU'RE KIDDING!

IS THIS SOMETHING YOU LEARNED OVER THE YEARS?

>> WELL, WHEN--YEAH.

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED YEAR BY YEAR.

>> BUT WHEN YOU CAME HERE 30 YEARS AGO, DID YOU KNOW HOW TO DO ANY OF THIS?

>> YES.

YES, I WORKED FOR ANOTHER COMPANY... >> AH!

>> 3 YEARS.

I GOT EXPERIENCE FOR--COME DOWN HERE, IS 3 YEAR'' EXPERIENCE.

>> WOW.

LOOK AT THIS SET-UP HERE.

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL.

ALL YOUR TOOLS HERE.

IT'S A CRAFTSMAN'S--IT HAS THAT LOOK TO IT.

>> IT'S WHAT I NEED TO DO THIS KIND OF SPECIALS.

>> OH, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU CUT?

>> THIS IS A KNIFE, YES.

>> HOW DO YOU CUT IT?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> THIS ONE, I NEED TO CUT IT RIGHT HERE TO MAKE A POINT, JUST SLIDE THE TIP ON.

>> OH, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL!

OH, WOW.

YOU MUST BE AWFULLY PROUD OF YOUR WORK AND WHAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU.

OH, SEE, I LIKE MY WORK.

>> NEXT STOP.

WE HAVE LEFT ARTURO AND NOW WE'VE COME OVER TO WATCH--WHAT IS HIS NAME?

>> EFRON.

>> WHAT IS EFRON DOING?

>> HE DOES THE CARVING ON ALL THE LEATHER--ON THE SADDLES, ESPECIALLY.

LIKE, YOU CAN SEE FIRST HE WETS THE LEATHER AND THEN NOW HE'S PUTTING A BORDER IN.

THEN HE'LL START TO PUT IN HIS FLOWER AND THEN GET MORE DETAILS AS HE GOES ALONG.

>> WOW, SO HE'S THE GUY WHO MAKES THE LEATHER COME TO LIFE-- >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> AS FAR AS THE DESIGNS.

>> HE'S THE DESIGN ARTIST.

I DRAW THE PICTURES AND THEN HE CARVES THEM.

>> SO WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU'RE THE ARTIST.

>> I AM THE ARTIST.

>> WOW!

SO YOU DID-- >> I FIGURE IT.

I MAKE THE ORIGINAL, AND THEN HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CARVE IT.

>> HA!

>> I DRAW IT ON A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER OR I TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH AND THEN HE HAS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

LET'S WALK OVER HERE AND TAKE A LOOK.

COME ON OVER HERE WITH US.

LOOK AT THIS, AND HE'S JUST--IT'S ALL DONE... >> BY HAND.

>> BY HAND.

>> YEAH, AND I'VE BEEN HERE 19 YEARS, AND I'M STILL AMAZED ON HOW THEY CAN DO THIS BY HAND.

THIS IS SO ARTISTIC BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT--EVERY TOOLING PATTERN THAT WE USE ON OUR SADDLES IS ALL DONE BY HAND.

EVERY LITTLE TINY MARK, HE USES ALL THESE DIFFERENT TOOLS.

>> LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON, LOOK.

>> THEY'RE ALL THE SAME, THE DIFFERENT SHAPES.

>> THEY LOOK JUST LIKE BIG SCREWS.

>> RIGHT, AND THEY HAMMER THEM IN TO MAKE THE LITTLE MARKS.

>> LOOK AT HIS HAND HERE, CAMERON.

COME OVER HERE AND GET A LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK HOW HE MOVES, AND HE'S MAKING A LINE... >> YEAH, FOR THE BORDER.

>> WHICH LEAVES VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR HERE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

HE'S AN EXPERT DOING THIS.

I CALL HIM OUR TRUE ARTIST.

>> WOW.

ARE WE MAKING YOU NERVOUS?

>> NO.

>> HA HA HA!

GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE STANDING OVER YOU, WATCHING EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE.

>> I'M USED TO IT.

>> HA HA HA!

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?

>> NOW I'M GOING TO DO THE LEAF.

I'M GOING TO PRODUCE ONE HERE LIKE THIS.

>> OH, YOU'RE MAKING AN INDENTION... >> YEAH.

>> IN THE LEATHER...THEN YOU FIND--WATCH THIS; THIS IS AMAZING.

A TOOL... OH, LOOK.

MOVE YOUR HAND JUST A MINUTE.

LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK WHAT HE JUST FINISHED DOING RIGHT HERE.

WOW!

AND YOU DO THAT ALL THE WAY AROUND?

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND LOOK AT THIS THING HE'S POUNDING WITH.

>> IT'S A MALLET.

>> THIS OLD WOODEN MALLET.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THIS HASN'T CHANGED.

>> NO, NO.

THEY STILL USE--IT'S A MALLET LIKE THIS.

IT'S ALL RAWHIDE.

THIS IS ALL RAWHIDE.

>> WOW.

WHERE DO YOU EVEN GET A MALLET LIKE THIS ANYMORE?

>> THERE ARE SPECIAL TOOL COMPANIES THAT WE CAN STILL BUY THEM FROM.

>> BECAUSE IT'S UNUSUAL ENOUGH JUST TO SEE THIS PLACE, BUT EVEN THE TOOLS THAT THEY USE IN THIS PLACE ARE OLD-TIMEY.

>> YEAH, BUT THERE ARE STILL INDUSTRIES OUT THERE, YES, THAT STILL MAKE THESE OLD-TIME MALLETS.

>> NOW, WHAT DID YOU HAND ME THIS FOR?

>> FOR THE DIFFERENT DESIGNS THAT HE DID.

LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

YOU CAME UP WITH ALL THESE?

>> UH-HUH.

>> BOY, YOU GOT A BUSY LITTLE MIND, DON'T YOU, WHEN IT COMES TO COMING UP-- >> I HAVE TO LOOK AROUND AND GET IDEAS.

>> AND THIS, THIS RIGHT HERE, IS JUST A PICTURE OF A TRUE ARTIST... >> YES.

>> AT WORK.

>> YES.

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> IT SURE IS.

>> WOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE DONE... >> RIGHT, AND WE STILL DO THINGS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE STILL DO EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY HAND.

>> WOW.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE JUST TO STAND HERE AND WATCH HIM WORK, AND YOU MUST LOVE YOUR WORK.

YOU'RE ALLOWED TO BE AN ARTIST EVERY DAY.

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE INTERESTING.

NOW THE SADDLE IS REALLY BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE.

>> YES, THIS IS THE FINISHING DEPARTMENT.

AFTER ALL THE PARTS HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER, THEN HE PUTS ON THE FINISH; LIKE, THE TONE OF THE COLOR YOU WANT.

>> LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

COME AROUND HERE.

LOOK AT--NOW, ALL OF THIS WAS HANDMADE HERE?

>> YES.

ALL THIS EFRON OR RAFAEL TOOLED.

>> LOOK AT THIS, ALL OF THIS WORK.

AND THEN, THIS FELLA-- HIS NAME IS?

>> THIS IS LUPE.

>> HI, LUPE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

HE'S ACTUALLY--LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

HE'S ACTUALLY PUTTING-- IT LOOKS LIKE POLISH.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF OIL AND WATER, AND HE GOES OVER EVERY LITTLE PIECE A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME SO THAT IT ALL ENDS UP ONE EVEN COLOR, BECAUSE SOME PARTS OF THE LEATHER ARE--BECAUSE IT'S A LIVE THING... >> YEAH?

>> ARE SOFTER THAN OTHERS, SO HE CAN'T JUST DUNK IT OR WIPE A BIG STRIP.

HE HAS TO DO IT-- THIS IS NUBUCK.

>> NUBA.

>> NUBUCK, LIKE YOU HAVE ON YOUR SHOES.

LIKE NUBUCK SUEDE.

>> OH, NUBUCK.

SO THIS IS NATURAL, AS WELL.

>> YES, OH, YEAH.

EVERYTHING'S NATURAL.

>> WOW.

>> YEAH, AND SO IT COMES OUT EVEN.

HE CAN ONLY DO A LITTLE PIECE AT A TIME, AND SO IT'S QUITE TIME-- >> SO EVEN SOMETHING AS, ON THE SURFACE, AS SIMPLE AS WAXING OR POLISHING IS VERY IMPORTANT... >> YEAH.

>> AND A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHAIN OF MAKING A SADDLE?

>> TO MAKE IT COME OUT BEAUTIFUL, YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND JUST DO A LITTLE PIECE AT A TIME.

IT'S VERY TIME-CONSUMING.

>> WOW.

THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL, AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE LEANING ON OVER HERE.

LET'S TURN-- >> THIS IS ONE THAT'S DRYING.

HE'S ALREADY DONE ONE LAYER, AND SO HE'S WAITING TO SEE HOW IT DRIES.

>> LOOK AT--IS THIS SILVER?

>> YES, THAT'S SILVER.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

HAVE YOU BEEN UP HERE AND SEEN THIS BEFORE?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I TELL YOU, THE FIRST TIME I WALKED IN HERE, IT WAS WITH MY BUDDY MARTY.

WE WERE WALKING THROUGH AND OUR REACTION WAS, "THIS IS AMAZING.

HUELL'S GOT TO COME DOCUMENT THIS PLACE, THAT THIS EXISTS.

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT AND CAPTURE IT."

>> BECAUSE, REALLY, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS STILL GOING ON ANYWHERE, MUCH LESS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

>> DRIVING AROUND OUT THERE, HOW COULD YOU IMAGINE THIS IS HAPPENING UP HERE?

>> BOY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

>> I KEEP SAYING THIS IS ALL LIKE A PIECE OF ART.

>> IT IS ART.

>> BUT IT REALLY IS, AND THESE ARE ALL ARTISTS DOING THEIR-- >> ALL OF THEM HAVE REALLY SPENT TIME LEARNING ALL THESE DIFFERENT-- >> HONING THEIR SKILL.

>> RIGHT.

>> SEE?

HERE HE GOES, OVER HERE.

[POUNDING] AND AS THIS GOES ON DURING THE DAY-- >> A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, IT'S IN THEIR FAMILY, GENERATIONS.

LIKE, HIS UNCLE WAS A TOOLER.

ARTURO'S UNCLE WAS A LEATHER WORKER.

HIS FAMILY WORKED LEATHER IN MEXICO.

>> STAYS IN THE FAMILY.

>> YEAH, TRADITIONAL.

THAT'S ONE REASON IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO COMPREHEND DOING IT THE OLD WAY.

>> NOW WE'VE MOVED TO A LADY DOING.... >> EDGE-DYEING.

SHE'S PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCH ON THE LEATHER TO GIVE IT A BETTER FINISHED-PRODUCT LOOK WITH THAT DARK EDGE TO IT.

SOME CUSTOMERS WANT DARK EDGE, SOME CUSTOMERS DON'T, YOU KNOW.

>> SEE, THESE JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE FROM THE OLD DAYS, TOO.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

>> "EDGE-DYEING."

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

>> I MEAN, THESE ARE ALL JOBS THAT YOU DON'T EVEN THINK OF WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

>> RIGHT.

AND THEN WE--YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS STILL DONE BY HAND, YOU KNOW.

>> OH, NO, WE'RE GETTING THAT IDEA.

IT'S ALL DONE BY HAND.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

>> ALTHOUGH I HEAR MACHINES BACK HERE.

>> THAT'S STITCHING MACHINES.

>> LET'S GO TO THE STITCHING MACHINES.

I HEAR A MACHINE.

I HEAR A COUPLE OF MACHINES.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> VICENTA.

>> VICENTA.

VICENTA?

>> YES.

THANK YOU.

>> OK, WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY TO THE MACHINES, BUT THIS CAUGHT MY EYE.

WHAT'S THIS FELLA DOING?

>> HE'S HAND-CARVING THE SEAT TO BUILD IT UP BEFORE WE PUT THE SUEDE AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON IT.

>> SEE, HE CAN'T MAKE A MISTAKE, EITHER, BECAUSE HE'S WHITTLING THIS LEATHER DOWN.

>> YES, AND IT'S REALLY SHARP, AND HE HAS TO SHAPE IT SO WHEN YOU SIT IN IT, YOU HAVE A REAL COMFORTABLE, SMOOTH SEAT IN THERE.

>> LET'S SEE WHAT YOU DO HERE.

YOU JUST...

PUT IT... LOOK AT THIS.

OH, BOY.

YOU CAN'T TAKE TOO MUCH OFF.

>> NO, YOU CAN'T.

>> WOW.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

IT'S LIKE HE'S CUTTING BUTTER.

>> I KNOW.

IT LOOKS ORGANIC.

WHAT IS HIS JOB CALLED?

>> HE IS THE SADDLEMAKER.

>> A SADDLEMAKER.

AND YOUR NAME, SIR?

>> REYMONDO MURO.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> SEE, I'VE NEVER MET AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS SADDLEMAKER BEFORE.

THAT'S A VERY HONORABLE PROFESSION.

>> [CHUCKLES] >> GOES WAY BACK.

>> YEAH.

>> HE'S HAMMERING SOMETHING IN THERE.

>> HE'S HAMMERING IN THE NAILS TO SET IT AND MAKE IT LEVEL.

SEE HOW HE'S SEEING TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE SAME ON EACH SIDE?

>> NOW, IS THIS THE NEXT STEP AFTER THE ONE WE SAW WHERE HE'S SHAVING IT?

>> YES, YES.

>> BECAUSE SOMETIMES I GET THE STEPS MIXED UP.

>> NO.

FIRST YOU BUILD THE BOTTOM HALF, THEN NOW HE'S DOING THE TOP.

>> WOW.

NOW, IS HE A SADDLEMAKER AS WELL?

>> OH, YES.

OH, YES.

>> YOUR NAME, SIR?

>> RAMON, RAMON.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT-- SADDLEMAKERS SPECIALIZE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PROCESS?

>> NO, THEY BOTH DO EVERYTHING.

THESE ARE BOTH TWO MASTER SADDLEMAKERS.

>> AH.

>> THEY'RE THE BEST THERE IS.

>> WE FOUND A MACHINE, BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, EVEN THE MACHINE IS OLD-TIMEY.

HOW OLD IS THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT?

>> IT'S 1921.

>> REALLY?

WOW!

>> THESE WERE SHOE MACHINES ORIGINALLY.

THEY WERE DESIGNED TO MAKE SHOES, AND THEN THEY JUST GOT INCORPORATED INTO THE WESTERN, ENGLISH [INDISTINCT].

>> SO WHAT IS HE--HIS NAME IS?

>> FELIPE.

>> FELIPE.

HELLO, FELIPE.

>> HELLO.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING HERE?

>> UH, I GOT 10 YEARS.

>> 10 YEARS?

>> UH-HUH.

>> IS THIS WHAT YOU DO?

IS THIS YOUR JOB?

>> UH-HUH.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

EVERY--HE'S DOING LITTLE STITCHES.

WOW.

AND THEN HE CUTS THE STRING.

WOW.

EVERY SINGLE THING.

>> SEE, AND HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO COME AROUND THE CORNERS, MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENT ANGLES, WHEREAS THAT ONE IS JUST MORE STRAIGHT STITCHING.

HE DOES ALL THE, LIKE, SPECIAL CURVINGS.

>> DID YOU EVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, AND THE PIECE OF THE MACHINERY OR EQUIPMENT THAT HE'S USING-- >> FROM THE TWENTIES.

IT USED TO BE IN A SHOE SHOP.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SEE, MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

THIS IS THE WAY YOU ALL LIVE YOUR LIVES-- >> YES, IT IS.

>> BUT MOST OF US HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS.

>> YEAH, WELL, THIS IS ANTIQUES, LIKE WE'RE ANTIQUES HERE.

THIS WHOLE BUILDING IS AN ANTIQUE, BUT WE'RE STILL HERE... >> HA!

>> MAKING EVERYTHING THE OLD AMERICAN WAY.

>> THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> EVEN THE MACHINE'S OLD-FASHIONED.

NOW, PATRICIA'S PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE LEATHER AS WELL.

>> SHE'S PUTTING ON AN ACRYLIC FINISH THAT KEEPS IT CLEAN, KEEPS IT SHINY UNTIL THE PERSON BUYS IT AND USES IT.

>> IS THIS THE FINAL STOP?

>> THIS IS THE FINAL STOP, AND THEN SHE PUTS ALL THE BUCKLES ON, ASSEMBLES EVERYTHING, GETS IT TAGGED--EVERYTHING SO IT'S STORE-READY OR TO THE PERSON IT WAS ORDERED FOR.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS ALL SILVER THAT SHE'S GOING TO CLEAN AND GET READY TO GO TO THE CUSTOMER.

>> OH, MY GOSH!

>> THESE ARE ALL SPECIALIZED-- >> THIS IS LIKE A TREASURE TROVE.

>> OH, YEAH, IT'S FUN.

>> I MEAN, THESE ARE EXPENSIVE, AREN'T THEY?

>> YES, THEY ARE.

>> SO WHO BUYS THIS STUFF?

FAMOUS HORSEPEOPLE OR-- >> EVERYDAY AND FAMOUS.

>> SO YOU HAVE JOCKEYS, YOU HAVE-- >> WE HAVE JOCKEYS, WE HAVE REGULAR PEOPLE WHO RIDE IN THEIR BACKYARD ON $10,000 SADDLES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE GO TO SHOWS THAT SHOW AND WANT TO COMPETE AND LOOK BEAUTIFUL ALL THE TIME.

>> THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR ME.

THIS HAS BEEN BOY, YOU ALL HAVE HIT THE JACKPOT.

>> WE THINK SO.

>> WOW!

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK ALL OF THE WORKERS.

WE'LL BE SURE AND LET YOU KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO BE ON TELEVISION.

AND THANK YOU ALL, FOR BRINGING ME HERE.

NOW HERE'S THE KICKER: WE WERE GOING TO GO TO TWO PLACES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WE'RE STILL GOING TO GO TO PLACE NUMBER TWO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A 30-MINUTE SHOW OUT OF THAT AS WELL BECAUSE ONCE WE GOT IN HERE, THIS IS WORTH ITS OWN PROGRAM RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY--YOU ALL GET AN "A."

>> THANK YOU.

WE'RE SO GLAD.

>> I SAY IT'S THE STUFF OF CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.

>> BOY, IT REALLY IS.

THIS IS CALIFORNIA'S GOLD RIGHT HERE IN THE--COME AROUND HERE, CAMERON, SO THAT WE END UP WITH THIS SHOT LOOKING OUT AT THIS WONDERFUL FACTORY.

AND, AGAIN, AS WE SAID OUTSIDE BEFORE WE CAME IN HERE, THE BEAUTY OF THIS PART OF TOWN IS THAT YOU'D NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THESE BUILDINGS.

>> YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT'S HERE.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN HERE HOW MANY YEARS?

>> 23.

>> 19.

>> AND NOBODY KNEW YOU WERE HERE.

>> NO.

>> HA HA HA!

WELL, THEY KNOW NOW.

WE ALL KNOW NOW, THANKS TO OUR NEW FRIENDS WHO BROUGHT US HERE TODAY AND INTRODUCED US.

THE NAME OF THE PLACE IS... >> CHAMPION TURF EQUIPMENT.

>> CHAMPION TURF EQUIPMENT.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME IN CALIFORNIA.

>> 45 YEARS.

>> WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY VISITING THIS BIT OF OLD CALIFORNIA RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

I HOPE YOU HAVE HAD AS MUCH FUN AND HAVE BEEN AS EDUCATED AND INFORMED AND AMAZED AS I HAVE BEEN TODAY.

SEEING THESE CRAFTSMEN, THESE ARTESIANS, AT WORK, MAKING SADDLES, MAKING BRIDLES, MAKING-- >> REINS.

>> REINS.

>> RACE EQUIPMENT.

>> ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH HORSES-- >> AND LEATHER, YEAH.

>> AND LEATHER, THEY MAKE IT HERE.

WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org] >> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.