(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'S 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.

♪ ♪ (Don) DEAR TV MAILBAG, I TAKE IT BACK.

I'M NOT THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS.

HI; DON THE CAMERA GUY HERE, WATCHING IN AMAZEMENT.

THIS TOGA-CLAD TITAN ONCE GUARDED THE GATES OF PRIME TIME TILL THESE TV WEASELS SNUCK BY.

NOW HE'S BEEN REDUCED TO TOTING THEIR ROOF RACK.

ACTUALLY, THERE IS A POINT TO ALL THIS, AND THAT POINT IS GETTING ENOUGH STUFF ON TOP OF OUR CRAMPED CHRYSLER MINIVAN TO FIT YOURS TRULY IN THE BACK.

AND IT APPEARS THE PLAN IS WORKING, PROVING ONES AGAIN THAT THIS GUYS ARE LUCKIER THAN THEY ARE GOOD.

THOUGH OUT HERE, IT ALSO APPEARS THAT CLIMATICALLY SPEAKING, WE'VE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS WITH WHICH TO CONTEND.

SEE THE RAIN?

(Mike) IT'S POURING.

(Randy) IT 'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE OUR FIRST STOP, DON, IS AT A PLACE WHERE THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BOAT.

(Don) A BOAT?

A GUY IN COLUMBIA WHO HAS A MOAT.

(Mike) IRONICALLY, THOUGH, THE RAINING WEATHER MIGHT KEEP US FROM SHOOTING THAT.

(Randy) DI D YOU SEE THE IRONY?

(Don) NOT, NOT REALLY.

BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO, EXCEPT EXAMPLE SOME OF THE LOCAL SNACK FOODS AND HOPE THAT WE CATCH A BREAK IN COLUMBIA?

HERE IS ONE FOR YOU TOO.

(Don) AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW... THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT GREG LAUNHARDT HAS BEEN HOPING FOR AS WELL.

SEEMS THAT CITY OFFICIAL AREN'T NEARLY AS ENTHUSED AS GREG IS ABOUT ARTISTICALLY TRANSFORMING HIS YARD, USING ROCKS AND WATER, PLENTY OF HARD LABOR, AND A VIVID IMAGINATION.

(Greg) YOU WENT TO SIT ON YOUR FRONT PORCH, AND YOU DECIDE, "WELL, YOU KNOW, I'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE "MORE OF A, YOU KNOW, SECLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

I DON'T WANT TO LOOK IN MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE."

I HATE TO SAY IT SO BLUNTLY, BUT-- (Randy) WELL, AND THIS IS GOING BE A FOUNTAIN.

(Greg) WILL BE A FOUNTAIN AND THEN THE-- THE WATER WILL RUN DOWN ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE BERM AND COME ROUND HERE AND THEN RUN AROUND BACK.

AND THEN I'LL HAVE MY CATCHMENT POND, WHICH IF I-- (Randy) KETCHUP POND?

CATCHMENT POND.

SEE, EVENTUALLY I WANT TO HAVE A SWIMMING POOL RIGHT HERE.

I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO GET INTO SOME KIND OF STONE ARCH BRIDGE UP HERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT.

(Mike) ISN'T THAT GREAT?

LOOK AT THAT SIDEWALK.

(Don) FINE PIECE OF BRIC-A-BRAC.

(Greg) I AM PRETTY GOOD ABOUT SALVAGING THINGS, YOU KNOW.

THEY'RE TEARING DOWN SOME HOUSES OVER BY STEVENS COLLEGE.

I WAS RACING THE DUMP TRUCKS TO GET THE BRICKS AND STUFF.

I ALWAYS WAS A DIGGER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PAINTING.

GOTTA WORK THE BOTTOM LAYERS FIRST BEFORE YOU GO ON THE TOP, AND YOU GOT TO WORK THE WHOLE THING ALL AT ONCE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T JUST WORK IN ONE LITTLE PART OF THE PAINTING, OR ELSE IT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.

YOU KNOW IF YOU CHANGE ONE THING ALL THE WAY AROUND, YOU GOT TO CHANGE IT ALL.

JUST--JUST GOT TO KIND OF ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES, YOU KNOW.

I HAVE RUN INTO A LOT OF LEGAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE YARD.

SEVERAL ARRESTS.

I'VE HAD A WARRANT OUT FOR MY ARREST A COUPLE OF TIMES, BECAUSE AT A CERTAIN POINT, I JUST REALLY COULDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY ANYMORE.

IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH HARASSMENT.

I COULDN'T OPEN THEIR LETTERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

OH, I HAD A STACK OF THEM.

(Randy) I THINK THEY WANT YOU TO OPEN THOSE LETTERS, YOU KNOW.

(Greg) EVENTUALLY I PAID THE PRICE FOR THAT.

(Randy) I WAS REALLY EXPECTING BIG WATER IN THE MOAT.

YOU KNOW, IN A PERFECT WORLD, I'D BE SEEING BIG WATER IN THE MOAT, RIGHT?

MY LAWYER TOLD ME NOT TO MENTION THE "M" WORD.

AND I HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS A MOAT-LIKE THEME THAT KIND OF GREW INTO A MOAT.

BUT REALLY I'M NOT BUILDING A MOAT.

HANG ON.

(Don) WHEN HE'S NOT DIGGIN' DIRT OR HAULING ROCKS AROUND WITH CHAINS, GREG SAYS HE ENJOYS A SPIRITED GAME OF CROQUET IN THE YARD.

BUT NOT TODAY, SINCE MOTHER NATURE IS PLAYING ANOTHER KIND OF HARDBALL WITH US, MEANING THAT IT'S EVEN SLOWER GOING THAN USUAL IN ST. LOUIS.

AND NO, WE DEFINITELY WON'T BE SHOOTING THE ARCH TODAY.

IN FACT, THE GOING IS SO SLOW THAT BY THE TIME WE MADE ILLINOIS OUR DAYLIGHT WAS DONE.

AND WHILE I'M ALMOST ALWAYS IN THE DARK ABOUT OUR DESTINATION, TONIGHT THAT SEEMS ESPECIALLY TRUE.

BUT AS USUAL, I'M SURE I'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH.

[knock at door] [cow moos] [dishes clanking] [acoustic guitar] ♪ ♪ ♪ I LOOK AT THE CLOCK, ♪ ♪ AND I SEE IT IS EARLY.

♪ ♪ (Don) SORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT SPENDING A NIGHT IN THE GEORGE ROOM MAKES A GUY GIDDY.

GEORGE'S SISTER, LOUISE HARRISON, REALLY DID LIVE RIGHT HERE, IN BENTON, ILLINOIS, BACK IN 1963, WHEN GEORGE PAID A VISIT, JUST MONTHS BEFORE BEATLEMANIA BROKE OUT IN FULL.

NOW IT'S BEEN REBORN AS A HARD DAY'S NITE BED AND BREAKFAST, SERVING UP MOP-TOP MEMORABILIA AND A MORNING MEAL OF COFFEE AND TEA, KRUELLERS, AND A TOP OF THE POPS CROP OF TOASTER PASTRIES.

(Don) ♪ STRAWBERRY POP-TARTS FOREVER.

♪ ♪ (Randy) ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, WHEN GEORGE WAS IN TOWN, YOU DIDN'T FIGURE YOU'D BE HANDING OUT COFFEE TO SOME TV WEASEL BECAUSE OF IT, DID YOU?

NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

ACTUALLY I WAS A MINING ENGINEER AND WORKED FOR A MINING COMPANY WHEN GEORGE WAS HERE.

GEORGE AND HIS BROTHER ACTUALLY STAYED IN THIS LITTLE ROOM IN THE BACK.

THERE IS A TURNTABLE IN THERE THAT WAS FROM WFRX RADIO STATION IN WEST FRANKFORT, WHERE THE FIRST BEATLE RECORD IN THE UNITED STATES WAS EVER PLAYED.

IT WAS ONLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER THAT THEY WERE ON ED SULLIVAN, AND OF COURSE FROM THERE, EVERYBODY HEARD OF THE BEATLES.

(Randy) DID GEORGE EVER SLEEP ON THAT COUCH?

(James) THAT COUCH IS FROM LOUISE HARRISON'S NEW YORK APARTMENT.

SHE SAID THE BEATLES, WHEN THEY'D COME INTO NEW YORK, WOULD COME TO HER PLACE.

AND THEY DID SIT ON IT.

BUT SHE SAID NO, HE NEVER REALLY STAYED OVERNIGHT.

GEORGE DID PLAY WITH A LITTLE GROUP CALLED THE FOUR VESTS IN A CLUB IN EL DORADO, WHICH IS A SMALL TOWN JUST EAST OF HERE.

(Randy) GOOD?

GREAT.

DID GEORGE LOOK LIKE THIS SHIRT WHEN HE WAS HERE?

(James) WE LL, LET ME ACTUALLY SH OW YOU.

THIS WAS TAKEN THE YEAR THAT HE WAS HERE, IN THE FALL.

BUT IT WAS NOT TAKEN IN THE UNITED STATES; IT WAS TAKEN IN EUROPE.

SO THAT'S WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE WHEN HE WAS HERE.

(Randy) ALL RIGHT, NOW, HERE'S THE REAL TOUGH QUESTION.

DID GEORGE OR ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEATLES HAVE A BIG BALL OF VIDEOTAPE?

NO, THEY DID NOT HAVE A BIG BALL OF VIDEOTAPE.

I WAS JUST CHECKING, BECAUSE WE DO.

(Mike) SOMEDAY YOU MIGHT CHANGE THIS BED AND BREAKFAST TO THE BIG BALL OF VIDEOTAPE.

PLACE WHERE THE WORLD'S LARGEST BALL OF VIDEOTAPE SPENT THE NIGHT.

(woman) SAT IN THIS CHAIR.

(Mike) YEAH, IT SAT RIGHT THERE.

(Don) I WOULDN'T HOLD MY BREATH ABOUT THAT.

SO SENSING THAT WE'D JUST ABOUT WORN OUT OUR WELCOME, WE BID BENTON ADIEU AND SET SAIL FOR SALEM, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE HOMETOWN OF WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, BUT THAT HAS NO BEARING WHATSOEVER ON WHY WE'RE HEADED THERE.

FRANKLY, WE'RE HEADED FOR SALEM BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID WE SHOULD SO WE COULD SEE SOMETHING IN SOMEBODY'S YARD.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR THESE GUYS.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.

LOOKS LIKE A CAR LOT.

(Don) IT IS A CAR LOT, AND ITS OWNER LIVES NEXT DOOR IN A HOUSE THAT COMES COMPLETE WITH-- AND YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR THIS ONE-- A BUMPER CROP.

(Richard) I GOT THE IDEA--I'D SEEN ALL THEM CADILLACS OUT IN TEXAS OUT AT THAT CADILLAC RANCH.

(Mike) YEAH, IN AMARILLO.

(Richard) WELL, I'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S HOW I COME UP WITH THIS IDEA, AND I STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND RIGHT NOW, I GOT 337 OF 'EM PLANTED.

AND I GOT SOME MORE BUMPER SEEDS.

I'M GOING TO MAKE 'EM A LITTLE THICKER ONE OF THIS DAYS.

I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING: SOME MUSTANGS, SOME MODEL "As" IN THERE, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

THERE'S EVEN A BIG PETERBILT BUMPER OVER THERE.

THESE ARE JUST TWO YEARS OLD.

THEY ARE TOO EARLY TO HARVEST.

TOO YOUNG; YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY BUMPER BEFORE ITS TIME.

(Richard) I'M GOING BE RICH ONE OF THESE DAYS.

IF THIS THINGS WOULD WORK, YOU KNOW.

I GOT THIS GUARD HERE.

HE KEEPS TRACK OF THEM WHEN I'M GONE.

NOBODY WILL BE CARRYING THEM OFF.

EVERYBODY FINDS OUT ABOUT THESE CHROME BUMPERS, THEY WANT TO STEAL THEM.

SO HE SITS THERE AND GUARDS THEM FOR ME ALL THE TIME.

I SEE YOU GOT AN INTERESTING MOWER THERE.

YEAH, THAT'S MY HOT ROD.

I TAKE THAT TO CAR SHOWS AND CRUISE-INS.

[musical horn] A MUSICAL HORN.

IT'S GOT A FLAME THROWER.

IT SHOOTS OUT FIRE.

[engine roars] LOT OF TIMES IN A PARADE, I'LL SIT IN HERE AND PUT CANDY IN THERE AND THROW THE CANDY OUT, AND THE KIDS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

[engine roars] HERE IS MY BELL WAGON.

A BELL.

[bell ringing] BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE I'M A KID.

I'M 69 YEARS OLD.

I GOT KID IDEAS SOMETIMES.

(Don) YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE, BUT YOU CAN BE IMMATURE FOREVER.

WELL, THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.

EVERYBODY AROUND HERE THINKS, "WELL, POOR GUY.

"KIND OF LOSING HIS MIND.

PLANTING AND GROWING BUMPERS BACK THERE."

(Mike) AND THEY'D BE RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE.

[Richard laughs] YEAH.

[laughter] (Randy) HOW ARE THE BUMPERS ON CHRYSLER MINIVANS?

NOT REALLY GOOD.

THEY'RE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND RUBBER.

AND THE BUGS DON'T EVEN LIKE THEM.

BASICALLY IT'S JUST A PIECE OF...YOU KNOW.

PEACE OF CRAP.

(Don) BUMPER CROP.

THIS IS BUMPER CRAP.

[laughter] (Don) SAD TO SAY, WE DID NOT TRADE UP WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE.

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE WERE WHIZZING ALONG THE OPEN ROAD, WHICH CLOSED UP RATHER QUICKLY ONCE SOMEONE NOTICED HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO OLNEY.

OLNEY, YOU SEE, IS ONE OF SEVERAL AMERICAN CITIES LAYING CLAIM TO THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF WHITE SQUIRREL CAPITAL, THE SEARCH FOR WHICH PROMPTED THIS IMPROMPTU OUTBURST IN JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE.

WHERE'S THE WHITE SQUIRRELS?

AT THE PARK.

AT THE PARK.

(Randy) WHICH PARK?

RIGHT THERE.

(Mike) THE WHITE SQUIRREL PARK?

CAN YOU SEE IT?

(Randy) THOUSANDS OF THEM?

NOT THOUSANDS OF THEM.

(Don) THIS IS NO WAY TO FIND WHITE SQUIRRELS OR EVEN WHITE SQUIRREL SOUVENIR STANDS, SO WE OPTED OUT OF OLNEY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, FIGURING FOR SOME REASON THAT INDIANA WANTS US, VINCENNES IN PARTICULAR, SINCE AFTER ALL, THEY PUT THIS GIANT FRUIT OUT BY THE ROAD, JUST TO LURE US IN.

BUT WE COULD NOT BE LURED FOR LONG, NOT KNOWING, AS WE DO, THAT JUST DOWN THE ROAD, ONE JOHN IVERS HAS BUILT HIS OWN BACKYARD ROLLER COASTER, A BLUE FLASH THAT LITERALLY LOOPS ITS LOOP RIGHT THERE BY THE BARN.

[roller coaster rattling] YEAH, I JUST KIND OF IMAGINED HOW I WANTED IT TO LOOK AND WHERE WE WANTED IT TO GO AROUND THE YARD.

AND I KNEW I HAD THE MATERIALS.

[rattling] (Mike) SO IS THAT A GREMLIN CAR SEAT?

WHAT IS THAT?

(John) A FRIEND OF MINE GOT IT FOR ME.

I THINK IT WAS OUT OF, LIKE, A SUNBIRD OR, YOU KNOW, SUNFIRE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE SEAT BELT COME FROM A BULLDOZER, SOME NICE, WIDE-- ABOUT FOUR-INCH-WIDE BELTS.

BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL ABOUT SAFETY, RIGHT?

(John) OH, YEAH, YEAH.

IT'S A SAFE RIDE, YOU KNOW.

THE CAR HAS THREE WHEELS AROUND: ONE TOP AND ON THE SIDE AND ON THE BOTTOM, TO KEEP ON THE TRACK.

THERE'S NO WAY IT CAN COME OFF THE TRACK.

[rattling] I'VE HEARD OF HOMEMADE ROLLER COASTERS BEFORE.

BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD ONE MADE OUT OF STEEL.

AND I NEVER HEARD OF ONE THAT HAD A LOOP IN IT.

(Randy) GOES OVER A BAR.

(John) THAT RUNS CONTINOUSLY.

I'M SO PLEASED THAT THE RIDE COME OUT WORKING THE WAY IT DOES.

IT'S GREAT, YOU KNOW.

I JUST WOULDN'T IMAGINE THAT IT'D EVER WORK THIS GOOD.

THERE'S SO MUCH TROUBLE IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH COVERAGE ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING FUN.

(Randy) LE T ME SHAKE YOUR HAND FO R THAT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW-- SO HAVING FUN IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS THING FROM THE GET-GO, SO LET'S HAVE SOME FUN.

(Don) BY THAT, I THINK HE MEANS SOMEONE IS GOING TO TAKE A RIDE.

BUT IT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE THE WIMPY CARSICK ONE, WHICH LEAVES THE MAN OF THE WORLD.

SURE ENOUGH, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, MIKE WAS STRAPPING IN, HOLDING ON, AND COMING DOWN FAST.

[rattling] THESE FEW THRILLING SECONDS HAVE HURTLED MIKE INTO HOOSIER HISTORY, AND HE'S GOT HIS NAME IN THE BOOK TO PROVE IT.

(Mike) "RIDE AT YOUR OWN"--YOU DIDN'T MENTION ANY OF THIS.

(Don) NOW, JOHN DOES SAY HIS FIRST COASTER WILL NOT BE HIS LAST.

IN FACT, HE'S GOT PLANS TO PUT ONE OF THESE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

HAVE SOME FUN.

GO RIDE A ROLLER COASTER.

[rattling] (Don) SO WHILE MR.

RIGHT STUFF NURSED HIS ACHING NECK, WE WANDERED DEEPER INTO THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN INDIANA DOWN TREE-LINED ROADS THAT EVENTUALLY SPIT US OUT IN OOLITIC, HOME TO A FINE LIMESTONE STATUE THAT STANDS IN PERPETUAL TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S FAVORITE BIG LUG.

(Mike) LOOK AT THAT: JOE PALOOKA, MAN.

NOW, HE WAS A CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY.

SOME MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS.

AND HE'S WEARING KIND OF THOSE, THOSE WORK BOOTS WI TH--WITH THOSE LEG WARMER KIND OF SOCKS LI KE THE FLASHDANCE.

(Mike) TH EY WERE POPULAR DURING TH E FLASHDANCE ERA.

(Randy) I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS OKAY OR NOT.

(Mike) LO OK AT THE RIB CAGE.

SOMETHING'S MISPROPORTIONED THERE.

WHICH ONE OF THE BEATLES WAS HE?

(Don) MISINFORMATION IS FLYING FAST AND FURIOUS, AND THERE'S NO ONE AROUND TO CORRECT IT.

WHAT'S MORE, MIKE LOOKS LIKE HE'S ABOUT TO PUT THE "P" BACK IN PALOOKA.

SO COLOR US OUT OF HERE AND INTO ANOTHER STATE BY SUNDOWN.

KENTUCKY, HERE WE COME.

[engine revving] SOMETIMES, FINDING WORLD LARGESTS IS MORE DIFFICULT THAT YOU'D THINK.

NOT SO, THOUGH, IN LOUISVILLE, WHERE THE BIG BAT REACHES FOR THE SKY RIGHT DOWN ON MAIN STREET, JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE FOUND THIS FLOCK OF FINNS, PLAYFUL PIECES OF PUBLIC ART MADE IN METAL TO REPLICATE THE WORKS IN WOOD THAT FOLK ARTIST MARVIN FINN HAS BEEN DOING HERE SINCE THE 1940s.

(Marvin) MY DAD USED TO MAKE HAMMER HANDLES, AXE HANDLES, WALKING CANES, AND I NEVER WAS FASCINATED OVER THAT.

I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED OVER A TOY.

BUT THERE'S WHERE I GOT MY WHITTLING FROM.

AIRPLANES, CATERPILLARS, BIRDS-- THERE'S EVERYTHING.

(Randy) DID YOU HAVE LESSONS?

DID SOMEONE TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE THESE THINGS?

NO, GOOD LORD TEACHES ME THAT EVERY NIGHT.

AS THE DAYS PASS BY, I'M GONNA GET UP AND MAKE SOMETHING, JUST A LITTLE BIRD OR SOMETHING.

(Randy) WHERE DID YOU FIND THE STUFF TO MAKE IT WITH?

(Marvin) LUMBERYARDS AND STUFF.

I GO AROUND ASKING PEOPLE FOR DIFFERENT JUNK, MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

(Randy) WELL, YOU WORK IN YOUR KITCHEN, RIGHT?

(Marvin) I LITTLE PLACE IN THERE ABOUT BIG ENOUGH TO WHOOP A TOMCAT.

(Don) BUT NO TOMCATS WERE WHOOPED IN THERE, RIGHT?

NO.

AVERAGE PERSON LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HERE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.

JUST SOMETHING I WAS BORN WITH.

AND I ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

I JUST ENJOY MEETING PEOPLE.

(Randy) YOU MUST BE 84 OR '5 YEARS OLD BY NOW.

(Marvin) GOING ON 85.

(Randy) HOW DOES 85 FEELS MOST DAYS?

WELL, I STILL FEEL LIKE A YOUNG MAN MOST OF THE TIME.

(Randy) GOT ANY TIPS FOR US WHEN WE GOT TO BE ABOUT 85?

[laughs] WELL, YOU DON'T DRINK, DO YOU?

(Randy) NO.

TOO MUCH.

WELL, THAT WILL GET YOU.

(Randy) I DRINK COFFEE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

WELL, COFFEE'S ALL RIGHT.

(Don) NOW, THAT'S MUSIC TO RANDY'S EARS.

HE LOVES COFFEE MUCH THE SAME WAY SOME FOLKS LOVE CHICKEN, WHICH HELPS EXPLAIN WHY WE FIND OURSELVES IN CAVE PARK CEMETERY FOLLOWING A YELLOW LINE TO THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF THE MAN WE NEED ONLY CALL COLONEL.

(Mike) THERE WAS KENTUCKY FRIED PIGEONS.

THERE WAS KENTUCKY FRIED PEAS.

THERE WAS KENTUCKY FRIED POSSUM.

NONE OF THEM WENT ANYWHERE.

THEN THE COLONEL HIT KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN.

WE JUST SQUABBLE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE MAN WHO CHANGED CHICKEN FOREVER.

(Don) HE CHANGED CHICKEN, BUT HE SELDOM CHANGED THE GREASE.

[laughter] (Don) AND SPEAKING OF FOWL, IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE MINORS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR THING IN LOUISVILLE, AS EVIDENCED BY THIS COOL NEW STADIUM IN FRONT OF WHICH WE FELT COMPELLED TO PLAY SOME QUICK CATCH, INSPIRED BY PEE WEE HIMSELF TO MAKE A FEW FEEBLE ATTEMPTS AT TURNING TWO.

KIDS, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

NOW, RECREATIONALLY SPEAKING, THESE PART ARE FAR BETTER KNOWN FOR THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE SPORT OF KINGS, WHICH HELPS ACCOUNT FOR ALL THESE FINE FENCES AND CONDOMINIUM-SIZED BARNS THAT DOT THE COUNTRYSIDE.

BUT HOLD THE PHONE AND HANG ONTO YOUR HATS.

HERE JUST OUTSIDE LEXINGTON, WE SPOTTED WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A CINDER BLOCK CASTLE, ONE THAT WE'RE APPARENTLY NOT ALL THAT WELCOME AT.

HELLO, HELLO.

YOU NEED YOUR LAWN MOWED?

WOW.

WHAT IF THERE'S JUST, LIKE, A DOUBLE-WIDE BEHIND ALL THAT?

[acoustic guitar] NICE KNOCKERS.

NO, SUPPOSEDLY A REALLY WEALTHY GUY BUILT THIS OR HAD IT BUILT FOR HIS YOUNG WIFE.

ISSUES AROSE BETWEEN THEM, AND SHE LEFT HIM, AND HE ABANDONED IT.

AND APPARENTLY TRESPASSING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

I HOPE THAT SHOOTING THING'S REALLY JUST FOLKLORE.

(Don) LEST WE END UP WITH OUR HEADS ON A PIKE OR BOILED IN OIL, WE PUT OUR CURIOSITY ASIDE AND OUR BUNS BACK IN THE VAN AND HEADED TO LEXINGTON PROPER IN SEARCH OF BONDURANTS, THE WORLD'S ONLY PHARMACY SHAPED LIKE THIS.

HI.

WE NEED SOME PAIN MEDICATION.

AND CAN WE SUPER-SIZE THAT?

(man) HALF THE PRICE.

(Don) THEY'RE CLOSED ON SUNDAY, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS INCREDIBLE SIMULATION INSTEAD.

[man speaking unintelligibly through speaker] (Don) IT IS NOT JUST THE SHAPE THAT MAKES BONDURANT'S SO REVOLUTIONARY.

INSIDE THEY'VE GOT FANCY MECHANICAL ARMS TO FETCH PHARMACEUTICALS WITH SPEED AND PRECISION.

(Randy) I FEEL BETTER ALREADY.

(Don) AND CALL IT COINCIDENCE, BUT RIGHT HERE IN LEXINGTON, AT OUR FINAL STOP OF THE DAY, WE FOUND AN ARTIST WHOSE WORK IS FULL OF GEARS AND LEVERS AND WHEELS THAT TURN.

STEVE ARMSTRONG STARTS WITH SKETCHES LIKE THESE THAT TURN INTO MINIATURE MECHANICAL MARVELS LIKE THESE.

(Steve) SPIN AROUND.

(Don) AND THE ONLY TRAINING HE HAD WAS 30 YEARS OF TEACHING IN MONTESSORI SCHOOLS.

(Steve) A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I DO NOW OBVIOUSLY COMES OUT OF THOSE YEARS THAT I SPENT TEACHING.

I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A HANDLE ON WHAT MAKES THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN TICK, WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH, WHAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT MY PIECES HAVE TO PASS THAT KID'S TEST BEFORE THEY GET SHOWN.

THIS PIECE, IT'S ABOUT CHILDHOOD FEARS.

AND OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT THE BEETLE WITH ITS SPIKES AND CLAWS.

THEN IF I MIGHT, IT OPENS UP TO REVEAL MORE SCARY STUFF INSIDE.

THIS PIECE IS MAYBE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT I TRY TO DO OR SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO DO, WHICH IS GET AS MUCH MOVEMENT OUT OF AS SIMPLE A MECHANISM AS POSSIBLE.

(Mike) LEVER-BUILDING SCHOOL OR GEAR-BUILDING SCHOOL.

(Steve) NO, THIS IS-- THIS IS HOW I LEARNED.

AND THE MORE I LEARNED ABOUT THE SIMPLE MECHANISM, THE MORE I FELT AND CLIMBED TO STRETCH MYSELF A LITTLE BIT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFICULT THINGS.

ALMOST EVERYTHING I MAKE IS OUT OF YELLOW POPLAR.

IT'S A WOOD THAT'S FOUND LOCALLY.

IT'S EASY TO CARVE, BUT IT'S STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD QUITE A BIT OF DETAIL.

EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU GET LUCKY, AND THINGS JUST FALL RIGHT INTO PLACE, AND IT WORKS THE VERY FIRST TIME.

BUT MORE TIMES THAN NOT, IT'S A TRIAL-AND-ERROR THING.

THEY'RE STILL VERY SIMPLE, VERY PRIMITIVE.

AND I DON'T MIND THAT.

I KIND OF LIKE THE KLUNKINESS OF IT A LITTLE BIT AND THE NOISE THAT IT MAKES.

[rattling] (Mike) IS THERE A STORY HERE?

(Steve) WELL, I STARTED WITH THE IDEA OF THE BIRD AND THE--THE MECHANISM TO MAKE THE WINGS FLAP.

AND I JUST FELT LIKE IT NEEDED SOMETHING EXTRA, SO I ADDED THE MONKEYS.

[rattling] (Steve) THIS IS THE SNAKE HANDLERS, AND IT'S GOT--IT GOT A MECHANISM INSIDE THAT ENABLES ME TO GET AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING AT ONCE.

CAT CHASES THE DOG, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS IN MY PIECES.

SKELETON POINTS TO THE BIBLE VERSE.

AND THE PREACHER'S GOT A COPPERHEAD IN HIS HAND.

AND THIS GENTLEMAN IS FANNING THE WOMAN THAT'S FAINTED.

THERE'S ALWAYS KIND OF A DARK HUMOR TO THE WORK.

BUT I HOPE I STOP SHORT OF BEING OFFENSIVE.

I DON'T WANT THE PIECES TO LOOK OLD, BUT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ELEMENT.

I THINK IT COMES OUT OF THIS DESIRE TO MAKE SOMETHING LOOK TIMELESS.

(Randy) LOOKS LIKE A OLD TOY BOX TO ME, SOMETHING THAT IN A WEIRD DREAM YO U MIGHT PULL OUT AND DO THAT.

WHAT A COOL THING IF IT WOULD.

WELL, YOU ARE TAPPING INTO THE VERY THING THAT MOTIVATES ME.

GOOD FOR YOU.

(Randy) IT 'S THE COFFEE.

IT'S THE COFFEE, IT'S THE COFFEE.

COFFEE.

HE LIKES COFFEE.

TAPPING ME INTO.

(Don) TALK ABOUT TAPPING, YOU MIGHT NOTICE HOW THIS NOISY OLD DEVIL BEARS MORE THAN A PASSING RESEMBLANCE TO ITS BEARDED MAKER, WHO, JUST FOR THE RECORD, DOES ON OCCASION STOP THINKING LIKE A TEACHER.

NOTHING MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID, EXCEPT THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNING OFF.

[acoustic guitar] (female announcer) OWN A COPY OF THE COMPANION BOOK TO RARE VISIONS, COMPLETE WITH TIPS ON WHERE TO FIND FOOD, FUN, AND FASCINATING FOLKS.

IT'S JUST LIKE THE TV SHOW, ONLY IT DOESN'T MOVE.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTISTS, WACKY SITES, AND HOW YOU CAN SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF, GO TO: KCPT.ORG Captioning provided by KCPT Television.

Captioning by Veronica atCaptionMax www.captionmax.com AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S NOT REALLY A LITTLE KIDDIE RIDE.

NO.

HELL, THAT THING WAS MOVING.

THE YOUNGEST-- THAT THING WAS-- EXCUSE ME, DO YOU HAVE A BATHROOM?

I HAVE TO GO.

[laughter] (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.