06/03/2018 | 26m 14s | Video has closed captioning.
Spend the day with the family and friends of Eddie Lowe as they celebrate his 85th birthday. Eddie, a retired longshoreman, is an accomplished banjo player who has been the mentor to many musicians who love mountain music.
Aired: 06/03/18
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"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: (HUELL) WE ARE IN SAN PEDRO AT THE VINCENT THOMAS BRIDGE.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY AFTERNOON, AND WE HAVE BEEN INVITED DOWN HERE TO BERTH 95.
THIS IS THE PRINCESS PAVILION.
WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY.
ARE YOU COMING TO THIS PARTY, TOO?
SURE AM.
DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY?
OH, YEAH.
THE GUY'S NAME IS EDDIE LOWE.
THAT'S WHOSE BIRTHDAY WE'RE GOING TO.
ARE YOU COMING IN?
YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW THIS GENTLEMAN, BUT SUPPOSEDLY HE'S KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
COME, COME!
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE COME.
HOWDY!
I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND YOU'RE DAVID?
I SURE AM.
THIS IS THE GUY WHO INVITED US TO THE PARTY.
I THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE HE WAS THE GUEST OF HONOR.
HE LOOKS LIKE A CHARACTER.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A CHARACTER.
THIS IS OUR RESIDENT MUSICIAN.
JEFF SPECIALIZES IN SEA SHANTIES AND BALLADS.
BUT IT ISN'T JEFF'S BIRTHDAY?
SOME TIME THIS YEAR IT WILL BE.
TELL US ABOUT THIS PARTY AND WHAT MAKE ITS SO SPECIAL.
THIS IS FOR OUR GOOD FRIEND AND EX-LONGSHOREMAN, MUSICIAN, EDDIE LOWE.
AND UNCLE EDDIE IS 85 YEARS OLD.
WE STARTED THIS OFF ON HIS 80th BIRTHDAY.
WE DECIDED TO CALL HIS BIRTHDAYS "ANNUAL."
UNCLE EDDIE HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF MUSICIANS TODAY THAT WOULDN'T BE PLAYING THIS STYLE OF MUSIC HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR HIM.
HE WAS AN EX-LONGSHOREMAN.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A MUSICIAN?
HE CAME OUT HERE FROM NORTH CAROLINA, AND IN ONE STORY HE TELLS, HE PLAYED THE BANJO FOR QUITE SOMETIME UNTIL THERE WAS A CAR WRECK COMING BACK FROM A BARN DANCE.
I GUESS THE DRIVER WAS A LITTLE MORE CEMENTED THAN HE THOUGHT HE WAS, AND HIS BANJO BROKE, AND HE DIDN'T PICK ONE UP FOR 35 YEARS, UNTIL HE RETIRED.
WHEN HE RETIRED, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW GAVE HIM AN OLD BANJO POT, AND HE MODIFIED IT.
IT'S THE MOST INCREDIBLE INSTRUMENT ON EARTH, WITH A PIECE OF COPPER WATERPIPE TO REINFORCE THE NECK.
LOOK AT ALL THESE MUSICIANS POURING IN HERE.
IS THAT PART OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY?
ARE YOU HERE TO PERFORM?
NO, TO PLAY WITH EDDIE.
HE'S BEEN OUR MENTOR FOR 20 YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I MEAN TEACHER/STUDENT.
WE IDOLIZE HIM.
HE GREW UP IN A PLACE WHERE WE LIKE PLAYING THE MUSIC.
IT'S LIKE GALAX, VIRGINIA.
THERE'S A SPECIFIC TYPE OF MUSIC SOUND THAT CAME OUT OF THIS PLACE WHERE WE PLAYED.
IS THIS IN THE SOUTH?
OH, YEAH, YOU BET!
AND WHAT IS THIS YOU'VE GOT?
A BANJO.
AND?
GUITAR.
NOW WHERE DID YOU MEET EDDIE?
WHERE DID I MEET EDDIE?
A LONG TIME AGO, HE USED TO GIVE ME HIS HOMEMADE WINE.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO TELL ME SOME MUSICAL STORIES.
WELL, WE PLAYED MUSIC AND DRANK THE WINE.
A JUG OF HIS HOMEMADE WINE WITH A POEM ON THE BOTTOM.
HE WRITES INCREDIBLE POETRY.
THIS FELLA SOUNDS LIKE QUITE THE GUY.
COME ON IN, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.
(DAVID) SIGN THE BIRTHDAY CARD OVER THERE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE QUITE A CROWD HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN BEFORE THE DAY IS OUT.
CAN YOU TAKE US IN AND LET US TAKE A LOOK AROUND.
THIS IS SOMETHING!
THIS IS A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU'VE GOT HERE.
WELL, THIS IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
WE EXPECT ABOUT 300 PEOPLE HERE TODAY.
AT LEAST 50% OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MUSICIANS.
WHERE IS THE MAN WE'RE HERE TO HONOR?
HE'S STANDING RIGHT OVER THERE HOLDING THAT RAGGEDY OLD BANJO IN HIS HAND.
YOU'RE HAVING QUITE A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION HERE TODAY.
WELL, I HOPE SO.
I DIDN'T WANT IT; MY SON INSISTED ON ME HAVING IT.
I JUST LOST MY WIFE JULY 17th, SO AFTER THAT I TOLD HIM TO GO AHEAD WITH THE PARTY.
WELL, THIS IS A GOOD WAY FOR YOU TO KIND OF SEE YOUR FRIENDS.
I GOTTA START LIVING AGAIN.
I HAVE A LITTLE BAND HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SQUARE DANCING.
AND ALL THE YOUNG MUSICIANS THAT ARE HERE, I WANT THEM TO GET UP -- DON'T BE BASHFUL -- GET UP AND PLAY.
I'VE GOT 5 MICROPHONES.
WELL, YOU'VE ALSO GOT A WHOLE ROOMFUL OF MUSICIANS WITH BANJOS AND GUITARS READY TO PLAY.
NOW SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT YOU STARTED TO PLAY YEARS AGO, STOPPED, AND NOW YOU'VE STARTED AGAIN.
WHAT'S THE STORY ON THAT?
♪ (PLAYING BANJO) ♪ HE'S PLAYING HERE.
I LEARNED TO PLAY ON A HOMEMADE BANJO.
SOMEWHERE AT THE END OF THE '40s, A GUY FROM TEXAS THREW ME THIS OLD BANJO.
HE SAID, "I HEAR YOU USED TO PLAY THE BANJO."
THIS WAS BROKE, THERE WAS NO PEGS IN IT, AND THE FRENCH -- I LEARNED TO PLAY ON A HOMEMADE BANJO, AND THE FRENCH RUINED IT.
IT'S LIKE WALKING DOWN THE RAILROAD TRACK BAREFOOT AND STEPPING ON THE TIES.
ANYWAY, MY NEIGHBOR WAS WEATHER BOARDING HIS HOUSE WITH A LOAD OF SIDING, AND I GOT A PIECE AND GLUED ON THERE.
SO THIS IS WEATHER BOARDING ON HERE?
YEAH.
YOU SHOULD SEE MY GARDEN NOW.
I TOOK A BUCKLE OFF MY GARDEN SPRAYER TO MAKE IT STIFF.
THIS IS PART OF A GARDEN SPRAYER!
AND YOU TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY PLAYING?
YEAH, WE PLAYED IN ARIZONA, UTAH, IDAHO.
WHAT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR DAYS AS A LONGSHOREMAN AND YOUR DAYS AS A MUSICIAN?
DID YOU THOSE THINGS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME?
NO, I DIDN'T TOUCH THE BANJO UNTIL I RETIRED IN 1971.
SO YOU PICKED IT UP ALL OVER AGAIN AFTER YOU RETIRED?
EVERY TUNE I PLAY IS OLD TUNES I LEARNED WHEN I WAS A KID.
IN NORTH CAROLINA?
YES.
DO IT ALL COME BACK TO YOU PRETTY QUICKLY?
THEY KEEP COMING AND ONCE IN A WHILE, ANOTHER ONE POPS UP.
ME AND THIS FIDDLE PLAYER, WE PUT A LITTLE RHYTHM TO IT.
CAN YOU INTRODUCE ME TO SOME OF THE MUSICIANS AROUND HERE?
THIS LITTLE KID HERE, BRIAN, HE DON'T MAKE NO MUSIC.
I PLAYED THE BANJO WHEN I WAS A KID, SITTING NEXT TO EDDIE.
I'D BE IN THE ROOM PRACTICING AT HOME, AND THIS KID LIVED NEXT DOOR.
HE'D COME OVER AND SIT ON THE COFFEE COUNTER.
MY WIFE BOUGHT HIM A LITTLE PLASTIC BANJO.
SO YOU LISTENED TO HIM PLAY?
OH, ALL THE TIME!
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR YOUR BROTHER?
I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC, AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AND WHETHER HE KNOWS IT OR NOT, WHEN GOD MADE HIM, THEY THREW THE PATTERN AWAY.
HE IS A-1 AS A BROTHER.
GET ELEANOR OVER HERE.
I LEARNED TO PLAY FROM MY UNCLE CHARLIE LOWE.
HE IS A LEGEND BACK IN THE HILLS.
HE NEVER MADE NO ALBUMS, BUT HE WAS A LEGEND WHEN IT COME TO PICKIN'.
AND HIS DAUGHTER, MY FIRST COUSIN, SHE COME OUT HERE.
SHE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA?
YEAH, AND SHE'S GOING TO COME OVER.
I DON'T THINK SHE WANTS TO BE ON CAMERA.
AS FAR AS TEACHING MUSIC OR ANYTHING, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL TO TEACH MUSIC!
I CAN'T READ A NOTE OF MUSIC.
I JUST GET A TUNE IN MY HEAD.
AND I'LL WORK ON IT AND PUT SOME RHYTHM TO IT.
YOU'VE COME OUT HERE FROM NORTH CAROLINA?
YES, SIR!
THIS IS THE FIRST PERSON I'VE MET WHO I CAN UNDERSTAND.
YOU TALK LIKE ME; I'M FROM TENNESSEE ORIGINALLY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS BIRTHDAY PARTY?
OH, THIS IS GREAT!
IS THIS GUY PRETTY WELL KNOWN BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA?
LORD, YES, HE AND MY DADDY.
YOU CAN'T GET RID OF NONE OF THESE LOWES.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
I MEAN THEY'RE JUST ALL LOWES, THAT'S IT.
DOES THIS RUN IN THE FAMILY?
CAN YOU PLAY AS WELL?
YES, WE ALL PLAY!
SO ARE YOU GONNA PLAY TODAY?
NO, SIR, I'M NOT ABLE NOW.
YOU'RE HERE TO WATCH?
I'M HERE TO ENJOY.
HERE COMES A MUSICIAN RIGHT HERE.
HOWDY!
YOU'RE HERE TO PLAY?
IF THERE'S SOME PLAYING TO BE HAD, I'M HERE TO JOIN IN!
HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY?
FROM OLD-TIME MUSIC.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, HE'S THE GREATEST BANJO PLAYER AROUND.
HE'S BEEN PLAYING BANJO FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, PLAYING THIS GOOD OLD SOUTHERN BANJO.
I THINK THIS GUY'S A LITTLE BIT OFF.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LEARN FROM HIM, DON'T THEY?
ABSOLUTELY, AND HE'S TAUGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND TEACHING IT NOW.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT OVER HERE?
THIS IS AN S.S. STEWART POT FROM THE '20s, AND A NECK MADE BY RICHARD ALLEN IN EL MONTE TO MY DESIGN.
DO YOU PLAY WITH EDDIE A LOT?
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GUY.
HE'S THE BEST CLAW-HAMMER BANJO PICKER IN THE COUNTRY.
HE'S BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF BANJO PLAYERS OUT ON THE WEST COAST HERE.
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
HE KIND OF GETS A CLAW-HAMMER EFFECT WITH HIS HANDS.
THIS IS OUR GUITAR PLAYER HERE.
NICE TO MEET YOU, AND YOU'RE PART OF THIS BAND?
YES.
WHAT'S IT LIKE PLAYING WITH THIS GUY?
WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
HE TELLS SOME VERY GOOD JOKES, TOO.
WHERE IS YOUR ACCENT FROM?
I'M FROM ENGLAND.
SO THIS IS THE BEST MUSIC -- A LOT OF IT ORIGINATED IN ENGLAND AND CAME OVER TO WHERE EDDIE USED TO LIVE.
IN THE HILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA?
RIGHT, AND HE'S BEEN TEACHING US SONGS HE USED TO PLAY WHEN HE WAS A KID.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THIS TRADITION ALIVE.
THIS MUSIC IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN, IS IT?
NO, THEY JUST INHERIT IT AND IT GETS PASSED DOWN WITH ALL THE SQUARE DANCES.
HE'S TEACHING US NOT WITH ANY MUSIC; WE JUST LISTEN TO IT AND PLAY.
THEN YOU WRITE IT DOWN?
NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN AT ALL.
WE HAVE A FEW TAPES, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
DO YOU THINK YOU'LL EVER DO ANYTHING PROFESSIONALLY?
IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE.
ED'S 85 YEARS OLD.
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE DID.
HE MADE A CD FOR THE SMITHSONIAN.
WHEN HE WAS BACK IN -- I THINK THEY WERE DOWN IN TEXAS LAST YEAR, AND THEY MADE A TAPE THEN.
AS A BAND, NO.
WE JUST HAVE TAPES AND HAVE A GOOD TIME TRYING TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
WELL, YOU'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
THIS IS YOUR HUSBAND.
WHAT IS THIS INSTRUMENT?
YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY 1915 TO 1925.
IT'S AN OLD GIBSON, AN "A-4" THEY CALL IT.
DOES THE STUFF THAT HE PLAYS ON THE BANJO TRANSFER OVER TO THE MANDOLIN EASILY?
YES, BASICALLY THE MANDOLIN CAME INTO STRING BANDS AROUND 1925.
BEFORE THAT IT WAS MAINLY BANJO AND FIDDLE.
THE BANJO AND THE FIDDLE USED TO PLAY IN THE EARLY DANCES, AND THEY WOULD JUST ALTERNATE.
THEN THE GUITAR CAME INTO THE MOUNTAINS MAYBE 1915 OR 1920.
THEN THE STRING BANDS STARTED GETTING A MANDOLIN, TOO.
SO THIS BAND HAS A BANJO, A MANDOLIN, A GUITAR?
ACTUALLY 2 BANJOS, A FIDDLE, A GUITAR, AND A MANDOLIN.
ED BROUGHT THIS MUSIC WITH HIM FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
WE'RE HEARING SOME PRETTY GOOD STORIES ABOUT YOU.
PROBABLY LOUSY STORIES!
WELL, SHE SAYS SHE'S LEARNED A LOT OF MUSIC FROM YOU THAT ISN'T WRITTEN DOWN.
WELL, THERE'S NOTHING WRITTEN DOWN THAT I KNOW.
I CAN'T READ IT ANYWAY; I CAN JUST BARELY WRITE MY OWN NAME.
BUT THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLES.
ARE WE GONNA GET TO HEAR Y'ALL PLAY TODAY?
WE'VE BEEN HEARING HOW WONDERFUL THIS MUSIC IS.
HOW LONG YOU GONNA BE HERE?
ALL AFTERNOON.
YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF IT.
I WANT TO GET THE YOUNG PEOPLE UP HERE THAT'S TAKING LESSONS ON MUSIC AND GET THEM UP HERE TO PLAY.
WE HAVE TO ROUND UP OUR FIDDLER.
WE'LL GET EVERYBODY AROUND HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
WELL, WE OUGHT TO START PICKING MUSIC PRETTY SOON.
I'M AN OLD BANJO PLAYING FRIEND OF EDDIE'S.
I'M GOING TO PLAY THE GUITAR AND THE SPOONS TODAY.
I GOT THEM RIGHT HERE.
CAN YOU GIVE US A PREVIEW?
I'LL HOLD YOUR COCA-COLA HERE.
MAYBE HE'LL LET ME PUT MY FOOT UP HERE.
EXCUSE ME, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET FRESH.
♪♪ WHAT A NICE SOUND.
HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN PLAYING THE SPOONS?
WELL, IT'S PART OF THIS OLD-TIME MUSIC.
LIKE SOME PEOPLE TAKE UP THE GUITAR OR THE FIDDLE, I TOOK UP THE SPOONS A FEW YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE REAL PORTABLE, AND YOU CAN TAKE THEM ANYWHERE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THE GUEST OF HONOR HERE TODAY?
I WORKED WITH HIM.
I'M RETIRED FOR 18 YEARS NOW.
I WORKED WITH HIM FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS.
AS A LONGSHOREMAN?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S PRETTY TOUGH WORK, ISN'T IT?
IT WAS THEN, BUT IT ISN'T ANYMORE.
THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT.
NO, THERE'S NO HAND LABOR ANYMORE.
LIKE BOX CARS AND STUFF, NOTHING TO IT.
YOU LITERALLY LIFTED STUFF OFF?
TOOK IT RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX CAR AND PUT IT ON A WAGON.
WAS EDDIE A PRETTY GOOD WORKER?
OH YEAH!
HE WORKED FOR THE SAME COMPANY I DID.
DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THAT HE WAS SUCH A GREAT MUSICIAN?
OH, I KNEW HE WAS A MUSICIAN.
HE USED TO PLAY OVER IN HARBOR CITY AND AROUND THERE.
HE LOVES TO DANCE.
WAIT, I HADN'T HEARD THAT.
HE DOES, BUT NOT ANYMORE.
HE'S OVER THE HILL LIKE ME.
BUT YOU'VE SEEN HIM DANCE?
OH YEAH, IN FUNCTIONS YEARS AGO.
HE USED TO PLAY FOR THE LODGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
DID YOU KNOW HIM FROM -- I MET ED BACK IN 1978.
HE WAS PLAYING THIS OLD-TIMEY BANJO, AND I WAS INTERESTED IN THAT MOUNTAIN MUSIC.
WE WENT UP TO SAN PEDRO AND MET HIM.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF THESE OLD TUNES IN HIS HEAD.
HE MUST HAVE 500 TUNES IN HIS HEAD.
THIS IS AN AMERICAN TREASURE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE TUNES FROM NORTH CAROLINA, THEY'RE DYING OUT.
IS THERE A MARKET FOR THIS KIND OF MUSIC?
WELL, IT'S CALLED OLD-TIMEY MUSIC FROM THE MOUNTAINS.
IT'S JUST A PASSED-ON TRADITION.
IT'S NOT BLUE GRASS OR WESTERN OR COUNTRY; IT'S MOUNTAIN MUSIC.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ FLY AROUND, MY PRETTY LITTLE MISS.
♪ ♪ COME FLY AROUND, MY DAISY.
♪ ♪ FLY AROUND, MY PRETTY LITTLE MISS.
♪ ♪ YOU ALMOST DRIVE ME CRAZY.
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ WELL, WE'RE GOING TO THE WESTERN COUNTRY ♪ ♪ AS SOON AS I HAVE A GAL.
♪ ♪ WE'RE GOING TO THE WESTERN COUNTRY ♪ ♪ AS SOON AS I HAVE A GAL.
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ (HUELL) HERE'S A GUY SITTING BEHIND THE BAND.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK HERE?
DRAWING.
ARE YOU A MUSICIAN?
YEAH.
WHERE'S YOUR INSTRUMENT?
RIGHT UNDER ME.
YOU'RE SITTING ON IT!
CAN WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT?
HE'S SITTING ON HIS INSTRUMENT.
OH, AN ACCORDION.
CAN YOU PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF IT FOR US?
DO YOU PLAY COUNTRY MUSIC?
IT'S CALLED CAJUN MUSIC.
IT ORIGINATED IN LOUISIANA.
THIS ISN'T GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THEM PLAYING, IS IT?
I HOPE NOT.
LET'S GO OVER HERE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I'M GOING TO PLAY VOS CRIMINALES.
♪♪ WOW, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD!
WHERE DID YOU LEARN HOW TO DO THAT?
FROM MYSELF, BY EAR.
ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY HERE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE?
MAYBE.
THIS IS THE FIDDLE PLAYER'S SON?
WOW, HE'S GREAT!
I HOPE WE DIDN'T INTERFERE WITH THE CONCERT.
NO, NO, WE'RE GOING TO START EATING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING WITH US.
NOW HE'S GOING TO PUT IT BACK IN THE BOX.
NOW YOU PLAY THIS OLD, TRADITIONAL MUSIC AS WELL?
OLD-TIME MUSIC LEARNED BY EDDIE LOWE AND ALL HIS FRIENDS.
EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING THAT.
IF HE HADN'T BEEN HERE, WOULD YOU NOT HAVE LEARNED IT?
IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN QUITE THE SAME.
EDDIE COMES FROM THE TRADITION WHERE THEY REALLY PLAYED IT BEFORE THEY HAD RECORDS AND TV AND EVERYTHING.
HIS FAMILY PLAYS THIS FROM THE HEART.
IN CALIFORNIA WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OLD-TIME MUSICIANS.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA BE LISTENING TO HERE?
THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD CALL A BREAK-DOWN TYPE OF TUNE.
IT'S VERY RHYTHMIC; GREAT FOR SQUARE DANCING.
IT'S JUST QUICK AND DEVILISH.
IF YOU DON'T TAP YOUR FOOT, YOU'RE DEAD.
♪♪ ♪♪ WHAT WAS IT YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT SAN PEDRO?
IT'S A METROPOLITAN TOWN, AND IT'S THE GREATEST IN THE STATE, ACTUALLY.
I CAME HERE IN 1922, AND I WOULDN'T LEAVE IF THEY GAVE ME A MILLION DOLLARS!
YOU SAID IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN IT.
IT'S A MULTICULTURAL CITY -- SAMOANS, ITALIANS, MEXICANS.
AND WHAT ARE YOU?
I'M A PENNSYLVANIA DUTCHMAN.
WELL, DO YOU LIKE THIS KIND OF MUSIC?
THIS IS GREAT!
EDDIE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON.
I KNEW HIM BACK IN THE '30s.
WE GREW UP TOGETHER, MY WIFE AND HIS WIFE.
HE'S A WONDERFUL PERSON, AS YOU CAN SEE.
LOOK AT THE FRIENDS!
THIS IS SAN PEDRO.
SAN PEDRO IS A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS.
STILL?
YEAH, WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU ARE; WE'RE FRIENDS.
WE'RE BUDDIES.
WE GREW UP WITH NO ENEMIES.
I HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY.
DO YOU THINK IT WILL?
WELL, IT'S BEGINNING TO BOOM A LITTLE, BUT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT'S BOOMED SO FAST, EVEN I COULDN'T RECOGNIZE IT.
WHERE I'M LIVING NOW IS WHAT WE CALLED THE JAPANESE FIELDS GARDENS -- CORN, CUCUMBERS, TOMATOES -- ANYTHING YOU WANTED.
WE WERE FRIENDS ENOUGH WITH THE JAPANESE AT THAT TIME -- BEFORE THE WAR -- YOU COULD HAVE ALL THE VEGETABLES YOU WANTED.
IT WAS A SHAME TO HAVE A WAR, BUT THAT'S THE WAY LIFE IS.
YOU'RE HAVING FUNCTIONS LIKE THIS.
OH, EVERY RACE, CREED, AND DENOMINATION.
WE'RE ALL PEOPLE.
WE'RE SAN PEDRIANS.
NOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE GRAND MOMENT HERE OF THE PARTY.
WELL, WE'RE AFRAID WE COULDN'T GET 80 CANDLES ON THE CAKE AND NOT SET OFF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SO THEY JUST ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN.
WE DIDN'T WANT EDDIE TO PASS OUT FROM TRYING TO BLOW 'EM ALL OUT EITHER.
WAIT, THIS IS HIS 85th.
LOOK AT ALL THE CANDLES!
THIS IS GREAT.
EVERYBODY STEP BACK SO WE CAN GET A GOOD SHOT OF IT HERE.
HERE WE GO.
♪ (GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR EDDIE.
♪ ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
♪♪ (HUELL LAUGHING) CAPTIONED BY THE LLOYD E. RIGLER & LAWRENCE E. DEUTSCH CAPTIONING CENTER AT KCET.
"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM:
