>> male announcer: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION AND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> man singing: >> man singing: ♪ 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 O ♪ 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 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.

♪ ♪ >> Mike: HOW IS IT?

>> Randy: UH-OH.

WELL, SEE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> WELL IT HASN'T BEEN-- IT HASN'T BEEN MOORED.

>> Don: DEAR T.V.

MAILBAG, DO I LOOK LIKE A LANDFILL?

HI, DON THE CAMERA GUY HERE, AND MAYBE IT'S THE RAIN, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CLOSE CONFINES OF OUR VEHICLE SEEM MORE CONFINING THAN USUAL.

>> Mike: IS THE BALL OKAY?

IS IT RIDING ALL RIGHT?

>> Don: ANYWAY, WE'RE AT IT AGAIN, LOOKING FOR ART MADE BY FOLKS WHO WEREN'T TRAINED TO MAKE IT-- AND WHATEVER ELSE POPS UP ALONG THE WAY.

>> Randy: I SUPPOSE I SHOULDN'T LOOK AROUND AT YOU WHILE I'M DRIVING.

>> Mike: THERE IT IS, RIGHT THERE.

>> Don: LIKE THOSE COLOSSI OF THE ROADSIDE CERTAIN SAVVY TRAVELERS KNOW AS MUFFLER MEN.

>> Mike: THERE HE IS-- THERE HE IS.

>> Randy: SILENCE.

RIGHT HAND UP, LEFT HAND DOWN.

MUFFLER MEN.

>> Mike: DID YOU GET A SHOT OF IT?

>> Don: OH, YEAH.

HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THESE GUYS HAVE ACTUALLY WON SOME PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS-- ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT TO THEM, THIS CONSTITUTES A STRATEGY.

>> Mike: DON'T SHOOT THE ARCH--NO.

>> Don: I THOUGHT WE WERE HEADING DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY SAY STOPPING HERE WILL FORESHADOW WHAT'S TO COME.

>> Randy: NOTICE IT SAYS "ART HILL"--"ART HILL PLACE."

NOW, IS THAT BECAUSE THIS IS ART HILL, OR IS IT ART HILL WHO LIVED HERE, OR WHAT?

>> Mike: WHO IS ART?

>> Don: I GUESS THE CONNECTION IS THIS.

THE SAME GUY WHO BUILT THESE TOWERING TERRAPINS HAS ALSO TAKEN AN ABANDONED FACTORY AND TURNED IT INTO THE CITY MUSEUM, AN URBAN PLAYGROUND OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

>> CHECK THE GEARS OUT ON THIS POST.

>> Don: NOW, AS MUSEUMS GO, THIS ONE'S REAL LOW ON THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE SCALE.

>> THE SURFACE--CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH TIME THIS TOOK?

>> Don: IN FACT, IT'S A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE WAY RECYCLING AND RECREATION CAN CO-HABITATE.

>> Mike: I THINK THESE ARE FOOD TRAYS, DON.

[tapping Conga beat] LOOK AT ALL THE SHELLS ON HERE.

>> Randy: IT'S LIKE THE GROTTO BROUGHT INSIDE FOR KIDS.

>> Mike: HELLO.

>> SPRY LITTLE FELLOW, ISN'T HE?

>> HELLO.

HEY, IT'S DON-- IT'S DON THE CAMERA GUY.

HE NEVER GETS ON CAMERA.

>> Don: GET OUT OF HERE.

[laughs] >> Randy: FACE TIME.

>> Don: NATURALLY, IN THIS MULTI-STORY OPERATION, THE PLACE WE'RE LUGGING ALL THIS GEAR TO WOULD BE THREE STORIES UP-- THE MUSEUM OF MIRTH, MYSTERY, AND MAYHEM.

>> William: I'M GONNA JUST LET YOU GUYS ABSORB.

>> Don: STROLLING PAST THE WORLD'S LARGEST UNDERPANTS, AND DOZENS OF OTHER WELL-DOCUMENTED CLAIMS, WE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE SIREN THAT HAD CALLED US HERE.

I'M TALKIN' ABOUT THAT MOST MISUNDERSTOOD OF FOODS, THE CORNDOG.

>> William: THIS IS THE FIRST PIECE HERE, THE CORNDOG'S PATH OF TOTAL AWARENESS.

>> Mike: NOW THAT'S AN ACTUAL FRAGMENT-- >> William: YES, YES INDEED.

>> THAT'S BEEN UNEARTHED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

>> DELIVERED TO MY DOOR.

AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY FROM THE TEMPLE OF KARN DAK.

AS WE MOVE ALONG IN THE EXHIBIT HERE, WE COME TO THE SECRET SEAL OF THE ANCIENT AND MYSTERIOUS BROTHERHOOD OF CORNDOGS: ORDO ACIENS E MYSTERIOSO DE CANIBUS CORNIBUS.

NOW, THIS HAS ALSO BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE ANCIENT AND MYSTERIOUS BROTHERHOOD, WHICH IS HEADQUARTERED IN PLOSTI, ROMANIA.

THIS SHOWS A CUTAWAY SECTION OF STONEHENGE.

THESE WERE PROBABLY DONE AROUND 400 YEARS AGO.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER DIORAMA SHOWING THAT THE ORIGINAL PLANS FOR THE TITANIC HAD GIANT CORNDOG FLOTATION OUTRIGGER DEVICES.

AND THE ENGINEER WHO PROPOSED THEM WAS LABELED A CRACKPOT BY THE WHITE STAR LINE, FIRED FROM HIS JOB.

AND I THINK HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT HE WAS A MAN OF ENLIGHTENMENT.

THE FOUR CORNDOGS OF FREEDOM: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, AND SNACKTIME.

>> Randy: DO YOU AGREE-- IS SNACKTIME AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO EAT A CORNDOG?

>> William: I USUALLY START AT BREAKFAST, AND THEN I HOLD OFF UNTIL BEDTIME.

>> Mike: OH, SO YOU'RE A TWO A DAY MAN.

>> TWO A DAY, YEAH.

TREAD THE PATH OF AWARENESS AROUND TO THIS SHOT HERE.

THIS ACTUALLY ALLUDES TO THE DARK SIDE OF THE CORNDOG, ITS MISDIRECTION AND MISAPPLICATION BY THOSE WHO WOULD TAKE ITS SPIRITUAL FORCE AND USE IT FOR THEIR OWN AGGRANDIZEMENT AND CONTROL OVER OTHERS.

HERE WE HAVE THE ENTRANCE TO THE DARK SIDE OF THE CORNDOG.

NOW, THIS NEXT LITTLE VIGNETTE, HERE--MURDER AND MAYHEM-- IS TROUBLING, VERY TROUBLING.

WE HAVE HERE THE SIXTH FLOOR WINDOW OF THE TEXAS SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE PERCH, APPARENTLY, FOR AN ASSASSIN, WITH A CHAIR, ANOTHER MALINKER KIND OF A RIFLE, AN EMPTY NEHI, SOME HALF-EATEN CORNDOGS, AND SOME CRUSHED-OUT CIGARETTE BUTTS.

AND WE COME TO ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO, 1947.

NOTE THE SAUCER, CIGAR-SHAPED OBJECTS.

HERE WE HAVE SOME RATHER OBVIOUS CORNDOG-SHAPED SURFACE FEATURES AS THE VOYAGER II ENCOUNTERS THE SURFACE OF JUPITER.

YOU'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE HERE OF THE CORNDOG AS REFLECTED IN THE LIGHT ECHO OF A SUPERNOVA.

THIS IS ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPH FROM DEEP, DEEP SPACE.

>> SO WHERE'S THE CORNDOGS?

>> Mike: YEAH, LET'S HAVE A CORNDOG.

>> William: LET'S EAT-- LET'S EAT.

BOY, I GO TO GREAT EFFORT TO BRING THESE THINGS TO ST. LOUIS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET THEM HERE.

THEY'RE FROM MEMPHIS.

I HAVE THEM TRUCKED UP.

I'M GONNA USE THE SPECIALLY PREPARED TONGS FOR THIS.

>> Randy: YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT?

>> Mike: THE SACRED TONGS?

>> THESE TONGS ARE ONLY USED ON CORNDOGS, DELIVERING THEIR GOLDEN GOODNESS.

>> Mike: THAT'S A RIGHT TASTY CORNDOG.

>> William: I WOULDN'T STEER YOU WRONG.

>> Randy: PLUS, IN THIS KIND OF ROMANTIC SETTING, THE TASTE WARMS ME.

>> William: IT'S THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SUBLIME, ANCIENT CORN-- I MEAN, CORN IS A-- >> Randy: IT'S OLD.

>> Mike: IT IS OLD.

>> William: NOW, THE HOT DOG-- THE HOT DOG IS A-- >> Randy: I'M NOT JUST PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, AM I?

>> William: NO.

>> YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH IN YOUR MOUTH.

>> ALL OF MY THEORIES INTERSECT.

>> Don: IN FACT, WERE THERE TIME, THE GOOD DOCTOR WOULD REVEAL HIS FINDINGS ON NOUGAT.

BUT WE'VE LEARNED ENOUGH FOR NOW, SO IT'S A WRAP-- AT LEAST ON THIS SIDE OF THE MIGHTY MISSISSIP.

>> Mike: "70 FEET TALL, 'TOP A 100-FOOT STEEL BASE, COULD HOLD UP TO 640,000 BOTTLES OF REGULAR CATSUP."

>> Don: CAN IT BE COINCIDENCE THAT OUR FIRST ORDER OF THE DAY IS CONDIMENTS?

NOT JUST ANY CONDIMENT, BUT CATSUP.

AND NOT JUST ANY CATSUP, BUT GREAT GLOBS OF IT THAT WERE ONCE CONTAINED, AND NOW COMMEMORATED, HERE IN COLLINSVILLE.

>> Mike: "LEGEND HAS IT THAT IT CAN CAUSE RED HAIR IN THE UNBORN, AS PREGNANT WOMEN PASSING TOO CLOSE TO IT HAVE DISCOVERED."

>> Randy: WHOAH.

>> WHOAH.

>> Don: WELL, IT'S BETTER TO LET IT OUT THAN KEEP IT BOTTLED UP.

>> Randy: IT'S WHAT?

ROADSIDE ARCHITECTURE-- >> Mike: AT ITS BEST.

>> Don: NOW, THE SIGN'S FINE, BUT WHAT'S NEEDED IS A HANDY SOUVENIR HUT CLOSE BY, WITHOUT WHICH WE MUST MOVE ON ALL TOO QUICKLY TO OUR NEXT ENCOUNTER IN ILLINOIS.

BUT BEFORE WE COULD REACH WAYNE CITY, IN THE HEART OF MOUNT VERNON, WHAT TO OUR WANDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR BUT A MUFFLER... STAN?

>> Mike: NO, NO, DON, DON, DON.

DON'T BE FOOLED, MAN.

>> Don: WHAT?

>> NOT A MUFFLER MAN.

>> Don: WHY NOT?

>> LEFT HAND'S UP, LEFT HAND'S UP-- IT'S GOTTA BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

RIGHT HAND UP, LEFT HAND DOWN.

SHE'S AN IMPOSTOR.

>> Don: MUST BE SOME KIND OF MODIFICATION KITS.

SO WE PROCEEDED TO RESUME PROCEEDING AS PLANNED.

>> Randy: THAT'S RIGHT; THEY CALL THIS PART OF ILLINOIS LITTLE EGYPT.

>> Mike: LITTLE EGYPT?

>> Don: LITTLE EGYPT.

>> I THINK THEY'RE IN DENIAL.

>> Don: TRUTH IS, WAYNE CITY HAS PIQUED OUR INTEREST EVER SINCE WE SAW WHAT VIRGIL MYERS MAKES IN HIS BASEMENT: THAT WOULD BE ARKS.

PLUS, WE'VE HEARD THAT FOR A NONAGENARIAN, HE STILL NOAHS HOW TO WORK A CROWD.

>> Virgil: I'M 91 YEARS OLD.

I'M AN OLD MAN; I OUGHTN'T TO BE WORKING.

I'M RETIRED.

I WAS HERE WHEN THE GREAT TITANIC WENT DOWN.

I WAS HERE WHEN LINDBURGH FLEW ACROSS THE OCEAN.

[singing in falsetto] ♪ I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, HONEY.

♪ I COULD WALK DOWN TEN FLIGHTS OF STAIRS, WALKING ON MY HANDS.

♪ AND LOVE ME FROM THE START, ♪ ♪ HONEY.

♪ "L-I-G-R-I-V." DIDN'T I WRITE IT UPSIDE-DOWN AND BACKWARDS?

♪ EVERY DAY WILL BE SO BRIGHT ♪ ♪ AND SUNNY.

♪ I SAYS, "I CAN PLAY POPEYE."

♪ HONEY, WITH YOU.

♪ ♪ >> Randy: TAKE THE STAIRS.

>> Mike: GO DOWNSTAIRS.

>> COME ON, PARADE.

>> YOU'RE NOT GONNA WALK ON YOUR HANDS OR ANYTHING, DOWN THE STAIRS?

>> Virgil: NO, I-- >> Mike: BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THAT.

>> Virgil: I BEEN AN ARTIST ALL MY LIFE.

I'M A NATURAL BORN ARTIST, AND I AIN'T VERY GOOD AT IT.

MY KID SAYS THAT'S THE NICEST THING I BUILT YET.

NOW, THIS HAS GOT A LION IN IT IF YOU WANT HIM, YOU KNOW IT.

SEE HIM IN THERE?

>> woman: OH, YEAH.

>> THIS IS A FAT LADY.

YOU KNOW EVERY SHOW HAS A FAT LADY IN IT, DON'T THEY?

>> YES, SHE IS.

>> MY HANDS IS--I TOLD MY WIFE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD NO MORE ART.

MY HANDS ARE WEARING OUT.

WHITTLIN' OUT ALL THEM ANIMALS, YOU KNOW.

NOW, I THINK THEY'S ABOUT 170 ALTOGETHER, PIECES OF THIS.

>> Randy: W LONG DID IT TAKE?

>> Virgil: I NEVER KEEP THE TIME.

>> Mike: WHAT ARE THESE, HERE?

>> Virgil: NOW, THAT'S FLYING SQUIRRELS, THERE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S SPIDERS.

>> SPIDERS?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, THEY LOOK LIKE IT.

>> HUMMINGBIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, MONKEYS, POSSUMS.

GOT ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THEM HERE--THE QUAILS, THE CHICKENS.

HERE ARE SOME PHEASANT.

YOU CAN SEE THE TAILS-- AND SQUIRRELS.

THEY'RE ALL HANDMADE.

>> ARE YOU TAKING ORDERS FOR MORE?

OR ARE YOU DONE?

>> I TOLD MY WIFE I DIDN'T THINK I'D MAKE ANY MORE.

THIS MAY BE THE LAST ONES, YOU NEVER KNOW.

AT MY AGE, THE LORD MAY CALL ME AWAY.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

>> Mike: GUESS YOU GOTTA GO IF HE CALLS, HUH?

>> Virgil: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO-- WEAR OUT OR RUST OUT?

I BELIEVE I'D RATHER WEAR OUT THAN RUST OUT, WOULDN'T YOU?

>> Don: I BELIEVE I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT JUMPING FROM THE CRAMPED QUARTERS OF OUR VAN TO CRAMPED QUARTERS LIKE THESE IS GRINDING ME DOWN.

AND NOW I'VE GOT THE PICTURES TO PROVE IT.

SAME OLD GRIND.

OH.

>> Mike: NEW DAY.

>> HEY, CAN WE HAVE A GRINDER FOR LUNCH?

YOU KNOW, THAT TASTE OF POPEYE WE GOT FROM VIRGIL REMINDS ME: OVER IN CHESTER, THE SPINACH-LOVING CITIZENS BUILT A GIANT REPLICA OF THE GREAT SAILOR MAN.

BUT APPARENTLY MIKE AND RANDY HAVE ANOTHER OVERSIZED SUPERHERO IN MIND.

>> Randy: LOOK, IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE.

>> Don: DOES METROPOLIS RING A BELL?

>> Randy: FASTER THAN A SPEEDING CHRYSLER.

>> Mike: FASTER THAN A SPEEDING CHRYSLER WITH A BUNCH OF CRAP ON THE FRONT BUMPER.

>> Don: BUT BEFORE WE COULD REACH THE AFOREMENTIONED MAN O' STEEL... >> Randy: SOMETHING REALLY BIG.

THERE'S--MUFFLER MAN.

>> Mike: MUFFLER MAN.

HE'S GROCERY BOY.

>> Don: WHOAH--GROCERY BOY MAN.

>> Randy: HE'S GOT A LOT OF GREEN AND YELLOW GROCERIES TOO.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> Mike: ♪ BIG JOHN.

♪ >> ALMOST EVERYTHING IN HIS BAG IS GREEN OR YELLOW.

>> Randy: HEY, STOP, MAN.

I GOTTA GO USE THE JOHN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S PLAY.

>> Mike: YEAH.

WHOAH.

>> WHOAH--I FEEL INSPIRED.

OKAY, MIKE, HERE'S A QUICK QUESTION: NAME THE PARTS OF SUPERMAN'S COSTUME.

YOUR FAVORITE PARTS.

>> Mike: WELL, THERE'S THE CAPE.

>> CAPE.

>> THERE'S THE PEC PROTECTOR.

AND THERE'S THE SHORTS.

AND THE BOOTS.

>> Randy: YEAH.

COD-PIECE.

OKAY, DO YOU REMEMBER THE SUPERMAN EPISODE WITH THOSE LITTLE MOLE MEN?

>> Don: UH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

>> Randy: DID THAT SCARE THE HECK OUT OF YOU WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

>> REMEMBER THAT THEME SONG?

[to the tune of Soul Man] ♪ I'M A MOLE MAN... ♪ PLAYING A LITTLE CATCH ACTUALLY GIVES US FOCUS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING WHEN ART IS WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SEE.

AND NEXT UP, IT'S ART BEING MADE JUST SOUTH OF HERE IN KENTUCKY-- BY A VERY NICE WOMAN WHO LIVES BACK HERE ON ONE OF THE MORE SCENIC ROADS WE'VE SEEN.

HELEN LaFRANCE USED TO PAINT IN THIS OLD BUS OUT FRONT, TILL FRIENDS HELPED BUILD HER A NEW, IMPROVED, SNAKE-FREE PAINTING FACILITY.

>> Helen: BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO-- I'M AFRAID THAT SNAKE IS IN THERE, AND I'M AFRAID HE'S IN A DRAWER OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE HE JUST DISAPPEARED ONLY ONCE.

AND IF HE DIDN'T GO UNDER THERE, HE WENT IN THERE.

>> Randy: WOULD YOU LIKE MIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CHECK?

>> Helen: HUH-UH.

I PAINT EVERY DAY, BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS BEHIND.

YOU SEE ALL THESE BACK THERE-- THESE CANVASSES BACK THERE AND ALL AROUND THERE?

BUT I'LL CATCH UP.

SOMETIMES I PAINT WHAT I SEE AND SOMETIMES JUST WHAT I REMEMBER.

MOST TIMES IT'S WHAT I REMEMBER, THEN SOME THINGS, LIKE THAT-- DID YOU EVER DREAM ABOUT SOMETHING, AND YOU REMEMBERED THE NEXT MORNING?

SOMETIMES I DON'T REMEMBER, BUT MOST TIMES I DO.

>> Randy: LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU LIKE TO LOOK UP AT THE SKY.

JUST LOOK AT ALL THESE PAINTINGS-- THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF THE SKY.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS-- OH, WHEN I WAS YOUNG, IT'D BE A NICE DAY, YOU KNOW, AND THE SKY WOULD BE PRETTY AND LOTS OF CLOUDS.

AND I'D SAY, "I WISH I HAD SOME WAY OF CANNING THIS SO I COULD SEE IT ON A BAD DAY."

>> Mike: THAT'S PRETTY DIFFERENT COMPARED TO YOUR OTHER PIECES.

>> Helen: YEAH, BUT SEE, I CAN'T WORK ON IT MUCH OF THE TIME BECAUSE IT PUTS YOUR EYES OUT.

>> PUT YOUR EYES OUT WITH THAT?

>> YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT IT LONG ENOUGH TIME.

>> Randy: HELEN, DID YOU IMAGINE THAT SOMEDAY YOUR PAINTINGS WOULD BE GOING TO PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> Helen: YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GIVE IT A THOUGHT.

I WAS JUST DOING SOMETHING I LIKE TO DO AND I STILL LIKE TO DO IT.

IF I DIDN'T GET A PENNY, YEAH, I'D STILL BE PAINTING.

IT'S THE ONLY THING I EVER DID REALLY LIKE TO DO.

BUT I'VE DONE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS IN BETWEEN.

>> SOUNDS LIKE NO REGRETS, THEN.

>> NOPE.

NOW, IF I HAD IT ALL TO DO OVER, I'D DO THE SAME THING, I BELIEVE.

MISTAKES AND ALL.

DON'T YOU FIND THAT SNAKE.

THERE'S ONE FOUND HIM BEFORE, AND THEY WERE JUST BARKING AND BARKING.

AROUND THERE'S WHERE HE WAS.

>> Don: FOR A WHILE, HELEN NOT ONLY PAINTED, SHE CARVED DOLLS FROM WOOD AND STALKS OF TOBACCO.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL GONE NOW, MUCH LIKE WE NEED TO BE BEFORE THAT SETTING SUN SETS OVER NEARBY MAYFIELD-- AT LEAST IF WE HOPE TO SEE MAYFIELD'S MOST UNUSUAL CLAIM TO STATUARY FAME.

>> Randy: OKAY, SEE, RIGHT THERE.

>> Mike: IS THAT IT?

>> YEP.

>> OH, THAT'S IT.

>> YEP.

IT'S LIKE A PROCESSION.

IT'S LIKE THE PROCESSION THAT GOES NOWHERE.

THAT'S HAL HOLBROOK.

>> Don: THE TALL ONE?

>> Mike: THE TALL ONE IS COLONEL HENRY WOOLDRIDGE.

HE'S THE ONLY ONE BURIED HERE, ACTUALLY.

>> I THINK HE LOOKS KIND OF HOLBROOKIAN.

>> Mike: THAT WAS CARVED IN ITALY, THAT PIECE, BUT THE REST OF THEM WERE CARVED LOCALLY.

>> Don: WELL, WHAT DOES IT SAY HERE?

"THE WOOLDRIDGE MONUMENT"-- >> Randy: THIS IS HANDY.

WE'RE, LIKE, READING IT.

>> Don: THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT THAT INFORMATION.

>> Mike: HOW DID YOU THINK-- >> Don: DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA SHOW THE SIGN, DID YOU?

>> Randy: NAILED.

>> Mike: GOT THE PETS, THE FAMILY PETS, THE BELOVED PETS.

WHAT'S SHE READING?

"H.G.W."

>> Don: H.G.

WELLS.

>> Mike: H.G.

WOOLWORTH, HUH?

WOOLDRIDGE.

>> Randy: WOOLDRIDGE, BUT THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH.

>> Don: H.G.

WOOLWORTH.

ANOTHER FIVE-AND-DIME BIT OF INFORMATION.

>> Randy: IT'S A PROCESSION, THOUGH.

THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF COOL ABOUT IT, IS LIKE-- USUALLY YOU SEE MONUMENTS, AND THERE'S A LITTLE MORE OF CLUSTERING.

>> Mike: IT'S LIKE THEY'RE ALL MARCHING OFF SOMEWHERE, LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE LEAVING MAYFIELD.

>> LIKE WE WILL BE SOON, BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOTTEN DARK.

[horse whinnies] >> Don: NOW, I REALIZE PUBLIC T.V.

BUDGETS REQUIRE SOME PENNIES TO BE PINCHED.

BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

AND HAVE YOU EVER TRIED SLEEPING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HARLEY CONVENTION?

THE IRONY OF OUR ACCOMODATIONAL PLIGHT GROWS EVEN GREATER WHEN YOU SEE WHERE WE COULD HAVE STAYED LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY.

>> Mike: "SLEEP IN A WIGWAM."

>> Randy: THAT'S A GREAT SIGN.

>> Don: YES, LOOMING UP AHEAD IN ALL ITS CONCRETE SPLENDOR IS WIGWAM VILLAGE NUMBER TWO, ONE OF SEVEN SUCH MARVELS BUILT BACK IN THE '30s BY FRANK REDFORD, AND ONE OF ONLY TWO STILL WITH US.

IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT A PLACE THIS COOL WOULD ATTRACT THE KIND OF PERSON WHO DRIVES A CAR LIKE THIS.

>> WOW, NICE.

>> Don: CHRIS HUBBARD'S HEAVEN AND HELL CAR-- A LITTLE GOOD, A LITTLE BAD, JUST LIKE MOST FOLKS-- WON A PRIZE AT THE ORANGE SHOW ART CAR PARADE IN HOUSTON.

EVERY YEAR, HE AND HIS FRIENDS COME TO CAVE CITY FOR SOME TEEPEE TIME AND SPIRITUAL REVITALIZATION.

IT'S REPEAT BUSINESS LIKE THEIRS THAT HELPED CONVINCE IVAN JOHN, WHO'D RUN SOME OF YOUR MORE TRADITIONAL MOTELS IN TOWN BEFORE, THAT HE SHOULD JUMP IN AND KEEP THIS PIECE OF ROADSIDE HISTORY ALIVE.

>> Ivan: IT'S A LANDMARK.

IT'S THE LANDMARK IN KENTUCKY.

AND EVERYBODY THAT PASSES THROUGH HERE-- FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN-- "I WANT TO TO SLEEP IN A WIGWAM," YOU KNOW.

>> I WANT TO SLEEP IN THE WIGWAM.

>> Ivan: NUMBER ONE THROUGH FIVE ARE SINGLES.

AND THEN SIX THROUGH TEN ARE DOUBLES, TWO BEDS, FULL-SIZE.

>> Randy: BY MODERN STANDARDS, MAYBE A LITTLE SMALL?

>> THEY'RE A LITTLE SMALLER, BUT ALL THE AMENITIES.

AND CLEAN BATHROOMS.

>> Mike: HEY, DON'T HIDE IN THERE.

>> Randy: MY GOD.

>> THERE'S NO HIDING IN T.V.

HOUSE DETECTIVE.

>> Randy: GOOD MORNING.

>> HI.

WOW, THESE ARE GREAT.

WOW.

>> Ivan: THIS FURNITURE'S ALL ANTIQUE--HICKORY AND CANE.

SPECIALLY MADE FOR THE WIGWAM SYSTEMS.

>> I'VE BEEN IN NUMBER TWO, FIVE, SIX AND ELEVEN, AND I GET A WIGWAM EACH TIME, AND I WRITE THE DATE AND WHO I WAS WITH.

♪ DO A LITTLE DANCE.

♪ >> OKAY.

>> Randy: ARE YOU JUST, LIKE, A REALLY AMBITIOUS GUY, IVAN?

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TWO YEARS AGO, "THIS IS THE THING TO DO?"

>> Ivan: MAYBE I'M SILLY, OR NOSTALGIC AT HEART.

>> Randy: SO YOU'RE A LODGING MAGNATE.

>> Ivan: LODGING.

ILLOGICAL MAGNATE, YEAH.

>> Randy: YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD WITH THIS STUFF.

>> Mike: YEAH.

>> WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OVER?

>> Mike: YEAH, YOU RUN THE INTERVIEW AND-- >> Don: TAKE THE CAMERA.

>> Ivan: YEAH, THROW IT AT ME.

>> Mike: HEY, NO CAMERAS.

>> Don: NOW, IVAN WAS DOING PRETTY GOOD AT HIS NEW GIG TILL HE REALIZED HE COULDN'T OPERATE THE CAMERA AND TAKE OUR MONEY AT THE SAME TIME.

THE WIGWAM GIFT SHOP, HOUSED WHERE THE RESTAURANT ONCE STOOD, IS THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE CONSIDERABLE CHUNKS OF CHANGE CAN BE LEFT BEHIND.

>> Mike: OH, WOW.

>> Randy: WELL, IVAN, WHAT A THRILL.

>> Ivan: IT'S A PLEASURE, A REAL PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR MAKING AN ASS OUT OF ME.

>> Don: NO PROBLEM.

>> Ivan: TAKE CARE.

>> Don: NOW, THE CAVE THAT GIVES THE TOWN ITS NAME WOULD BE MAMMOTH.

AND SPEAKING OF LARGE, YOU KNOW WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF OUR OWN WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

>> I'VE SEEN BIGGER.

>> Don: WITH OUR FRAGILE MALE EGOS STARTING TO CRUMBLE, WE DID WHAT WE DO BEST, AND THAT IS HIT THE ROAD AGAIN.

NEXT STOP: TENNESSEE, A BRAND NEW STATE FOR US...

RIGHT THROUGH HISTORIC OLD CLARKSVILLE AND OUT TO THIS VERY WINDY ROAD PAST PALMYRA, IN SEARCH OF A STORIED CORNER WHERE E.T.

WICKHAM PAID ALL SORTS OF HOMAGE TO THOSE HE THOUGHT DESERVED IT, WHETHER OTHERS THOUGHT SO OR NOT.

WELL, WE HAVE PEOPLE ASK ABOUT WICKHAM'S STATUES.

IT GOES BACK A LONG WAY-- BACK, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST 20, 25 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, RUNNING AROUND, GETTING IN TROUBLE.

>> Randy: PRESIDENTS, HE HAD BULLS, HE HAD ANGELS.

>> Theresa: YEAH, WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WAS THINKING WHEN HE WAS MAKING IT.

YEAH, THERE'S A HORSE THERE WITH SOMEBODY RIDING ON IT.

AND HE TALKS ABOUT A LOT OF THE HISTORY.

IF YOU READ IT, IT'S MOSTLY TENNESSEE HISTORY.

TALKS ABOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL THINGS THAT HAPPENED HERE, SO-- BUT IT'S KIND OF NEAT.

IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE WOODS, YOU COULD TRIP OVER A BODY OR A HEAD OR TWO, LAYING AROUND.

>> RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DESTROYED OVER THE YEARS, AND WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF THEM FOR THE LONGEST TIME.

I MEAN, A MAN WAS OUT HERE WITH CONCRETE, WITH CEMENT, MAKING STATUES.

>> Don: A COUPLE OF WICKHAM'S WORKS ENDED UP AT THE COLLEGE BACK IN CLARKSVILLE, BUT LIKE A LOT OF GRASS-ROOTS ART, IT'S BEST SEEN INTACT IN ITS NATURAL GRASSES.

TOO BAD, AND TOO BAD THAT WITH NASHVILLE JUST AROUND THE CORNER, RANDY CORNERED AROUND IT AND STARTED HEADING SOUTH.

>> Randy: FIRST I'M DRIVING TOO SLOW, THEN I'M DRIVING TOO FAST.

>> Mike: I KNOW, I GOTTA RIDE YOU ALL THE TIME.

JUST LIKE AN OLD, SICK MARE.

>> Don: IN BETWEEN THE BICKERING-- >> Mike: GOD, YOU DRANK THAT WHOLE HUGE CUP OF COFFEE?

>> Don: THE BOYS TALKED ABOUT BEECH GROVE AND BELL BUCKLE-- AND A GUY NAMED HOMER GREEN, WHO CHAINSAWED HIS WAY INTO THE FOLK ART HALL OF FAME.

HOMER'S HUNG UP THE BLADE, BUT HIS FRIEND J.L., WHO LIVES AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE, IS PICKING UP WHERE THE MASTER LEFT OFF.

>> Mike: BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

LOOK FOR SOME CARVINGS, MAN.

>> Randy: WHOAH, ALL RIGHT.

>> J.L.

: WE LIVE 'TWEEN HOODOO AND FUDGAROUND.

>> Mike: FUDGAROUND?

>> FUDGAROUND'S RIGHT AROUND THE ROAD AROUND HERE, ISN'T IT, HON?

THIS IS HOODOO, AND FUDGAROUND'S RIGHT AROUND THE ROAD.

IT IS.

I'M THE ORIGINAL HOODOO DADDY.

[chain saw buzzing] NOW, THAT'S A PIECE OF HOMER'S WORK, RIGHT THERE.

MINE AND HIS TOGETHER.

AND WHEN HE DIES, WELL, THIS'LL GO ON HIS GRAVE.

>> Randy: WOW.

>> HE DON'T THINK I'M GONNA PUT IT ON THERE, BUT I AM.

I MEAN, I'VE HELD IT ALL THESE YEARS.

AND HERE YOU ARE, LOOKING AT ME RIGHT IN THE EYE.

RIGHT HERE'S THE FIRST PIECE I EVER CUT OUT IN MY LIFE.

HOMER TOLD ME TO CUT OUT THE FIGURE OF A MAN, AND THIS IS WHAT I WOUND UP WITH.

I JUST CUT OUT ANYTHING PEOPLE WANT.

IF THEY WANT IT DONE AND I CAN'T CUT IT OUT, WHY, IT CAN'T BE CUT OUT.

[chain saw buzzing] THIS IS THE ALLIGATOR BENCH.

I SELL THEM JUST ABOUT AS FAST AS I CUT THEM OUT.

THERE'S YOUR OWL TABLE, PUT YOUR T.V.

ON.

THERE'S YOUR GARDEN ANGEL.

THERE'S A MAN RIDING A GOOSE.

FLYING ALLIGATOR, MAN, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU HARDLY EVER SEE, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S YOUR BLACKBIRD TREES.

IT'S GOT A FEW SPIDER WEBS ON IT-- THERE AIN'T NO EXTRA CHARGE ON THOSE, THOUGH.

I GOT THE BIGGEST CORAL SNAKE IN THE WORLD, RIGHT HERE.

>> Mike: OH, THAT'S A GREAT ONE.

>> YOU EVER SEEN ONE THAT BIG?

YOU KNOW, ALIENS AIN'T GOT BUT THREE FINGERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOWED THAT OR NOT.

THAT'S A JACK.

>> Randy: EXCUSE ME?

>> THAT'S A JACK, A DONKEY.

>> Mike: OH, A DONKEY.

>> THAT'S A DONKEY.

Y'ALL KNOW WHAT A DONKEY IS; I KNOW YOU AIN'T THAT BIG A-- >> Don: THEY DON'T KNOW JACK-- [chain saw buzzing] >> YOU DO THAT?

>> J.L.

: I DONE IT ALL.

I DONE ALL OF IT, EVERY BIT OF IT.

YEAH, I LIKE COLORS.

YOU LIKE COLORS?

>> Mike: YEAH, IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE THINKING?

[J.L.

laughs] >> J.L: HEY, LOOK, I SEEN DOTS IN MY SLEEP FOR THREE WEEKS WHEN I WAS DOING THIS.

I'M SERIOUS, MAN.

EVERY TIME I GO TO BED, I'D SEE DOTS ALL NIGHT LONG.

>> Mike: IS THAT A GOOD THING?

[chain saw buzzing] >> I DON'T CALL MYSELF NO ARTIST OR PAINTER.

I'M A WOOD BUTCHER.

YOU KNOW, I BUTCHER THIS STUFF WHEN I START ON IT.

I DON'T TAKE NO PAINS WITH IT.

>> Don: NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING SCORE AT HOME, J.L.

'S BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL THIS... AND MAINTAIN A COMPLETE SET OF FINGERS AND TOES.

>> J.L.

: NOBODY IN THIS WORLD IS HOODOO DADDY EXCEPT ME.

>> Don: FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR FUDGAROUND, THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY, SIGNING OFF.

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