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

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE ALL BEEN ON SO MANY ADVENTURES TOGETHER ALL OVER OUR STATE.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME AMAZING PLACES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE MET A LOT OF VERY NICE PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY.

I'M ALWAYS GETTING STOPPED AND ASKED, "WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN CALIFORNIA?

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE STORY OVER THE YEARS?"

WELL, OF COURSE THAT QUESTION HAS NO ANSWER.

THEY'RE ALL UNIQUE.

THEY'RE ALL SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN WAY.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES TOOK PLACE WAY BACK IN 1990, HERE IN GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES.

THAT WAS THE DAY--AND I CAN REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY--THAT WE SPENT THE WHOLE DAY WITH THIS REMARKABLE FELLA BY THE NAME OF MICHAEL RUBEL INSIDE HIS CASTLE.

MICHAEL AND SOME OF HIS FRIENDS, A LOT OF HIS FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS, HAD ACTUALLY BUILT A CASTLE, AND HE LIVED IN IT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN HIS CASTLE, THOUGH, MICHAEL HIMSELF WAS A REAL CHARACTER.

YOU'LL SEE THIS RIGHT AWAY.

HE HAD A VERY QUICK AND A VERY DRY WIT.

HE WAS A DELIGHT TO BE AROUND.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW IS GO WAY BACK IN TIME TO 1990 AND SPEND THE DAY WITH MICHAEL RUBEL INSIDE HIS CASTLE HERE IN GLENDORA, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK FOR OUR GLENDORA CASTLE UPDATE.

HERE WE GO, BACK TO 1990.

[FANFARE PLAYING] WELCOME TO THE FUNNY FARM.

Huell: NOW, I KNEW FROM THE MINUTE I WALKED THROUGH THE FRONT GATE I WAS IN FOR A TREAT, AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS CASTLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF GLENDORA, A CASTLE COMPLETE WITH TOWERS AND TURRETS, DRAWBRIDGES AND CANNONS, A CASTLE MICHAEL RUBEL CALLS HOME.

YOU SEE, HE AND HIS FRIENDS STARTED BUILDING IT BACK IN 1959 ON THE SITE OF THE OLD DALTON RESERVOIR.

IT TOOK 'EM 25 YEARS TO FINISH, BUT NOW THAT IT IS FINISHED, IT'S A REAL SHOWPLACE.

IT'S ALSO A DREAM COME TRUE FOR MICHAEL, WHO BUILT HIS FIRST CASTLE WHEN HE WAS 9.

NOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS OBVIOUSLY BEEN FASCINATED WITH FORTS AND CASTLES AND-- I THINK EVERYONE IS.

I THINK ALL CHILDREN--OR MOST BOY CHILDREN, ANYWAY, BUILD FORTS.

Huell: MM-HMM.

AND WE GREW UP NEXT TO THE CITY DUMP, AND HAVING ALL THAT RESOURCE AT MY FINGERTIPS WAS JUST MARVELOUS, 'CAUSE I COULD BUILD HUGE FORTS OUT OF IT.

Huell: YEAH, AND YOU ACTUALLY BUILT--THESE THINGS ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND VERY-- WELL, THEY WERE UNTIL THEY FELL DOWN.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: BUT I MEAN THERE WAS A LOT TO THIS.

THEY WERE.

THEY WERE VERY COMPLICATED, BUT THEY WERE HORRIBLY, UH-- THEY'RE VERY JUNKY.

Huell: MM-HMM.

WE HAD LOTS OF FUN.

ALL THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD COME OVER, AND WE'D HAMMER AWAY AND BUILD AND BUILD UNTIL IT WOULD FALL DOWN, AND MOTHERS WOULD BE CONCERNED, BUT-- ONE TIME, WE MADE A FIRE ESCAPE, 'CAUSE ONE OF THE LADIES DEMANDED THAT WE HAVE A FIRE ESCAPE, SO WE-- Huell: IN YOUR FORT.

IN OUR FORT, SO... Huell: NOW, THIS IS WHEN YOU WERE 9.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, 9 THROUGH 12 ON THESE.

Huell: 9 THROUGH 12.

YES.

UH-HUH.

Huell: AND THEN YOU GREW UP.

NO, I NEVER GREW UP.

THAT'S WHY I--THAT'S WHY I WAS STILL BUILDING CASTLES.

PEOPLE THAT GROW UP DON'T DO THESE THINGS.

Huell: YEAH, THAT BRINGS ME TO THE QUESTION.

HOW DID-- HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT ALL MY FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW, AS A CHILD, I KEPT BUILDING THESE HUGE FORTS, AND THEY LOVED IT, AND THEN AS THEY GOT OLDER, THEY KEPT WANTING TO BUILD FORTS, AND EVENTUALLY I SAID, "ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S BUILD A BIG ONE, THEN."

[LAUGHS] AND HERE IT IS.

Huell: THAT'S THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF ALL TIME.

HOW DID YOU-- HOW DID YOU START?

HOW DID YOU-- WELL, WE HAD TO DIG HUGE TRENCHES AND FILL 'EM FULL OF CEMENT AND STEEL, HAD TO GO OUT AND SCAVENGER PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING.

I HAD A BENEFACTOR WHO PAID FOR ALL MY CEMENT, AND WE PUT RAILROAD TRACK IN THE CONCRETE, YOU KNOW, FOR REINFORCING, 'CAUSE WE COULD GET THAT FROM THE FEATHER RIVER PROJECT.

THEY WERE THROWING IT ALL AWAY.

Huell: NOW, WHERE DID ALL THE PEOPLE COME FROM WHO MADE THIS WORK, WHO BUILT IT?

JUST HUNDREDS OF FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW, EACH PERSON WOULD HAVE 5 FRIENDS, AND THEY'D HAVE 5 FRIENDS, AND THEY'D SAY, "LET'S GO OUT AND PLAY UP AT THE FORT," YOU KNOW?

AND I'D MAKE 'EM SUFFER, YOU KNOW.

Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T PLAY.

THIS IS HARD WORK.

NO, IT'S HARD WORK.

YEAH.

AND THEY'D LAST TWO OR THREE HOURS, AND THEN THEY'D LEAVE, AND ANOTHER BUNCH OF PEOPLE WOULD COME.

AND PARENTS REALLY LIKED IT, BECAUSE THEY COULD TRUST THE PLACE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

Huell: MM-HMM.

SO I HAD ALL THIS FREE LABOR, AND A LOT OF PARENTS WOULD BRING FOOD AT LUNCHTIME AND DONATE STUFF, AND IF EVER I NEEDED ANYTHING LIKE TELEPHONE POLES OR ANYTHING, I JUST PUT THE WORD OUT, AND WITHIN MINUTES, IT SEEMED LIKE SOMEBODY'D BE ROLLING IN WITH A TRUCK.

"HERE IT IS, MICHAEL."

YOU KNOW?

[LAUGHS] Huell: NOW, WALKING AROUND THE CASTLE GROUNDS IS A REAL EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T YOUR ORDINARY, RUN-OF-THE-MILL CASTLE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S AROUND THE NEXT CORNER.

IT'S A CASTLE FULL OF FUN AND SURPRISES, ALL OF WHICH MICHAEL LOVES TO SHARE WITH HIS FRIENDS.

WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS THING?

THAT'S THE PORTCULLIS, ACTUALLY, BUT WE CALL IT A DRAWBRIDGE, TOO, JUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS NEATER.

[LAUGHS] Huell: NOW, CAN-- WILL THAT THING LOWER?

OH, YEAH.

UH-HUH.

GO ON DOWN.

THERE YOU GO.

SEE THERE?

IT'S ALL MAGIC.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: THAT IS AMAZING.

LOOK AT THIS THING.

AND THIS IS BUILT, I GUESS, THE WAY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT YEARS AGO.

WELL, THEY'D BUILD 'EM A LOT BETTER THAN WE BUILD 'EM, BUT WE HAD MORE FUN.

Huell: THAT IS--THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE.

AND NOW IT'S DOWN.

YEAH.

UH-HUH.

THAT KEEPS THE PEOPLE-- Huell: AND NOBODY CAN GET IN?

WELL, IT ACTUALLY KEEPS US IN AT NIGHT SO THE NEIGHBORS DON'T COMPLAIN.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: NOW, THIS IS PART OF THE OLD RESERVOIR THAT YOU BUILT ALL OF THIS AROUND.

WHERE DID YOU GET ALL OF THESE ROCKS?

OUT OF THE SAN GABRIEL CANYON.

Huell: REALLY?

IT ALL CAME FROM THERE, YES.

AND WE HAD TO LIFT 'EM INTO THE TRUCK, OUT OF THE TRUCK, INTO A BUGGY, OVER HERE TO DUMP 'EM INTO THE M--THE LIFTER, AND THEN UP THEY WENT AND INTO THE CEMENT THEY WENT.

I PUT CABLE IN ALL-- ON ALL THE CONCRETE.

THIS THING COULD BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND HOLD TOGETHER LIKE A BIG BEDSPRING.

Huell: REALLY?

REALLY?

IT WOULD.

Huell: SO IT'S WELL BUILT.

IT'S VERY WELL BUILT.

AND THAT'S THE REASON IT'S HELD UP IN THESE HUGE EARTHQUAKES.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE A 75-FOOT TOWER AND YOU HAVE A 5.5 EARTHQUAKE AND YOU DON'T GET A CRACK, OH, THANK GOD.

Huell: SO NONE OF THIS IS--SO YOU HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE CRACK?

NOT A SINGLE FALL HAS BEEN CREATED IN THE CASTLE WITH THESE EARTHQUAKES, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL.

Huell: NOW, THERE ARE VARIOUS THEMES AROUND THE CASTLE.

WHAT IS THE THEME HERE?

WELL, ANYTHING THAT'S ROUND, I HANG ON THE WALL HERE, AND ANYTHING THAT'S SQUARE, I HANG ON THE WALL OVER THERE, AND IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT, I PUT IT IN THE TRASH.

Huell: HA.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THE WALL IS ALSO FULL OF BOTTLES.

WELL, OVER THE YEARS, THE NEIGHBORS WOULD BRING ME BOTTLES, AND SCHOOLCHILDREN WOULD BRING ME BOTTLES, AND I'D JUST STICK 'EM IN THE WALL FOR THE JOY OF IT ALL.

WE'D SOMETIMES RUN OUT OF BOTTLES, AND SO WE'D JUST WORK WITH ROCKS UNTIL SOMEBODY BROUGHT OVER ANOTHER BASKETFUL, AND I'D STICK 'EM IN AGAIN.

Huell: DID THIS BECOME A COMMUNITY, UH, PROJECT, WHERE PEOPLE BRING YOU BIG BOXES OF BOTTLES?

OH, YES.

HUNDREDS OF-- OF PEOPLE CONTRIBUTED STUFF, YOU KNOW, JUNK AND WHATEVER TO PUT IN THE WALLS.

Huell: SO IT WASN'T JUST THE BOTTLES.

IT WAS LIKE--THINGS LIKE THE MOTORCYCLE WHEELS?

TROPHIES FROM NEIGHBORS THAT WOULD BRING THEM TO ME AND ANYTHING THAT, UH, SOMEBODY WANTED TO GET RID OF.

IF IT WAS UNSIGHTLY, WE'D PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALL.

[LAUGHS] Huell: SO THERE'S STUFF WE DON'T EVEN SEE THAT'S IN THE WALL.

OH, YEAH.

TONS AND TONS.

IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THESE WALLS ARE 6 FEET THICK, SEE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF JUNK IN THE MIDDLE, TOO.

SOME BEDSPRINGS AND--[LAUGHS] Huell: WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THESE CLOCKWORKS?

WELL, THIS CLOCK WAS BUILT IN 1890, SO IT'S 100 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, AND THERE WERE ONLY 6 OF THESE PARTICULAR CLOCKS BUILT.

IT WAS BUILT BY SETH THOMAS.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY A WEIGHT-DRIVEN CLOCK.

THE WEIGHTS ARE UP IN THE TOWER, AND AS THEY COME DOWN IN THE TOWER, IT RUNS THESE SPINDLES.

Huell: I BET THE NEIGHBORS LOVE THIS, DON'T THEY?

THEY LOVE THE BELLS.

THE BIG BELL WEIGHS 3,200 POUNDS, AND THE SMALL BELL WEIGHS 1,900 POUNDS, AND, UH, THE NEIGHBORS JUST LOVE IT.

IN FACT, THEY'RE MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.

[LAUGHS] Huell: IS THE CLOCK EVER SLOW OR FAST, OR DOES IT EVER MISS A BEAT?

IT IS BECAUSE I PLAY WITH IT ALL THE TIME 'CAUSE I CAN'T KEEP MY HANDS OFF OF IT.

SO SOMETIMES I COME IN, AND I--OR THE DOG BUMPS THE PENDULUM AND STOPS IT, OR THE EARTHQUAKE A FEW MONTHS AGO, UH, CHANGED IT BY 4 SECONDS.

Huell: NOW, IT'S GETTING READY-- IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE-- OH, THERE IT GOES.

Huell: HERE IT GOES.

IT'S 12:00.

IT'S 12:00, AND IT'S STARTING TO RING RIGHT NOW, AND THE BIG BELL WILL CHIME 12 TIMES.

[WHISTLE BLOWS] OH, THAT'S THE NOON WHISTLE.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S THAT?

THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, DOES IT?

NO.

THE NOON WHISTLE JUST WENT OFF BECAUSE IT'S ON ANOTHER TIMER, ELECTRONIC TIMER, AND IT SET OFF AN 1872 STEAM ENGINE.

AND YOU CAN HEAR IT SEVERAL MILES AWAY.

Huell: SO ONE THING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ADJACENT TO YOUR CASTLE, THEY ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS.

NOT ONLY WHAT TIME IT IS, BUT, UH, THE PEACOCKS AND THE BELLS AND THE WHISTLES, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY PUT UP WITH ME.

BUT THEY DO.

Huell: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO LIVE IN A CASTLE?

WELL, IT'S--THERE ARE--A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND VISIT IT, UH, FRIENDS PRIMARILY.

WE'RE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL.

I CAN'T HANDLE THAT.

IT WOULDN'T BE--IT'D BE LIKE KNOTT'S BERRY FARM IF I OPENED THE GATE.

WE HAVE ELECTRIC TRAIN PEOPLE THAT HAVE A ROOM HERE.

WE HAVE A DARKROOM MAN AND BLACKSMITH AND POTTERY WORKERS, AND THEY'RE ALL GOOD FRIENDS, AND THEY'RE ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED ME BUILD THE CASTLE, SO THEY HAVE AS MUCH A RIGHT TO USING IT AS I DO.

Huell: SO IT REALLY IS LIKE AN EXTENDED FAMILY.

IT IS, EXACTLY.

VERY MUCH SO.

I REALLY AM THANKFUL.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M THANKFUL WE NEVER HURT ANYBODY.

SECOND OF ALL, I'M THANKFUL IT'S STILL HERE, AND THIRD, I'M THANKFUL THAT PEOPLE ENJOY IT, 'CAUSE HAVING PEOPLE ENJOY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Huell: IS THIS THE LOGICAL EXTENSION OF YOUR DREAMS AS A BOY TO--DID YOU EVER REALLY DREAM THAT WHEN YOU WERE A GROWN-UP, YOU WERE GONNA BUILD A REAL CASTLE?

YES, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT CONSTANTLY.

WHEN I WAS GOING-- FLUNKING OUT OF SCHOOL, I SAID, YOU KNOW, IF I'M NOT GONNA DO WELL SCHOLASTICALLY, I MIGHT AS WELL GO HOME, BUILD A FORT, AND THIS IS WHAT I DID.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO WELL OUT IN THE REAL WORLD, AND I DID REALLY WELL HAULING ROCKS AROUND.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE VERY BRIGHT TO HAUL A ROCK AROUND.

[LAUGHS] Huell: YEAH, BUT I THINK YOU GOTTA HAVE--YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING.

PERSISTENCE.

PERSISTENCE.

Huell: PERSISTENCE.

EXACT--AND IT HAS TO BE AN OBSESSION.

IT'S LIKE A PERSON WHO DOES A GREAT BOOK.

IT'S AN OBSESSION WITH HIM.

OR ANYBODY THAT DOES SOMETHING THAT'S MORE--DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE, HE GENERALLY HAS AN OBSESSION.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING HE REALLY HAS CONTROL OF.

HE WANTS TO DO IT ALL THE TIME.

Huell: YOU KNOW, MOST OF US ONLY DREAM OF LIVING IN A CASTLE, BUT MICHAEL RUBEL, THROUGH YEARS OF HARD WORK AND PERSISTENCE, HAS MADE HIS DREAM COME TRUE.

AND THE NICEST PART OF IT ALL IS THAT HE SHARED IT WITH US.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR DAY WITH MICHAEL RUBEL INSIDE HIS GLENDORA CASTLE.

AND NOW TIME HAS PASSED, BECAUSE THAT TOOK PLACE BACK IN 1990.

TODAY WE HAVE COME BACK TO GLENDORA.

WE'RE STANDING EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE.

THERE'S THE GATE.

THERE'S THE SIGN UP OVER THE GATE THAT SAYS RUBELIA, THE COUNTRY OF RUBELIA.

EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME.

LET'S SEE IF THE GATE STILL WORKS.

OPEN, GATE.

[CLATTER] IT OPENS.

I THOUGHT IT WASN'T FOR JUST A MINUTE, BUT THERE IT GOES.

IT'S OPENING UP.

AND THERE TO MEET US IS NOT MICHAEL RUBEL, BUT HIS NEPHEW SCOTT RUBEL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING, HUELL.

Huell: WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE'S HARDLY A WEEK THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK OF YOUR UNCLE MICHAEL.

YEAH.

WELL, HE REMEMBERS YOU FONDLY, AND HE HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME WHEN YOU WERE HERE LAST.

Huell: WELL, HE WAS A REAL CHARACTER, AND I SAID HE HAD A VERY QUICK, DRY WIT, TOO, DIDN'T HE?

OH, YEAH.

YEAH.

HE WAS SO FUNNY AND, UH, ALWAYS PLAYING PRACTICAL JOKES.

Huell: YEAH, YOU'RE A LITTLE MORE LOW-KEY, AREN'T YOU?

YEAH.

HEH HEH.

Huell: HA!

BUT YOU'RE STILL A RUBEL.

YEAH, I'M STILL A RUBEL.

Huell: AND YOU'RE CARRYING ON THE FAMILY TRADITION OF HAVING THE RUBEL CASTLE, BECAUSE FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS, IT LOOKS PRETTY MUCH LIKE IT DID WHEN I WAS HERE BACK IN 1990.

YEP.

WE'RE PRESERVING IT, AND IT'S NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE GLENDORA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

UM, IT STILL HAS RESIDENTS HERE WHO ARE THE MAIN CARETAKERS, AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TOUR TODAY, RIGHT?

YES.

Huell: SEEMS LIKE BEFORE WHEN I WAS HERE WITH YOUR UNCLE, I ONCE AGAIN SAID, "OPEN..." OPEN.

Huell: OPEN, TURRET.

OPEN, GATE.

OPEN, MOAT.

OPEN, DRAWBRIDGE.

Huell: DRAWBRIDGE.

AND IT OPENS.

AND HERE COMES ANOTHER FELLA.

YOU WITH THE GLENDORA HISTORICAL SOCIETY?

RICHARD MACY, YEAH.

Huell: WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

LET'S STAND OUT HERE SO WE CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE CASTLE BEHIND US.

WERE YOU HERE BEFORE?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHEN, UH, YOU CAME FOR YOUR OTHER SHOW, I WAS NOT HERE, BUT I DID DO A TOUR FOR YOU ONE TIME WHEN YOU HAD GUESTS-- Huell: FOR KCET.

RIGHT, FOR KCET.

Huell: WELL, NOW, YOU'RE THE HEAD DOCENT NOW, RIGHT?

WELL, I'M ONE OF THE DOCENTS.

WE HAVE MANY.

Huell: AND WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE CASTLE RIGHT NOW?

HOW'S THE OLD CASTLE DOING?

THE CASTLE'S DOING FINE.

WE ACTUALLY ARE HAVING A LOT OF TOURS, AND THEY DO HAVE TO BE SCHEDULED.

WE DON'T HAVE REGULAR HOURS.

Huell: BUT PEOPLE CAN CALL AND TAKE THE TOUR.

AND THEY CAN MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT TO HAVE A TOUR.

Huell: CAN YOU GIVE US A TOUR?

SURE.

COME ON IN.

Huell: I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY IN MY POCKET RIGHT NOW.

I'LL LEAVE A DONATION.

HEY, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

WE-- WE DO ASK FOR A SMALL DONATION TO OFFSET SOME OF THE EXPENSES.

AND AS YOU COME THROUGH THE TUNNEL, IT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS OLD GATE RIGHT HERE.

"HOME SWEET HOME."

BOY, THAT'S--THIS IS ALL--OH!

IT'S ALL STILL HERE.

EVERYTHING'S STILL HERE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

OH, WOW.

IT SURVIVED EVERY EARTHQUAKE.

Huell: YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THIS PLACE HOLDS UP REALLY WELL, DOESN'T IT?

IT DOES HOLD UP VERY WELL.

WHEN MICHAEL BUILT IT, HE BUILT IT TO STAND FOREVER.

THE REBAR IN THIS PLACE IS ACTUALLY RAILROAD TRACK, AND THEN IT'S BANDED WITH STEEL CABLE AROUND THE RAILROAD TRACK SO IT WON'T SPREAD.

Huell: SO THE EARTHQUAKES REALLY HAVEN'T OVER THE YEARS AFFECTED THIS AT ALL.

NO CEMENT HAS COME OUT, NOTHING.

IT'S VERY STRONG.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S THIS AREA RIGHT HERE CALLED.

OVER THE YEARS, WHAT WAS IT CALLED?

THIS IS JUST KIND OF THE COURTYARD INSIDE THE CASTLE.

THERE'S ACTUALLY 4 FEET OF FILL THAT--TO BRING THE LEVEL UP SO THAT IT WOULD DRAIN OUT THE FRONT.

THIS USED TO BE AN OLD WATER RESERVOIR.

Huell: HE THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING.

HE THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING.

Huell: WAS HE AN ENGINEER?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

MICHAEL, UH, JUST BARELY GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, BUT HE WAS--HE WAS SMART IN THE WAYS OF THE WORLD, YOU MIGHT SAY.

Huell: HE WAS STREET-SMART.

HE WAS STREET-SMART.

HE SURE WAS.

AND HE WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT HE HAD MANY FRIENDS WHO WERE COLLEGE GRADUATES... Huell: YEAH.

WHO HELPED HIM WITH THE ENGINEERING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WE TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT THAT.

NOW LET'S GET AN UPDATE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING-- WHERE'S THE CLOCK?

OH, COME RIGHT AROUND THIS WAY.

THE CLOCK'S OVER HERE.

Huell: BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE HIGH POINTS I REMEMBER.

OH, IT'S STILL FUNCTIONING.

THE CLOCK STILL WORKS.

UH, IT RINGS THE HOUR.

IT RINGS THE HALF-HOUR.

Huell: NOW, SEE, I--THIS BRINGS BACK LOTS OF MEMORIES.

MICHAEL AND I SAT RIGHT THERE... AND DID THE INTERVIEW.

Huell: AT THAT TABLE.

YES.

YEAH.

THAT'S WHY I PUT THESE HERE, SO YOU... Huell: OH, WOW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH--IT'S REALLY NOT SAD.

IT'S SUCH A POSITIVE REMEMBRANCE OF THIS GUY.

OH, YEAH, IT IS, AND IT-- THINGS ARE HAPPENING JUST THE WAY HE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE IT.

Huell: YEAH, 'CAUSE IT'S BEING USED AND SEEN BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

NOW, WHERE'S THAT CLOCK?

AND THE RHINOCEROS IS STILL HERE.

IT'S RIGHT--IT WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, RIGHT BETWEEN THE 2 WHEELS.

Huell: OH, YEAH.

YOU'LL SEE THE CONCRETE RHINOCEROS WITH THE HORN.

Huell: WELL, NOTHING LIKE THAT'S GONNA CHANGE.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING.

NOW, THE CLOCK, IF WE GET RIGHT ABOUT HERE, YOU'LL GET A REALLY GOOD VIEW LOOKING UP AT THE CLOCK.

Huell: OH, LOOK.

HERE IT IS, CAMERON, RIGHT UP HERE.

THERE'S THE CLOCK RIGHT UP THERE.

THAT'S THE FAMOUS OLD ENGLISH CLOCK.

NOW, DO WE--CAN WE GO INSIDE AND-- YEAH.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A SETH THOMAS THAT WAS MADE BACK IN 1890... Huell: YEAH.

AND THE BELLS WERE CAST IN ST. LOUIS IN 1895.

Huell: LET'S GO BACK IN THE-- AND THEY'RE DOING BLACKSMITHING BACK HERE, TOO.

YOU CAN HEAR THE-- HEAR THE HAMMERING.

THEY'RE UP HERE ON SATURDAYS.

Huell: THE CLOCK'S OVER HERE, ISN'T IT?

THAT'S OVER HERE.

Huell: OH, WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S GOING ON BACK HERE?

THIS IS THE BLACKSMITHING.

THIS IS NEW.

Huell: WOW!

GUYS HEATING UP METAL AND BANGING ON IT.

Huell: WHAT IN THE WORLD?

IS THIS A SATURDAY-MORNING THING YOU DO OR...

THIS IS A SATURDAY-MORNING THING.

MY DAD IS, UH, THE PROPER CASTLE BLACKSMITH.

NORMALLY I'M JUST THE APPRENTICE, BUT HE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, SO I GET TO BE THE MASTER.

Huell: AND YOU'RE TEACHING-- YOU'RE LEARNING HOW TO BE A BLACKSMITH?

YEAH.

SO FAR, ANDREW IS LEARNING HOW TO BURN UP METAL.

Huell: WOW.

AND SO THIS IS--I REMEMBER THERE WAS A BLACKSMITH HERE THE LAST TIME I WAS-- THAT WAS MY DAD, WARREN ASA.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

YEAH, THAT WAS MY DAD.

Huell: OH, WOW.

AND HE STILL COMES UP HERE EVERY SATURDAY, BLACKSMITHS, TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO DO IT... Huell: SO YOU'RE FOLLOWING THAT TRADITION.

HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, YEAH.

Huell: CAN YOU FIRE THAT THING UP JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE?

WE--WE GOTTA MOVE QUICKLY TODAY.

SURE.

LET'S-- Huell: BUT I LIKE-- EVERYBODY LIKES TO SEE IT.

THIS IS HOW THEY HEAT THE METAL UP.

YOU CRANK THE FORGE, AND YOU CHECK YOUR METAL.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS OLD FORGE.

AS SOON AS IT'S YELLOW, YOU'RE READY TO GO.

THOSE AREN'T HOT YET.

GOTTA GET 'EM... Huell: BOY, THAT IS AMAZING.

WE'RE INSIDE THE CLOCK ROOM.

HELLO, HUELL.

Huell: YOU'RE THE CLOCK MAN.

YES, I AM.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

MY NAME'S JOHN LUNDSTROM.

Huell: AND YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP THIS SETH THOMAS CLOCK WORKING.

THAT'S WHAT I DO, YES.

Huell: WELL, HOW HARD IS IT TO KEEP IT GOING?

WELL, THIS IS A--THIS IS A TOUGH OLD BEAST TO HANDLE.

Huell: BUT IT'S--AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S TOUGH, AND IT'S OLD.

YES.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1890.

Huell: DO YOU HAVE TO OIL IT ALL THE TIME?

DOES IT TAKE A LOT OF TLC?

WELL, I OIL IT TWICE-- TWICE A YEAR.

WE USE-- Huell: TWICE A YEAR?

YEAH.

WELL, THIS IS-- THESE HAVE GOT BIG BEARINGS ON 'EM.

YOU CAN DO THAT.

Huell: WOW.

AND LOOK.

LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

THIS IS STILL MOVING.

WATCH IT.

LOOK AT THIS.

THAT'S THE PENDULUM, AND IT HAS A--ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT IS IT'S GOT A BRASS-- BRASS PENDULUM ROD, WHICH IS... Huell: RIGHT HERE.

A PROBLEM OF TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION.

Huell: WELL, IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM, ISN'T IT, GETTING PARTS FOR THIS OLD CLOCK?

OH, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM IF YOU HAVE TO GET PARTS FOR IT.

THAT'S ALL.

YOU TAKE-- Huell: 'CAUSE THIS GOES BACK-- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT-- 1890.

Huell: HE WAS SO PROUD OF THIS CLOCK.

OH, HE SPENT DAYS AND MONTHS AND YEARS ACQUIRING IT AND PUTTING IT IN HERE.

IT WAS SUCH A FANTASTIC FEAT.

Huell: OH, WAIT A MINUTE!

HERE WE GO.

Huell: THERE IT GOES.

WE FIXED THIS SO WE'D BE IN HERE RIGHT ON TIME, BECAUSE IT'S TURNING 11:00.

LOOK AT THIS.

BOY, LOOK AT--LOOK AT EVERYTHING MOVING.

[CLOCK CHIMING] AND YOU CAN HEAR THE-- IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.

5... [CHIMES] THIS IS YOUR ACTION RIGHT OVER HERE.

6.

AND THAT'S PULLING ON A WIRE THAT GOES CLEAR UP TO THE BELL AND-- Huell: SO THE BELL IS WAY UP AHEAD.

WAY UP IN THE TOP OF THE TOWER.

Huell: 8, 9... [CHIMES] 10... [CHIMES] ONE MORE, RIGHT?

UNO MAS, YEP.

Huell: 11.

FROM THE WONDERFUL OLD CLOCK, WE'RE NOW BACK OUTSIDE.

THE TOUR CONTINUES, DICK, AND I REMEMBER THIS LITTLE AREA AROUND HERE.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL LITTLE-- WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS PART OF THE CASTLE?

WELL, THIS IS THE BACK SIDE OF THE COURTYARD, AND THIS IS WHERE MICHAEL BUILT--A LOT OF THIS WAS A NICE, BIG STORAGE ROOM.

THIS IS THE PRINT SHOP.

THIS TOWER HERE IS ACTUALLY A RESIDENCE NOW, AND, UH-- Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

OH, THIS IS JUST--THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE HERE.

NOW, MICHAEL'S QUARTERS WERE UP THERE, THE TWO TOP FLOORS.

THAT'S WHERE MICHAEL RESIDED.

Huell: RIGHT UP THERE.

RIGHT UP THERE, YEAH.

Huell: AND WASN'T THERE ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON DOWN IN HERE?

THIS USED TO BE THE BLACKSMITH'S SHOP.

Huell: I THOUGHT SO.

IT DID, BUT WE MOVED IT.

WE MOVED IT IN THE BACK BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A RESIDENT OVER HERE, AND THEY'D BLACKSMITH ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, AND HE DIDN'T LIKE TO BE AWAKENED THAT EARLY.

Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY LIVING HERE NOW.

LIVING HERE, RIGHT.

Huell: WHAT IS IT, CARETAKER, OR... CARETAKER.

YES, WE HAVE 5 CARETAKERS LIVE ON-SITE.

Huell: I DON'T THINK I EVER WENT THROUGH THERE.

THIS IS MICHAEL'S ESCAPE TUNNEL, AND THIS GOES OVER TO HIS-- Huell: NOW WAIT A MINUTE.

WE GOTTA DO THAT.

COME ON.

ALL RIGHT.

COME ON THROUGH.

Huell: THE ESCAPE--HE DIDN'T SHOW ME THIS.

THE ESCAPE TUNNEL.

YEAH.

LET ME TURN THE LIGHT ON IN HERE FOR YOU.

Huell: WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

HE'S ACTUALLY GOT SOME OLD-- Huell: WE CAN'T LOOK OVER THERE.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

WELL, COME ON THROUGH.

Huell: IT'S TOO DARK.

LOOK AT THESE OLD BOTTLES IN HERE.

THIS IS GREAT.

ESCAPE.

AS YOU COME THROUGH, LOOK BACK UP, AND YOU'LL SEE WE'VE ESCAPED RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE CASTLE WALL.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

WE'LL GET UP HERE AND TURN AROUND AND LOOK.

WHAT WAS HE ESCAPING TO?

WELL, THAT WAS IN CASE ANY BAD GUYS EVER GOT IN THE CASTLE.

MICHAEL HAD AN ESCAPE ROUTE OUT OF THE CASTLE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

YOU CAN SEE THE CASTLE RIGHT HERE, AND HERE'S THE ESCAPE ROUTE DOWN HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE AN OLD GOLD-MINE SHAFT DOWN HERE.

OK, I THOUGHT I'D SEEN EVERYTHING, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING INSIDE THE TIN PALACE.

AND I'VE ALREADY PEEKED INSIDE.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS A PALACE PACKED FULL OF STUFF.

FELLAS, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE?

WELL, THIS USED TO BE THE PACKING CENTER WHEN THIS WAS THE, UH, FARM.

THEY WOULD SHIP THE ORANGES OUT OF HERE.

AND MICHAEL TURNED IT INTO A PARTY ROOM.

AND HE ALSO HAD 4 BIG REFRIGERATED VAULTS OFF TO THE LEFT THAT HE TURNED INTO BEDROOMS, SO THIS IS-- Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS A REFRIGERATED VAULT FROM THE PACKINGHOUSE DAYS.

THAT'S RIGHT, FROM BACK IN THE EARLY 1900s.

COME ON IN HERE, SCOTT, BECAUSE YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT YOU USED TO SLEEP IN HERE.

YES, AS A--AS A CHILD, WHEN WE WERE JUST STARTING THE CASTLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE SLEPT-- THEY SLEPT IN SLEEPING BAGS IN THE PACKINGHOUSE, AND THEY USED THE BEDROOMS, WHICH WERE THE REFRIGERATORS HERE, AND, UM, THE REFRIGERATION STILL WORKED, SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE WOULD-- Huell: IT WAS COOL IN HERE.

YEAH.

SO AFTER A DAY OF MIXING CONCRETE, BY 4:00, WHEN IT WAS 100 DEGREES, WE'D COME INTO THESE ROOMS AND, UH, CHILL OUT.

Huell: LOOK AT THESE DOORS.

THESE WERE REFRIGERATORS.

YES, THEY WERE.

SOLID CORK LINING INSIDE THE DOORS.

Huell: BUT THIS IS FANCY.

THIS IS ELEGANT HERE.

WELL, WE FIXED IT UP VERY ELEGANT.

IT WASN'T QUITE THIS WAY UNTIL THE HISTORIC SOCIETY TOOK OVER, AND THEY'VE ADDED THINGS.

Huell: IS THIS ALL MICHAEL'S STUFF?

A LOT OF IT IS.

THOSE ARE HIS GOOD FRIEND SALLY RAND--THOSE ARE HER THEATRICAL TRUNKS, AND THIS TRUCK, THE BACK BED BEFORE WE ADDED THE TRAIN LAYOUT WAS HER STAGE TO DO HER FAN DANCE AT THE PARTIES THAT HIS MOTHER WAS HAVING UP HERE.

Huell: HOW WAS SALLY RAND CONNECTED WITH THE GLENDORA CASTLE?

SHE WAS MY GRANDMOTHER'S BEST FRIEND, AND, UH, MY GRANDMOTHER HAD PARTIES HERE EVERY MONTH, AND SALLY RAND WAS ALWAYS HERE WHEN SHE WASN'T ON TOUR WORKING.

THIS IS THE MAIN REFRIGERATOR.

THIS WAS MICHAEL'S BEDROOM, UH, FOR THE YEARS BEFORE THE CASTLE WAS BUILT.

Huell: WOW.

THERE IS SO MUCH STUFF IN HERE.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD ALL GATHER AFTER WORKING ON THE--MIXING CONCRETE.

THERE SOMETIMES WOULD BE 25 PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND MICHAEL SERVING WINE, AND IT WOULD BE 30-- OR 35 DEGREES, AND EVERYONE ENJOYED IT.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S JUST PACKED FULL OF STUFF IN HERE.

THIS JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON.

AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE LIGHTS AND SENSORS.

THESE WERE ALL DONE IN THE DAYS BEFORE YOU COULD BUY ALL THESE ELECTRIC EYES OFF THE SHELF.

UH, MICHAEL HAD THIS WHOLE PLACE WIRED SO HE COULD SEE LIGHTS GOING ON WHEN PEOPLE WERE WALKING AROUND THE FARM AND... Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS-- LOOK AT THIS DOWN HERE.

THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR.

WHY DID I MISS THIS?

DID MICHAEL NOT WANT TO SHOW IT, OR WAS IT-- HE PROBABLY WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE CASTLE.

WHEN YOU INTERVIEWED HIM, THE CASTLE WAS PRETTY MUCH FRESHLY DONE, AND THE CASTLE SORT OF STARTED BECAUSE OF THIS ROOM.

HIS MOTHER WAS HAVING SO MANY PARTIES THAT HE HAD TO GET AWAY FROM IT.

AND, UH, THAT'S WHY HE BEGAN HIS FIRST ROOM OUT IN THE RESERVOIR.

Huell: I GOTTA TELL YOU.

I GOTTA BE HONEST.

THIS IS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY, 'CAUSE I COULD DO A 3-HOUR PROGRAM HERE.

YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S HOW LONG THE TOURS CAN LAST SOMETIMES.

Huell: IS THAT--HOW LONG DOES THE TOUR LAST?

A TYPICAL TOUR IS ABOUT 2 HOURS, SOMETIMES LONGER DEPENDING ON HOW MANY STORIES I TELL ON THE TOUR.

NOW, MICHAEL HAD A SAYING.

HE TOLD ME WHEN I STARTED GIVING THESE TOURS BACK IN '93, HE SAID, "ONE THING.

REMEMBER, DON'T BORE 'EM WITH THE TRUTH."

Huell: OH.

WELL, I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING US SOMEWHAT OF THE TRUTH TODAY.

SOMEWHAT OF THE TRUTH, AS MICHAEL TOLD IT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, AS--THERE'S A BIG DISCLAIMER RIGHT THERE.

AND YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

I AM.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS WONDERFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE--HAVE TAKEN THIS OVER.

TRUE, THE PEOPLE WHO DID THAT TO START WITH HAD A LOT OF COURAGE.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO, DID THEY?

WELL, YES.

LITTLE BY LITTLE, WE FOUND THAT OUT.

Huell: AND YOU'RE GIVING TOURS, AND WE'RE GONNA PUT ON THE SCREEN HOW PEOPLE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU, 'CAUSE YOU GOT TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME.

YOU GOTTA KNOW WHAT'S COMING.

YEAH.

Huell: WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS TOUR.

YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME THE 3-HOUR TOUR.

NO, WE DIDN'T GIVE YOU THE 3-HOUR TOUR.

Huell: AND YOU TOLD ME THE TRUTH MOST OF THE TIME, AS MICHAEL TOLD IT TO YOU.

AS HE TOLD IT TO ME.

Huell: AND, SEE, THIS IS SO INTERESTING.

GET BACK THERE, CAMERON, SO WE CAN GET-- GET A NICE SHOT OF THIS CASTLE.

THERE ARE 2 REAL STORIES HERE-- THE CASTLE ITSELF AND HOW IT WAS MADE AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THE STORY OF MICHAEL RUBEL AND HIS FAMILY IS SUCH A QUINTESSENTIALLY WONDERFUL CALIFORNIA STORY.

WHEN THEY MADE MICHAEL, THEY BROKE THE MOLD, DIDN'T THEY?

THEY CERTAINLY DID.

YEP, AND WE ALL MISS HIM SO MUCH.

Huell: WELL, WE MISS HIM, BUT THERE'S NOTHING SAD ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE HIS SPIRIT IS DEFINITELY ALIVE AND WELL.

WE GOT THE PICTURE OF MICHAEL RIGHT HERE.

BOY, THAT SAYS IT RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S MICHAEL TO A "T" RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF HIS WONDERFUL CASTLE, THE JUXTAPOSITION OF THIS WONDERFUL TRUE EXAMPLE OF CALIFORNIA'S GOLD AND HIS WONDERFUL CASTLE, WHICH IS STILL HERE FOR ALL OF US TO VISIT AND ENJOY.

THIS IS TRULY MICHAEL RUBEL'S DREAM, WHICH STILL LIVES HERE IN GLENDORA.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]