(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.

(man) ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE'S GOT THE MAP, SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ (Don) SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?

WE GOT A PAMPHLET OR SOMETHING?

WE'LL TELL YOU WHEN THE TIME COMES.

(Don) DEAR TV MAILBAG, WHO'S THAT OLD COOT IN THE SARAPE?

OH, IT'S A LITTLE CHILLY.

(Don) OOPS, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE ME, DON, THE CAMERA GUY, DOING THOSE OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED WHILE MIKE TEMPORARILY TAKES THE PICTURES AND RANDY KEEPS ON, I GUESS, PRODUCING.

DONNY, YOU KIND OF LOOK LIKE THE--THAT DON JUAN GUY FROM THE CARLOS CASTAÑEDA BOOKS.

REMEMBER THOSE?

I'M SEEKING WISDOM...

IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES.

THIS PLACE--THIS HOTEL THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A NAME.

WE'RE STAYING AT A MOTEL TO BE NAMED LATER.

(Don) AND RUMOR HAS IT, WE'LL BE STAYING HERE LONGER THAN USUAL BECAUSE THIS PART OF KENTUCKY IS A VIRTUAL VALHALLA FOR THE KIND OF VISIONARY ART WE LIKE SO MUCH.

AND ITS VORTEX, NOT TO MENTION THE PLACE WHERE WE MIGHT WARM UP, IS JUST DOWN THE WAY IN THIS OLD GROCERY THAT'S BEEN GLORIOUSLY REBORN.

(Randy) IS THIS THE PLACE WITH THE COFFEE?

THIS IS IT.

THIS IS ADRIAN SWAIN.

HE'S THE GUY WHO MADE THE COFFEE.

(Mike) AND THE MUSEUM, I THINK.

(Randy) MY PLEASURE.

NICE TO MEET YOU TOO.

(Randy) I' LL BE MORE EXCITED WH EN WE HAVE THAT COFFEE.

OKAY, YOU WANT COFFEE NOW?

BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT DONE.

(Don) YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL THAT ADRIAN DOES NOT, AS THEY SAY, COME FROM AROUND HERE.

SOME YEARS BACK HE ARRIVED TO STUDY ART, MADE FRIENDS WITH THE LOCALS, WORKED AS A POTTER, AND WELL, DECIDED TO STAY.

(Adrian) BACK IN THE MIDDLE '80s A COUPLE PEOPLE CAME TO-- MOVED TO MOREHEAD WHO WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF WORK.

LOOKED AROUND FOR A COLLECTION, AND THEY SAW A LOT OF IT OUT AND ABOUT, BUT THEY LOOKED AROUND FOR COLLECTION, AND THERE WASN'T ONE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ARTISTS WHO WERE ALIVE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IN THE LATE '80s AND EARLY '90s, WHO DIED--REALLY SIGNIFICANT ARTISTS WHO ARE NO LONGER HERE, BUT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THEM, DOCUMENT THEM, AND ADD SOME OF THEIR WORK TO THE COLLECTION, WHICH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I'VE WORKED HERE SINCE '87, SO THERE WERE SOME REALLY NICE PIECES BEFOREHAND, BUT I--YOU KNOW-- I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SNIFFING OUT AND FINDING MOST OF WHAT'S HERE.

UM, THIS IS EDGAR TOLSON, RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S A PIECE OF CARL McKENZIE'S MINNIE BLACK.

CHARLEY KINNEY, THAT'S HIS NIAGARA FALLS OVER THERE.

THIS IS NOT STRICTLY SPEAKING TIED IN WITH A TRADITION.

THIS IS REALLY SELF-TAUGHT ART, AND IT'S A STRANGE, PECULIARLY AMERICAN, IN PARTICULAR, KENTUCKY, PHENOMENON THAT THERE'S BEEN THIS AMOUNT OF SELF-TAUGHT ART PRODUCED IN RECENT TIMES.

PEOPLE WHO DO "WOOD CARVING" TEND TO DO SPECIFIC THINGS, DECOYS OR WHIMSIES OR, YOU KNOW, SHOES OR DUCKS OR-- I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAIN KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE STOCK IN TRADE FOR WOOD CARVER.

THIS IS USING THOSE SKILLS, BUT IT'S USING IT IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY.

I THINK WHAT WE TRY TO DO HERE WAS TO PRESENT THE ARTWORK AND SHOW ITS UNIQUENESS AND TREAT IT AS ART RATHER THAN TREAT IT AS A MANIFESTATION OF SOMETHING.

THERE'S A SORT OF A SPONTANEITY ABOUT THIS KIND OF ART THAT--I THINK YOU CAN SEE IT VERY CLEARLY.

THERE'S AN HONESTY ABOUT IT, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY IT'S SIMPLE, BECAUSE THAT-- IT'S NOT.

I MEAN, A LOT OF IT'S REAL COMPLEX.

(Don) NOW IN A PLACE WITH SO MANY COOL THINGS, HERE'S YET ANOTHER-- A MEETING ROOM FURNISHED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE MEETINGS FUN.

WE COULD HAVE PLAYED LONGER, BUT ADRIAN INSISTED WE SHOULD GET OUT AND MEET SOME OF THE FOLK WHO ARE MAKING ALL THIS ART.

AND THE LOGICAL PLACE TO START IS HAPPY GIZZARDS HOLLER.

THAT'S WHERE MINNIE ADKINS LIVES, JUST PAST ISONVILLE, AT THE OTHER END OF SOME TRULY LUNCH-LOSING ROADS.

MINNIE AND HER FIRST HUSBAND, GARLAND, MADE ART TOGETHER IN THEIR PLEASANT VALLEY WOODSHOP, UNTIL HIS DEATH A FEW YEARS BACK.

AND THE HAPPY GIZZARDS HOLLER.

(Don) NOW IN HER NEW HOME AND STUDIO WITH HER NEW HUSBAND, HERMAN, SHE JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE AND MORE ATTENTION FOR THE CREATURES SHE CREATES.

(Minnie) ♪ GOT A BRIGHT BLUE ROOSTER, ♪ ♪ AND A THREE-LEGGED HOG, ♪ ♪ A WORE-OUT TRACTOR ♪ ♪ AND A NO-COUNT DOG.

♪ ♪ WALKING INTO TOWN GOING ARM IN ARM.♪ ♪ IT'S A SAD SITUATION DOWN ON THE FARM.

♪ ♪ [pounding] (Randy) HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

LET'S GO BACK TO THE WOODS.

(Minnie) AS A CHILD, WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WOULD MAKE POP-GUNS AND WHISTLES AND STUFF TO PLAY WITH, YOU KNOW?

AS THINGS I NEEDED WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

I JUST WHITTLED, AND THAT WAS MY THING TO DO.

[pounding] YOU SAW VERY FEW WOMEN WHITTLE BACK THEN.

IT WAS A NO-NO FOR A WOMAN TO BE A WHITTLER, SO...

BUT I JUST COULDN'T GIVE UP THE ENJOYMENT THAT I FELT FROM WHITTLING AND CREATING THINGS, SO I JUST KEPT IT UP.

(Randy) OH , YEAH, THAT'S A SHARP KNIFE.

(Minnie) YEAH, IT IS.

(Randy) WHILE IT'S ONE THING TO WHITTLE, IT'S ANOTHER THING TO START MAKING REAL-- (Minnie) TO MAKE IT INTO SOMETHING.

(Randy) YEAH, WHEN DID YOU DECIDE-- (Minnie) THE LITTLE ROOSTERS WAS REALLY THE FIRST THINGS, AND THEN I'D MAKE LITTLE STICK DOLLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S ABOUT THE FIRST THINGS THAT I STARTED... MAKING.

SEE I SAW THESE OUT AND SHAPE THEM BEFORE I START WHITTLING OUT OF THEM BUT USED TO, I NEVER HAD A BAND SAW, SO I DONE EVERY BIT FROM POCKET KNIFE.

[saw whirring] (Randy) IS THERE A FAVORITE WOOD, OR IS THERE A-- WELL, THIS WOOD IS CALLED BASSWOOD OR LINWOOD, AND IT'S REAL SOFT, AND THAT'S WHY WE WHITTLE OUT OF.

(Randy) GOT ANY SCARS YOU CAN SHOW US?

WELL, THERE'S ONE.

SEE?

THERE'S A SCAR.

(Randy) YEAH.

THAT WAS A PRETTY BAD-- (Randy) STITCHES?

NO, NO, WE DON'T HAVE STITCHES.

[machine whirring] (Randy) EVERYBODY TELLS ME THAT YOU'VE BEEN REAL IMPORTANT TO THIS WHOLE VALLEY, THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF FO-- (Minnie) WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PASSED AWAY THAT-- WE HAD ABOUT 15 AT ONE TIME, BUT WE'RE RECRUITING NEW ONES.

SO WE'VE GOT ONE NEW WOMAN, UP HERE ON THE CREEK, THAT'S GETTING INTO IT REAL GOOD.

ANYBODY CAN DO FOLK ART THAT WOULD LIKE TO, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THEY CAN, UNTIL THEY HAVE SOMEBODY TO HELP THEM AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING I CAN DO.

AND SEE, I HAVE DONE REAL WELL AT IT, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE ALL MY NEIGHBORS DO WELL AT IT.

(Mike) ANYBODY CAN DO WELL AT IT?

(Minnie) OH, YEAH.

(Mike) THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN YOU THAT YOU HAVE THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE.

THEY HAVE IT, BUT THEY JUST DON'T KNOW THEY'VE GOT IT, BUT THEY NEED TO DEVELOP IT.

[hissing] (Don) AND WHO BETTER TO PROVE IT THAN HERMAN HIMSELF, WHO TOLD MINNIE THAT ANYTHING SHE COULD MAKE IN WOOD, HE COULD MAKE IN METAL, AND SURE ENOUGH, THE PROOF IS IN THE POULTRY.

(Minnie) THE FIRST ROOSTER HE BROUGHT DOWN THERE, I KNOWED HE WAS ONTO SOMETHING, AND HE DID.

HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HE'D DONE ANYTHING.

BUT I'D SAY THAT HE HAS DONE OVER 100 OF THE 4-FOOT ONES.

YOU ALL COME BACK.

WAVE, WAVE, WAVE.

(Don) SO HAPPY AS, UM, CLAMS, WE HEADED OUT OF THE HOLLER, BACK OUT THE SHORT AND WINDING ROAD TOWARDS MOREHEAD, BUT NOT QUITE.

TEN MILES FROM TOWN, WE STOPPED HERE TO SEE WHAT IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE CECIL ISON IS UP TO.

I AM A FORENSIC ANTHROPOMORPHOLOGIST.

FORENSIC ANTHROPOMORPHOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF ANTHROPOMORPHS, OR HUMAN-LIKE OBJECTS.

AND MY SPECIALTY IS IN HARD PLASTIC BODY ANTHROPOMORPHS.

THEY RANGED FROM THE CUTE TO-- TO THE HARLOTS, COMPLETE WITH THE MONEY SLOT.

AND BASICALLY WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS RATES OF DETERIORATION BY DIFFERENT PARTS.

THE POOR UNFORTUNATE SOULS THAT GO FIRST ARE THE WANNABE BARBIES.

HERE'S ONE OF THEIR HEADS, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE HAIR IS THE FIRST TO GO.

THE EYELINER, IT STAYS.

(Randy) THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR TAMMY FAYE.

(Mike) AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT, ALSO, AT THE WAY THEY'VE MET THEIR DEMISE, RIGHT?

(Cecil) OH, YES.

THIS POOR INDIVIDUAL HERE, SEVERE RADIATION BURNS FROM BEING EXPOSED.

THIS ONE WAS A DROWNING VICTIM, AND THEN LATER ON, IT WAS GNAWED BY A WILD BEAST.

(Mike) COYOTES OR TAMMY FAYE?

[laughter] I'D RATHER NOT SPECULATE ON THAT.

A LOT OF DECAPITATIONS, DISMEMBERMENTS, STABBINGS, BURNINGS, THE WHOLE REALM OF THE DEBAUCHERY THAT COULD BE HEAPED UPON A POOR ANTHROPOMORPH, I HAVE RECORDED IT.

EXCUSE ME, POOR LITTLE DOG.

POOR LITTLE DOG.

(Mike) I KNOW WHAT KILLED HER.

NOW, THAT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A TOE TAG TO ME.

(Cecil) IT IS.

THE ONES WHERE I HAVE DIRECT PROVENIENCE, I ALWAYS TAG.

(Mike) THAT'S A BIG WORD, PROVENIENCE.

DO I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

(Randy) IT'S ITALIAN FOOD, ISN'T IT?

(Mike) I THINK IT'S SOMETHING I ATE ONCE BUT-- (Randy) NOW, IS YOUR WORK AVAILABLE ONLINE?

HAVE YOU PUT THIS ALL IN-- (Cecil) NO, I'M AFRAID I HAVEN'T.

(Mike) BOOK FORM, MAGAZINE?

(Cecil) NO.

(Mike) SLIDE SHOW?

I'M A BUSY MAN.

(Don) THIS ONE'S ONLINE.

[laughter] (Mike) I WOULD THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BIG DOLL MAKERS, MATTEL, HASBRO, I DON'T KNOW WHO THE BIG DOLL MAKERS ARE, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN YOUR WORK AT THIS POINT.

HAVE THEY NOT WANTED TO FUND YOU WITH LOTS OF BIG FAT GRANTS?

(Cecil) AS I SAID, I'M A BUSY MAN.

I REALLY JUST HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO PURSUE IT.

(Don) YOU DESERVE DOLLARS.

OH, THAT-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HOPE YOU WILL SPREAD THAT WORD.

(Mike) I WILL.

(Don) NOW, IN ADDITION TO FORENSIC WHATEVER-IT-IS, CECIL HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO HANDLE SOME MATTERS SPIRITUAL, INSPIRING US TO INQUIRE IF HE MIGHT INDEED SAY A BLESSING OVER OUR UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE, TO NO AVAIL.

YOU HAVE SEEN THE EXORCIST.

(Don) YEAH.

[Don groaning] HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE CHRYSLER PRODUCT EITHER.

[Don groaning] (Don) WELL, I GUESS WE COULD TRY THIS PLACE JUST DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IT'S CLOSED TOO, SO WE'LL JUST CROSS OUR FINGERS, HIT THE BED, AND SEE WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS.

[motor rumbling] (Randy) OOH, IT'S ITHIEL TOWN LATTICE.

(Mike) I DON'T THINK THERE'RE MANY SURVIVING EXAMPLES OF THIS KIND OF BRIDGE.

(Randy) NO, THAT'S VERY RARE, I THINK KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY.

I THINK IT'S THE ONLY ONE, TH E ONLY ITHIEL TOWN LATTICE.

(Don) DO NOT BE FOOLED BY WHAT APPEARS TO BE ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE.

THE BOYS ARE JUST READING SIGNS AGAIN.

AND WHILE THESE BRIDGES OF FLEMING COUNTY ARE QUITE ATTRACTIVE, I THINK WE'VE GOT THIS ONE COVERED.

BESIDES, WE'VE COME TO FLEMINGSBURG FOR A REASON, AND THAT REASON IS TO FIND THE COOPERS, RONALD AND JESSIE, AN AMAZING HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM WHOSE ANGELS AND DEVILS, AND VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF AT THE FOLK ART CENTER.

(Randy) MAKE SURE NOBODY GETS WELL HERE.

(Don) THOUGH, AS YOU WILL SEE, THEY'RE AS LOW-KEY IN PERSON, AS THEIR ART IS VIVID.

(Ronald) I WAS IN A BAD AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN '84.

GOT MY LEGS ALL CRUSHED UP, AND WHEN HE TOOK ME IN, THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS EVEN GONNA LIVE, AND-- BUT SHE KEPT AFTER ME TO DO ART.

SHE HAS ALWAYS PAINTED A LITTLE BIT.

AND I SAID, "I CAN'T DO NOTHING LIKE THAT.

NOBODY'D WANT ANYTHING I'D MAKE OR DO."

BUT THEY KEPT ON AFTER ME, AND I STARTED DOING IT.

AND FIRST THING YOU KNOW, WE WAS SELLING ART, AND PEOPLE REALLY LIKED IT.

(Mike) WAS THERE A PLAN?

NO, WE JUST EACH DO WHAT WE WANNA DO.

(Ronald) SOMETIMES I'D SAY, "WELL, YOU DO THIS, AND I'LL DO THAT."

OR SHE'D SAY, "YOU DO THAT, AND I'LL DO THIS."

THESE ARE LIKE MINNOW BUCKETS.

SHE PAINTED ON THE OUTSIDES, AND I PAINTED ON THE INSIDE, SEE.

FOR THIS ONE, SHE DONE HEAVEN ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

(Mike) ARE YOU CARVING THESE PIECES THAT GO INSIDE?

(Ronald) YEAH, I CARVED THESE PEOPLE AND PUT IT DOWN IN THERE, SEE.

I TRY--I HAVE KIND OF A MESSAGE TO IT, OR I THINK I DO.

I TRY, 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BICYCLE, FOR INSTANCE, OVER HERE, THEY MIGHT BEFORE THEY'VE SEEN ME OR TALKED TO ME, THEY MIGHT SAY, "I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT," BUT IF THEY READ ON IT, THEY'D SEE THAT IT'S GOT A MESSAGE ON IT, SOMETHING THAT THEY MIGHT THINK ABOUT AND MIGHT CAUSE THEM BECOME A CHRISTIAN PERSON.

THIS IS THE OLD DEVIL SAYING: "HA-HA!"

'CAUSE THEY'RE-- THEY'RE HAVING FUN, YOU KNOW?

"WE GET SINNERS ANYWHERE THEY MIGHT BE.

NO ONE GETS AWAY FROM HELL."

SO WHATEVER COMES TO MIND WHILE I'M DOING IT, I WRITE IT ON THERE.

IT USUALLY TURNS OUT PRETTY GOOD THAT WAY.

I LAUGH AT IT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS I DO.

I DON'T REALIZE HARDLY WHAT I WROTE ON IT OR SOMETHING UNTIL LATER, I GET TO READ IT.

OCCASIONALLY, WHILE I'M WORKING ON IT, SHE'LL SAY, "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?"

YOU KNOW?

(Jessie) SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, "WELL, I JUST CAN'T SEE YOU DOING THAT KIND OF WORK."

[laughs] (Ronald) I CAN'T S SEE MYSELF DOING IT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW.

I'VE NEVER TRIED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW.

I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF FELT LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT, THAT YOU SHOULD DO WHATEVER YOU'RE GONNA DO ON YOUR OWN.

(Mike) NO ART SCHOOL IN THE BACKGROUND.

NO SCHOOL BACKGROUND.

NO.

NEVER GOT MUCH SCHOOL, PERIOD.

[laughs] (Mike) SOUNDS LIKE LIFE WAS YOUR TEACHER, AND THEN THAT ACCIDENT REALLY TURNED IT AROUND.

(Ronald) YEAH, SHE JUST KEPT ON TELLING ME TO, YOU KNOW, "TRY THIS; SEE IF YOU CAN DO THIS.

SEE IF YOU CAN PAINT THIS."

YOU WERE SO DEPRESSED.

YEAH, I WAS DEPRESSED.

OH, YEAH, I'D SIT AND CRY AND ROLL AROUND IN THE WHEELCHAIR ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW?

IT WAS A HEALING PROCESS FOR ME, YOU KNOW?

THEN WHEN I STARTED DOING THIS, IT GAVE ME DESIRE TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING, KEEP ON GOING, AND IT WASN'T WHAT I'D BEEN DOING.

BUT I FOUND OUT THAT I LIKED IT BETTER THAN WHAT I'D BEEN DOING.

SO JUST BEEN GREAT FOR US IN EVERY WAY.

(Don) WHAT CAN YOU SAY EXCEPT "WOW"?

AND GOOD THING THERE'S A CASH MACHINE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.

BUT THESE IMPULSE PURCHASES DO MAKE MOVING ABOUT THE VEHICLE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT-- A VEHICLE THAT IS EVEN NOW MOVING OUT OF KENTUCKY, HEADED EAST, WHICH MEANS WEST VIRGINIA IS NEXT.

STRANGELY ENOUGH, OUR TOUR BEGINS WITH THIS PINK PACHYDERM STANDING FOR REASONS UNKNOWN OUTSIDE A DENTAL OFFICE, AND YES, EVEN THESE PRODUCERS SEEM A BIT DISAPPOINTED.

(Randy) LET'S GO, DONNY.

(Mike) REALLY GOTTA GO NOW.

I'M NOT EVEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR FOR THIS.

(Randy) COME ON.

(Don) NO, THINGS WEREN'T LOOKING SO GOOD, BUT JUST THEN, MIKE SPOTTED LADY LIBERTY IN YET ANOTHER OF HER MANY GUISES.

BRING ME YOUR POOR, YOUR TIRED, YOUR PETROLEUM NEEDS, AND WOULD YOU LIKE A SLURPEE WITH THAT?

[motor rumbling] (Don) NOW, SCENICALLY SPEAKING, THIS IS MORE LIKE IT.

WE'RE HUGGING THE OHIO RIVER, JUST NORTH OF HUNTINGTON, ON OUR WAY TO EARL ALBERT GRAY'S PLACE, KNOWN ACCORDING TO OUR RESEARCH AS CATFISH MAN'S EGYPTIAN GARDENS, THOUGH IN TRUTH, CATFISH MAN WAS EARL'S DAD, WHO'S NO LONGER WITH US, AND THE NAME WAS REALLY JUST MADE UP ANYWAY.

BUT NO PROBLEM, BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE, EARL HAS BEEN PLENTY BUSY.

(Earl) PICKED UP THE BOX STICK ONE EVENING AND WHITTLED A LITTLE FACE ON IT.

REST IS HISTORY, AS THEY SAY.

[laughs] I JUST LOVE SAYING THAT.

[laughs] [pounding] GOT TIRED OF WOOD CARVING.

IT WAS A LITTLE SLOW, SO I MOVED ON UP TO THE SAND ROCK AND TRIED IT OUT, AND IT WORKED GREAT.

I GET IT OFF THE HILLS HERE.

(Mike) SO THERE'S PLENTY OF IT, NO SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS.

(Earl) NO SHORTAGE OF ROCKS, NOT ROUND HERE.

(Randy) WHY IS THIS AN EGYPTIAN GARDEN?

(Earl) I HAVE NO IDEA.

[laughter] (Mike) 'C AUSE YOU DON'T LOOK EGYPTIAN.

NAH.

(Randy) I LIKE THAT.

(Mike) YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.

(Earl) LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, AND IT'S A DOG'S HEAD.

SEE THE TEETH, THE NOSE, AND EAR?

LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, AND IT'S A HUMAN FACE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE EGYPTIAN HALF MAN, HALF DOG?

(Earl) NO .

I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU EGYPT HERE.

(Earl) I AIN'T WORKING WITH YOU.

[laughter] (Randy) THAT'S OKAY, NEITHER ARE WE.

LOOK, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT A BIT OF A SNAKE UP THERE OR SOMETHING.

(Earl) YEAH.

SEE, THERE'S A SNAKE.

THAT'S PRETTY EGYPTIAN.

YEAH.

(Randy) DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO SOMEDAY BE-- RINGING YOUR WHOLE HOUSE WITH THIS KIND OF-- (Earl) YEAH, I'M STARTING ON MY OWN STONEHENGE.

[laughs] (Randy) IS THAT YOUR FACE?

IS THAT THE FACE OF EARL?

YOU BE THE JUDGE.

EARL'S SMILE.

QUIT WASTING TAPE ON THAT.

WALK OUT HIGH OUT HERE, AND YOU WON'T GET YOUR FEET AS WET.

(Mike) IS THAT HOW IT WORKS, IS WALK HIGH?

(Randy) THIS IS ACTUALLY STARTING TO GET EGYPTIAN.

(Earl) THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW.

START AT THE TOP AND FINISH AT THE BOTTOM.

(Randy) I HAVE HEARD THAT WORKS FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

YEAH.

IT DOES FOR ME.

(Randy) DOES THIS STUFF PUT A GRIN ON YOUR FACE?

(Earl) OH, I JUST ENJOY DOING IT.

'CAUSE YOU CAN DO THE REST OF IT WHEN IT'S COLD.

SIT IN HERE AND, UH, LISTEN TO THE RADIO AND DRAW AWAY.

(Randy) ARE WE TELLING A STORY HERE?

YOU GOT A FACE RIGHT HERE.

(Randy) SURE.

THEN YOU GOT FACES IN FACES.

TORNADO'S GOING IN HIS NOSE.

THERE'S JUST STUFF THAT'S EASY FOR ME TO THINK OF AND DO, SO I PUT IT ON WOOD TO LET EVERYBODY ELSE SEE IT.

(Randy) TORNADOS COMING OUT OF NOSES IS EASY FOR YOU TO THINK OF?

YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE WAY I THINK.

PEOPLE DOES LANDSCAPES, PAINTINGS, AND I JUST DO WEIRD DRAWINGS.

[laughter] HERE'S THE EGYPTIAN, THERE'S THE EGYPTIAN PART RIGHT THERE.

IT'S THE PYRAMIDS.

I KNEW THERE WERE PYRAMIDS IF WE JUST LOOKED HARD ENOUGH.

(Randy) YOU'LL LOAD THAT FOR ME?

YEAH, I'LL TAKE IT OUT THERE FOR YOU.

(Randy) LET'S GO!

(Don) PYRAMIDS OR NOT, IT SHOULD BE JUST A SHORT SHOT FROM EARLS' PLACE OVER TO CHARLESTON'S, OR WOULD BE IF ONE OF US HADN'T REALIZED HE'D LEFT HIS WALLET BEHIND.

GOTTA GET IT BACK.

(Don) THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT'S BEEN FOUND, AND NOW THE LOSER IN QUESTION HAS DECIDED ON THANKING THE PERSON WHO TURNED IT IN, PERSONALLY.

YOO-HOO!

YOO-HOO, LINDA!

LINDA!

YOO-HOO, LINDA.

LINDA?

LINDA?

I'M TIRED.

CHASING LINDA IS HARDER WORK THAN I REALIZE.

(Mike) I GOT HER.

YOU...

I DON'T WANT HELP.

YOU FOUND MY WALLET.

AND YOU TURNED IT IN.

YOU'RE AN HONEST PERSON.

IN HONOR OF YOUR HONESTY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A T-SHIRT FOR OUR SHOW RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS.

NOW, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR BEING SUCH AN HONEST PERSON, AND YOU CAN WEAR THAT SHIRT AND TELL PEOPLE YOU MET THOSE MORONS IN PERSON.

[laughs] (Don) I GUESS RECOGNIZING GOOD DEEDS WORKS UP AN APPETITE.

AND LUCKILY FOR ONCE, THIS HERBIVORE GOT ALL WE WANTED AND MORE.

IF EVERY TOWN HAD ONE OF THESE, MY CULINARY CALAMITIES WOULD BE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

(Mike) DON'T WORRY.

WE'LL FIX THAT BELLY AT POST.

(Don) LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BACK ON TRACK NOW, HEADED TO HURRICANE, HOME OF HERMAN HAYES.

OVER THE COURSE OF HERMAN'S 78 YEARS, HE'S NOT ONLY BEEN A WORLD-RENOWNED WOOD CARVER, BUT AN ELECTROLUX SALESMAN, METHODIST MINISTER, AND STATE CHAMPION BOXER.

(Mike) WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO START CARVING WHEN OTHER BOXERS DON'T?

WELL, CARVING AND BOXING HAS NOTHING IN COMMON, PERIOD.

SO... WHY IS KIND OF LIKE, WHY AREN'T YOU A CARVER?

I JUST ALWAYS LIKED WOOD, AND I ALWAYS GO DOWN THE ROAD AND TAKE UP A PIECE OF WOOD AND START WHITTLING ON IT.

NOW, YOU WON'T CUT YOURSELF HALF AS MUCH WITH A REAL SHARP KNIFE AS YOU DO WITH A REAL DULL KNIFE, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE KIND OF FORCE--TRYING TO FORCE IT, AND WHEN YOU FORCE IT AND HIT A KNOT, IT'LL SLIP RIGHT INTO YOUR FINGER.

SO ONE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COLOR YOUR WOOD.

IT'S ALREADY COLORED.

[laughing] IT'S CO-- I'VE TAKEN ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF WOODS, IN FACT, ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF MATERIALS.

I'VE TAKEN RUBBER.

I'VE TAKEN LEATHER.

I'VE TAKEN JUST ANYTHING I CAN CARVE ON JUST TO SEE IF I CAN DO IT, YOU KNOW?

I PICKED UP ONE THE GOLF COURSE.

IT WAS KNOCKED HALF IN TWO, AND IT HAD JUST SPLIT COMPLETELY OPEN, SO I CARVED A FACE ON IT.

I LIKE TO CARVE THAT HARD RUBBER.

IT'S NICE TO CARVE.

HAVE YOU EVER READ THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS VERY MUCH?

THE SEVEN-HEADED BEAST AND ALL THAT, YOU KNOW?

(Randy) THERE WAS SOME UGLY STUFF IN THERE.

HOW YOU'RE GOING TO CARVE SEVEN HEADS ON--YOU KNOW?

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT, I'M GOING TO DO IT ONE OF THESE DAYS.

I GUARANTEE YOU THAT.

(Mike) CAN I TRY MAKING SOMETHING?

YO U GOT A STUB I CAN WORK ON?

(Randy) YOU GOT A TOURNIQUET?

I WANT YOU TO SIGN A PAPER SAYING THAT I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE.

[laughter] I WANT A RED FLOWER, NOW, WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.

(Randy) YEAH.

(Mike) OH, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SHOOTING THIS.

(Randy) I AM FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES.

WHY, THAT'S PRETTY RELAXING.

DOES THAT RELAX YOU?

OH, YEAH, GOOD THERAPY.

(Mike) SO ARE THERE ANY LESSONS TO BE LEARNED IN LIFE FROM WHITTLING?

YEAH, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

(Mike) YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD TO NOT HAVE-- TO BE STILL WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS LIKE THIS.

OH!

[laughter] (Don) I SUSPECT HERMAN COULD STILL MOP THE CANVAS WITH ANY OR ALL OF US, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO FIND OUT.

THE BOYS HOPE TO FINISH THIS SHOW WITH A STOP AT A GENUINE ROADSIDE ATTRACTION NEARBY.

AND IT APPEARS STOPPING IS ABOUT ALL WE'LL GET TO DO.

(Randy) IT'S CLOSED.

(Mike) WE'RE LATE.

(Randy) MYSTERY HOLE.

YOU KNOW I LOVE A GOOD MYSTERY HOLE.

(Don) TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS.

THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNING OFF.

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

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

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTISTS, WACKY SITES, AND HOW YOU CAN SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF, GO TO: [pounding] Captioning and audio description provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Captioning and audio description byCaptionmax www.captionmax.com [machine whirring] [hissing] NOT A GOOD IDEA?

(Don) NOT A GOOD IDEA.

OH, COME ON, JUST A COUPLE PRACTICE WHACKS.

whack!

(Randy) MA N!

THAT FEELS GOOD GOING IN, THOUGH.

whack!

(Don) HEY, ONE MORE DOWN IN THERE.

whack!

(Don) OH, OH!

OH!

(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.