Announcer: VISITING...WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... Huell Howser: WELL, HERE WE ARE IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN ALHAMBRA, AND WE HAVE COME BACK FOR AN UPDATE.

WE ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM AND CANDY STORE HERE.

I'M STANDING WITH JOHN AND CHRIS FOSSELMAN.

WE FIRST MET HOW MANY YEARS AGO, FELLAS?

John Fosselman: HUELL, IT WAS 1990, 14 YEARS AGO, AND ABOUT 50 POUNDS FOR ME.

Huell: WE CAME HERE TO DO A VIDEOLOG, AN OLD VIDEOLOG ON YOUR FAMILY'S ICE CREAM, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE... John: 1919, OUR 85th YEAR.

Huell: 1919.

NOW, FELLAS, I LOOKED AT THAT OLD VIDEOLOG A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO TO KIND OF REFRESH MY MEMORY, AND I KIND OF WINCED WHEN I SAW IT.

John: THE GOOD OLD DAYS, HUH, HUELL?

FOR YOU AND ME BOTH, I THINK.

Huell: 14 YEARS AGO.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN 14 YEARS, AND IN A FUNNY KIND OF WAY, IT'S KIND OF SHOCKING TO SEE WHAT WE LOOKED LIKE THAT MANY YEARS AGO, SO HERE WE ARE.

WE'RE GONNA RE-AIR THAT ORIGINAL VIDEOLOG TO KIND OF BRING EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED ON WHAT FOSSELMAN'S IS ALL ABOUT, AND IN THIS VIDEOLOG, MY YOUNGER BROTHER WILL BE THE HOST, YOUR YOUNGER BROTHERS WILL BE IN THE SHOW.

John: ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: BUT HERE IT IS.

WE'RE GOING WAY BACK IN TIME FOR THAT ORIGINAL VIDEOLOG FROM 14 YEARS AGO WHEN WE VISITED FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM HERE IN ALHAMBRA.

ENJOY.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MMM!

WELL, HERE I AM IN ALHAMBRA, HAVING A VERY TASTY ICE CREAM CONE--BANANA NUT.

BUT AS ANYBODY IN THESE PARTS WILL TELL YOU, THIS ICE CREAM IS NOT ONLY TASTY, IT'S DOWNRIGHT HISTORIC BECAUSE, YOU SEE, THIS IS FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM.

WHEN BOB FOSSELMAN SCOOPS OUT A BIG OL' CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM CONE FOR A HUNGRY CUSTOMER, HE'S CARRYING ON A FAMILY TRADITION THAT STARTED OVER 70 YEARS AGO, STARTED IN AN OLD BREWERY BUILDING IN IOWA, TO BE EXACT.

YEP.

THAT'S WHERE MR. CHRISTIAN ANTHONY FOSSELMAN STARTED HIS ICE CREAM BUSINESS, A BUSINESS THAT MOVED TO PASADENA, ALONG WITH THE WHOLE FOSSELMAN FAMILY IN 1924.

A BUSINESS THAT THRIVED, AND MOVED IN 1941 TO ALHAMBRA, WHERE THE FOSSELMANS HAVE BEEN DISHIN' OUT THEIR FAMOUS ICE CREAM EVER SINCE.

Man: OK, IT SHOULD BE READY TO DRAW OFF ABOUT NOW.

YEAH, IT'S NICE AND FRESH.

Huell: AND NOT ONLY DO THE FOSSELMANS DISH OUT ICE CREAM, THEY MAKE ICE CREAM--MAKE IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, IN A SPACE THAT'S NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN AN AVERAGE-SIZE ROOM, AND WITH EQUIPMENT THAT DATES BACK TO WORLD WAR II.

Jim Fosselman: ICE CREAM IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED A PRODUCT.

CREAM AND SUGAR AND MILK ARE YOUR BASIC INGREDIENTS, AND AS LONG AS YOU USE FRESH CREAM AND FRESH MILK, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG?

Huell: NOW, THIS IS BASICALLY, WALKING IN HERE IS KIND OF LIKE WALKING BACK IN TIME.

Jim: IT IS.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO REPLACE EQUIPMENT LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE IT SMALL-SCALE ANYMORE.

EVERYTHING IS SO HUGE, AND EVERYTHING IS MADE WITH QUANTITY PRODUCTION IN MIND, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF GALLONS, BUT THIS WAS BASICALLY DEVELOPED BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN ICE CREAM MANUFACTURERS WERE SMALL.

Huell: YEAH, WHEN ICE CREAM-MAKING WAS FUN.

Jim: MM-HMM.

Huell: DO YOU HAVE FUN DOING IT?

Jim: I WOULDN'T HAVE STAYED IN IT ALL THESE YEARS.

[HUELL LAUGHS] Jim: I DO.

I REALLY GET A KICK OUT OF DEVELOPING NEW FLAVORS AND MAKING A GOOD PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE ENJOY.

Huell: NOW, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOUR ICE CREAM IS THAT YOU SPECIALIZE IN THESE EXOTIC FLAVORS.

John: YEAH, THAT WE DO.

Huell: WHAT KIND OF FLAVORS DO YOU HAVE?

John: WE GO FROM ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS.

WE DO A GREEN TEA, WE'LL DO A DRAGON EYE.

Huell: A DRAGON EYE?

WHAT'S THAT?

John: IT'S A TYPE OF FRUIT.

IT'S FROM CHINA.

IT'S KIND OF SIMILAR TO--IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A MELON BALL, REALLY.

HAS A REAL EXOTIC KIND OF LIGHT PEACH/ STRAWBERRY TASTE TO IT.

UM, WE DO A TARO ROOT, WHICH IS ALMOST LIKE A PASTE, KIND OF LIKE A LIGHT PURPLE PASTE.

KIND OF A DIFFERENT ONE THAT WE DO.

Huell: WHO EATS THAT?

John: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

Huell: IS THERE A GROUP OF CUSTOMERS THAT ACTUALLY CALL UP AND ORDER?

John: THESE ARE MAINLY FOR ORIENTAL RESTAURANTS.

WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH CHINESE RESTAURANTS AND FILIPINO RESTAURANTS.

TARO ROOT WOULD BE MORE FILIPINO.

WE ALSO DO WHAT'S CALLED UBE, WHICH IS LIKE A SWEET POTATO.

IT'S LIKE A PURPLE YAM.

Huell: WOW.

AND YOU GOT ALL KINDS--WHAT IS THIS?

John: THIS IS LYCHEE NUT.

THAT'S ANOTHER CHINESE TYPE OF FRUIT.

Huell: NOW, I'M HERE WITH ART AND JOHN AND A BIG, MESSY BATCH OF...?

John: ROCKY ROAD.

Huell: AND THIS IS MESSY, ISN'T IT?

John: IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE MESSIEST ONE WE'RE GONNA MAKE.

WE RUN IT OFF, JUST THE CHOCOLATE PART OF IT, IN THE ICE CREAM MAKER, RUN IT OFF INTO THE FUNNEL, THEN WE ADD IN OUR WALNUTS AND OUR ROCKY ROAD.

THE REASON WE DO THIS IS JUST TO KEEP ALL THE BIGGER PARTS OF THE INGREDIENTS FROM GETTING CRUSHED UP IN THE MACHINE.

Huell: AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE, LITERALLY, ONE OF THESE BIG FUNNELS.

John: GOTTA PUT IT IN THE BIG FUNNEL, RUN IT OFF, AND THEN, OF COURSE COMES THE SLOPPY WAY OF HAVING TO PUT IT IN THE BUCKETS.

YOU JUST GOTTA DO IT ALL MANUALLY, WHICH, AGAIN, IS WHERE YOU GET THE SLOPPINESS IN THERE.

WE KIND OF TRIED TO AVOID HAVING YOU GUYS SEE US, BUT YOU CAUGHT US IN THE ACT.

Huell: YOU DIDN'T WANT US TO SEE YOU DOING THIS PART OF IT, BUT, ACTUALLY, ART HASN'T BEEN A BIT--HASN'T MISSED... John: NO, HE HASN'T.

HE'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD WITH IT.

HE HASN'T BEEN SLOPPIN' AS MUCH AS I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN.

[HUELL LAUGHS] Huell: IT REALLY IS GREAT.

ARE YOU EVER TEMPTED WHEN YOU'RE DOIN' THIS-- Art: TO DO THIS?

Huell: YEAH.

[LAUGHING] NOW, WHILE WE WERE SLOPPIN' AWAY, MAKING THE ROCKY ROAD, UP IN THE FRONT PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, JOHN'S SISTER AND FATHER WERE BUSY SERVING ICE CREAM TO SATISFIED CUSTOMERS, CUSTOMERS WHO'VE BEEN COMING TO FOSSELMAN'S FOR YEARS.

WHAT COULD YOU TELL ME ABOUT FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM IF I WAS A NEWCOMER TO TOWN?

Man: WELL, IT NOT ONLY TASTES GOOD, BUT MY GRANDCHILDREN LIKE IT.

I BRING 'EM IN HERE ALL THE TIME, AND, UH...IN FACT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN IN FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT 'EM, BUT I SNEAK IN ONCE IN A WHILE.

Woman: AND MINE IS A RUM RAISIN WITH HOT FUDGE.

Huell: OH, YOU GOT THE FATTENING STUFF.

Woman: THANK YOU.

Huell: YEAH, HERE'S YOUR FAVORITE, RIGHT?

Woman: RIGHT, YES.

Huell: NOW, WHAT IS THIS?

Woman: THIS IS CHERRIES AND CREAM.

Huell: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN COMING TO FOSSELMAN'S AND EATING CHERRIES AND CREAM ICE CREAM CONES?

Woman: WELL, I DON'T ALWAYS EAT CHERRIES AND CREAM, BUT I'VE BEEN COMING IN HERE 22 YEARS.

Huell: 22 YEARS?

Woman: 22 YEARS, UH-HUH.

Huell: WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK?

WHY DO YOU KEEP EATING THIS FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM?

Woman: BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD.

YUM, YUM.

[HUELL LAUGHS] John: PEOPLE DO LIKE TO COME IN, AND THEY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST, AND THEY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY, AND YOU KNOW, "HI, I KNEW YOUR UNCLE.

I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM," YOU KNOW?

"I GRADUATED WITH YOUR AUNT," THIS AND THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN COME IN, AND EVERYBODY KIND OF RELIVES OLD TIMES, WHICH IS KIND OF REALLY THE NEAT THING, NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR THEM.

Huell: HOW DO YOU COMPETE WITH THESE BIG COMPANIES?

Jim: THE EASIEST WAY THAT I COULD SAY THAT IS THAT WE HAVE HAD HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR 70 YEARS, AND WE REALLY DON'T TRY TO COMPETE.

WE DO OUR OWN THING.

WE HAVE A FINE PRODUCT.

WE HAVE A GOOD CUSTOMER FOLLOWING, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE A GOOD LIVING.

IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE GOING ON.

Huell: YOU KNOW, IT IS NICE TO KNOW IT'S GONNA BE GOING ON, THIS SMALL, FAMILY BUSINESS THAT FOUND SUCCESS, SUCCESS NOT BY BEING THE BIGGEST, BUT BY TURNING OUT A HANDS-ON, QUALITY PRODUCT.

ICE CREAM, MADE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

ICE CREAM FIRST MADE BACK IN IOWA OVER 70 YEARS AGO BY MR. CHRISTIAN ANTHONY FOSSELMAN.

ICE CREAM THAT'S STILL BEING MADE TODAY BY HIS CHILDREN AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN.

AT FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM PARLOR ON WEST MAIN STREET IN ALHAMBRA, THANKING THE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY AND THE ICE CREAM, I'M HUELL HOWSER FOR VIDEOLOG.

Announcer: VIDEOLOG IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... Huell: HERE'S A LADY WHO'S NOT VERY EXCITED ABOUT US CATCHING HER ON CAMERA.

WHY IS THAT?

Woman: 'CAUSE I HAD 2 SPOONS IN MY ICE CREAM.

Huell: MM-HMM.

AND BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA EAT THE WHOLE THING YOURSELF?

Woman: YES.

HA HA HA!

Huell: SO YOU GOT BUSTED IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

Woman: NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY THAT.

Huell: DO YOU COME HERE TO FOSSELMAN'S QUITE A BIT?

Woman: I COME HERE MORE THAN I SHOULD.

Huell: AND THAT'S THE REASON, RIGHT THERE?

Woman: THIS IS THE REASON RIGHT HERE.

Huell: YOU THINK THEY GOT GOOD ICE CREAM.

NOW, THESE ARE THE FOSSELMAN BOYS STANDING RIGHT HERE BEHIND YOU.

Woman: YOU HAVE GOOD ICE CREAM.

John: I THINK IT'S DELICIOUS.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

Woman: JOYCE.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

ENJOY YOUR ICE CREAM.

Joyce: WOULD YOU LIKE SOME?

Huell: HA HA HA HA!

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Joyce: THANK YOU.

BYE-BYE.

Huell: WELL, HERE WE ARE.

WE'RE STANDING BACK AT THE EXACT SAME COUNTER WHERE WE WERE STANDING 14 YEARS AGO WHEN WE SHOT THAT ORIGINAL VIDEOLOG.

SOME THINGS CHANGE--US.

AND SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME--THE STORE.

ALTHOUGH THE STORE HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, TOO.

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO THE FOSSELMAN ICE CREAM EMPIRE?

John: WELL, EVER SINCE YOU SHOT THE VIDEOLOG BACK IN THE NINETIES, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS HAS INCREASED.

WE'RE ABOUT 500% ABOVE WHERE WE USED TO BE, SO-- Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

John: UH-UH.

500%.

Huell: NOW WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

IS THE ICE CREAM A GOOD BUSINESS?

IS IT, UH--DO YOU HAVE MORE MARKETING?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

John: A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING, REALLY.

ICE CREAM'S DEFINITELY A GOOD BUSINESS, I THINK, BUT WE ALSO HAVE REALLY BEEN GOING AFTER THE WHOLESALE END OF THE BUSINESS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE NEVER DID BEFORE.

WE'RE MORE RETAIL BASED, AND NOW WHAT WE DO IS WE MANUFACTURE FOR HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND COUNTRY CLUBS ALL THROUGHOUT L.A. AND ORANGE COUNTY.

Huell: WOW!

AND YOU GOT SOMETHING THERE YOU WANTED TO POINT OUT OVER HERE, CHRIS.

Chris: YES, UH, WE ACTUALLY PUT THIS HALF-GALLON CABINET IN BECAUSE IT HAS 56 DIFFERENT FLAVORS, AND THIS WAS MY DAD'S BRAINCHILD, AND WE FOUGHT HIM TOOTH AND NAIL.

AND OF COURSE HE WAS RIGHT.

IT REALLY DOES ITS JOB.

IT'S A GREAT MARKETING TOOL.

PEOPLE COME FOR ONE FLAVOR, THEY SEE ALL THE SELECTION, THEY LEAVE WITH 2 OR 3.

Huell: IT'S STILL GOT THOSE AMAZING FLAVORS.

BURGUNDY CHERRY.

CINNAMON.

Chris: THERE'S A CHAI TEA.

Huell: OH, YEAH, CHAI TEA.

Chris: CHAI TEA.

MACAPUNO.

Huell: MMM, GREEN TEA.

Chris: GREEN TEA.

Huell: ALL OF THESE--SO THESE EXOTIC THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING 14 YEARS AGO HAVE REALLY PAID OFF FOR YOU.

Chris: THEY REALLY HAVE.

NOBODY DOES IT, FROM MY KNOWLEDGE.

I MEAN, THIS AREA'S REALLY DIVERSE WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND, UH, THEY HEAR ABOUT IT AND THEY TELL THEIR FRIENDS.

THEY COME BACK AND GET WHAT THEY REALLY WANT.

Huell: WE'VE GOT A LADY HERE WHO'S GETTING THE LAST BITE OUT OF HER CUP HERE.

Woman: HELLO.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

Woman: BARBARA HOWELLS.

Huell: AND I HAVE A FEELING THIS ISN'T YOUR FIRST VISIT TO FOSSELMAN'S.

Barbara: YOU'RE RIGHT.

Huell: YOU KNOW THESE BOYS?

Barbara: I KNOW THE FACE.

Huell: WELL, THEY'RE THE FOSSELMAN BOYS.

IT'S THEIR ICE CREAM.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL THEM ABOUT IT?

THEY'RE STANDING RIGHT HERE.

Barbara: I CAN'T HAVE ICE CREAM, SO YOU HAVE SORBET, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HAVING.

THAT'S IT.

Huell: SO YOU GET THE SORBET?

Barbara: YEP.

Huell: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN COMING HERE?

Barbara: UH, WELL...HA HA HA!

I LIVE IN A RETIREMENT CENTER WITH MY FRIEND, UH, WHAT, 3 BLOCKS DOWN.

Huell: SO YOU'RE ALMOST A REGULAR HERE.

Barbara: YEAH.

Huell: THERE ARE A LOT OF REGULARS HERE.

John: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S A HUGE PART OF OUR BUSINESS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN BACK FROM THE DAYS WHEN MY DAD AND UNCLES WERE RUNNING THEIR STORES IN HIGHLAND PARK, IN SOUTH PASADENA.

Huell: SO ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE INCREASED YOUR BUSINESS BY 500% BY ALL OF THIS WHOLESALE STUFF, YOU'VE STILL GOT THE CORE RIGHT HERE IN THE STORE, OF YOUR REGULAR CUSTOMERS.

Chris: ABSOLUTELY.

THIS STORE IS LIKE A SHOWROOM, AND PEOPLE COME HERE, TRY ALL THE DIFFERENT FLAVORS.

WE LISTEN TO WHAT THEY LIKE.

WE TRY TO IMPROVE ON IT.

THEY GIVE US SUGGESTIONS.

AND THE KEY TO US, I REALLY BELIEVE, IS LISTENING TO PEOPLE, WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

THEY'RE COMPLETELY RIGHT ON.

Huell: THAT'S A NOVEL IDEA FOR A BUSINESS THESE DAYS, ISN'T IT?

TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY.

Chris: THAT'S RIGHT.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT BRAIN SURGERY.

Huell: THIS IS LIKE MARKETING 101, BUT ISN'T IT INTERESTING HOW MANY BUSINESSES FAIL BECAUSE THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THEIR CUSTOMERS?

John: OH, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT WHAT CHRIS HAD BROUGHT UP IS WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WE'VE CHANGED FROM, YOU KNOW, WE DO A DULCE DE LECHE FOR THE LATIN COMMUNITY, MANGO, COCONUT PINEAPPLE.

WE DO ALL THE ASIAN FLAVORS--LYCHEE, UBE--YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER BASE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH AND WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW INFLUX OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE FOSSELMAN'S NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

Huell: AND SEE, THESE ARE THE KIND OF FLAVORS THAT YOUR-- THERE HE IS, UP OVER THE COUNTER THERE.

THAT'S THE MAN WHO STARTED IT ALL.

John: THAT'S MY GRANDFATHER CHRISTIAN ANTHONY FOSSELMAN.

Huell: AND YOUR BACKGROUND IS WHAT?

FROM WHAT COUNTRY?

John: UH, WE'RE FROM GERMANY, ORIGINALLY.

Huell: SO WHEN HE FIRST CAME HERE FROM GERMANY AND Y'ALL OPENED ALL THIS UP, HE IN A MILLION YEARS WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF THESE EXOTIC KINDS OF ICE.

John: DEFINITELY NOT.

BUT THE NEAT THING, TOO, IS WE ALSO MAKE A LOT OF THE FLAVORS THAT HE MADE, YOU KNOW, 85 YEARS AGO THAT WE STILL MAKE: THE OLD-FASHIONED PEPPERMINT CANDY AND THE LEMON CUSTARD AND RUM RAISIN AND THINGS LIKE THAT-- ENGLISH TOFFEE.

Huell: WHAT WAS THAT WE HAD WITH THE--THE ROCKY ROAD--WHERE I PUT MY FINGER IN.

John: YEAH.

WE STILL MAKE THE ROCKY ROAD.

Huell: THAT'S GOT TO BE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES.

John: IT'S DEFINITELY TOPS, ABSOLUTELY.

HA HA HA!

Huell: YOU'RE EATING, UH-- WHAT IS THIS CALLED?

Woman: IT'S A TRIPLE SCOOP HOT FUDGE SUNDAE.

Huell: THIS THING LOOKS DANGEROUS TO ME.

Woman: IT REALLY IS, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO WATCH YOUR WEIGHT.

Huell: SO WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Woman: 'CAUSE--HE'S NOT.

I'M JUST HELPING.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN COMING TO FOSSELMAN'S, 'CAUSE I HAVE A FEELING WE HAVE STUMBLED ON YET ANOTHER REGULAR CUSTOMER HERE.

Woman: WELL, IF I TELL YOU, IT DISCLOSES MY AGE.

Huell: HOW MANY YEARS YOU BEEN COMING HERE?

Woman: WELL, I'VE BEEN EATING ICE CREAM AT FOSSELMAN'S PROBABLY FOR 35 YEARS.

Huell: AND WHAT MAKES YOU COME BACK?

BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY ICE CREAM IS ICE CREAM IS ICE CREAM.

Woman: PEPPERMINT CANDY ICE CREAM.

SEASONAL MANGO ICE CREAM.

FRESH PEACH ICE CREAM.

Huell: IT'S THE FLAVORS.

Woman: YEAH, IT IS.

Huell: AND IT'S GOTTA BE THE ATMOSPHERE, TOO.

Woman: OH, YEAH, YEAH.

Huell: KINDA OLD-TIMEY, ISN'T IT?

Woman: WELL, IT'S ONLY ICE CREAM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN LINE SOMEWHERE TO ORDER A HAMBURGER, TOO.

Huell: NOW, LISTEN, HE'S GETTING ANXIOUS, AND IT'S BEGINNING TO MELT, SO I THINK YOU BETTER GET TO THAT.

Woman: WE WILL.

Huell: YOUR NAME AGAIN?

Woman: LOUISE.

Huell: AND YOUR SON'S NAME?

Boy: DARREN CORA.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU GOT A WHOLE FAMILY OVER HERE, BOY.

Man: HI.

Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD BE IN A COMMERCIAL FOR FOSSELMAN'S.

NOW WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

Man: MOCHA ALMOND FUDGE.

Huell: OK. IS THAT WHAT YOU-- NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS YOUR DAUGHTER?

Man: NO.

THIS IS MY NIECE.

Huell: YOUR NIECE.

SHE'S GOT A... Man: SHE HAS STRAWBERRY.

Huell: OH, WOW!

SO IS THIS PART OF IT, YOU BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY?

Man: NO, THESE ARE MINE.

THAT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAMILY.

Huell: OH, OK.

SO THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.

Man: THESE ARE MY NIECES.

Huell: YOU ALL COME HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS?

Man: YEAH.

I USED TO LIVE HERE AND I COME BACK OVER HERE JUST TO COME GET THE ICE CREAM.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

IT'S THAT GOOD?

Man: IT IS THAT GOOD.

ACTUALLY SAW YOU THE FIRST TIME YOU DID THE STORY ON FOSSELMAN'S.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU'RE KIDDING!

Man: NO, REALLY.

Huell: YOU WERE HERE?!

Man: NO, I WASN'T HERE.

I SAW THE-- Huell: OH, YOU SAW IT WHEN WE AIRED IT 14 YEARS AGO.

Man: YES.

Huell: OH, MY GOD.

NOW WE WERE JUST TALKING--WE ALL LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE DID 14 YEARS AGO.

BUT THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

YOU'VE STAYED WITH THEM ALL THESE YEARS?

Man: OH, OF COURSE.

IT'S THE BEST.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOUR NAME IS?

Man: ELIAS.

Huell: AND YOUR NAME IS?

Girl: REBECCA.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND YOUR NAME IS?

Girl: CHRISTINE.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

WE'RE JUST WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE LINE.

HOWDY, HOWDY.

BOY, YOU'VE GOT A LOAD OF THEM HERE.

WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE?

Woman: THIS IS CONNOR AND THIS IS KATHERINE, AND WE'RE COMING TO CHECK OUT THE ICE CREAM AGAIN.

Huell: NOW WHAT DO YOU MEAN "CHECK OUT THE ICE CREAM AGAIN?"

Woman: 'CAUSE WE HAVE IRISH VISITORS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S STILL AS GOOD AS IT ALWAYS IS.

Huell: OH, OK. GOOD.

SO, YOU'RE FROM... Woman: IRELAND.

BUT I LIVE IN PASADENA--SOUTH PASADENA.

Huell: SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE?

Woman: NO.

NO.

IN ABOUT 2 YEARS.

Huell: SO YOU DON'T REALLY THINK THAT ANY OF THIS HAS CHANGED, DO YOU?

Woman: NO.

I THINK IT'S THE SAME AS EVER.

Huell: WELL, EVERYBODY'S EXCITED.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA GET?

Woman: UH, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA GET?

Connor: A CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM ON A CONE.

Huell: AND... Katherine: GREEN APPLE SHERBET.

Huell: GREEN APPLE SHERBET, AND... Woman: AND I THINK I'LL HAVE THE TARO.

Huell: WOW.

NOW, THE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY COME, DO THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA GET, OR DO YOU HAVE TO KIND OF HELP THEM AROUND A LITTLE BIT?

Worker: SOME PEOPLE.

SOME WANT TO TRY A COUPLE OF FLAVORS BEFORE THEY DECIDE WHICH ONE.

Huell: BUT I'LL BET YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THE SAME THING EVERY TIME THEY COME, DON'T THEY?

Worker: YEAH, SOME DO.

THEY'LL TRY SOME AND THEN THEY'LL STILL DECIDE ON THE SAME OLD THING.

Huell: AND WHAT'S THE FAVORITE HERE?

Worker: UM, VANILLA'S REALLY POPULAR IN THE SUMMER.

IT'S PEACH.

Huell: PEACH VANILLA?

YOU'RE NODDING?

Second Worker: YEAH, YEAH.

PEACH IS VERY POPULAR.

Huell: OH, OK. MAYBE WE'RE GONNA GET A TASTE OF THAT BEFORE WE LEAVE, OK?

Worker: OH, SURE.

Woman: YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE, THEN.

HA HA HA HA!

Chris: THAT'S THE THIRD GUY TO WORK HERE, TOO, FROM THE SAME FAMILY.

Huell: WHAT?

THIS GUY?

Chris: YEAH.

ANDREW.

UH-HUH.

Huell: YOU'RE THE THIRD PERSON TO WORK HERE FROM THE SAME FAMILY?

Andrew: YES, SIR.

Huell: WHO ELSE WORKED HERE IN YOUR FAMILY?

Andrew: MY 2 OLDER BROTHERS.

Huell: SO THIS IS LIKE A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR YOUR FAMILY WHEN THEY'RE GROWING UP.

Andrew: YEAH.

Huell: YOU DO IT AS A SUMMER JOB?

IT'S AN AFTER-SCHOOL JOB?

Andrew: UH, THROUGH THE REST OF HIGH SCHOOL.

Huell: OH, COOL.

Andrew: RIGHT NOW I'M GONNA BE A JUNIOR, SO... Huell: SO, YOUR OLDER BROTHERS WORKED HERE WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH SCHOOL... Andrew: YEAH.

Huell: AND YOU'RE FOLLOWING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

Andrew: UH-HUH.

Huell: I GUESS THERE WAS NO QUESTION ABOUT YOU COMING TO WORK HERE.

THEY DIDN'T REALLY ASK YOUR QUALIFICATIONS.

Andrew: NOT REALLY.

THEY KNOW MY FAMILY, SO... Huell: WELL, YOUR NAME AGAIN?

Andrew: ANDREW STEBBEN.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

HE'S THE THIRD BROTHER TO WORK HERE.

THAT'S SOMETHING.

Chris: IT'S WONDERFUL, TOO.

BECAUSE THEN YOU GET A GOOD FAMILY LIKE THIS.

THE KIDS ARE RELIABLE.

YOU TRUST THEM.

THEY LIKE US.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A JOB.

Huell: THIS IS SO INTERESTING.

JUST LOOKING AT THAT.

LOOK OVER HERE.

THAT FAMILY'S COMING IN FOR THE ICE CREAM.

THIS IS ABOUT REALLY AS OLD-FASHIONED AND AS-- I MEAN, THIS IS THE WAY IT USED TO BE AND IN A WAY IT STILL IS.

Chris: IT REALLY IS.

YOU DON'T SEE MANY PLACES LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

IT'S A MEETING PLACE.

IT'S A GET TO REACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH YOUR FAMILY.

IT'S AWESOME.

Huell: YEAH.

HOW DO YOU CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE LIKE THIS?

IT JUST KINDA HAPPENS.

YOU CAN'T MANUFACTURE IT, CAN YOU?

YOU COULDN'T PUT IT TOGETHER IF YOU TRIED.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Chris: I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR FAMILY AND HOW WE BEHAVE.

WE'RE ALWAYS HERE TOGETHER.

THEY SAW OUR UNCLES, MY DAD, MY BROTHERS.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN HANGING OUT TOGETHER.

THEY FEEL THAT.

YOU EATING HERE, AND I THINK IT JUST TRANSCENDS TO THE CUSTOMERS.

Huell: YOU GOT THE MARKETING DIRECTOR FROM THE ALHAMBRA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE.

IS THIS AN OFFICIAL VISIT?

Man: SEMI-OFFICIAL VISIT.

Huell: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Man: WELL, I COME IN HERE QUITE OFTEN.

UNOFFICIALLY.

SOMETIMES IN DISGUISE.

AND YOU CAN TELL BY THIS THAT IT'S FAIRLY FREQUENT.

Huell: WELL, LET'S DON'T PUT A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION ON EATING ICE CREAM.

THAT'S PART OF AMERICANA.

Man: IT CERTAINLY IS FOR ME.

Huell: BUT I GUESS THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY--AND IT'S AN UNEXPECTED ONE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GONNA BE HERE TODAY--TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT A PLACE LIKE THIS MEANS TO A COMMUNITY.

Man: THIS IS ONE OF THE ICONS IN ALHAMBRA.

Huell: THEY'RE HEADING FOR THE ICE CREAM.

NOW, WHAT'S THE DEAL?

YOU GOT THE KIDS IN HERE.

Man: GOT THE KIDS AND THE LOONEY TUNES.

Huell: OH, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A MOVIE AFTERWARDS?

Man: SPIDER-MAN.

Huell: OH, RIGHT.

KIDS, WHAT KIND OF ICE CREAM YOU GONNA GET?

Boy: COOKIES AND CREAM.

Huell: COOKIES AND CREAM.

Second Boy: RAINBOW.

Huell: RAINBOW.

Third Boy: MILKSHAKE.

Huell: MILKSHAKE.

Fourth Boy: I FORGOT.

Huell: YOU BETTER HURRY UP.

IT'S KINDA FUN BRINGING THEM IN HERE.

Man: YEAH, IT IS.

Huell: IS THIS A REGULAR STOP, COMING INTO FOSSELMAN'S?

Man: IT IS.

ONCE A WEEK.

Huell: REALLY?

HOW'D YOU GET STARTED COMING HERE?

Man: I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 30 YEARS.

I USED TO LIVE DOWN THE STREET.

AND WE COME IN HERE ALL THE TIME.

Huell: KINDA GET HOOKED ON IT.

Man: OH, IT DOES.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, FELLAS.

TIME TO ORDER.

WE GOT 4 HUNGRY BOYS HERE.

YOU BETTER BE READY TO TAKE THEIR ORDER.

AND YOU GOT ONE HUNGRY BIG BOY RIGHT HERE.

HE'S TAKING IT BACK TO THE OFFICE.

Man: I'VE GOT IT.

YEAH.

I'LL BE A HERO WITH THE STAFF.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, FELLAS, COME ON BACK HERE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S CHANGED AND WHAT HASN'T CHANGED.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WAY YOU MADE THE ICE CREAM.

AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED A BIT.

John: NO.

IT HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAW IN THE ORIGINAL VIDEOLOG IS THE SAME WAY WE'VE BEEN MAKING IT FOR 85 YEARS.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S CHANGED REALLY IS THE VOLUME THAT WE MAKE.

WE JUST MAKE A LOT MORE ICE CREAM.

Huell: THEY'RE SITTING DOWN TO ENJOY THE FOSSELMAN'S ICE CREAM.

Man: RIGHT.

Huell: AND I HAVE A FEELING YOU'RE REGULARS, TOO.

Woman: NOPE.

OUR FIRST TIME.

Huell: WHAT?

Woman: RIGHT.

BUT HE DID.

WHEN WE READ ABOUT IT, WE KNEW WE HAD TO BE HERE.

Man: WE READ ABOUT THEM IN WESTWAYS MAGAZINE.

Huell: THEY WERE JUST FEATURED IN WESTWAYS.

Man: RIGHT.

Huell: SO WE HAVE NEW CUSTOMERS.

Man: RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WOW.

Man: WE MAY NEVER COME BACK AGAIN AFTER WE FIND OUT HOW FAT THIS IS.

Huell: I WANNA SEE YOU WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FIRST BITE.

IS IT WHAT YOU KINDA THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?

Woman: OH, YEAH.

IT'S GREAT.

REALLY GREAT.

Man: I DON'T KNOW WHO'S FOLLOWING YOU AROUND OR ME AROUND, BUT I'VE SEEN YOU IN ABOUT 4 PLACES SO FAR.

Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE HANGING OUT IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

Man: RANCHO SANTA ANITA, THE TUBA CHRISTMAS.

AND NOW HERE, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER PLACE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

Huell: CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU'VE FOUND FOSSELMAN'S.

Man: YOU PICK GOOD PLACES.

Huell: WE GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY AROUND BECAUSE THERE'VE BEEN SOME CHANGES SINCE WE WERE HERE LAST.

Y'ALL EACH GOT MARRIED AND BEEN BUSY SINCE.

John: WE SURE HAVE.

WE WERE BOTH SINGLE BACK THEN.

WE BOTH HAVE BEEN MARRIED.

MY WIFE JILL AND CHRIS MARRIED ANNA.

Huell: VERY CUTE.

Jill: THANK YOU.

Huell: AND THIS IS... Anna: ANNA.

Huell: YOU ALL ARE MARRIED AND THESE ARE YOUR--THIS IS A NEW BABY.

Anna: VERY NEW.

YEP.

8 WEEKS.

Huell: WOW.

Chris: WOW IS RIGHT.

Huell: ICE CREAM BUSINESS HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO YOU.

Chris: IT BETTER CONTINUE, TOO.

Huell: WHO DOES HE BELONG TO?

Chris: HE'S MINE, ALSO.

THESE 3 ARE MINE.

Huell: 3 KIDS HERE.

John: WE GOT OURS FIRST.

Huell: FIRST ONE HERE.

AND THEN THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 3 BROTHERS WHO OWNED AND STARTED FOSSELMAN'S.

John: UNCLE BILL AND AUNT MARY.

Huell: YOU WERE HERE THE FIRST TIME.

Bill: RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

Mary: BILL WAS THE ONE WHO WROTE THE LETTER TO YOU TO BEGIN WITH.

Huell: TO GET ME HERE 14 YEARS AGO.

Bill: RIGHT.

Huell: AND SINCE THAT TIME, BOTH YOUR FATHER AND CHRIS' FATHER HAD PASSED AWAY.

John: ACTUALLY, OUR FATHER WAS BOB.

CHRIS' AND MY DAD.

Huell: OK. John: AND THEN OUR UNCLE JIM, THE GENTLEMAN MAKING THE ICE CREAM IN THE ORIGINAL VIDEOLOG, THAT WAS UNCLE JIM.

Huell: WELL, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

WE HAVEN'T INTRODUCED OURSELVES.

Woman: HI.

I'M BOB'S WIFE.

Huell: RIGHT.

SO LET'S GET EVERYBODY IN HERE TOGETHER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ISN'T THIS INTERESTING, HOW THINGS EVOLVE?

HOW THINGS CHANGE?

AND HOW SOME PEOPLE LEAVE AND OTHERS ARE HERE.

Woman: I'M SO PROUD OF MY 2 SONS.

JOHN AND CHRIS.

I'M PROUD OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY.

JILL, ANNA, MY DAUGHTER, AND MY OTHER SON.

AND NOW I'M THE PROUD GRANDMOTHER OF 8 BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN.

Huell: WOW, AND I HAVE A FEELING THERE MIGHT BE EVEN MORE COMING ALONG.

Woman: I DO HOPE SO.

Huell: THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE ICE CREAM.

Chris: NOT FOR ME, HUELL.

Huell: THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE ICE CREAM.

John: ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: NOW THIS IS JUST WONDERFUL.

LET'S GET A SHOT OF THIS WHOLE FAMILY HERE BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

WE FIRST MET ALMOST 15 YEARS AGO.

AND AS WE SAID, THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND EVOLVED AND NEW GENERATIONS ARE COMING ALONG.

AND THE MEMORIES ARE HERE AND THE PAST IS HERE, AND YET, YOU'RE VERY FORWARD LOOKING AND HAVE THE WHOLE--THESE ARE ALL-- I CAN SEE THEM STANDING BACK BEHIND THAT COUNTER.

WE CERTAINLY HOPE AT LEAST ONE IF NOT MORE.

IT'LL BE FOURTH GENERATION.

John: YEAH.

Huell: PUT HIM TO WORK FIRST.

AND THEN THE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW.

John: CHRIS ALREADY BRINGS HIM DOWN.

HE'S ALREADY LEARNING THE ROPES.

Huell: HELP BRING IN OTHER CUSTOMERS?

John: HE'LL BRING GRANT DOWN TO WORK, AND HE HELPS ME NOW DO THE BOOKS AND DO--PUT ICE CREAM IN AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

Chris: HE CREDIT CHECKS ON THE WEEKENDS.

YEAH.

Huell: WOW, THAT'S THE SUCCESS STORY RIGHT THERE.

YOU GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY IN THIS THING.

WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY, THE FOSSELMAN FAMILY.

I'M GONNA STAND OUT OF THE PICTURE BECAUSE THIS IS A FAMILY PICTURE OF--A CALIFORNIA FAMILY PICTURE THAT'S JUST ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY, THE FOSSELMANS, WHO NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO TURN OUT GREAT ICE CREAM, BUT PROVIDE US ALL WITH INSPIRATION AND A POSITIVE LOOK AT THE FUTURE AT THE SAME TIME.

GIVE US ALL A WAVE.

BEST ICE CREAM AND NICEST FAMILY IN TOWN.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...