♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ >> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY" -- MICHELLE: CHRISTMAS AT THE BREAKERS, DECORATED WITH SKILLFUL PASSION.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO BE BLOWN AWAY BY THE HOUSE.

>> COLE IS A VALUABLE SUBSTANCE.

>> SHAKING UP A CHRISTMAS CAROL, REIMAGINING THE TIMELESS CLASSIC.

>> THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO A STORY THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS AND LOVES IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ARTIST.

>> DOES IT MATTER IF A MAN IS THE CONDUIT OR A WOMAN IS THE CONDUIT TO TELL A STORY OF REDEMPTION?

I THINK IT DOES.

KHIPRA: MR. AND MISSES POTATO HEAD WERE VERY PLAIN, PLASTIC, LITTLE PERSONALITY.

WE HAVE THE JOB OF BRINGING FRESHNESS, MORE LIFE AND ANIMATION TO THE CHARACTERS.

>> ♪ MR.

POTATO HEAD, I MADE YOU ♪ ♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

PAMELA: AND I'M PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: THE BREAKERS MANSION WAS ENJOYED BY THE VANDERBILTS FOR MANY SUMMER GETAWAYS.

THESE DAYS IT HAS BECOME A FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

SOME MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT ONE OF AMERICA'S RICHEST FAMILIES DIDN'T ACTUALLY SPEND CHRISTMAS THERE.

>> THE DECORATIONS THAT PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ARE PURELY CREATED BY OUR STAFF AND THEY ARE GREAT DESIGNERS, AS ANYONE WHO HAS WALKED THROUGH HERE WOULD KNOW.

IT IS OUR IMAGINATION OF WHAT A GILDED AGE MANSION MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE DURING CHRISTMAS.

MICHELLE: -- -- PAMELA: THE REIMAGINING BEGINS RIGHT AS YOU ENTER.

>> THEY ARE OVER-THE-TOP THE TOP, THEY ARE OPULENT.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEM.

IT'S NOT A VIEW THAT ONE SEES.

PAMELA: IT'S IN THE GREAT HALL WHERE A 15 FOOT TREE GREETS VISITORS MADE OF FRESH POINSETTIA PLANTS.

>> IT IS IMPRESSIVE.

PAMELA: ASSEMBLING THE TREE START IN NOVEMBER, BUT THE PLANNING BEGINS MONTHS BEFORE.

ALL OF THE POINSETTIAS FEATURED IN THE BREAKERS FOR GROANING GREEN HOUSES RUN BY THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.

>> WE GENERALLY TRY TO TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE MOTIF IN THE ROOM.

>> JIM DONAHUE IS THE MASTERMIND AT THE BREAKERS.

>> THE BREAKFAST ROOM IS A DINING ROOM FOR THE FAMILY.

AND THEN FLOWERS.

PAMELA: HE INCORPORATES THE COLORS INTO THE DECORAH TREE.

FROM THE DECORAH THE WALLS TO THE SALMON COLORED DRAPES.

>> I HAVE EACH ORNAMENT MOVING OUT TO THE TIPS AND THEN THEY ARE ORNAMENTED DETAIL DECORATIONS.

YOU CAN SEE THEM IN PROFILE.

PAMELA: STANDING NINE FEET TALL AND ADORNED WITH 1500 LIGHTS, THIS IS ONE OF NINE FULLY DECORATED TREES AT THE BREAKERS.

>> I DO A LOT OF SHIFTING FROM HER INTO ROOM AND HOUSE TO HOUSE .

I TRY TO CHANGE IT ENOUGH THAT IF YOU COME BACK EVERY YEAR IT LOOKS DIFFERENT.

PAMELA: FREQUENT GUESTS MAY NOTICE NEW ADDITIONS TO CHRISTMAS TREES ALL AROUND THE BREAKERS.

INCLUDING THESE ORNAMENTS AND WHAT WAS MONTH -- ONCE THE ROOM OF CORNELIUS VANDERBILT THE SECOND.

>> THIS TREE PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS CAREER AS CEO OF THE NEW YORK RAILROAD SO THERE ARE MANY PICTURES OF HIM AND HIS TOP HAT, TOPCATS ON THE TREE.

AND A COLLECTION OF TREES.

PAMELA: IT HAS GREEN, WHITE, AND RED HOLIDAY LIGHTS.

>> THE TREE ALSO FEATURES ACORNS, WHICH WERE ON THE VANDERBILT FAMILY CREST.

PLAID ACORNS.

IT'S QUITE THE FESTIVAL OF PLAID.

PAMELA: ANOTHER ONE OF HIS FAVORITES IS IN THE BEDROOM OF THE OLDEST DAUGHTER, GERTRUDE.

>> IT'S A BROWNFIELD WITH VARIOUS SHADES OF KIN CABBAGE ROSES.

THEY WERE ALL OVER THE TREE.

WE WANTED TO CREATE A SENSE OF SOMETHING FASHIONABLE.

AT THE SAME TME, IT IS OFTEN GUARD.

SHE WAS -- AVANT-GARDE.

SHE WAS AN ARTIST.

PAMELA: THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THEY HAVE HAD PINK LIGHTS ON THE TREE, COMPLEMENT AND THE ROSE GOLD ACORNS AND TASSELS.

>> MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE CUSTOM-MADE, CUSTOM SEWN.

WE EVEN HAD CUSTOM STOCKINGS MADE FOR THE MANTELPIECE.

>> IT BEGINS WHEN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ENDS AND THEN IN NOVEMBER IT ALL COMES TO LIFE.

DONAHUE SAYS THAT IT TAKES TWO WEEKS TO GET THE BREAKERS DECKED OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

>> RATHER THAN TRY TO HAVE A THEME EVERY YEAR, WE TRY TO HAVE A THEME FOR EACH ROOM.

I DO IT IN THE MONTH FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS, I TRY TO MAKE EACH TREE BETTER FOR THE SEASON.

THIS FLOWER TREE BEHIND ME, I HAVE BEEN TRYING -- WORKING ON IT FOR 10 YEARS.

I RETIRED THINGS THAT AREN'T SO BRIGHT -- GREAT.

EACH YEAR, IT'S IMPROVED.

PAMELA: IT'S ALL MEANT TO HELP GET VISITORS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

NOT THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY SAYS THERE IS ONE TAKE AWAY THAT STAYS THE SAME NO MATTER THE SEASON.

>> WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF HISTORY SO WE HOPE THEY WALK AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE IN ANY OF OUR HOUSES HAVING LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FAMILIES THAT BUILT THE HOUSES, THE ARCHITECT, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE WORKED HERE, HOW PEOPLE ENTERTAINED.

>> THIS IS A HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR.

WE ARE NOT HERE TO REPLACE THAT.

I WANT THEM TO BE BLOWN AWAY BY THE HOUSE.

CHRISTMAS IS THE CHERRY ON TOP.

♪ MICHELLE: NEXT UP, THE ANNUAL ADAPTATION OF THE CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS CAROL IS TAKING CENTER STAGE AT TRINITY REP IN PROVIDENCE.

THE TALE OF REDEMPTION AND COMPASSION SHINES A LIGHT ON THE COMMON THREADS OF HIS WRITINGS.

POVERTY, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, AND OTHER GRIM REALITIES OF LIFE IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND.

THIS WORLD IS FIRMLY SET IN TODAY'S SOCIETY AND WOMEN HAVE TAKEN ON MANY PROMINENT ROLES THIS YEAR AS WELL.

TONIGHT, ME THE LEADING LADIES.

-- MEET THE LEADING LADIES.

>> MARLEY WAS DEAD, TO BEGIN WITH.

>> A CHRISTMAS CAROL IS ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCED STORIES, ONE OF THE MOST ADAPTED INTO MOVIES, INTO THEATER.

I THINK I HAD A SENSE THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY INTERSECT WITH THIS STORY.

I DON'T THE GUY NECESSARILY EXPECTED IT TO HAPPEN HERE AND QUITE SO FAST.

>> FAST BECAUSE SHE JUST GRADUATED THIS YEAR FROM THE BROWN UNIVERSITY TRINITY REP MFA PROGRAM AND WAS RIGHT AWAY ENTRUSTED WITH CREATING THEIR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTION, THE 47TH ADDITION OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

SHE STARTED WORKING ON THE ADAPTATION THIS SUMMER.

>> WHICH WAS A FUNNY THING TO BE SITTING ON MY PORCH IN THE JULY SUN HUMMING CHRISTMAS CAROLS TO MYSELF.

>> SHE SAYS THAT WHILE WRITING, SHE BEGAN TO EXPLORE WHY SO MANY AMERICANS CLING TO THIS VICTORIAN LONDON.

>> IT IS SO POPULAR, IT HAS SO MANY CULTURAL TRADITIONS ATTACHED TO IT.

I BECAME CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE REASON IS THAT WE GO BACK TO THIS MYTH, ALMOST.

>> WHAT IS THE REASON?

>> THIS STORY PRESENTS AN ASPIRATIONAL FANTASY.

IT'S A VERY UNEQUAL SOCIETY, AS TRUE THEN AS NOW, WHERE WE STRUGGLED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE OPEN, TRULY, TO THE WORLD, THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AROUND US.

BE OPEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WE SHARE THE WORLD WITH.

I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF SCROOGE IN ALL OF US.

IT MIGHT LOOK MINIMAL BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT MIGHT EMERGE.

>> I SEE A LOT OF TRAPDOORS.

[LAUGHTER] >> SHE SEES HER ROLE AS SHAKING UP THE NONTRADITIONAL TRADITION OF COMING TO SEE A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

>> THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO A STORY THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS AND LOVES IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ARTIST.

YOU REALIZE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE WALKING INTO THE SPACE, THEY ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE STORY , CARRYING MEMORIES OF PAST PRODUCTIONS.

WHEN THEY COME INTO THE THEATER YOU CAN TAKE THEM ON A NEW AND SURPRISING JOURNEY.

>> ONE SURPRISE, SCROOGE IS A WOMAN PLAYED BY PHYLLIS K. >> IT'S THE ROTTED RESIDUE OF DEATH.

>> THE FIRST WOMAN IN TWO DECADES TO TAKE ON THE ROLE, IDEA THAT GERMINATED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> I TALKED TO EILEEN DURING LOCKDOWN.

SHE HAD SUCH BEAUTIFUL IDEAS.

AND I REALIZED THAT -- I MEAN, HOPEFULLY THE WORLD HAS CHANGED AND I HAVE CHANGED AND I THOUGHT MAYBE THE AUDIENCE IS READY TO HEAR THIS STORY, WHICH IS A FACT -- EFFECTIVELY A HUMAN STORY.

DOES IT MATTER IF A MAN IS THE CONDUIT OR THE WOMAN -- A WOMAN IS THE CONDUIT TO TELL THIS STORY OF REDEMPTION?

I DON'T THINK IT DOES.

>> IS THAT YOUR GOAL, TO GET PEOPLE TO LOOK BEYOND GENDER INTO SEE CHARACTER?

>> IF THEY WATCH IT AND THEY SEE THAT EVERYBODY IS CAPABLE OF CHANGE, I HOPE ULTIMATELY IT DOESN'T OCCUR TO THEM THAT IT HAPPENED TO A WOMAN, JUST THAT IT HAPPENED TO A PERSON AND IT CHANGED THEM.

>> TO MY AUNT, EBENEZER SCROOGE, MY MOTHER'S ONLY SISTER, WHOM I LOVE VERY MUCH.

>> OTHER CHANGES?

HER NEPHEW, FRED, IS GAY.

AND THE CRATCHIT FAMILY IS LATINO.

>> I'M INTENDING TO PUT PEOPLE ON STAGE THAT LOOKED LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MY WORLD, THAT ARE IN ALL OF OUR WORLD.

IT'S GOT ONE FOOT IN 1800S LONDON, FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE SOURCE MATERIAL.

THE OTHER FOOT IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, 2022 RHODE ISLAND.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SEE TELLING OUR STORIES ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BRINGING THE BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY OF THE WORLD AROUND US TO THE STAGE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE HOPES THAT PEOPLE COME WITH OPEN HEARTS BUT WORRIES THEY MIGHT BE EXPECTING SOMETHING MORE STANDARD.

>> SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK ON THE SHOW SAID THAT THE AUDIENCE COMES AND THEY WANT THE FIGURE PUTTING, ELEMENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL.

>> THE SHOW IS A RITUAL FOR MANY LOCAL FAMILIES, INCLUDING K'S.

SHE GREW UP IN FALL RIVER AND HAS PLAYED OVER A DOZEN DIFFERENT CHARACTERS AND CHRISTMAS CAROL, INCLUDING MISSES CRATCHIT WITH HER REAL-LIFE HUSBAND, WHO HAS ALSO PLAYED SCROOGE.

>> HE'S A QUICK STUDY, WHICH IS IRRITATING.

HE CAN LOOK AT THE SCRIPT AND CLOSE IT IN BE READY TO PERFORM IT.

HE KNEW MY LINES BEFORE I DID.

>> SHE HAS HER OWN METHOD OF BRINGING SCROOGE TO LIFE.

>> YOU DON'T BECOME THE CHARACTER, THE CHARACTER BECOMES YOU.

SO WHAT I KNOW ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS ABOUT TO BE MARGINALIZED, TO BE LONELY.

TO HAVE A DOOR CLOSE AND WHAT IT DOES TO YOU EMOTIONALLY.

THAT'S HOW WE SEE SCROOGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SOMEONE WHO IS SO CLOSED OFF?

>> PART OF THE INTENTION WITH THE PRODUCTION IS TO INVITE THE AUDIENCE TO GO -- WHAT ARE THE WAYS YOU COULD BE MORE OPEN?

WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT YOU CLOSE YOURSELF OFF MAYBE BECAUSE OF PROTECTION, FEAR, GRIEF, OR HABIT.

>> ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DICKENS LINES IS THAT WE ARE ALL FELLOW TRAVELERS TO THE GRAVE AND NOT A SEPARATE RACE OF CREATURES.

THERE'S A MOMENT OF REDEMPTION AT THE END WHERE SCROOGE LOOKS INTO THE AUDIENCE AND SAYS MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I FEEL THE AUDIENCE RESPONDING TO THAT.

♪ >> NOW WE TURN TO FINDING THAT PERFECT GIFT.

SOMETHING OLD OR SOMETHING NOT SO OLD.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED LAST OCTOBER, IF YOU THINK OF ANTIQUES AS DUSTY FURNITURE IN YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S CHINA SET, TAKE A FRESH LOOK IN YOUR ATTIC.

TODAY TRANSFORMERS, STAR WARS FIGURES, POKEMON CARDS, THEY ARE COLLECTIBLES WORTH BIG MONEY.

NATIVE RHODE ISLANDER TRAVIS LANDRY KNOWS ABOUT THAT FIRSTHAND.

A YOUNG MAN WITH AN OLD SOUL AND A KENAI.

-- KEENN EYE.

"RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- TRAVIS: I LOVED ALL OF THESE THINGS AND WANTED TO MERGE THOSE TWO WORLDS.

>> HE GOT THE WORDS TO MERGE BY JOINING THE TEAM ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

>> THIS IS HOTTER THAN FIRE, THE DEMAND FOR THESE CARDS IS UNCONTROLLABLE.

TRAVIS: I FEEL LIKE I DON'T WORK A DAY IN MY LIFE.

I'M A DEDICATED NERD.

I TOOK THE TIME TO STUDY THE PRACTICE LIKE SOMEONE WHO BECAME A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER.

>> HE'S BEEN PUTTING THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW SINCE HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND NOW AT 27 HE'S THE YOUNGEST APPRAISER ON THE LONG-RUNNING PROGRAM.

HE'S OF THE GENERATION WHO CAN VALUE ITEMS LIKE MAGIC THE GATHERING CARDS, A PRECURSOR OF THE POKEMON CRAZE.

>> AT AUCTION YOU ARE LOOKING AT BETWEEN $65,000 AND $100,000 IN TRADING CARDS.

>> I HAVE 100 ON THE EARLY MODEL, LOOKING FOR 110.

>> HE SPECIALIZES IN MILLENNIAL, GEN X, AND GEN Z NOSTALGIA.

HIS FULL-TIME JOB IS AS AN AUCTIONEER IN CRANSTON AT BRUNO AND COMPANY, WHERE HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF POP CULTURE.

>> TWO AND A HALF?

GREAT UNUSED MODELS.

>> WHAT DREW A YOUNG MAN LIKE YOU TO ANTIQUES?

TRAVIS: THERE'S NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT.

I TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO MY FRIENDS TODAY, LIKE HOW CAN YOU BE INTO ALL OF THIS STUFF, KNICKKNACKS.

I'M LIKE IT'S COOL, IT'S HISTORY .

>> HIS HISTORY REVEALS WHY HE'S SO AT HOME IN AN AUCTION HOUSE.

TRAVIS: I WENT EVERY WEEK WITH MY PARENTS, COLLECTING POTTERY, MORE TRADITIONAL ANTIQUES.

THERE WERE SOME WEEKS WHERE WE WOULD GO TO FOUR OF THEM IN A WEEK.

AND IF THERE WAS A BIG ONE IT MIGHT BE A SATURDAY DAY SALE, LOTS OF ON-SITE AUCTIONS.

GOING THERE LITERALLY SINCE I WAS A BABY AND MY MOM'S ARMS.

>>'S MOM WAS A NURSE, HIS FATHER A CAPTAIN ON THE POLICE FORCE.

THEY SHARED A PASSION FOR TREASURE HUNTING AND LANDRY CAUGHT THE BUG.

TRAVIS: I WAS HOOKED, ABSOLUTELY HOOKED.

I WOULD SPEND ALL OF MY TIME LOOKING FOR TOYS, BEING DRIVEN TO WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, JUST ON THE HUNT.

IT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY.

>> IS IT AS FUN AS IT LOOKS?

TRAVIS: IT IS.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

>> 13 IS WHEN HE WENT FROM ACCUMULATING TO MAKING HIS FIRST BIG SALE.

HE BORROWED MONEY FROM HIS DAD TO PURCHASE A BOUNTY OF TRANSFORMERS FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTOR.

>> I BUY IT FOR $700, SELL IT FOR $1400, DOUBLE MY MONEY, AND I GOT TO KEEP THE BEST PIECE I STILL HAVE TODAY, A 84 MARRAZZO, WHAT THEY CALL PRE-RUB, NERD TERMINOLOGY, FOR THE FIRST ONES THAT CAME OUT.

>> WITH GROWING NERD KNOWLEDGE, A CHANCE FOR TELEVISION CAME ALONG.

BUT ANTIQUES ROADSHOW WAS NOT HIS FIRST RODEO.

>> MY NAME IS TRAVIS AND I'VE BEEN COLLECTING TOYS FOR 10 YEARS NOW.

>> I REMEMBER THAT AD, DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF A NEW REALITY TV SHOW?

I WAS LIKE, I GUESS.

IT WAS FOR A SHOW AT THE TIME CALLED TOY HUNTER, COMING OUT ON TRAVEL CHANNEL.

I GO TO A LOT OF YARD SALES, FLEA MARKETS, IT'S MONEY IN THE BANK.

>> HE BECAME A RECURRING CAST MEMBER WHILE STILL A STUDENT.

MOST PEOPLE SEEK ANTIQUES AS A HOBBY.

DID YOU THINK THIS WOULD BE YOUR CAREER?

TRAVIS: I DID NOT.

I WAS IN THE BACK OF MY CHEMISTRY CLASS IN COLLEGE AND I GOT MY FIRST PAINTING TO SELL THAT SUMMER AND I WATCHED IT SELL FOR FIVE TIMES AS MUCH AS I PAID AND I WAS LIKE WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

TRAVIS: -- >> HE SWITCHED HIS MAJOR AND WENT TO WORK AT BRUNEAU'S AUCTION HOUSE.

TRAVIS: OF COURSE ARE GOING TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC, IT'S AWESOME.

I LOVE THAT 30 MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH MY GOFER IN THE BACKYARD.

I LOVE MEETING PEOPLE, TALKING WITH PEOPLE, ENTERTAINING.

THIS BOOK IS HOTTER THAN FIRE.

PAMELA: WHAT MIGHT PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR ATTIC OR THEIR SELLER THAT THEY DON'T REALIZE IS VALUABLE?

TRAVIS: I KNOW THAT THIS SOUNDS GENERIC AT ALL OF POP CULTURE IS HOT.

STAR WARS, TRANSFORMERS, G.I.

JOE, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, MY LITTLE PONY, PRINCESS OF POWER, ORIGINAL NINTENDO GAMES.

OUTSIDE TOYS, VINTAGE SNEAKERS, T-SHIRTS, VIDEOGAMES.

EVEN VHS TAPES ARE NOW BECOMING COLLECTIBLE.

>> YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY WITH TOYS WHEN YOU GREW UP.

TRAVIS: NOT PLAY, COLLECT.

IT'S WEIRD, YOU KNOW, AT CHRISTMAS TIME MY PARENTS WOULD BUY ME FIVE OR SIX TRANSFORMERS AND I WOULD TAKE THE TOYS AND GO TO MY BASEMENT AND PUT THEM ON THE SHELF.

I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THEM.

I WOULDN'T PLAY WITH MY TOYS.

>> BEST TO SAVE EVERYTHING IN THE BOXES.

TRAVIS: KEEP IT ALL, DON'T OPEN ANYTHING.

>> HE SAYS THEY ARE MUCH MORE VALUABLE UNTOUCHED.

WHAT HE COLLECTS THESE DAYS IS NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT.

>> ♪ ONLY YOU ♪ >> IS VINTAGE VICTROLA.

MODERN ART MIXING WITH FEDERAL FURNITURE POTTERY.

HE SAYS HIS HOME ISN'T CLUTTERED, IT'S CURATED.

TRAVIS: MY TASTE IS ECLECTIC.

I DON'T COLLECT ONE PARTICULAR THING ANYMORE.

I JUST TRIED TO COLLECT ALL THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS ALONG THE WAY THAT I JUST LIKE LEARNING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S THE GREATEST THING ABOUT THIS JOB AND THE ITEMS.

EVERY SINGLE PIECE HAS A STORY BEHIND IT.

>> AND A GOOD STORY IS WHAT LANDRY IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR.

TRAVIS: PRIME EXAMPLE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE ITEMS EVER ON GODZILLA -- ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW WAS A GODZILLA BECAUSE OF THE SHEER FACT OF HOW DID YOU ACQUIRE THIS AND HE SAID HE NEEDED SOMETHING TO BRING TO ANTIQUES ROADSHOW AND I BOUGHT IT FOR A DOLLAR AT A YARD SALE LAST WEEK.

I SAID REALLY?

IT'S NOT GOING TO LIKE THE WORLD ON FIRE BUT IT'S A $300 TO 500 VALUE KIT.

HISTORY NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED.

PEOPLE SHOULD COLLECT SOMETHING FUN.

AS MY DAD WOULD SAY, IT KEPT ME OUT OF TROUBLE.

I WASN'T WORRYING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

JUST UNDERSTANDING TOYS AND LOOKING FOR THE NEXT FIND.

♪ >> FINALLY, AS THE HOLIDAYS APPROACH, PARENTS ACROSS RHODE ISLAND ARE STOCKING UP ON GIFTS.

TONIGHT IN THE CONTINUING MY TAKE SERIES, WE LOOK AT A HOLIDAY FAVORITE, TOYS, WITH THE HELP OF A LONG TIME RHODE ISLAND-BASED TOY DESIGNER.

KHIPRA: PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHICH OF ALL THE ONES I'VE MADE IS MY FAVORITE AND I HAVE TO SAY IT'S THIS ONE, THE SNOOPY COPTER.

MY NAME IS KUYPER NICHOLS AND -- KHIPRA NICHOLS AND THIS IS MY TAKE ON TOYS.

I HAVE DESIGNED TOYS AT HASBRO FOR 20 YEARS AND TWO MONTHS EXACTLY.

I THINK THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE TOY I WORKED ON FOR SURE IS MY LITTLE PONY.

>> ♪ TIE A RIBBON TO SHOW HOW MUCH I CARE ♪ KHIPRA: ONE OF THE FUN THINGS ABOUT DOING A PLAYSET FOR MY LITTLE PONY IS YOU GET TO DESIGN ALL THE LITTLE ACCESSORIES WITHIN THE PLAYSET.

I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A BABY DRAGON.

>> PURPLE SPIKY THINGS.

>> PRETTY.

>> SPIKE BECAME THE BABY DRAGON FRIEND OF MAJESTY, THE PONY THAT COMES IN THE DREAM CASTLE.

SO ONE OF THE FUN ASPECTS OF THE FEATURE FOR SPIKE IS HE GETS TO RIDE UP AND DOWN IN THIS LITTLE DESKS.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS FEATURE CAME FROM WATCHING THE MOVIE REAR WINDOW.

♪ ANOTHER REALLY FUN TOY TO WORK ON WAS MR. AND MISSES POTATO HEAD.

SO BEFORE THIS CHARACTER THAT WE WORKED ON, MR. AND MISSES POTATO HEAD WERE VERY PLAIN.

PLASTIC LIKE THIS WITH VERY LITTLE PERSONALITY.

SO WE HAD THE JOB OF BRINGING FRESHNESS, MORE LIFE AND ANIMATION TO THE CHARACTERS.

IT WAS MY IDEA TO HAVE THIS LITTLE HAT.

IT WAS IN STOCK -- INSPIRED BY THE DR. DENTON ONESIES THAT TODDLERS WHERE THAT HAVE A LITTLE FLAP IN THE BACK WHEN THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO POTTY TRAIN.

IT OPENS UP AND IT'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO PUT THE PARTS IN.

WE MADE SURE THE PARTS WERE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH AND SOFT ENOUGH THAT THEY COULD BEND AND FLEX.

>> ♪ PUT THEM ALTOGETHER AND TAKE THEM ALL APART ♪ >> ONE DAY ONE OF THE G.I.

JOE GROUP GUYS CAME OVER AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO BE A G.I.

JOE CHARACTER AND I THOUGHT -- ARE YOU SERIOUS?

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, I HAD MY CHARACTER.

THIS IS DOC, ACTUALLY, FROM THE FIRST SERIES OF SMALL CHARACTERS.

PROBABLY 1982 IS WHEN IT CAME OUT.

TOYS ARE IMPORTANT.

THIS IS HOW CHILDREN START TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD THEY ARE IN.

IMAGINE A TODDLER SITTING IN A WADING POOL CAN YOU GIVE THEM A WOODEN BLOCK.

THEY KIND OF SPLASH IT IN THE WATER AND IT FLOATS TO THE TOP.

THEY GET VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT .

AND THEN WHEN YOU HAND THEM SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T FLOAT, THEY PUT IT IN THE WATER AND IT DOES THE SAME THING BUT DOESN'T COME UP TO THE TOP.

SO WHAT LOOKS LIKE CLAY, AND IT IS -- PLAY, AND IT IS PLAY, IS ALSO DISCOVERY.

I HAD AN IDEA FOR A PROTOTYPE AND I WAS SITTING NEXT TO AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS GOING TO TEACH ME ABOUT THE HUMAN FACTORS OF THE TOY.

DID I GET THE SHAPES RIGHT, THE SIZE CORRECT, WILL IT BE FUN?

I SAT DOWN WITH THE CHILD, TOOK THE TOY OUT-OF-THE-BOX AND THE CHILD GOT VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE BLOCKS, ACTUALLY.

THE VOX WAS MORE INTERESTING THAN THE TOY BECAUSE THE BOXER WAS SOMETHING THE CHILD COULD PUT ON THEIR HEAD OR ON THE FLOOR OR PUT SOMETHING IN THE VOX, DUMP SOMETHING OUT-OF-THE-BOX.

SOMETIMES THE BLOCKS IS EVEN MORE ENGAGING THAN WHAT IS IN IT.

I'M KHIPRA NICHOLS AND THIS HAS BEEN MY TAKE ON TOYS.

>> THAT'S OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: AND I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR EPISODES OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE STREAMING PLATFORM.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪