>> HI, I'M ERIC FORD FOR "MADE HERE.

"THE ANNUAL "MADE HERE" FILM FESTIVAL WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VERMONT PUBLIC.

THIS SHOWCASE FROM THE 2022 FESTIVAL FEATURES FOUR FILMS WITH FILMMAKERS FROM NEW ENGLAND AND QUEBEC.

"RIDING THE RAILS" FROM EVAN KAY, "BAR STORIES FROM QUEER MAINE" FROM BETSY CARSON AND WENDY CHAPKIS.

"SCULPTING VIBRATION" FROM FELIPPE MARTIN AND "AN UNINTERRUPTED VIEW OF THE SEA" FROM MONTREAL DIRECTOR MIKE YATSUHASHI.

YOU CAN WATCH THE 2022 "MADE HERE" FILM FESTIVAL SHOWCASE AND OTHER GREAT MADE HERE FILMS STREAMING ON VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.

ENJOY THE FILMS AND THANKS FOR WATCHING!

>> DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THIS TIME BUT I WAS DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF KIDS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

MY FAVORITE TOY AS A 3-YEAR-OLD WAS A BALL VALVE FOR PLUMBING.

AND THEN LEGOS CAME ALONG FOR ME AND I SPENT HOURS AND HOURS PLAYING WITH LEGOS AND THEY'RE STILL IN MY ROOM.

IT'S KIND OF SILLY, I STILL HAVE THESE TOYS THAT I MADE WHEN I WAS 13, 12.

AS A KID WHO WAS EVENTUALLY GOING TO BECOME AN ENGINEER, LOOKING BACK NOW, THERE WASN'T A BETTER TOOL OR TOY AND IN THAT TIME, I HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH MOUNTAIN BIKING.

I WAS EITHER GOING TO FARM OR DESIGN AND BUILD FARM EQUIPMENT.

AND THEN FLYFISHING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING REALLY STARTED TO TAKE OVER MY PASSION.

SO I STARTED RACING IN COLLEGE AND WE STARTED A TEAM AND THEN I STARTED RACING PROFESSIONALLY AND STILL RACING MY MOUNTAIN BIKE PROFESSIONALLY.

IT'S TAKEN ME SOME REALLY COOL PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND YOU GET TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING WITH MOUNTAIN BIKES AND BICYCLES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD SEEN WAS PEOPLE TAKING THEIR BIKES AND ADAPTING THEM TO RAILROADS.

IT DREW ME RIGHT IN.

ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION IS THE RAILROAD.

YOU CAN MOVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ITEMS AND POUNDS OF WHATEVER CARGO IT IS OR PEOPLE WITH PRETTY MINIMAL ENERGY INPUT.

VERMONT, NEW ENGLAND IN GENERAL USED TO BE CONNECTED VIA RAILROAD.

THESE RAILROADS WENT EVERYWHERE.

THAT'S HOW YOU TRAVELED TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT OUR SOCIETY TODAY HAS BECOME SO DEPENDENT ON HAVING THINGS IMMEDIATELY.

AND AS THAT DESIRE AND THAT NEED BECOMES MORE PREVALENT, THESE RAILROADS ARE SLOWLY GETTING CLOSED AND AS MUCH AS THAT'S A BUMMER, IT DOES OPEN THE DOOR FOR THIS ADVENTURE A LITTLE BIT IN THAT WE'VE GOT SOME PLACES WE CAN GO EXPLORE BEFORE THEY GET TORN UP AND THAT PIECE OF HISTORY GETS LOST FOREVER.

SO THIS IDEA OF GOING OUT AND USING THE RAILS WITH OUR BIKES TO GO ACCESS REMOTE FISHING AND CAMPING AND MAYBE EVEN SOME BIKE RIDING, REALLY APPEALED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WITH FISHING IS THE HARDER IT IS TO ACCESS SOMETHING, USUALLY THE BETTER THE FISHING IS, THE PRETTIER THE LOCALE.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF DOING THIS IS TO ALSO TO UNPLUG, TO GET OUT AND EXPERIENCE NATURE FIRST HAND, NOT THROUGH A SCREEN, NOT THROUGH SOMEBODY ELSE'S ACCOUNT BUT TO DO THIS ON A BIKE WITHOUT A MOTOR, UNDER OUR OWN POWER, AND TO LIVE AND EXPERIENCE NATURE FIRST HAND.

SO IN DESIGNING THIS, WE TOOK SOME INSPIRATION FROM SOME OF THE DESIGNS THAT WERE AVAILABLE AND LOOKED AT HOW THOSE IDEAS WORKED.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WHEN I WENT OFF DESIGNING THIS WAS MAKING SOMETHING REALLY STABLE.

MAKING IT WORK FOR MY WIFE, MY DOG AND I AND ALL OUR GEAR WAS A DIFFERENT CONCEPT THAN WHAT I HAD SEEN SO FAR.

SO ONE OF THE ENGINEERING SAYINGS IS -- LIGHT, STRONG OR CHEAP.

PICK TWO.

YOU CAN'T HAVE ALL THREE.

AND SO GOING INTO THIS, WE DECIDED ON A FEW KEY POINTS THAT WERE GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT WE HAD TO USE OUR MOUNTAIN BIKES.

IF WE GOT SOMEWHERE COOL AND WE COULD RIDE, WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR MOUNTAIN BIKES WHICH EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED INTO LET'S USE THE MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR THE DRIVE MECHANISM.

SECOND ONE IS IT NEEDED TO BE STABLE AND SAFE.

AND THE THIRD ONE WAS THAT WE WANTED IT TO CARRY US PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER.

DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE A TANDEM WHERE WE WERE FRONT TO BACK.

WE WANTED TO RIDE NEXT TO EACH OTHER WITH OUR DOG IN THE MIDDLE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GO EXPERIENCE THESE THINGS TOGETHER, IT'S NICE TO DO IT WITH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU INSTEAD OF STARING AT SOMEBODY'S BUTT THE WHOLE TIME.

THOSE WERE THE THREE IMPORTANT ONES AND WE WENT FROM THERE AND WE WERE LIKE OK, HOW DO WE DO THIS?

I HAD TO LEARN TO WELD.

THIS IS A FIRST PROJECT I EVER WELDED ON.

SO WE STARTED WITH A GOOD WELDER.

ELLA HAD AN OLD PAIR OF ROLLERBLADES IN THE BASEMENT.

I REMEMBERED THERE WAS A PAIR OF LONGBOARD TRUCKS AND WE'LL DO DOUBLE ROLLERBLADE WHEELS FRONT AND BACK AND WE'LL USE THE SKATEBOARD WHEELS PERPENDICULAR FOR SIDE TO SIDE.

AS IT CHANGES, WE'RE OK. ONCE WE HAD GOTTEN THE MATERIALS AND MORE OR LESS A DESIGN FIGURED OUT, IT ACTUALLY SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS THE WHEELS STARTED TO GO TOGETHER, WE KEPT THINGS SQUARE.

AND WE KEPT IT STRONG.

AND THINGS HAPPENED IN FRONT OF YOU REALLY QUICK.

YOU GO FROM AN IDEA AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO BUILD, IT COMES TO LIFE REALLY QUICK.

AND SO THAT NIGHT, WE ACTUALLY GOT THE TROLLEY, IF YOU WILL, RUNNING AND DECIDED WE HAD TO GO TEST IT.

SO WE LOADED IT UP AND WENT DOWN TO THE RAILROAD AND GAVE IT A PUSH AND IT WAS WILD.

IT GLIDED SO SMOOTH WITH SO LITTLE EFFORT.

I THINK WE GAVE IT TWO KICKS AND WE WENT PROBABLY 100 FEET AND HAD TO PUT THE BRAKES ON TO STOP BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE DARKNESS.

SO THEN FROM THERE, IT WAS TIME TO PUT THE MOUNTS ON FOR THE BICYCLE.

WE SET IT UP SO WITH A SHIM OF PLYWOOD, WE COULD CHANGE BETWEEN 29 INCH AND 27.5 AND THEN WE PUT THE DECKING ON.

AND IT WAS A PRETTY SOLID SUCCESS.

HERE WE GO.

>> IT'S KIND OF CRAZY.

THESE RAILWAYS HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU KIND OF FORGET THAT A DEFUNCT RAILROAD, IT ACTUALLY TAKES QUITE A LOT TO MAINTAIN THE RAILWAY AND KEEP IT PASSABLE, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S TREES AND BRANCHES AND ALL IT TAKES IS A FALLEN TREE ON THE RAILROAD AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO GET OFF, DISMOUNT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE ON A HUMAN POWERED VEHICLE, THERE'S NO MOTOR.

THERE'S NO EXTRA SOUND.

IT'S JUST THE SOUND OF THE ROLLERS ON THE TRACKS.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE IT THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED SO WE'VE SEEN ALL SORTS OF STUFF WE WOULDN'T PROBABLY HAVE SEEN HAD WE BEEN ON A TRAIN OR MOTORIZED VEHICLE.

AND YOU REALLY DO GET TO DISSOLVE EVERYTHING AWAY FROM OUR DAILY LIVES AND UNPLUG.

I HAD BEEN SO FOCUSED ON THIS REALLY INTENSE SPORT OF MOUNTAIN BIKING AND TRAINING AND JUST TRYING TO BE FASTER, FASTER AND THAT FINDING THIS BALANCE IN FLYFISHING AND NATURE, IT'S A VERY FREEING EXPERIENCE.

LIFE IS HECTIC.

AND HONESTLY, DOING THIS PROJECT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS UNNECESSARY AT THE TIME.

IT SEEMED LIKE MORE WORK THAN I HAD TIME FOR.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE BUSY LIVES.

BUT LIFE IS SHORT.

YOU DON'T GET TO DO IT TWICE.

AND TAKING THE TIME TO DO A PROJECT LIKE THIS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

EVERYTHING IS UNCERTAIN.

AND SO WHEN YOU TAKE ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS, IT CAN OPEN DOORS.

WE'VE GOT THIS RAIL BIKE NOW.

SO WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO NEXT?

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR PROJECTS AND THEIR DREAMS BECAUSE THE MEMORIES, THE EXPERIENCES, GOOD AND BAD, THEY'RE WORTH SO MUCH AND YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON IT.

>> ♪ THAT'S WHAT ALL THE PEOPLE SAID ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT ALL THE PEOPLE SAID ♪ ♪ HEY, HEY, HEY ♪ SHOW US ONE MORE TIME SHOW US ONE MORE TIME ♪ ♪ PRESS REWIND >> I'D NEVER SEEN SO MANY LESBIANS IN MY LIFE.

>> I WASN'T EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK.

>> WE ALWAYS HAD FOR SMALL TOWNS, A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> MY BROTHER TOOK ME OUT TO THE UNDERGROUND THE FIRST TIME AND I WAS LIKE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED TO A GUY.

I JUST KNEW THAT IT WAS JUST SOMETHING NOT RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN.

I HAD DATED GIRLS PRIOR TO THAT, YOU KNOW, UNDERCOVER.

BUT TO KNOW THAT LIKE I COULD GO SOMEWHERE AND IT WAS -- I SAW OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE NORMAL, YOU KNOW, TO ME AND THERE'S JUST NOTHING LIKE THAT BEING WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT FEEL JUST LIKE YOU.

>> UNIFORM WAS THE FIRST GAY BAR IN MAINE THAT I STARTED TO HANG OUT IN.

BOARDED UP WINDOWS, RAINBOW ON THE OUTSIDE, THAT KIND OF THING, YOU KNOW, BUT THE RAINBOW WAS THE ONLY INDICATION THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GAY BAR.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T LOOK IN.

WE WENT UP IN THE DRIVEWAY LIKE YOU DO IN MAINE.

YOU GO UP SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY AND GO IN THE DOOR.

>> MY MOST MEMORABLE BAR STORY ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THIS BAR WHEN IT WAS JUST FRIENDS AND JUDY NEVERS WAS THE BAR OWNER.

AND SHE WAS BEHIND THE BAR.

AND I WAS SITTING THERE TALKING TO HER, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT THIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER.

AND THIS VOICE CAME, BOY, YOU'RE SITTING IN MY SEAT!

SO JUDY ABSOLUTELY LEAPT OVER THE BAR AND SHE SAID, YOU PUT THAT BOY DOWN.

HE'S WITH ME!

>> I HUNG OUT AT ROLAND'S, THAT WAS MY BAR OF CHOICE.

AND THOSE WERE THE DAYS WHEN IF YOU WERE DANCING WITH A PERSON OF THE SAME SEX, THE LIGHT WENT ON.

THERE ARE PEOPLE AT THE DOOR.

YOU HAD TO TAKE THE TABLES WHERE YOU WERE DANCING, PUT ALL THE TABLES TOGETHER, AND SIT DOWN AND PRETEND YOU HADN'T BEEN DANCING TOGETHER.

IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE I WENT TO WHEN I WAS KICKED OUT OF MY HOME AND MY MOTHER SAID TO ME, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?

AND I SAID I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE YOU WON'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO LIVE AS JENNIFER AND I CAME TO PORTLAND, HOMELESS.

MET SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

WENT TO ROLAND'S.

ROLAND'S IS THE FIRST BAR THAT WAS GAY THAT I KNOW OF, AND IT ACCEPTED ME RIGHT IN.

>> IT WAS THE ONLY BAR IN TOWN.

AND I REMEMBER IT AS BEING SCARY AS HELL.

IT WAS REALLY SCARY.

JUST TO GO INTO A GAY BAR, AND IT WAS SUCH A DARK BAR.

IT WAS A LONG, THIN, NARROW BAR.

ALL THESE OLDER GENTLEMEN WERE LINED UP, YOU KNOW, FACING, SITTING AT THE BAR AND THEN AT THE END OF THE BAR, WENT OFF INTO A LITTLE SIDE ROOM AND THERE WAS A LITTLE DANCE FLOOR AND THAT WAS OUR GOAL TO GET TO THE DANCE FLOOR.

BUT IT WAS KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FROM ONE END OF THE BAR TO THE OTHER WITHOUT GETTING GRABBED AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE.

AND FOR A YOUNG GUY WHO IS LIKE NEW TO THIS, IT WAS PRETTY NERVE-RACKING SO IT WAS LIKE NO, NO!

I'M WITH THESE GUYS.

>> BARS FACED A REAL CHALLENGE.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR ROLAND WHO STARTED BECAUSE HE SAID THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF HIS BAR, HE SPENT MORE TIME IN COURT THAN HE DID AT THE BAR.

AND IT WAS REALLY TRUE.

THEY WERE CONSTANTLY HARASSED, ORDINANCES WERE SELECTIVELY ENFORCED AGAINST GAY BARS.

PEOPLE WOULD GET BEATEN UP COMING OUT OF IT OR YOU COULD HAVE A ROCK THROWN THROUGH THE WINDOW.

SO YOU FELT SOMEWHAT BESIEGED.

>> I WAS TORMENTED.

I WAS ABOUT 21, AND I JUST WAS DETERMINED TO GO.

I WANTED SOME -- I WANTED SOME GAY EXPERIENCE.

I WANTED TO BE TOUCHED BY A MAN.

I WANTED SOMETHING WITH ANOTHER MAN.

I WANTED TO FINALLY ACTUALIZE THAT.

AND I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK.

AND I WAS DRIVING IN MY MAVERICK, AND AROUND THE BLOCK AND AROUND THE BLOCK OF THE BAR.

AND I WAS SO AFRAID OF BEING SEEN AND GETTING OUT OF MY CAR THAT I DROVE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.

GOT OUT OF THE CAR.

WENT INTO THE BAR.

NERVOUS AS HELL.

AND THERE WAS THE BARTENDER AND THEN THERE WAS ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE BAR.

SO IN MY ANXIETY, I WENT UP AND ORDERED A BUDWEISER.

AND WENT TO A TABLE.

SAT DOWN AND SO THE ONLY OTHER MAN THAT WAS THERE AT THAT TIME WAS NOT A MAN MY AGE, AN OLD MAN.

SORT OF SAUNTERED UP TO MY TABLE AND SORT OF STOOD IN FRONT OF IT AND JUST -- AND, OF COURSE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION BEFORE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN INTO A GAY BAR.

I WANTED TO HAVE A GAY EXPERIENCE.

AND WE HAD NOT SUCH GREAT FIRST TIME MAVERICK CAR SEX.

>> WHEN I WAS 21, I WENT TO CENTER -- SISTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN IT OPENED AND HAD MY FIRST LESBIAN KISS THERE.

GOT A STANDING OVATION, IN FACT, WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS 24 YEARS OLDER THAN ME.

>> I NEVER REALLY FELT LIKE I HAD TO COME OUT AS A LESBIAN BECAUSE I WAS NEVER REALLY IN.

BUT I HAD TO COME OUT IN AS A FEMINIST AS A FEM AND THAT REALLY TOOK SOME DOING TO KIND OF CLAIM YOUR IDENTITY AS A FORMER CHEERLEADER FEM IN A GROUP DURING THESE YEARS AMONGST LESBIAN FEMINISTS WHO HAD THIS IDEA THAT BUTCHES OR FEMS WERE DANGEROUS, HISTORICALLY OUTDATED.

SORT OF AN EMBARRASSMENT REALLY TO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU COULDN'T GET AWAY WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY IF YOU WERE A FEM WEARING A SKIRT IN A LESBIAN FEMINIST COMMUNITY ABOUT HAVING TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE YOU WERE PARTICIPATING IN YOUR OWN OPPRESSION OR OBJECTIFICATION.

SO THERE REALLY WASN'T A LOT OF ROOM AROUND THE EDGES OF THOSE LESBIAN FEMINIST CONVERSATIONS IN DIKE BARS OR ANYWHERE AND I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLAIN, TOO, THAT I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT BUTCHES WERE OUTDATED OR DANGEROUS.

I JUST THOUGHT THEY WERE HOT.

AND THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THEM THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM IF THEY HAD OBJECTIFIED ME ANY TIME THEY WANTED.

>> MY STORY IS AN OLD STORY.

IT GOES BACK TO PROBABLY AROUND, OH, 1978 OR 1979, RIGHT AROUND THERE.

I WAS YOUNG AND FOOLISH, AND THERE WAS A WONDERFUL ALL NIGHTCLUB DOWN ON COMMERCIAL STREET RIGHT IN THE FRONT YARD OF THE COAST GUARD, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

AND IT WAS JUST AN OLD WAREHOUSE AND YOU'D GET DOWN THERE AND GO ON THE BACK OF IT ON THE WATER SIDE AND THAT'S WHERE THE ENTRANCE WAS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, THE BAR OPENED AT MIDNIGHT AND SO EVERYBODY WHO WAS THERE WAS A COMPLETE WRECK.

AND ME INCLUDED.

SO I WENT ALL THE TIME.

AND I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT, I HAD GONE OUT INTO THE ALLEY OUTSIDE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

AND I WAS LOOKING AROUND, AND NOTICED A SHOPPING CART.

SO I GRABBED THE SHOPPING CART, AND I HAULED IT INTO THE BAR WITH ME AND WALKING AROUND GOING I'M SHOPPING FOR A MAN.

I'M SHOPPING FOR A MAN.

AND I PUSHED THAT CART AROUND UNTIL I FINALLY GOT SOME GUY TO CLIMB INTO IT.

>> WHEN I WENT TO LEWISTON IN 1990, ONE OF THE FIRST WEEKS I WAS THERE, I WAS HAVING COFFEE WITH A VERY YOUNG DIKE WHO HAD GROWN UP IN LEWISTON AND SHE SAID TO ME DON'T GO INTO THIS BY YOURSELF BECAUSE A GIRL LIKE YOU, SOMEBODY WILL COME IN AND CARRY YOU OFF.

SO THAT SEEMED INTRIGUING BUT IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

BUT I DID WIND UP GOING TO THAT BAR QUITE A BIT.

IT HAD AN UPSTAIRS THAT WASN'T ALWAYS OPEN BUT IT HAD A POOL TABLE.

SO EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE, IF IT WASN'T TOO CROWDED UP THERE, YOU COULD HAVE SEX ON THE POOL TABLE AND IT WAS A PRETTY AMAZING PLACE.

IT HAD ALREADY BEEN GOING FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN LEWISTON, MAINE, VERY CONSERVATIVE TOWN AND HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE AGE CRISIS AND IT WAS A BAR AWARE.

THERE WAS A FIRE.

THERE WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO HELP PEOPLE WITH EXPENSES.

IF THERE WAS A FUNERAL, IT WOULD BE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH EXPENSES.

IT WAS RUN BY THIS GUY NAMED ROLAND BLAZE.

IT WAS A GREAT PLACE FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGS, THERE WAS MEETINGS THAT HAPPENED THERE AFTER THE ANTI-GAY REFERENDUMS.

>> NEVER FORGET SATURDAY NIGHT, THERE WAS A LINE OUT THE DOOR.

AND IT WAS ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE IN TOWN WAS WAITING TO GET IN THIS PLACE.

AND YOU WALKED IN AND IT WAS A BASEMENT, THERE WAS A FISH TANK BEHIND THE BAR AND THERE WAS SWINGING GLASS DOORS IN THE BACK ROOM THAT WERE FOGGED UP THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE THROUGH.

IT WAS LIKE THE WIZARD OF OZ AND WHEN DOROTHY SHOWS UP INTO THIS TECHNICOLOR WORLD, THOSE DOORS SWUNG OPEN AND IT WAS THIS SEA OF PEOPLE.

AND IT WAS HOT AND SWEATY.

AND SHIRTS WERE OFF.

AND THEY WERE THE GO-GO BOXES AND THERE WAS THE CAGE.

AND THE MUSIC.

THE MUSIC WAS WHAT THAT SPACE WAS ALL ABOUT.

>> WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, UNDERGROUND WAS THE SPOT.

THEY DID KARAOKE, IT WAS VERY INCLUSIVE.

AND I GOT TO SEE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS IN THE GAY COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, JUST NOW COMING OUT, IT WAS MIND BLOWING FOR ME.

>> I HAD NEVER BEEN IN A GAY BAR BEFORE.

I WAS A LESBIAN, BUT I PROBABLY DIDN'T CALL MYSELF A LESBIAN AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

BUT I JUST NEEDED TO MEET SOME PEOPLE.

AND I WENT IN.

IT WAS HAPPY HOUR.

I HAD A DRINK.

THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.

BUT WHAT WAS THERE WAS A STACK OF NEWSPAPERS CALLED "OUR PAPER" AND I READ THE NEWSPAPER WHILE I HAD MY DRINK.

I CHATTED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE BARTENDER.

AND IN THE NEWSPAPER WAS AN AD FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR "OUR PAPER" AND I GOT UP MY COURAGE AFTER MY FIRST TIME AT A GAY BAR AND I WENT AND I DID MY FIRST VOLUNTEER GAY ACTIVITY AND I MET SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON MY LIFE.

M LIFE CHANGED AFTER ONE HAPPY HOUR AT THE UNDERGROUND.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF LONELY NIGHTS AND A LOT OF FILLING EMPTY WHEN I WOULD SEE MY WHITE FRIENDS WITH, YOU KNOW, THEIR PARTNERS AND HERE I AM, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT MINE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO CROSS THE COLOR LINE.

>> SISTERS WAS YOUR TYPICAL LESBIAN BAR.

IT WASN'T MUCH TO LOOK AT FROM THE OUTSIDE.

IT WAS A CAVERN ON THE INSIDE.

ALL THE WALLS WERE BLACK.

THERE WERE NO WINDOWS.

WE HAD A POOL TABLE.

WE HAD A SMOKING PATIO IN THE BACK.

WE HAD A D.J.

BOOTH, AND WE HAD TOP 40'S DANCE MUSIC.

FOR EIGHT YEARS, I WAS THERE EVERY WEEK.

IT WAS MY HOME.

IT WAS EVERYTHING THE COMMUNITY NEEDED IT TO BE UNTIL IT WASN'T.

OUR LADIES SLOWLY FIGURED OUT THEY WERE WELCOME IN OTHER PLACES.

SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CLOSE THE DOORS.

>> I JUST MOVED BACK HERE.

I HAD BEEN GONE FOR 12 YEARS.

I WAS LIVING IN TOPEKA, KANSAS.

AND IN DOWNTOWN IN TOPEKA, THEY HAD ONE GAY BAR.

AND I THINK THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS I WAS THERE, IT WAS OPEN, AND THEN IT CLOSED DOWN.

AND IT WAS NOING THERE.

-- NOTHING THERE.

AND SO THEN I HAD TO RESORT TO GOING TO A STRAIGHT BAR WHICH I'M NOT ENTIRELY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, YOU KNOW.

BUT WHEN I DID DECIDE TO DO THAT ONE TIME, I WAS GAY BASHED OUT THERE RIGHT IN THE BACK ALLEY OF THAT BAR.

AND GOT THREE SKULL FRACTURES AND ENDED UP HAVING BRAIN SURGERY, YOU KNOW, LOST MY TEETH IN THE PROCESS AND THAT WAS LIKE TWO YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY SAD WHEN GAY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE THAT THEY CAN GO TO, LET THEIR HAIR DOWN, YOU KNOW, AND JUST FEEL SAFE, YOU KNOW.

WHEN I COME HERE, WHEN I WENT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE, AS SOON AS I WENT IN THAT DOOR, I KNEW I WAS SAFE.

>> IT IS MY HOME BAR.

EVERYBODY KNOWS ME.

EVERYBODY GIVES YOU A HUG, A SMILE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF REPRESENTATION OF A HOME OR A SAFE PLACE THAT YOU CAN EXIST AND WHY WAS THIS IMPORTANT?

SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL POLITICALLY AND I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM.

I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S WHERE WE CAN COME BACK AND FIND HOME.

IT WILL BE A SAD DAY IN MY LIFE WHEN I SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A GAY BAR IN PORTLAND.

>> I MISS SISTERS.

I MISS OUR PLACE TO BE.

WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED.

WE CAN GO ANYWHERE WE WANT.

WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE FERMENTED REVOLUTION AND WHERE WE BANDED TOGETHER.

THIS IS WHERE WE BUILT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CHOSEN FAMILY.

THIS IS WHERE WE LEARNED TO TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH CARE BUT CUT YOURSELF ON YOUR CATERING GIG, THIS IS WHERE YOU FOUND THE PERSON THAT ACTUALLY SAID, I CAN FIX THAT.

>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> MY GREAT GRANDFATHER'S NAME, IN 1907, HE BEGAN MY FAMILY'S AMERICAN DREAM.

MY GRANDFATHER AND MY FATHER CONTINUED IT.

THIS IS THE HISTORY I HAVE TO CONSIDER WHEN I CALL MYSELF AN AMERICAN.

>> THE FAMILY HAS SUMMER HOME AT ONE DIGGINS ROW DIRECT ON THE BEACHFRONT WITH AN UNINTERRUPTED VIEW OF THE SEA IN EITHER DIRECTION.

WITH AN UNINTERRUPTED VIEW OF THE SEA IN EITHER DIRECTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 23RD INVITING US TO GO THERE AS ANY OTHER YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN SUMMER RESIDENTS THERE SINCE 1929 AND OWNED MY HOUSE AT ONE DICKINS ROW SINCE 1931 AND I'VE BEEN SPENDING EVERY YEAR STAYING THERE UP UNTIL LATE FALL.

WE ARE READY TO GO THERE AND OPEN THE HOUSE FOR SUMMER OCCUPANCY BUT I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD BY MR. MCCARTHY, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY AT FEDERAL BUILDING BOSTON WHO GIVES PERMITS TO ALIEN NATIONALS THAT BEING IT'S MILITARY ZONE, WE JAPANESE NATIONALS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEND SUMMER OR VISIT THE HOUSE THERE DURING THE WAR.

IT WAS A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT AS WE HAVE SPENT OVER 13 YEARS THERE, AND I HAVE BEEN IN BOSTON OVER 33 YEARS WHILE MRS. YATSUHASHI OVER 28 YEARS.

WHILE OUR FINE CHILDREN, AMERICAN CITIZENS, ARE EDUCATED IN BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE.

TWO OF THEM GRADUATED HARVARD COLLEGE AND ONE IS STILL AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.

OTHERS GRADUATED FROM SIMMONS COLLEGE AND STILL ANOTHER IS ATTENDING NORTH CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.

WE FEEL WE ARE AS ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ALIENS EITHER ITALIANS OR GERMANS WHO OWNED A HOUSE THERE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME RULINGS BUT WE FEEL SO DISAPPOINTED FOR NOT GETTING TO GO THERE AS ANY OTHER YEARS AS WE HAD A PLEASANT TIME THERE.

I UNDERSTAND ENTIRE ATLANTIC COAST IS MILITARY ZONE AND THERE'S REGULATION AS BLACKOUT OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

BUT DID NOT KNOW WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE TO MY OWN HOUSE DURING SUMMER EVEN THOUGH WE ARE LOYAL TO THIS COUNTRY.

>> AFTER THE WAR ENDED MY GREAT GRANDFATHER BEGAN REBUILDING HIS AMERICAN DREAM.

IT WAS DIFFERENT THE SECOND TIME.

>> VERMONT PUBLIC PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKES TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.

FOR MORE, VISIT VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG.