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

>> WELL, HELLO EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOUSER, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS ADVENTURE.

I THINK I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS ANY PROGRAM WE HAVE EVER DONE.

NOW LET ME SET IT UP FOR YOU.

THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS AT A PARTY, AND I WAS HAVING MY PICTURE MADE WITH THIS LADY AND I HAD MY ARM AROUND HER, AND WE WERE HAVING OUR PICTURE MADE, AND I SAID TO CAMERAMAN, "WE LOOK LIKE FRICK AND FRACK."

NOW, I'VE USED THAT EXPRESSION, "FRICK AND FRACK," ALL MY LIFE NEVER REALLY KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANT, BUT IT'S AN EXPRESSION, A COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSION THAT I HAVE GROWN UP USING.

I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS SAME EXPRESSION.

SO I WAS STANDING THERE WITH MY ARM AROUND HER, AND I SAID, "WE LOOK LIKE FRICK AND FRACK."

WITH THAT, THERE WAS A GUY STANDING RIGHT BEHIND US WHO CAME OVER AND HE SAID, "EXCUSE ME, HUELL, DID I HEAR YOU SAY FRICK AND FRACK?"

AND I SAID YEAH, AND HE SAID, "WELL, I KNOW FRICK.

I SEE HIM EVERY WEEK."

AND I WENT, "WHAT?"

AND HE SAID, "YEAH, THERE REALLY IS A FRICK."

WELL, I NEVER HAD THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT THIS GOT THE WHEELS ROLLING IN MY MIND, AND SO WE HAVE COME HERE TO PALM SPRINGS IN SEARCH OF FRICK OF "FRICK AND FRACK."

FRACK IS NO LONGER WITH US, BUT FRICK IS HERE.

THERE'S A WHOLE STORY ABOUT FRICK AND FRACK.

AND HERE HE IS, RIGHT HERE.

DID I EXPLAIN THAT PRETTY WELL?

DID YOU HEAR WHAT I WAS SAYING OVER THERE?

>> VERY WELL SAID TOO, HUELL.

>> THIS IS MR. FRICK, AND THIS IS MRS. FRICK.

>> YVONNE.

>> YVONNE.

ACTUALLY YOU'RE NOT REALLY NAMED FRICK.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> VERNER GROPLEY.

SOME SORT OF SWISS NAME.

>> VERNER AND YVONNE.

>> VERNER AND YVONNE.

>> AND LET'S START THE STORY ABOUT FRICK AND FRACK.

TELL US HOW THIS -- YOUR LIFE STORY.

HOW IT ALL STARTED.

>> WELL, I WAS BORN IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND, SKATING IN A BACKYARD AND SO FORTH, AND SWISS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND I HAD THE VAIN TO DO COMEDY.

FRACK DID THE SAME THING, AMUSING NEIGHBORS ON THE ICE RINK, AND WE PUT AN ACT TOGETHER AT ST. MORITZ.

A CONTRACT CAME FROM ENGLAND, BUT PARENTS WOULDN'T LET US SIGN IT.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A BANKER -- TO FRACK -- AND I HAD TO BE AN ARCHITECT.

SO ONLY WHEN WE SIGNED AS FRICK AND FRACK -- AND WE MADE UP THESE NAMES -- WOULD THEY LET US GO.

A PAID COURSE IN ENGLISH, A THREE-MONTH CONTRACT TO STAY IN A PROFESSIONAL SHOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET ME RECAP THAT.

YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBOR FRIEND GREW UP ICE SKATING IN SWITZERLAND.

>> ACTUALLY NEXT DOOR, RIGHT.

>> AND HIS NAME WAS?

>> HIS NAME WAS HANS MOUGH.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU AND HANS GREW UP SKATING AS YOUNG BOYS.

WHEN YOU GOT READY TO SIGN AND GO PROFESSIONAL AS ICE SKATERS, YOUR PARENTS SAID NO WAY.

IT WOULD BE A DISGRACE TO THE FAMILY BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A -- >> EXACTLY.

AN ARCHITECT.

>> AN ARCHITECT.

AND HANS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE?

>> A SWISS BANKER.

>> A SWISS BANKER.

SO RATHER THAN USING YOUR FAMILY NAMES, YOUR REAL NAMES.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU AND HANS CAME UP WITH THE NAMES FRICK AND FRACK.

NOW HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAMES FRICK AND FRACK?

>> WELL, IN THAT ST. MORITZ CARNIVAL WITH THE GLITTERING ICE SHOW, FRACK AND I WERE SWISS FROCKS, SO A FRACK IN SWISS IS A FROCK, SO FRACK USED THE WORD FRACK AND I LOOKED AT THE TOWN OF FRICK BETWEEN BASEL AND ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, AND SO WE HAD FRICK AND FRACK.

>> SO WAIT A MINUTE, FRICK IS NAMED AFTER A TOWN IN GERMANY.

>> SWITZERLAND.

>> SWITZERLAND.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A TOWN NAMED FRICK.

>> YES.

>> AND FRACK IS A FROCK IN GERMAN.

>> INDEED.

>> NOW DID YOU COME UP WITH FRICK FIRST AND THEN FRACK, OR DID YOU COME UP WITH FRACK FIRST AND THEN FRICK?

>> FIRST WE CAME UP WITH FRACK, AND THEN FROM FRACK WE WENT BACK TO FRICK.

THERE WAS NO FRICTION OR FACTION, MAYBE JUST ALLITERATION LET'S CALL IT.

>> YOU'VE HEARD ALL THIS BEFORE, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> OH, YES, I DID.

>> BUT BEFORE YOU AND HANS CAME UP WITH FRICK AND FRACK, THE TWO WORDS HAD NEVER BEEN PUT TOGETHER BEFORE, HAD THEY?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW, NO.

>> SO IT'D ALWAYS BEEN FRICK, THE NAME OF A TOWN.

AND FRACK WHICH WAS THE GERMAN WORD FOR FROCK.

>> INDEED.

>> SO -- BUT NEVER HAD THEY BEEN TOGETHER AS FRICK AND FRACK.

>> THAT'S A FACT.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF F'S HERE, AREN'T THERE?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW, YOU CAME UP WITH FRICK AND FRACK.

LET ME GRAB THESE PICTURES, LUIS.

I'VE GOT SOME GREAT PICTURES OVER HERE BECAUSE HERE IS THE FIRST CHANCE OUR VIEWERS HAVE TO ACTUALLY SEE YOU AND FRACK TOGETHER.

AND TELL US ABOUT THE ROUTINE THAT YOU HAD.

HOW FRICK AND FRACK -- WHAT YOU WERE KNOWN FOR.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL OLD FOOTAGE OF YOU ALL IN ACTION.

>> WELL, THE FIRST DAYS THE ORTHODOX -- LET'S CALL IT SKATING, THE FIGURE SKATING -- AS I SAID SWISS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WE WON.

AND ONCE YOU HAVE THAT BASE, YOU CAN DISTORT IT, BURLESQUE IT, AND MAKE IT A SATIRE OF SKATING.

WE DID THE GOOSE STEPS, WE DID MARCHES, WE DID CONTORTIONS, A TAKE OF SOME PAIR SKATING, AND EACH ONE HAD HIS OWN SENSE OF HUMOR ENTERTAINING NEIGHBORS IN A CORNER OF THE RINK, AND FRACK HAD HIS AUDIENCE.

AND THEN WE JOINED TOGETHER, WENT TO THE DRAWING BOARD, AND MADE A ROUTINE.

SO IT'S ALL BASED ON FIGURE SKATING, ON ETCHES AND OFF-BALANCE, ON TIMING.

NOTHING FINISHES THE WAY IT STARTS OUT AND THEREFORE SURPRISES, BUT IT'S QUITE A SCIENTIFIC COMBINATION OF THINGS -- TO PIECE THE THINGS TOGETHER.

>> NOW, YOU REALLY DID HAVE A VAUDEVILLE ACT, BUT IT WAS -- AND I MEAN IT WAS A COMEDY ACT, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD SKATING.

YOU HAD TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

>> IT WAS.

ALL THE LAUGHS COME DIRECTLY FROM SKATING, NOT SLAPSTICK.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, I GOT HIT ON THE HEAD OR FELL IN A BARREL, BUT THAT'S NOT IT.

IT WAS ALL DONE WITH EDGES.

IT WAS BASED ON THE ART OF FIGURE SKATING, BUT A DISTORTION.

AND ABOVE ALL IT WAS ORIGINAL.

NOBODY HAD HARDLY -- NOT EVEN IN CHINA -- THESE TRICKS BEFORE.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW HERE'S A GREAT PICTURE, LUIS.

THIS IS YOU AND THIS IS KIND OF WHAT YOU WERE KNOWN FOR, WASN'T IT?

>> MY TRADEMARK, YES, THE CANTILEVER.

IT DEVELOPED -- MORE I WAS LEANING OVER, AND NOWADAYS YOU HAVE TO LEAN OVER TO PLEASE AUDIENCES.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN I FOUND MYSELF PADDLE WITH THE BACK, AND IT'S BECOME MY TRADEMARK.

>> THAT WAS AN AMAZING -- >> THE CANTILEVER SPREAD EAGLE.

>> THE CANTILEVER, THAT WAS -- THAT TOOK A LOT OF -- I MEAN, YOU HAD TO BE STRONG PHYSICALLY TO DO THAT.

>> STRENGTH, BE ABLE TO DO THAT SPREAD EAGLE, AND JUST HAVE BALANCE AND A VERY SOLID BASE OF CHAMPIONSHIP SKATING.

>> NOW THIS FOOTAGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS FOOTAGE FROM THE ICE FOLLIES FROM THE 40'S.

WE GOT HOLD OF SOME GREAT OLD FOOTAGE FROM THE ICE FOLLIES OF YOU AND FRACK TOGETHER.

YOU WERE WITH THE FOLLIES TOGETHER FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> I WAS FOR 42 YEARS.

STARTED IN 1939.

THAT GOES BACK TO THE ICE AGE.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

>> AND I DIDN'T QUIT -- I SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE SENSE -- BUT UNTIL 1980.

AND I HIT THE BANG BOARDS, AND THAT ONE KNOCKED ME OUT SO I WENT OUT WITH A BANG.

>> YOU HURT YOURSELF.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU HAD TO QUIT.

>> YES, THAT'S THE WAY I HAD TO QUIT, BUT I'M -- >> BUT YOU AND FRACK WERE TOGETHER FOR DECADES WITH THE FOLLIES DOING THIS ACT TOGETHER, AND YOU ACTUALLY PERFORMED ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR -- I THINK I'VE SEEN THE FIGURES.

YOU FIGURE 100 MILLION PEOPLE SAW YOU IN PERSON.

>> OH, YES, AT LEAST.

FIGURE THE ICE FOLLIES AND 11 MONTHS IN IT, TOO.

A MILLION, A MILLION AND A HALF LIVE PEOPLE.

AND THEN THERE WERE MOVIES, OF COURSE, HAD THE VAST WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION IN THE OLD TIMES.

SO IT'S 41 YEARS ADDING TO 15,000 PERFORMANCES FOR MYSELF.

>> WOW.

NOW ON TOP OF BEING WITH THE FOLLIES, YOU WERE RECOGNIZED AS A GREAT SKATER.

YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE HALL OF FAMES, AREN'T YOU?

ONE OF THE -- >> YES, THE UNITED STATES FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION HAS A MUSEUM.

>> RIGHT.

>> A HALL OF FAME IN COLORADO.

AND I HAVE THE HONOR TO BE THERE.

IN FACT I'M EXHIBITED AS SOME SORT OF A MANNEQUIN, ALMOST LIFE-SIZE IN THAT POSITION.

>> A MANNEQUIN?

>> YEAH, MANNEQUIN, YES.

>> IN THE SIZE DOING YOUR CANTILEVER THING.

>> RIGHT.

THEY HAVE A SPECIAL EXHIBIT NOW ON THE ICE FOLLIES.

THAT'S IN COLORADO.

>> NOW THIS OTHER PICTURE IS A PICTURE -- LOOK AT THIS, LUIS -- THIS IS YOU AND SNOOPY.

AND THERE'S A PARTICULAR RELATIONSHIP YOU HAD WITH -- HERE'S THE OTHER PICTURE HERE, LUIS.

THIS IS YOU AND?

>> OUR FRIEND CHARLES SCHULTZ.

FRIEND OF ALL THE SKATERS.

WE CALLED HIM SPARKY.

HE HAS ONE OF THE MOST MARVELOUS ICE RINKS IN SANTA ROSA.

PRODUCES SHOWS OF FIRST CLASS.

IN FACT THERE'S ONE GOING ON NOW, 30 PERFORMANCES.

>> BUT CHARLES SCHULTZ, WHEN HE DID HIS -- WHEN HE DOES HIS "PEANUTS" COMIC STRIP, USES -- SNOOPY USES YOUR NAME A LOT, FRICK.

HE'S ALWAYS USING THE WORD FRICK.

>> YES, I'M PROUD HE HAS.

SNOOPY WAS ALWAYS FAMOUS FOR HIS WORLD FAMOUS ROUTINE, AND HE NATURALLY TRIED -- IN ONE CARTOON HE TRIED TO GET INTO THE OLYMPICS, AND IT SAYS, "YOU CAN'T GET TO THE OLYMPICS.

NOBODY KNOWS YOU."

SO HE SAID, "WELL, I'LL JUST DRESS LIKE MR.

FRICK."

[LAUGHTER] AND I HAVE MY TYPICAL SWISS COSTUME WHICH I KEPT FOR YEARS, WHICH WAS YVONNE'S IDEA.

IT KIND OF -- WHEN YOU GET OLDER, IT FRESHENS YOU UP, YOU KNOW, THE COLOR.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN WITH HIM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, KIND OF HELPING HIM ALONG, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> ABOUT 40.

40 YEARS.

>> NOW, DID YOU EVER SKATE?

>> I DID, BUT NOT IN THE SHOW, NO.

I HAD GIVEN IT UP TO DO WITH HIM SO HE'D BE HAPPY, TO SEE THAT HE IS DRESSED NICELY.

>> SO YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF HIS WARDROBE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> OF HIS -- THE WAY HE LOOKED ON THE ICE.

>> AND IN A WAY A COACH.

AND SHE WOULD TELL ME "YOU DIDN'T SMILE ENOUGH.

THAT WASN'T SO GOOD."

I'D COME OFF.

I WAS EVEN SWEARING.

SHE HAD TO CALM ME DOWN, YOU KNOW.

>> FRICK DOESN'T SWEAR, DOES HE?

>> OH, YES, HE GETS SO, YOU KNOW -- >> THEY ALL DO.

>> OH.

NOW HERE'S A PICTURE OF YOU.

LOOK AT THIS ONE.

THIS IS YOU WITH PEGGY FLEMMING.

>> RIGHT.

SHE WAS THE FIRST SUPERSTAR TO JOIN A SHOW AND BE TREATED AS A SUPERSTAR RIGHT AFTER WINNING THE OLYMPICS AND BEING HONORED AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

SHE STAYED THREE YEARS, AND NOW SHE'S STILL DOING HER ETHEREAL SKATING AND COMMENTATING.

I HAVE A LOT OF ADMIRATION FOR HER.

>> SO YOU SKATED FOR 50 YEARS.

>> YES.

>> ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> YES.

60, YEAH.

>> AND FRACK -- I'VE ALREADY KIND OF GIVEN IT AWAY -- BUT FRACK PASSED AWAY IN 1970... >> '79.

>> YOU ALL REMAINED FRIENDS TO THE END.

>> YEAH, WE REMAINED FRIENDS TO THE END, YES.

>> WHO WAS THE BEST SKATER, FRICK OR FRACK?

>> WELL, THAT -- I THINK THE TEAM IS THE THING.

I THINK HE WAS THE MOST TALENTED MAN, LIKE CHAPLIN, OR EVEN -- WELL, JUST EXTRAORDINARY IN PANTOMIME AND INVENTION, AND HE NEVER USED HIS TALENT FULLY, BUT I THINK HE WAS ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE.

>> WELL, NOW YOU'RE NOT SKATING PROFESSIONALLY ANYMORE.

YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY RETIRED AFTER YOU RAN INTO THAT WALL ON THE ICE BACK IN 19... >> 1980.

>> '80.

>> AND I HURT MY KNEE, BUT I AM ABLE TO LIMP ALONG ON THE ICE AND DO A FEW MOVES, YOU KNOW.

>> WELL, I'M ABLE TO LIMP ALONG TOO SO THE TWO OF US WILL DO WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW -- YOU ALL LIVE -- LOOK AT THIS, LUIS, IF WE CAN GET A SHOT OF IT, THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS UP HERE.

WE'RE IN PALM SPRINGS.

THIS IS WHERE YOU AND YOUR LOVELY WIFE LIVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF THE YEAR, AND YOU HAVE INVITED US TO COME AND SPEND THE MORNING WITH YOU AT YOUR HOME.

LOOK AT THOSE ORANGES.

DO YOU EVER PICK THOSE THINGS?

>> OH, YES.

WE CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR THEM TO RIPEN.

>> OH, THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

>> YOU KNOW, I -- GRAPEFRUIT, TOO, WAS MY SPECIALTY FOR YEARS, AT LEAST IN MEDIA WE USED THE TERM, "FRICK, ARE YOU STILL HAVING YOUR SPECIAL BREAKFAST, A HALF A GRAPEFRUIT WITH A SHOT OF BOURBON OR WHAT?"

[LAUGHTER] WE COULD NEVER GET RID OF IT EVEN IF I DIDN'T DO IT.

>> I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY HERE THAT WE'RE NOT FINDING OUT, BUT WE ARE PUBLIC TELEVISION HERE.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

DIDN'T YOU SAY THERE WAS A COMEDIAN WHO USED YOUR NAME A LOT?

>> OH, YES.

IN FACT HE MADE A CAREER, A STAND-UP COMEDIAN, JERRY COLLINS.

HE DIED MANY YEARS AGO, AND HE MADE IT TO THE TOP SHOWS LIKE SINATRA AND MERV GRIFFIN.

MOST OF HIS ROUTINE WAS BUILT ON A PLAY OF WORDS, "WHAT'S FRACK DOING NOW?"

OR "FRACK'S SELLING FROCKS," OR "FRICK'S DOING THAT," AND SO FORTH.

AND HE WENT ON MERV GRIFFIN SHOW, AND THIS ALSO HELPED TO POPULARIZE OUR NAMES.

>> WHAT DOES FRICK AND FRACK MEAN?

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

LUIS AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, TOO.

WHEN YOU SAY FRICK AND FRACK -- FOR YEARS I'VE USED THAT EXPRESSION.

I'M NOT SURE I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK FRICK AND FRACK MEANS?

>> IT HAS A WIDER RANGE, BUT BASICALLY IT MEANS FRIENDSHIP.

TWO PEOPLE BELONGING TOGETHER LIKE SINATRA AND DEAN MARTIN TEAM.

>> FRICK AND FRACK.

>> AND THEY KIND OF HUG EACH OTHER, THEY FINISH THE SONGS -- OH, JUST LIKE FRICK AND FRACK.

>> SEE, WHAT'S WHAT I MEANT WITH THAT LADY WHEN I WAS HAVING MY PICTURE MADE WITH HER.

I SAID, "WE LOOK LIKE FRICK AND FRACK."

>> YEAH.

>> IT ALSO YOU SAID MEANS RASCALS.

>> IT MEANS RASCALS, YES.

JOHNNY CARSON USED TO CALL A COUPLE OF STAGE HANDS THAT GOOFED AND RAN IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, "OH, THE FRICK AND FRACKS."

OR TWO GUYS ON THE METROPOLITAN, HE SAYS "THE FRICK AND FRACKS OF THE METROPOLITAN."

OR THERE'S TWO TURTLES.

THE FATHER COMES HOME, "WHERE IS FRICK AND FRACK?"

HE MEANS PETS AND SO FORTH.

IT HAS -- >> HOW DID THIS GET -- HOW DID THIS GET TO BECOME SUCH A PART OF OUR LANGUAGE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.

IT IS NOW PART OF THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE.

>> IT IS.

>> JUST BY USING IT, BUT IT'S A WIDE RANGE.

I GET A WRITER FROM FLORIDA, "FRICK AND FRACK WINS."

THERE IS A BOAT, WINS A RACE.

AND NEXT TIME IF THERE ARE HORSES, I BET ON IT.

>> FRICK AND FRACK.

BUT, I MEAN, HOW DID IT INITIALLY GET STARTED?

IT WAS JUST A -- IT WAS AN ALLITERATION THAT JUST KIND OF CAUGHT ON.

PEOPLE WOULD GO SEE THE ICE FOLLIES AND THEN THEY WOULD GO BACK HOME AND THEY WOULD JUST REMEMBER HOW FRICK AND FRACK SOUNDED WHEN THEY SAID IT?

I MEAN, HOW DID IT BECOME SO INGRAINED IN OUR LANGUAGE?

>> IT'S THE APPEARANCES OF -- THAT WE DID IN ENGLAND FROM A COMMAND PERFORMANCE, FROM A PERFORMANCE AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE COMMON GARDEN, TO ICE FOLLIES, TO GREAT CARNIVALS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, AND SO FORTH.

AND THEN TWO MOVIES WE DID, THE FRICK AND FRACK NAME SPREAD AND BECAME KNOWN, AND I'M GLAD IT'S STILL REMEMBERED.

>> IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT KIND OF GETS IN YOUR MIND AND YOU REMEMBER IT.

I THINK ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LIKE 40 AND OVER.

IT'S A VERY MUCH A PART OF THEIR VOCABULARY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE STILL USE THE EXPRESSION FRICK AND FRACK, BUT ALL US OLD TIMERS CERTAINLY USE FRICK AND FRACK AS JUST KIND OF A PART OF THE COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE THAT IS JUST WITH US LIKE "MUTT AND JEFF," LIKE -- WHAT ELSE?

I MEAN, THERE HAD BE OTHER EXPRESSIONS THAT ARE KIND OF LIKE THAT WHERE ONE PLAYS OFF THE OTHER.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE WAS A MOVIE ONCE THAT USED ALL THESE NAMES IN THE ADS.

AND A SEATTLE MOVIE HOUSE HAD THE POSTERS OUTSIDE, AND I TOLD THE BOX OFFICE, "HEY, YOU'RE USING MY NAME."

THE MANAGER CAME OUT AND HE SAYS, "WELL, WON'T YOU COME IN."

SO HE INVITED US.

HE THOUGHT HE HAD TO BUY HIS ROYALTY.

NO, FRICK AND FRACK IS A -- >> THERE'S NO ROYALTY INVOLVED.

YOU DON'T PATENT -- YOU CAN'T PATENT YOUR NAME.

>> OH, YEAH, IT -- >> I BET YOU WISH HE HAD.

>> I WISH HE HAD, YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S ACTUALLY COPYRIGHTED, BUT I LIKE TO SEE IT USED WHETHER YOU SURF ON THE INTERNET OR WHETHER A SECONDHAND SHOP, LET THEM HAVE IT, YOU KNOW.

>> FRICK AND FRACK.

>> INDEED.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GONNA SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME HERE VISITING AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME HERE IN PALM SPRINGS, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE US ABOUT 13 MILES TO THE ICE RINK, THE LOCAL ICE RINK HERE.

AND FRICK IS GOING TO TAKE FRACK -- THAT'S ME FOR THE DAY -- OUT ON THE ICE, AND WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE ROUTINE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WE ARE TRYING.

I'M NOT MUCH OF A SKATER ANYMORE DUE TO MY ACCIDENT, BUT I THINK WE'LL OVERCOME ALL THAT FRICTION AND FRACTION AND DO SOME SWISS MOVEMENTS.

>> YOU'VE HEARD ALL THIS BEFORE, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> OH, I ENJOY IT EACH TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OFF TO THE ICE RINK.

THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS TO GET TO MEET YOU, AND WHAT A REVELATION IT WAS FOR ME TO FIND OUT THAT THERE ACTUALLY IS SUCH A PERSON AS FRICK.

PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED ABOUT THAT, AREN'T THEY?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE HARD THINGS TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO PEOPLE THAT I AM INDEED ALIVE.

>> FRICK.

>> THAT I AM THE FRICK OF "FRICK AND FRACK."

AND IT'S HARD TO BE KNOWN AND NOT -- YET NOT KNOWN.

IT'S A STRANGE SITUATION, BUT I'M -- >> BECAUSE YOU USE YOUR REAL NAME NOW, DON'T YOU?

>> YES.

I'M DELIGHTED THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE AROUND WHO HAVE SEEN FRICK AND FRACK OR FRICK IN THE ICE FOLLIES AND THEY STILL LIVE, BUT SLOWLY IT'S, YOU KNOW, DISAPPEARING.

BUT THE NAME BECOMES STRONGER AND STRONGER AND LET IT BE PART OF THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE.

>> OKAY, WELL SAID.

NOW LET'S HEAD ON OFF TO THE ICE RINK.

WELL, HERE WE ARE ON THE ICE.

WE'VE COME TO PALM DESERT.

WE DROVE ABOUT, WHAT, 13 MILES FROM YOUR HOUSE?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE, JOHN?

>> WAREHAM.

>> AND WE ARE -- THE NAME OF THIS RINK IS?

>> CENTER ICE.

>> AND YOU WERE TELLING ME AS WE WERE STRAPPING ON OUR SKATES THAT THIS RINK HOLDS A DISTINCTION.

>> WELL, IT'S THE ONLY RINK BETWEEN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, AND PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

>> SO THERE ARE NOT MANY ICE RINKS OUT HERE.

>> NO.

WE'RE IN THE LOW DESERT OF CALIFORNIA.

IT'S -- ICE IS A REAL TRICK OUT HERE.

>> AND THIS RINK ALMOST WASN'T HERE.

>> IT WASN'T HERE FOR ABOUT 32 DAYS IN JUNE AND THE FIRST PART OF JULY.

THERE WAS A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN PUT THROUGH TO REPLACE THE RINK HERE WITH SOME OTHER FACILITIES.

AND A GROUP OF THE SENIORS AND SOME OTHER CITIZENS RAISED QUITE AN UPROAR AND -- >> DID YOU ALL RAISE AN UPROAR?

[EVERYONE] >> YEAH!

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, OKAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND AT LEAST THAT BOUGHT US SOME TIME, HUELL.

IT BOUGHT US SOME TIME.

WHILE THE REDEVELOPMENT IS STILL PENDING, WE'RE ABLE TO OPERATE THIS ON AN INTERIM BASIS AND KEEP ICE HERE IN THE DESERT.

>> WELL, I DON'T VOTE OUT HERE.

I'M NOT A REGISTERED VOTER IN PALM DESERT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THIS PLACE SHOULD STAY 'CAUSE THIS IS WONDERFUL.

AND IT'S THE ONLY ONE BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND PHOENIX.

SO NOW THAT WE'VE MADE OUR POLITICAL STATEMENT, WE'LL MOVE OVER TO THESE TWO LADIES.

>> HI.

>> TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THIS GROUP YOU'VE GOT HERE.

>> WELL, WE HAVE SENIOR SKATERS, WHICH WE CALL OURSELVES ADULT SKATERS.

WE RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO 70, 80.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OURSELVES.

I COACH WHAT WE CALL THE ICE DAZZLERS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY I WAS IN THE ICE FOLLIES WITH FRICK 1957, '58, AND '59.

>> YOU SKATED WITH FRICK?

>> YEAH.

WELL, IN THE SHOW AT THE SAME TIME.

RIGHT, FRICK?

>> REALLY?

>> THEY DON'T COME LIKE THAT ANYMORE IN THE ICE FOLLIES FAMILY [LAUGHTER] >> DID YOU SEE HIM IN ACTION AS A -- >> OH, YES, EVERY NIGHT.

WHEN HE PERFORMED HE WAS FABULOUS.

>> REALLY?

>> FABULOUS, YES.

>> SO HE WAS VERY FAMOUS.

>> OH, VERY FAMOUS.

>> TERRY MARRIED A FAMOUS OLYMPIC CHAMPION MAN, YOU KNOW.

>> YES, I DID.

>> WILL YOU TELL US?

>> PERRY O'BRIEN SHOT-PUTTER.

>> WOW.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ICE.

>> NO.

>> SHE WAS ONE OF THE SELECT GLAMOUR ICE FOLLIERS WEARING -- HELEN ALWAYS HAD $5,000 COSTUMES.

>> YES.

>> BUT EVERYBODY HERE, THIS MAN IS LEGEND, ISN'T HE?

YOU ALL KNOW HIM?

[EVERYONE] >> OH, YEAH.

>> HE'S VERY FAMOUS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS -- EVERYBODY KNOWS FRICK?

>> YES, I FIRST SAW HIM IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MY FATHER TOOK ME THERE FROM FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, TO SEE HIM IN THE -- >> IN THE ICE FOLLIES.

>> -- "HOLIDAY ON ICE."

>> WOW.

>> I WENT TO THE ICE FOLLIES EVERY SINGLE YEAR AS A KID AND SAW HIM.

>> REALLY?

>> EVERY YEAR.

>> AND NOW YOU'RE SKATING WITH HIM.

>> SAN FRANCISCO.

>> REALLY?

OKAY, WE'VE BUILT YOU UP PRETTY BIG HERE, FRICK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND TO ALL OF YOU, THANKS FOR THE ICE.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT.

NOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS WE'RE JUST GONNA LET YOU ALL KIND OF SKATE AROUND AND FRICK AND I ARE GONNA DO A -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

THIS IS KIND OF TENTATIVE.

BUT WE'RE GONNA KIND OF DO A LITTLE BIT OF SKATING ON THE ICE, SO YOU ALL KIND OF -- JUST KIND OF SKATE AROUND AND HAVE FUN, AND WE'RE GONNA DO OUR THING OUT HERE.

OH, WOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> MORNING.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

SO YOU USED TO DO THIS CIRCLE AROUND LIKE THAT?

>> YEAH, THAT WAS JUST AN EASY -- THEY CALL IT A SPREAD EAGLE.

IT'S KIND OF MY SPECIALTY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> ONE SKATE POINTS EAST, THE OTHER ONE WEST.

JUST KIND OF A CHARLIE CHAPLIN POSE.

>> PART OF THE VAUDEVILLE.

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS AN INSIDE SPREAD EAGLE.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE'S ALL KINDS.

>> NOW IF I'M GONNA BE FRACK, WHAT CAN I DO AS KIND OF PART OF THE ROUTINE THAT YOU ALL USED TO HAVE?

>> WELL, IF I JUST -- STAY THERE AND WAIT FOR A SURPRISE.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GONNA DO.

WHOA!

[LAUGHTER] >> WHOOPS, WHOOPS, WHOOPS, WHOOPS.

>> HERE WE GO.

THAT WAS A SURPRISE.

>> I GOT HOOKED.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU DID.

>> YOU SCARED ME.

>> OKAY.

>> DO IT AGAIN.

>> DON'T MOVE.

DON'T MOVE.

>> THAT'S WHAT I DID, I MOVED.

I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA HIT ME.

>> DON'T MOVE.

DON'T MOVE.

>> OKAY, HERE WE GO.

>> COME ON, FRICK, YOU CAN DO IT.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

I CAUSED HIM TO FALL BECAUSE I MOVED.

>> YES, YOU MOVED.

>> I THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING RIGHT INTO ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE SCARED YOU.

YEAH, HE WILL NOT -- YES.

>> OF COURSE THE SONJA HENIE WILL BE AS SMOOTH.

>> RIGHT.

>> KIND OF -- TRY TO DO THE SQUARE TURN.

>> YES, YOU DO THE SQUARE TURN.

>> THERE'S SOME MORE SQUARE TURNS WE CAN DO.

>> YEAH.

>> 1, 2, AND GO LIKE THIS.

HOLD IT.

>> LOOK AT HIM.

OH, MY GOSH.

HE'S MAKING SQUARE TURNS.

[LAUGHTER] THAT IS AMAZING.

>> AND YOU CAN DO THE SHOOTING GALLERY.

SUPPOSE HERE, A GUN.

YOU COULD SHOOT ME EACH TIME I TURN.

I START HERE.

YOU CAN VARY.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

THAT'S GREAT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> WELL.

>> NOW CALL ME A SQUARE.

I DESIGNED A SQUARE ON THE ICE.

>> WHERE YOU WOULD MAKE THE SHARP TURNS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND GO TO THE SQUARE.

>> MILITARY.

>> WELL, I'M SORRY I MADE YOU FALL DOWN.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA HIT ME, AND I MOVED, AND THAT'S WHY OUR SKATES LOCKED UP.

>> YES.

SO SOMETIMES WE SURRENDER TO GRAVITY.

>> YEAH.

NOW IS THERE ONE LAST THING WE CAN DO?

WEREN'T YOU TELLING ME ABOUT THE THING -- >> OH, YEAH.

OUR BIG THING PIECE DE RESISTANCE, THROW THE ROPE.

>> THROW THE ROPE.

>> YEAH.

YOU THROW IMAGINARY LASSO AT ME.

SWING IT.

I TRY TO CATCH IT.

>> OKAY.

SO LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS PRETEND LIKE I'M GONNA LASSO HIM, AND THEN WE CAN STAY A NICE WIDE SHOT ON HIM.

OKAY, I'M LASSOING.

>> I CATCH IT.

>> AND NOW I'M GONNA PULL YOU IN.

>> PULL!

[HUMMING] SALUTE.

[EVERYONE] >> YEAH!

[APPLAUSE] >> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MRS. FRICK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S WHAT I CALL HER, MRS. FRICK.

[LAUGHTER] AND YOU, MR. FRICK.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, HUELL.

IT'S BEEN GREAT.

>> THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

IF ANYBODY HAD EVER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD ACTUALLY GET TO MEET FRICK, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A FRICK.

THERE'S A FRICK, AND HERE IS HE RIGHT HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY A DELIGHT AND A JOY TO MEET YOU AND LEARN THE HISTORY BEHIND FRICK AND FRACK.

NOW WHEN WE SAY FRICK AND FRACK AS A COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT A NAME AND A FACE TO THE WORD FRICK.

>> YES, AND THANK YOU AUGMENTING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH SUCH HIGH-PRICE TALENT.

>> WELL, I GOTTA TELL YOU -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT WAS A COMEDY ACT JUST LIKE FRICK AND FRACK USED TO BE.

I'M AFRAID I DIDN'T QUITE FILL HIS SHOES.

NO ONE COULD DO THAT, BUT IT WAS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU TODAY.

>> WELL, WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST OLYMPIC SKATERS, BUT AS COMEDIANS WE WERE NOT TO BE LAUGHED AT TODAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU'RE GREAT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, HUELL.

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

AND NOW WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH YOU DOING WHAT?

>> WELL, JUST SOME CONTORTION, KNEE WORK, YOU KNOW, LEG WORK.

>> THIS WAS ANOTHER THING THAT YOU WERE FAMOUS FOR.

>> YEAH.

FRACK DID IT.

I TRY TO DO IT.

>> OKAY.

>> IN HIS MEMORY.

>> HERE HE GOES IN FRACK'S MEMORY.

>> OOH, IT'S OUT OF JOINT.

IT'S OUT OF JOINT.

[APPLAUSE] IT'S HARD TO BE KNOWN AND NOT -- YET NOT KNOWN.

IT'S A STRANGE SITUATION, BUT I'M -- >> BECAUSE YOU USE YOUR REAL NAME NOW, DON'T YOU?

>> YES.

I'M DELIGHTED THAT THERE'S STILL PEOPLE AROUND WHO HAVE SEEN FRICK AND FRACK OR FRICK IN THE ICE FOLLIES, AND THEY STILL LIVE.

BUT SLOWLY IT'S, YOU KNOW, DISAPPEARING, BUT THE NAME BECOMES STRONGER AND STRONGER AND LET IT BE PART OF THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE.

[APPLAUSE] CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

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