>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN SYLMAR, WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, RIGHT OFF THE 5 FREEWAY.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS MAGNIFICENT, HUGE, BROWN BUILDING HERE IN SYLMAR, WHICH WAS BUILT BACK IN 1971 TO HOUSE AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF STUFF.

AND THIS STUFF, BELIEVE ME, IS OF MUSEUM QUALITY.

I FIRST VISITED THIS COLLECTION YEARS AGO AND WAS SO BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT I SAW.

AND OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW IS GO BACK IN TIME TO THAT VERY MOMENT YEARS AGO WHEN I WENT OVER ACROSS THE STREET, WALKED IN THE FRONT DOOR OF THAT BUILDING, AND WAS JUST AMAZED AT WHAT I FOUND.

AMAZED AT WHAT I FOUND.

WELL, THE FIRST HINT WE HAVE THAT THIS BUILDING HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING ON INSIDE OF IT-- LOOK AT THESE.

THESE ARE 10-FOOT-HIGH CAST BRONZE DOORS.

AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT.

HERE WE GO.

OK, HERE WE ARE.

[CHUCKLES] LOOK AT THIS.

GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING, HUELL.

WELCOME, I'M BYRON MANSON, THE CURATOR, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO SAN SYLMAR, THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION.

Huell: THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION.

>> YES.

Huell: THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A PALACE.

>> IT GIVES YOU THAT SENSE, DOESN'T IT?

Huell: WELL, WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THIS IS THE COLLECTION OF DOROTHY AND J.B. NETHERCUTT.

J.B. NETHERCUTT AND HIS AUNT MERLE NORMAN FOUNDED MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS BACK IN 1930.

THIS WAS THE DEPRESSION, AND HE USED TO SEE SOME OF THESE WONDERFUL AUTOMOBILES ON THE STREET.

AND HE DREAMED, AND FINALLY IN THE 1950s, COLLECTED THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE.

AND THERE ARE 214 IN THE COLLECTION NOW.

Huell: WOW.

NOW, THERE ARE NOT 214 IN HERE, BUT, BOY, THESE ARE SHINY, WONDERFUL CARS IN HERE.

AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE CARS, EACH ONE OF WHICH HAS A STORY TO TELL.

>> THEY EACH HAVE A STORY, AND PARTICULARLY THIS SILVER DUESENBERG.

Huell: OH, BOY.

>> IT'S DATED 1933, BUILT BY THAT FAMOUS DUESENBERG COMPANY OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND BUILT FOR THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR.

IT WAS A SHOWPIECE, ONE OF A KIND.

AND THE LICENSE PLATE--20 GRAND--ITS PRICE TAG IN DEPRESSION DOLLARS.

AND ACTUALLY SOLD FOR THAT, WE UNDERSTAND.

Huell: WELL, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT'S GONNA COST TODAY TO BUY SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> I BELIEVE THE COMPANY WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS ALL OVER AGAIN, TRYING TO BUILD AND SELL THEM.

Huell: NOW, WHY DID HE PUT HIS COLLECTION OF CARS IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, HUELL, WHEN THESE AUTOMOBILES WERE NEW, THESE GREAT CLASSICS, THEY WERE DISPLAYED IN DEALERSHIPS THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.

AN ERA THAT'S LONG GONE, AND J.B. NETHERCUTT WANTED TO TRY TO RECAPTURE A BIT OF THAT ERA, AND SO WE HAVE A MARBLE SALON, WITH THESE AUTOMOBILES DISPLAYED AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Huell: SO THESE ARE MARBLE FLOORS-- >> MARBLE FLOORS, VERMONT MARBLE, AFRICAN MARBLE, ITALIAN MARBLE.

Huell: THE CHANDELIERS, THE COLUMNS, IT'S REALLY--MIRRORS EVERYWHERE.

>> AND ALL DONE BY LOCAL ARTISANS.

Huell: NOW, LET'S LOOK AT ONE OR TWO MORE CARS, BECAUSE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST FLOOR.

>> JUST THE FIRST.

Huell: AND THERE'S MORE TO THIS BUILDING, TO THIS COLLECTION, THAN JUST AUTOMOBILES.

>> SO MUCH MORE.

[HUELL LAUGHS] >> LET'S GO OVER HERE.

Huell: WHAT HAVE WE GOT OVER HERE?

>> WELL, HERE IN THE CORNER, HUELL, IS A 1923 FRENCH VOISIN.

AND THIS PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE WAS BUILT CUSTOM FOR RUDOLPH VALENTINO.

Huell: NOW, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?

>> WELL, IT CARRIES THE MASCOT, THE COILED HOODED COBRA, WHICH WAS VALENTINO'S PERSONAL MASCOT, AND WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTING PHOTOGRAPHS.

Huell: OH, HERE IT IS!

>> YES.

Huell: SO THIS IS VALENTINO--OH, OK. DON'T LET ME DROP IT, I DON'T WANT TO SCRATCH THE CAR.

THIS IS VALENTINO IN THIS CAR.

>> YES.

Huell: STANDING BESIDE IT, AND SITTING IN IT.

>> AND WORKING ON IT, TOO, BECAUSE HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN THAT.

IT'S BEEN IN THE COLLECTION FOR MANY YEARS.

I MIGHT SAY--I'VE DRIVEN IT, AND LIKE ALL OF THEM, IT DRIVES BEAUTIFULLY.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

ALL OF THESE CARS ARE DRIVABLE?

>> PERFECT DRIVING CONDITION AS WELL AS BEING SHOWPIECES.

Huell: WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE?

>> WELL, THIS PARTICULAR ONE, HUELL, IS A 1912 CADILLAC, AND WHAT MAKES IT SIGNIFICANT--THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE WITH THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND ELECTRIC STARTING.

BEFORE THAT, YOU HAD TO CRANK THE CAR AND LIGHT THE LIGHTS WITH A MATCH.

Huell: SO THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CRANK TO START IT.

>> YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO.

NOW, BATTERIES WEREN'T RELIABLE, SO THERE'S A CRANK HANDLE.

Huell: OH, LOOK AT THIS.

BOY, IT JUST--THIS IS JUST OVERWHELMING.

I MEAN, ISN'T THIS THE COMMENT PEOPLE MAKE WHEN THEY FIRST COME IN THE FRONT DOOR, THAT--"WHAT'S THIS DOING IN A BUILDING THAT LOOKS SO PLAIN ON THE OUTSIDE?"

>> IN THE NORTHEAST END OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, THIS TREASURE HOUSE OPENS TO THEM.

AND IT REALLY DOES BOWL PEOPLE OVER.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW, WE'VE KIND OF TAKEN A VERY QUICK LOOK, BECAUSE THE TOUR THAT YOU GIVE USUALLY LASTS 2 HOURS.

>> 2 HOURS.

Huell: AND A GOOD 20 MINUTES OF IT IS IN THIS ROOM, SO I KNOW YOU'RE JUST ITCHING TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ONE OF THESE CARS.

>> SO MUCH MORE.

SO MUCH MORE.

Huell: BUT WE'VE GOT TO GO UP HERE--LET'S WAVE AT THIS LADY, 'CAUSE THIS GETS SOMETHING STARTED UP THERE, DOESN'T IT?

[PIANO BEGINS TO PLAY] THERE IT GOES.

NOW, HOW DID--WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION BEHIND THIS?

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> THAT IS CALLED A REPRODUCING PIANO, NOT A PLAYER PIANO--BUT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IS A REPRODUCED LIVE PERFORMANCE.

AND THIS WAS DONE BETWEEN 1912 AND '41, CALLED REPRODUCING.

BECAUSE YOU'RE HEARING THE LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM A PAPER ROLL, THE ELECTRIC PNEUMATIC SYSTEM ON A GRAND PIANO.

AND A FAMOUS SONG--BUT YOU'RE HEARING NOT JUST ONE PERSON.

THESE ARE 3 PEOPLE PLAYING, CALLED THE ORIGINAL PIANO TRIO.

Huell: WELL, LET'S GO UP HERE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PIANO CUE TO GET THE TOUR MOVING FROM THIS ROOM UP THIS WONDERFUL GRAND STAIRCASE...TO THE SECOND FLOOR.

OH, MY GOSH, ONE MORE LOOK AT THE ROOM AS WE END UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

THIS IS JUST--THIS IS BREATHTAKING.

>> IT'S QUITE A VIEW OUT OVER THOSE AUTOMOBILES.

YOU NOTICE THEY'RE NOT ROPED OFF, YOU CAN WALK RIGHT UP TO THEM.

Huell: NOW, THERE ARE NO AUTOMOBILES IN HERE.

>> NOPE.

HERE IS A FRENCH FURNITURE COLLECTION.

SMALL, BUT WE COULD SAY EXQUISITE.

A PRINCIPAL PIECE BEING THIS DESK.

THIS IS A 19th-CENTURY COPY OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ROLL-TOP DESK, BUILT FOR LOUIS XV OF FRANCE.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND THIS IS A 19th-CENTURY MASTERPIECE, USING THE ORIGINAL, BUT IT'S ALL INLAID WOOD.

Huell: THIS IS ALL INLAY.

>> NO PAINT.

NO DYES, ALL INLAID WOODS, HUELL.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S--WHAT IS THIS?

>> THAT'S A FUNCTIONAL TELEPHONE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, J.B. NETHERCUTT USES THIS DESK WHEN HE IS HERE.

Huell: WELL, THERE'S HIS NAME ON THE TOP OF THE DESK.

>> HIS NAME IS THERE.

IT'S A WORKING DESK.

Huell: THAT'S A HECK OF A WORKING DESK.

>> YES, IT IS, AND THE TELEPHONE A BIT INCONGRUOUS.

Huell: AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER DESK OVER HERE AND SOME MORE FURNITURE OVER HERE, SO YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE COLLECTION OF PERIOD PIECES FROM--WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THIS?

>> THIS IS THE ROCAILLE PERIOD, AGE OF LOUIS XV.

Huell: WOW.

HOW DID HE GET INTERESTED IN THAT?

>> HE'S ALWAYS LOVED THAT ERA, THAT ERA OF LOUIS XV, AND HAS TRAVELED AND SEEN SOME OF THOSE ORIGINAL PALACES.

Huell: WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THIS LADY IS NAMED SPIRIT OF ECSTASY, AND SHE WAS THE FIRST COMMISSIONED RADIATOR ORNAMENT FOR AN AUTOMOBILE.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE, A RADIATOR ORNAMENT?

>> ROLLS ROYCE COMMISSIONED A FAMOUS LONDON SCULPTOR TO SCULPT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE PEOPLE APPARENTLY WERE PUTTING UGLY THINGS ON THE RADIATOR OF A ROLLS.

Huell: MAY I TOUCH THIS?

>> PLEASE DO.

Huell: I DON'T THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO, AM I?

>> WELL, WE'LL MAKE AN EXCEPTION.

Huell: WHAT IS THIS MADE OF?

>> THIS IS CAST BRONZE WITH A GOLD WASH AND OBVIOUSLY TOO BIG FOR AN AUTOMOBILE.

SHE WAS IN A SHOWROOM.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND SHE'S STILL ON EVERY ROLLS ROYCE TO THIS DAY.

Huell: AND--OK, THESE ARE MORE-- >> RADIATOR CAP ORNAMENTS, THEY'RE CALLED.

Huell: RADIATOR CAPS?

>> THEY'RE CALLED MASCOTS, AND MANY COMPANIES CHOSE A CERTAIN MASCOT--THE FAMOUS COMPANY CALLED PIERCE-ARROW IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, HAD THE ARCHER.

Huell: LOOK AT ALL THESE THINGS.

SO THESE ALL COME FROM--I MEAN, THESE ARE BACK FROM, WHAT, THE EARLY TEENS?

THE '20s?

THE '30s?

>> WELL, THE '20s AND '30s, BASICALLY--AND SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY WHIMSICAL--THAT YOU COULD BUY IN YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE.

PROPELLERS THAT WOULD SPIN AND COMIC STRIP CHARACTERS, LIKE FELIX THE CAT.

AND YOU COULD SIMPLY BUY THEM AND PUT THEM ON.

Huell: NOW, THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST--ONE OF THE LARGEST... >> ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

Huell: COLLECTIONS OF THESE IN THE WORLD.

>> YES.

THERE ARE MORE THAT AREN'T ON DISPLAY, OF COURSE, BUT LOOK AT THE FINAL SHOWCASE.

Huell: OH, LOOK.

LALIQUE.

>> LALIQUE, AND--THE SURPRISE--THESE ARE ALSO RADIATOR ORNAMENTS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SOME ARE STILL MOUNTED ON CAPS, AND SOME OF THEM, WITH THE HIGH SHANKS, HAD ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AND THEY GLOWED AT NIGHT.

Huell: THERE USED TO BE LALIQUE CRYSTAL RADIATOR CAPS?

>> YES.

Huell: ON WHAT KINDS OF AUTOMOBILES?

>> WELL, THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE VERY ELITE AUTOMOBILES.

THEY WERE ORDERED AT A GREAT DEAL OF EXTRA COST.

BUT YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THEM ON A DUESENBERG, YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THEM ON A HISPANO-SUIZA, YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THEM ON AN ISOTTA FRASCHINI.

Huell: WHO WOULD EVER THINK OF A MUSEUM WITH A COLLECTION OF RADIATOR CAPS?

AND LOOK HOW NICE THIS WHOLE ROOM IS.

IT HAS A NICE FEEL TO IT, AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU CAN GO RIGHT OVER HERE, AND HERE IS THE MIRRORED WALL, THE CARS, THE CHANDELIERS.

IT'S JUST SPECTACULAR.

>> IT'S QUITE A PLACE.

Huell: BUT THERE'S MORE!

>> AND THERE'S MORE.

Huell: AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MORE, THIS TAKES US UP TO THE--WHAT, THIS IS THE SECOND FLOOR--THIS IS THE THIRD FLOOR, THIS WINDING, BEAUTIFUL STAIRCASE.

BUT FIRST, WHAT'S THIS UNDERNEATH THE STAIRCASE?

>> WELL, HUELL, THIS IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL WORK.

IT WAS CREATED FOR THE 1915 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD'S FAIR, CALLED A TRIBUTE TO THE SPIRIT OF THE WEST.

AND IT WAS CALLED, AT THE TIME, THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRECIOUS METAL SCULPTURE--SILVER, NICKEL-SILVER, GOLD, AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS.

IT'S ABOUT 6 FEET LONG, IT'S ABOUT 5 1/2 FEET HIGH, AND IT IS JUST REALLY TREMENDOUS.

Huell: WOW.

NOW, THIS CAME FROM WHAT YEAR AGAIN?

>> 1915.

Huell: I KEEP WANTING TO TOUCH IT.

THIS IS NOT MADE OF SILVER.

>> IT'S A SILVER PLATE.

Huell: JUST GOT SHOCKED HERE, ON THIS CARPET.

>> IT'S A LITTLE DRY IN THE BUILDING TODAY.

AND IT HAS TREMENDOUS SYMBOLS OF THE WEST, OF CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY, OF THE PANAMA CANAL ITSELF, AND--JUST REALLY A TREMENDOUS WORK.

THIS WAS IN THE OLD CLIFF HOUSE FOR MANY YEARS, IN SAN FRANCISCO.

AND WHEN THE COLLECTION CLOSED OUT, J.B. WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE IT.

NO ONE ELSE WAS INTERESTED.

AND SO IT CAME SOUTH.

Huell: OK.

IT'S UP TO THE NEXT FLOOR, UP A BEAUTIFUL SET OF STAIRCASES.

>> IT'S CALLED THE STAIRWAY TO THE STARS.

AND THE MUSIC FOR THAT FAMOUS SONG IS ON THE WALL HERE, ON THE WALL ABOVE.

IT'S BEEN A FAVORITE OF THE NETHERCUTTS OVER THE YEARS AND KIND OF A THEME SONG FOR THIS BUILDING.

Huell: STAIRCASE TO THE STARS.

>> STAIRWAY TO THE STARS.

Huell: STAIRWAY TO THE STARS.

VERY APPROPRIATELY NAMED, AND YOU SAID THIS WAS KIND OF THE THEME SONG OF THE BUILDING?

>> YES, JUST KIND OF A THEME SONG.

A PRETTY SONG, A ROMANTIC OR A SENTIMENTAL SONG, AND THE BUILDING IS ROMANTIC AND SENTIMENTAL.

HUELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT PEOPLE COME TO SEE AUTOMOBILES, AND YET THERE'S SO MUCH MORE--WHAT WE SAW HERE ON THIS LEVEL, AND NOW WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, WHICH WILL REALLY BE A SURPRISE.

Huell: WELL, I'VE BEEN SURPRISED ALREADY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD BE ANY MORE SURPRISED, BUT I ASSUME, WHATEVER THE SURPRISE IS, IT'S BEHIND THESE DOORS.

>> IT IS, INDEED.

AND YOU'VE HEARD THE TERM "CLOUD 9."

AND THIS ROOM IS CALLED CLOUD 99, AND IN IT--WELL, YOU COME AND LOOK.

Huell: [CHUCKLES] OH, MY GOSH.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THIS ROOM IS A MUSIC ROOM, AND EVERYTHING FROM MUSICAL WATCHES TO MUSIC BOXES TO NICKELODEONS TO ORCHESTRIONS.

THIS IS A TREASURE.

Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

MUSICAL WATCHES?

>> EVERY ONE OF THESE IS EITHER A MINUTE REPEATER, OR A MINUTE REPEATER WATCH, WITH A MUSIC BOX THAT PLAYS A TUNE.

Huell: OH, GOSH.

SO THESE ARE ALL ANTIQUES.

>> THEY ARE ANTIQUES.

LATE 18th CENTURY TO EARLY 20th.

Huell: AND, OK. OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THAT'S CALLED AN ORCHESTRION, AND IT HAS ORGAN PIPES AND PERCUSSIONS, ELECTRIC MOTOR, A PAPER MUSIC ROLL.

Huell: AND THIS IS-- >> A DOUBLE-DISK MUSIC BOX.

THAT'S GERMAN, ABOUT 1899.

Huell: AND THIS?

>> WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY THINK YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN.

FOR THE FACT, IT'S AN AMERICAN NICKELODEON.

IT'S A WURLITZER.

IT'S FROM ABOUT 1920.

Huell: 1920?

'CAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE A DISCO BALL UP HERE.

>> WELL, IT WAS THE FIRST DISCO LIGHT.

IT WAS CALLED A WONDER LAMP.

[HUELL LAUGHS] >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR A TUNE?

Huell: OH, YEAH.

[MUSIC PLAYING] THERE GOES THIS DISCO LAMP.

NOW, WHEN WAS THIS?

WHAT ERA?

>> ABOUT THE 19--WELL, TEENS AND 1920s.

AND PEOPLE PUT NICKELS IN THESE NICKELODEONS AND DANCED TO THIS MUSIC THEN.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: HERE'S THE-- >> YES, THE PAPER ROLL.

Huell: OH, OK, THERE'S THE ROLL INSIDE.

>> THERE ARE 6 ROLLS, EACH PLAYING 5 SONGS.

Huell: OK, CAN WE CUT IT OFF?

>> SURE.

Huell: I DON'T KNOW HOW TO-- >> LET ME DO THIS.

[MUSIC STOPS] Huell: YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT, DON'T YOU?

>> YES, LUCKILY.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS A-- >> THERE IS A SELF-PLAYING BANJO FROM 1898.

IT WAS THE FIRST ELECTRIC NICKELODEON.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO-- WAIT A MINUTE, NOW, THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MUSIC.

>> NO, THIS IS-- Huell: BUT WHAT IS THIS?

IT LOOKS LIKE A DINING ROOM.

>> IT IS.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE, WE'LL LIGHT IT UP FOR YOU A BIT.

Huell: SURE.

WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS?

>> WE'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT.

WELL, THE NETHERCUTTS HAVE ENTERTAINED OVER THE YEARS IN THIS ROOM, AND IT IS IN THE LOUIS XV STYLE.

IT HAS A HAND-PAINTED CEILING, A ROYAL CRYSTAL CHANDELIER FROM 18th-CENTURY FRANCE, AND IT IS A ROOM THAT'S WARM AND INVITING.

AND THERE IS A KITCHEN AND PANTRY ATTACHED.

Huell: SO THIS WAS A WORKING DINING ROOM THAT THE NETHERCUTTS ACTUALLY DID USE.

>> YES.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

>> AND LOOK AT THE CHAIRS, THEY'RE INTERESTING, TOO.

THEY EACH HAVE ONE ARM.

Huell: AND THE MIRRORS ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL.

>> THEY REFLECT THAT CHANDELIER.

Huell: WOW, THIS IS ALL--LOOK AT THIS GRAND ROOM.

IT'S SO OPULENT.

IT'S SO--GILDED GOLD.

IT'S SO--I DON'T KNOW.

>> WELL, IT IS THAT, AND YET IT'S NOT AUSTERE.

Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

HERE'S A LADY IN HERE, DUSTING.

IS THAT YOUR JOB?

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

>> NO, REALLY, THAT'S WHAT I DO ALL DAY.

Huell: SHE'S THE OFFICIAL DUSTER?

>> WELL, SHE'S MORE THAN THAT, SHE'S OUR HEAD HOUSEKEEPER.

THIS IS ROSIE BALLISTAIR.

Huell: HI, HUELL HOWSER.

>> HI.

Huell: NOW, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO?

IS YOUR--I MEAN, YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO DUST EVERYTHING?

>> ALL THE INSTRUMENTS, EVERYTHING IN THE BUILDING, I HAVE TO DUST.

Huell: NOT ALL THAT LALIQUE CRYSTAL AND ALL THOSE ORNAMENTS AND ALL THAT-- >> YES, I DO.

YES.

Huell: ARE YOU INSURED?

>> ONE BY ONE, I HAVE TO DO ALL-- Huell: ARE YOU INSURED?

>> NO.

[CHUCKLES] Huell: ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT BREAKING ANYTHING?

>> VERY NERVOUS, YES.

I WOULD TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I JUST DO MY JOB.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

OK, NOW WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

>> THIS COLLECTION IS PERHAPS NOT UNIQUE, BUT FOR THE FACT OF THESE HUGE INSTRUMENTS, IT IS MOST INTERESTING.

BECAUSE THESE WERE BUILT AND USED IN EUROPE, HUELL, AND THEY'RE CALLED BY THE WORD "ORCHESTRION" AND TOOK THE PLACE OF A LIVE ORCHESTRA IN EUROPE'S RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS FROM, SAY, 100 YEARS AGO, RIGHT UP UNTIL WHEN THE PHONOGRAPH TOOK OVER.

TALKING MOVIES.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THIS LOOKS LIKE JUST A PIECE OF A--LOOKS LIKE A BAR-BACK, ALMOST.

>> IT DOES, BUT IT'S A CABINET.

AND INSIDE THIS CABINET ARE HUNDREDS OF ORGAN PIPES, PERCUSSIONS, TUNE PERCUSSIONS.

AND THE ACCORDIONS ARE REAL, AND PLAY, ALL FROM AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AIR PUMP, AND A PAPER ROLL.

Huell: GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PROVE IT?

Huell: YEAH.

WHAT ERA IS THIS?

>> THIS IS 1925, BUILT BY THE HUPFELD COMPANY IN LEIPZIG, GERMANY, AND FOR 40 YEARS, IT PLAYED IN A DUTCH HOTEL.

Huell: SO THESE WOULD BE LOCATED IN HOTELS, AND PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY DANCE TO THEM?

>> RESTAURANTS, ROLLER RINKS, ALL THE PLACES WHERE THE PUBLIC GATHERED.

IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LIVE ORCHESTRA, THEY HAD AN AUTOMATED ORCHESTRA.

Huell: WELL, YOU'VE GOT ME PIQUED HERE.

LET'S HEAR WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> HERE'S A TUNE IN THE AMERICAN JAZZ IDIOM, AND IT SHOWS OFF THE INSTRUMENT SO WELL.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: NOW, WHERE ARE THE-- WHERE ARE THE-- THIS OPEN OVER HERE?

HEY, LOOK AT THIS, LOUIE.

THE ACCORDION IS ACTUALLY GOING.

OH, THAT IS SPECTACULAR.

>> ISN'T IT, THOUGH?

IT'S SO UNEXPECTED.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS JUST NOT KNOWN IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ONLY THING WE HAD WAS A BAND ORGAN, A MERRY-GO-ROUND ORGAN, AND YET HERE'S A SOPHISTICATED BIG DANCE ORCHESTRA WHERE YOU COULD DANCE, LISTEN, SING WITH.

AND--FABULOUS.

Huell: IT'S GOT A GREAT SOUND TO IT.

>> ISN'T IT, THOUGH?

IT'S THE SOUND OF A BIG ORCHESTRA PLAYING.

DO YOU HEAR ALL THE MUSICIANS IN THERE, PLAYING?

THEY SAID THE EQUIVALENT OF A 20-PIECE ORCHESTRA.

Huell: SEE, I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE POPULAR TODAY IF YOU WERE TO BRING IT BACK, BUT I BET WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, DO WE?

>> I'M JUST WONDERING.

IT'S FORTUNATE TO HAVE TECHNICIANS WHO CAN RESTORE THEM TODAY BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST A LOST ART.

BUT WE'RE FORTUNATE--WE FIND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEM, CAN WORK ON THEM TODAY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC FADES] Huell: WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO-- >> OH, YES.

OH, YES.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ORGAN CONSOLE, HUELL.

BUT THIS IS THE TINIEST PART OF A HUGE INSTRUMENT, A HUGE PIPE ORGAN.

Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, LET'S TALK TO THIS LADY COMING UP OVER HERE.

HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I SAW YOU EARLIER, GIVING A TOUR.

>> YES, I DID.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS?

>> LORI UNDERWOOD.

Huell: SO YOU'RE ONE OF THE TOUR OPERATORS, ALONG WITH BYRON?

>> YES.

Huell: AND I GUESS WE SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE TOURS, BECAUSE THE TOURS ARE GIVEN HOW OFTEN?

>> THEY'RE GIVEN TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AND THEY'RE AT 10:00 AND 1:30.

Huell: AND THE TOURS ARE RATHER EXTENSIVE, 'CAUSE I HEARD YOU GIVING OUT THE HISTORY TODAY.

>> OH, YES, IT'S EXHAUSTING.

IT'S A 2-HOUR LECTURE TOUR.

Huell: AND WHAT ARE PEOPLE MOST SURPRISED BY?

WHAT DO THEY TALK ABOUT THE MOST?

>> BASICALLY, THE SHOWROOM FLOOR, BECAUSE IT'S SO SPECTACULAR, THAT THEY'RE JUST IN AWE WHEN THEY WALK INTO THAT ROOM.

Huell: THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK IN.

>> AND THEN THE ORGAN.

Huell: YEAH, OK, THE ORGAN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO END THE PROGRAM WITH.

>> IT IS, INDEED.

Huell: BUT BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE, WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THIS TOUR IS.

>> WELL, IT LOOKS EXPENSIVE.

THIS TOUR IS ABSOLUTELY FREE.

ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Huell: IT'S FREE.

>> ONLY A RESERVATION IS REQUIRED.

Huell: THAT IS AMAZING.

WE'RE GONNA PUT THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN, AND YOU ALL ARE GONNA BE INUNDATED BY TOURISTS, HAPPY KCET VIEWERS WHO WANT TO COME EXPERIENCE THIS, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU ARE ALL IN FOR A TREAT.

AND THIS IS STILL A FUNCTIONING BUILDING.

MR. NETHERCUTT IS STILL ALIVE, AND-- >> ABSOLUTELY.

AT AGE 85, VERY ACTIVE, HE GOES THROUGH WITH THE AUTOMOBILE RESTORATIONS AND THE COLORS FOR THE AUTOMOBILES.

HE GOES TO THE AUTOMOBILE SHOWS, TO THE BIG HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA, AUTOMOBILE FLEA MARKET EACH YEAR, LOOKING FOR CAR PARTS.

Huell: AND ANOTHER WHOLE PART OF THE TOUR, WHICH IS NOT REALLY ON THE TOUR, BUT IS GOING ON HERE IS THAT YOU HAVE A FULL GARAGE HERE, WITH THE CRAFTSMEN WHO ARE RESTORING AUTOMOBILES AS WE SPEAK, RIGHT HERE ON THE PREMISES, TO ADD TO THE COLLECTION.

>> ALL RESTORATION WORK DONE ON PREMISES BY SOME WONDERFUL CRAFTSPEOPLE, AND THESE AUTOMOBILES THAT HAVE BEEN RESTORED IN-HOUSE, NOT ONLY TO BE BEAUTIFUL SHOW-PIECES, BUT EVERY ONE OF THEM IN PERFECT DRIVING CONDITION.

Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

Huell: YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK FOR--WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> LORI.

Huell: ASK FOR LORI, AND ASK FOR BYRON.

BYRON, THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE, HUELL, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOUR VIEWERS.

Huell: YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THEM.

NOW, LET'S END UP WITH THE ORGAN.

WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS ORGAN?

>> WELL, THIS IS A THEATER PIPE ORGAN, AS OPPOSED TO A CHURCH ORGAN.

AND THIS ORGAN CONSOLE WAS IN THE DENVER AUDITORIUM IN DENVER, COLORADO.

BUT MOST BIG ORGANS, CALLED THEATER ORGANS, WERE IN MOVIE THEATERS AND PROVIDED SOUND FOR THE SILENT MOVIES.

AND MOST OF THE ORGAN PIPES BACK HERE ARE FROM SILENT MOVIE THEATER ORGANS THAT WERE PARTSed OUT.

THIS ONE HAD BEEN BUILT UP TO 2,800 PIPES, A HUGE INSTRUMENT.

AND THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1994 DESTROYED IT.

SO WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS REBUILD IT, BUT EVEN LARGER.

NOW IT HAS 5,000 PIPES, MAKING IT ONE OF THE VERY LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

Huell: WHERE ARE THE PIPES?

>> THEY'RE ALL BEHIND THE WALL, AROUND BEHIND THE OTHER WALLS, WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.

BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THEM, BECAUSE AS THE ORGAN PLAYS, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE DRAPES TO ALLOW THE ORGAN CHAMBERS, WHERE THE PIPES ARE, LIGHTED UP, TO BE ACTUALLY SEEN.

Huell: THIS IS GONNA BE A SOUND.

>> IT REALLY WILL, AND YET YOU NOTICE, THERE'S NOBODY AT THE CONSOLE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST PIPE ORGAN TO BE COMPUTERIZED SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A LIVE ARTIST COME IN AND PLAY, CAPTURE THAT LIVE PERFORMANCE IN MEMORY--TODAY WE HAVE OVER 2,000 HOURS, AND ALL WE NEED TO DO IS PRESS A BUTTON, AND THE ORGAN PLAYS LIVE.

Huell: WOW, WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

Huell: WE'RE PREPARED TO HEAR ANYTHING.

WE'VE BEEN SURPRISED ALL DAY.

>> WELL, HERE NOW IS THE SOUND OF THE KING OF INSTRUMENTS.

HERE IS THE SOUND OF THE MIGHTY WURLITZER.

[ORGAN PLAYING] Huell: WELL, TIME HAS PASSED, Huell: WELL, TIME HAS PASSED, AND SINCE THAT FIRST VISIT WE MADE YEARS AGO TO THE NETHERCUTT MUSEUM, TO THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION, A LOT HAS HAPPENED OUT HERE.

MR. J.B. NETHERCUTT AND HIS WIFE HAVE BOTH PASSED AWAY, BUT THEIR SON JACK NETHERCUTT IS STILL RUNNING THE BUSINESS, SO IT'S STILL A FAMILY BUSINESS.

>> YES, IT IS, AND DOING A VERY NICE JOB, TOO.

Huell: AND THAT MEANS MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS, WHICH IS PART OF THE WAY THIS WHOLE COLLECTION IS FINANCED-- >> YES.

Huell: AND THE OLD NETHERCUTT COLLECTION ITSELF.

>> YES, IT'S ALL CONTINUING, AND WE'RE EVEN DOING--WE'RE EVEN BUYING CARS OCCASIONALLY AND GETTING INTO SOME NEW AUTO SHOWS AND THINKS LIKE THAT.

Huell: SO IT'S EXPANDING.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: NOW, SOMETHING ELSE HAS CHANGED.

MY TOUR GUIDE, WHO DID SUCH A GREAT JOB OVER THERE, BYRON MANSON-- >> YES.

Huell: HE WAS A TOUR GUIDE HERE FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> 30 YEARS.

Huell: SO HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

>> YES, HE DID.

Huell: AND HE HAD HIS OWN SENSE OF STYLE, AND YOU COULD TELL THAT HE REALLY LOVED THIS PLACE.

>> HE DID, AND HE'S MOVED TO SEDALIA, MISSOURI, AND HE'S BOUGHT A 100-YEAR-OLD VICTORIAN BRICK HOUSE, AND HE'S ENJOYING HIMSELF THERE.

Huell: SO HE'S RETIRED?

HE'S NO LONGER TAKING TOURS.

>> NO, HE'S GONE.

Huell: BUT TOURS ARE STILL AVAILABLE?

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S INTERESTING, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HIM BEING HERE FOR 30 YEARS.

MOST OF YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, AND THEY TREAT US SO WONDERFULLY HERE.

IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO WORK HERE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO HERE'S THE ORIGINAL BUILDING, THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING HERE, WHICH WAS BUILT IN-- >> 1971.

Huell: OK, THAT'S THE BUILDING WE HAVE JUST SEEN.

>> RIGHT.

Huell: THEN, A FEW YEARS LATER, I CAME BACK--LET'S STAND RIGHT OVER HERE--AND TOOK A TOUR OF THIS BUILDING.

THIS IS THE NEW ADDITION TO THE COLLECTION.

>> RIGHT.

THIS BUILDING OPENED JUNE OF 2000, AND WE HAVE ALSO SINCE ADDED TO THIS BUILDING ALSO.

WE COMPLETED OUR LIBRARY, OUR AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH LIBRARY, AND DONE SOME VERY NICE THINGS HERE.

Huell: SO EVERYTHING'S ALWAYS GROWING AND CHANGING AROUND HERE.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

WE ADDED ABOUT A DOZEN CARS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS OF J.B. NETHERCUTT'S DEATH.

HE WANTED TO SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAD MORE CARS THAN--V16 CADILLACS.

WE ADDED AFFORDABLE FAMILY CARS, LIKE FORDS AND DODGES AND DORTS.

AND IT'S FLESHED OUT THE COLLECTION, GIVEN THE COLLECTION A LITTLE MORE MEANING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Huell: WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE BYRON, AND YOU, IN THAT SECOND PROGRAM WE DID, MET ME RIGHT HERE, AND GAVE ME A TOUR OF THIS BUILDING, AND WHAT'S INSIDE OF IT.

AND THEN THE SURPRISE ON WHAT'S OUTSIDE IN THE BACK.

AND ALL OF THAT IS STILL HERE.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS JUST PICK EVERYTHING UP WITH THE MOMENT, YEARS AGO, WHEN WE WALKED--I WALKED RIGHT THROUGH THAT DOOR, AND STARTED THE TOUR OF THE NEW PART OF THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE INSIDE THE MUSEUM, AND BYRON, THE FIRST THING THAT HITS YOU WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR IS THIS BIG OLD RED FIRE ENGINE OVER HERE.

THE NETHERCUTTS LIKED FIRE ENGINES.

>> WELL, THEY CERTAINLY LIKED THIS ONE.

IT'S SO UNUSUAL THAT IT EVEN SURVIVED, BECAUSE THEY USUALLY RUSTED OUT AND WENT TO PIECES.

THIS IS FROM SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, IT'S A 1913 CHRISTIE FRONT DRIVE STEAM PUMPER.

Huell: WOW, LOOK AT THE BEAUTY AND THE INTRICACY OF ALL OF THIS WORK DOWN IN HERE.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL MACHINE.

>> IT WASN'T EVEN COMPLETE WHEN IT CAME HERE.

IT WAS REALLY JUST A RUSTY WRECK.

IT HAD BEEN SITTING OUT OF DOORS FOR YEARS.

AND ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT STEAMABLE, IT HAS BEEN RESTORED AESTHETICALLY TO LOOK LIKE IT DID.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS A PICTURE OF IT--IS THIS THE ACTUAL FIRE ENGINE RIGHT HERE?

>> THAT IS IT, WHEN IT WAS NEW, IN SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, IN 1913.

WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE PICTURE OF IT WHEN IT WAS NEW.

Huell: LOOKS BETTER NOW, ACTUALLY.

IT'S SHINIER.

>> I BET IT IS.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK OVER HERE.

NOW, THIS IS A FANCY CAR.

>> IT IS, INDEED.

IT'S A ROLLS ROYCE TOWNCAR.

AND THIS PARTICULAR BODY SHELL WAS DONE BY BREWSTER IN LONG ISLAND CITY FOR A FAMOUS MOVIE STAR, CONSTANCE BENNETT.

Huell: WOW.

A 1930 ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM II TOWN CAR.

AND LOOK AT THIS, IT'S GOT LIKE A WICKER DESIGN ON THE SIDE.

>> YES, THE CANING, AND THAT'S PUT ON, EVERY LINE, BY HAND, JUST LIKE A CAKE DECORATOR WOULD DO.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BY HAND?

>> THAT'S A THIN LINE OF PAINT, RIGHT OVER THE BLACK LACQUER.

Huell: AND THIS IS ORIGINAL?

>> THIS IS ORIGINAL TO THE CAR.

IT HAS BEEN TOTALLY RESTORED.

Huell: BOY, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAR.

WHAT'S THE RIBBON FOR?

1992?

>> IN 1992, THIS AUTOMOBILE WON BEST IN SHOW AT THE FABLED PEBBLE BEACH CONCORS D'ELEGANCE, UP IN CARMEL.

THAT'S ITS YELLOW EMERITUS RIBBON.

Huell: BOY.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BEST RIGHT HERE.

>> ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BEST.

Huell: WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, THIS MAY BE A ROLLS ROYCE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING REALLY SHODDY IN HERE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BIG A LINEUP OF SHINY, BEAUTIFUL CARS IN MY LIFE.

HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE IN THIS ONE BIG ROOM HERE?

>> IN THIS ROOM, THERE ARE 100 AUTOMOBILES.

AND THOSE THAT ARE RESTORED ARE ALL IN RUNNING CONDITION.

Huell: THIS IS JUST AN AMAZING ROOM HERE, AND I'M SURE, FOR CAR BUFFS, HISTORY BUFFS, PEOPLE WHO JUST LIKE TO ROAM AND LOOK AT THINGS--DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE, ER, TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE JUST COMING IN HERE AND LOITERING, AND SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME JUST KIND OF HANGING OUT, JUST LOOKING AT ALL THESE CARS?

>> NO, ACTUALLY, WE DON'T, BECAUSE IT'S FREE, THERE'S NO RESERVATION.

YOU CAN PARK FREE IN OUR LOT, WALK IN FREE, AND STAY ALL DAY IF THEY'D LIKE.

Huell: SO PEOPLE JUST CAN COME OVER HERE AND WANDER AROUND?

IT'S NOT LIKE OVER ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THEY HAVE TO HAVE RESERVATIONS.

>> NO, THAT'S BY RESERVATION ON A GUIDED TOUR.

THIS IS SELF-GUIDED.

Huell: WOW.

WELL, AS BEAUTIFUL AS THESE CARS ARE, AND YOU'VE GOT SOME BEAUTIES OVER HERE--BOY, LOOK AT THIS BLUE ONE DOWN HERE.

IS THAT THE NATURAL COLOR OF THIS CAR?

>> IT IS.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT WAS SO SPECIAL, HUELL.

THIS ACTUAL AUTOMOBILE WAS SEEN IN 1932 BY J.B. AND DOROTHY NETHERCUTT, YEAR BEFORE THEY WERE MARRIED, ON SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD.

AND YEARS LATER, HE BOUGHT A BEAT-UP OLD MAROON CAR, THIS ONE, AND WHEN THEY TOOK THAT PAINT DOWN TO THE BARE METAL, THEY FOUND THE BLUE.

THEY ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE CAR THEY HAD LOOKED AT AND DREAMED ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.

Huell: THAT'S LIKE A ROBIN EGG BLUE.

>> IT IS A BRILLIANT ROBIN-EGG BLUE.

Huell: IS THAT THE ACTUAL COLOR?

ROBIN EGG?

>> YES, AND THIS WAS THE COLOR ON THE CAR WHEN THEY SAW IT, WHEN IT WAS NEW.

THIS IS THAT CAR, NOT ONE LIKE IT.

Huell: NOW, AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS CAR AND ALL THESE OTHER CARS ARE, YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT HERE TO LOOK AT CARS.

>> YES, I KNOW.

YOU'RE HERE TO SEE WHAT'S OUT BACK, BEYOND THIS BUILDING.

Huell: YES, WE WANT TO LEAVE THIS BUILDING, AND VISIT SOMETHING YOU HAVE OUT BACK.

>> AND I THINK YOU WILL BE SURPRISED.

Huell: OK, HERE WE GO.

AND THERE IT IS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SEE.

IT'S NOT JUST A CAR, IT'S A RAILCAR.

>> IT'S A RAILCAR, IT'S A PRIVATE PULLMAN.

1912.

Huell: AND IT'S PARKED RIGHT OUT HERE, BEHIND THE MUSEUM.

>> IT IS INDEED, PERMANENTLY SO.

Huell: IT'S JUST A MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT IT IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT WHEN WE GO INSIDE, AND WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS RAILCAR, ESPECIALLY ITS CONNECTION WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

AND LET'S TEASE EVERYBODY JUST A LITTLE BIT--THIS IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY, RUN-OF-THE-MILL RAIL CAR, IS IT?

>> THAT IT IS NOT.

THIS IS A PRIVATE PULLMAN PALACE CAR.

Huell: A PALACE CAR.

>> AND YOU'LL SEE WHY, WHEN YOU SEE INSIDE.

IT'S A PALACE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO INSIDE THE PALACE.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A A PALACE.

>> IT IS THAT.

Huell: AND HERE TO GREET US, STANDING RIGHT IN THE DOOR OF THE PULLMAN PALACE CAR--INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> I'M SKIP MARKETTY, CURATOR/ARCHIVIST OF THE NETHERCUTT MUSEUM.

Huell: ARE YOU ALSO THE KEEPER OF THE CAR?

>> YES, SIR.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ASSIGNED THE TASK OF FINDING MR. NETHERCUTT A SUITABLE RAILCAR, AND FOUND IT, AND WENT TO INSPECT IT IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND PHONED HIM AND TOLD HIM ABOUT IT, AND THEN WE DECIDED TO PURCHASE IT, AND THEN I HAD THE TASK OF BRINGING IT OUT FROM PENNSYLVANIA-- Huell: AND RESTORING IT.

>> AND RESTORING IT, YEAH.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL THE FACTORY PHOTOGRAPHS THAT EXIST OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR THAT ARE AT THE ILLINOIS STATE RAILWAY MUSEUM.

AND THEY'RE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PHOTOGRAPHS.

Huell: FROM WHAT YEAR?

>> 1912.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET INSIDE.

COME ON IN, CAMERON, AND I WANT TO GET A SHOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE.

'CAUSE THIS IS TRULY A PALACE CAR, AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS THE DINING ROOM RIGHT HERE.

TELL US EXACTLY WHOSE CAR THIS WAS AND WHAT THEY USED IT FOR.

>> THIS WAS CLARA BALDWIN STOCKER'S CAR.

SHE WAS THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF LUCKY BALDWIN OF ARCADIA AND SANTA ANITA.

THIS WAS HER TRAVELING RESIDENCE.

Huell: NOW, LUCKY BALDWIN WAS A VERY WEALTHY MAN-ABOUT-TOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BACK IN THE LATE 1800s, EARLY 1900s.

>> INDEED HE WAS.

Huell: VERY WEALTHY.

>> VERY WEALTHY.

HE HAD MINING INTERESTS, AND OF COURSE RANCHING, AND HIS RACETRACK AT SANTA ANITA.

AND UPON HIS DEATH IN 1909, HE WILLED HIS 2 DAUGHTERS, CLARA AND ANITA--I THINK BY 1912, THEY INHERITED EACH $10 MILLION.

Huell: OH, MY.

WHICH WAS A LOT OF MONEY BACK THEN.

>> YEAH, YEAH, BIG BUCKS AT THAT TIME.

Huell: AND THEY GOT THE RAIL CAR.

>> YEAH, SHE--NO, SHE--ONE OF HER FIRST PURCHASES WAS THIS RAILCAR.

SHE COMMISSIONED THE CAR TO BE BUILT BY PULLMAN IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Huell: SHE HAD EXPENSIVE TASTE, DIDN'T SHE?

>> INDEED SHE DID.

Huell: LOOK UP HERE.

NOW, WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS BE ORIGINAL?

THIS LIGHT FIXTURE?

>> THAT'S WHY WE ENDED UP BUYING THIS CAR, RATHER THAN OTHERS THAT WE LOOKED AT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE THIS ONE WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY ORIGINAL INSIDE.

IT HAD NOT BEEN BADLY ALTERED.

THE LEADED GLASS WAS HERE.

THE CHANDELIERS WERE HERE.

AND EVEN ALL THE ORIGINAL PULLMAN FURNITURE.

Huell: LOOK DOWN, NOW, LOOKING DOWN THE WAY HERE.

THIS WAS A BIG CAR.

CAMERON, HEAD ON DOWN THERE, AND MAKE, I GUESS--WHAT--THE FIRST RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THE FIRST RIGHT IS CLARA'S PERSONAL BEDROOM.

SHE TRAVELED WITH HER FAMILY ON THIS CAR.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WE'VE REPRODUCED THE BRASS BEDS.

THE BEDS WERE MISSING.

AND THIS ROOM HAD BEEN ALTERED INTO 2 ROOMS, AN OFFICE AND A BEDROOM.

AND WHEN WE TOOK THE PARTITION OUT, WE FOUND ANOTHER, SOME MORE LEADED GLASS UNDERNEATH THE PARTITION.

Huell: SO HERE'S LEADED GLASS, ALL THIS--WELL, THIS IS ORIGINAL LEADED GLASS.

ALL OF THIS IS ORIGINAL LEADED GLASS.

>> YES, IT IS.

WE TOOK IT OUT, HAD IT RESTORED, RESTORED IT, AND PUT IT BACK IN.

AND UP IN THE CLERESTORY PORTION, WE BACK-LIT THE LEADED GLASS.

THIS WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

YOU WOULD OPEN UP THE MIDDLE WINDOW-- Huell: UP HERE.

>> UP HERE, AND YOU'D OPEN UP THE MIDDLE WINDOW, AND TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, IT SET A SUCTION, AND THE HOT AIR WOULD BE TAKEN OUT WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING--WERE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD.

Huell: BYRON, DO YOU GIVE TOURS OF THE CAR?

>> THERE ARE TOURS GIVEN OF THE CAR, I DON'T GIVE THEM PERSONALLY.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOMEONE, AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO, THEY CAN HAVE A TOUR OF THE CAR, A NARRATED TOUR TAKEN THROUGH BY ONE OF OUR TOUR GUIDES.

Huell: 'CAUSE THIS IS FASCINATING.

>> WE DO THE TOURS TWICE A DAY.

AFTER BYRON'S TOUR AT SAN SYLMAR, THEN WE SCHEDULE A TOUR FOR THE VISITORS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE TO COME OVER HERE, AND SEE NOT ONLY THE MUSEUM, BUT THE RAIL CAR.

Huell: SO AFTER YOUR TOUR ACROSS THE STREET IN THE BIG BUILDING, PEOPLE CAN COME OVER AND SEE THIS.

>> YES.

Huell: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS, WE STILL GOT TO SEE WHAT'S--'CAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT MORE TO SEE.

>> YEAH, THE RESTORATION WAS DONE SO PERFECTLY, THAT WE EVEN REPRODUCED THE FLOORING IN--ON BOTH THE OBSERVATION DESK AND CLARA'S BATHROOM, WHICH IS QUITE UNIQUE.

I'D LIKE YOU TO HAVE A LOOK.

Huell: OH, I WANT TO SEE CLARA'S BATHROOM.

CLARA'S BATHROOM.

AND WE ARE NOW IN CLARA'S BATHROOM, AND IT'S SO SMALL IN HERE, THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE CAMERA AND US IN THIS BATHROOM, WE'RE STANDING IN CLARA'S TUB.

>> YES, WE ARE.

IT'S A SMALL LITTLE TUB.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE EVER GOT IN HERE.

Huell: BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS PRETTY BIG FOR A BATHROOM ON BOARD A TRAIN.

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S A LUXURY TRAIN.

ONE THING THAT WE'RE SO PROUD OF IS, IN THE RESTORATION OF THIS, IS THE FLOORING.

WE DID THE FLOOR IN THE ORIGINAL ASPHALT TILE.

AND OF COURSE IT DOESN'T COME IN THAT SIZE ANYMORE, SO OUR CRAFTSMEN CUT IT ON A--WITH A CIRCULAR SAW, AND PIECED IT ALL-- Huell: SO WE KNOW THAT WAS THE WAY THE ORIGINAL FLOOR LOOKED?

WAS THIS THE ORIGINAL TOILET HERE?

>> YES, IT WAS.

ALL THE FIXTURES ARE ORIGINAL, EVEN THE CIGAR HOLDER.

Huell: THIS WAS A CIGAR HOLDER, FOR CLARA.

>> WELL, CLARA OR ONE OF HER FRIENDS.

Huell: [LAUGHS] AND WHAT WAS THIS?

>> THIS WAS A MATCH-HOLDER.

THAT WOULD HOLD A BOX OF MATCHES, AND THEN YOU WOULD STRIKE YOUR MATCH-- Huell: ON THE FRONT.

>> YEAH.

MM-HMM.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL LITTLE ROOM HERE.

AND I'M SURE THIS IS A FAVORITE WITH THE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY COME ON A TOUR.

>> IT REALLY IS.

Huell: CAN WE STEP OUT OF THE TUB AND MOVE ON?

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: [LAUGHS] OK.

BOY, THIS JUST GETS BETTER.

NOW WHAT WAS THIS LITTLE ROOM?

THE PULLMAN COMPANY.

THESE WONDERFUL OLD BLANKETS AND SHEETS AND PILLOWCASES.

THIS WAS THE--WHAT WAS THIS, LIKE, A GUESTROOM?

THIS LOOKS LIKE A DOUBLE-DECKER BED THAT WOULD PULL DOWN OUT OF THE SIDE HERE.

>> RIGHT, IT PULLS DOWN.

AND THERE'S ROOM FOR A PERSON THERE, AND ANOTHER PERSON HERE, AND WITH THE BRASS BED.

THIS WAS A COMPLETELY SELF-CONTAINED ROOM.

Huell: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TABLES THAT WOULD JUST--EVERYTHING WAS KIND OF FOLD-UP, PUT-AWAY, FOLD-DOWN.

>> EXACTLY.

THE TOILET'S UNDERNEATH THE UPHOLSTERED SEAT.

Huell: OH, SO THERE'S A TOILET HERE.

>> YES.

AND A SINK.

THE SINK FOLDS OUT.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH!

>> THE SINK FOLDS OUT OF THE WALL-- Huell: LOOK AT THAT SINK.

>> AND THE WAY IT WORKED, IS, YOU'D TURN THE FAUCETS ON, WASH YOUR HANDS OR WHATEVER, AND THEN CLOSE IT, AND IT DUMPS.

IT DUMPS DOWN ONTO THE TRACKS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'VE COME NEXT DOOR.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A MIRROR IMAGE OF THE ROOM WE WERE JUST IN.

THIS IS GUEST ROOM NUMBER 2, ONLY YOU'VE GOT THE TOP BUNK PULLED DOWN IN THIS ROOM.

>> YEAH, WE'RE SHOWING THE TOP BUNK DOWN, WITH THE ORIGINAL STYLE TICKING ON THE MATTRESSES, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO FIND.

AND ABOVE THE BED IS A HAMMOCK, AND THE HAMMOCK WAS ORIGINAL TO THIS CAR.

IT WAS USED TO STORE INCIDENTALS, LIKE YOU COULD HAVE A BOOK OR A MAGAZINE IN THERE, OR WHATEVER YOU'D NEED.

AND IT WAS SO--WHEN THE TRAIN WAS SWAYING AND MOVING, THINGS WOULDN'T FALL OFF.

Huell: SO YOU DIDN'T SLEEP IN THE HAMMOCK, YOU JUST PUT STUFF IN IT.

AND WHAT'S THIS BUTTON--LET'S WALK IN HERE REAL QUICKLY, 'CAUSE I'M SPOTTING THIS BUTTON UP OVER THE TOP OF THE BUNK HERE.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> THE BUTTONS WERE TO CALL THE SERVANTS.

Huell: OH, EXCUSE ME.

>> IF YOU WANTED A COCKTAIL IN THE EVENING, PERHAPS.

Huell: SO, YOU JUST PUSHED THAT BUTTON-- >> WITHIN ARM'S REACH OF ANYWHERE IN THIS CAR, YOU COULD SUMMON A SERVANT TO GET YOU SOMETHING.

Huell: WHAT WAS THIS, OUT IN THE HALLWAY?

>> THIS WAS THE HEATING UNIT.

WHEN YOU WERE IN THE WINTER WEATHER, YOU HAD TO HEAT THIS CAR.

AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE INSULATION, BUT WE HAVE BETTER INSULATION TODAY THAN THEY DID, AND SO THEY HAD THE STEAM LINES COMING THROUGH, WITH HOT WATER RUNNING EVERYWHERE THROUGH, TO HEAT THE CAR.

Huell: THAT WAS HEATED, WHAT, BY THE BOILER IN THE ENGINE ITSELF?

>> NO, BY THE BOILER THAT THIS CAR HAS.

IT HAS IT'S OWN HOT WATER BOILER.

AND IT WAS FIRED.

AND SO THIS CAR WAS SELF-CONTAINED.

Huell: NOW, YOU WANTED TO TELL ME ABOUT THE WOOD, BECAUSE THE WOOD KIND OF CHANGES AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THE CAR.

>> WELL, IT DOES.

IN THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE AND THE DINING ROOM, THERE'S A WONDERFUL CUBAN MAHOGANY THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.

AND THEN WE PROCEEDED INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL CORRIDOR, WHICH WAS MEXICAN MAHOGANY.

AND ONCE THAT ALL CHANGES-- Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT IS THIS DOOR?

THIS SEPARATES-- >> THIS SEPARATES THE SERVANTS FROM THE OWNERS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE-- >> LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

Huell: WE'RE GOING BACK INTO THE SERVANTS QUARTERS.

HOW MANY SERVANTS WERE THERE ON THIS TRAIN?

>> THERE COULD BE 2 OR 3, A CHEF, AND 2 STEWARDS, GENERALLY.

Huell: AND THE WOOD BACK HERE-- >> IS MUNDANE OAK.

TODAY, BEAUTIFUL OAK.

THEN, MUNDANE OAK.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ROOM.

LET'S GO IN THROUGH THIS BACK WAY HERE.

THIS IS, OBVIOUSLY, THE-- >> THE KITCHEN.

Huell: THE KITCHEN!

>> BECAUSE FOOD HAD TO BE PREPARED AND SERVED FROM A KITCHEN AND A WOOD-FIRED OR COAL-FIRED RANGE.

Huell: NOW, WOULD THEY HAVE GOOD FOOD ON THIS CAR?

BECAUSE THESE WERE RICH PEOPLE, USED TO EATING FINE FOOD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY HAD GREAT FOOD.

ON THE FRONT OBSER--FRONT DECK, IS A BIG ICEBOX THAT WOULD HOLD BEEF AND CHICKENS AND WHATEVER.

AND ALL THE FOOD PREP WAS DONE IN HERE.

THAT'S WHY THE FLOOR IN THIS ROOM IS A LATTICE WORK, SO THAT IF FOOD WOULD HAVE DROPPED DURING PREPARATION, THEY WOULDN'T SLIP AND FALL.

Huell: OH, I THOUGHT THIS JUST MEANT THE FLOOR WASN'T FINISHED YET.

>> NO, NO, NO.

THAT'S REMOVABLE LATTICE OVER A COPPER FLOOR.

SO THEY COULD REALLY HOSE THIS AREA OUT.

Huell: THEY THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING.

>> THEY DID.

THESE CARS WERE SO WELL-THOUGHT-OUT, AND THAT WHY THEY COST A KING'S RANSOM.

TODAY, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT A PRIVATE CAR, BUT THIS WOULD BE LIKE ORDERING A PRIVATE JET PLANE TODAY.

Huell: DID PEOPLE BACK THEN COMPARE AND SHOW OFF, "MY RAIL CAR IS BETTER THAN YOUR RAIL CAR"?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF THE BIG HOTELS HAD SIDINGS.

AND WHEN THESE PEOPLE WENT FOR THE SEASON, TO WINTER IN FLORIDA, OR TO HOMESTEAD OR WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, THERE WERE SIDINGS AND THESE PEOPLE HAD THEIR CARS ALL PARKED ON THEIR SIDINGS.

AND YES, THEY DID COMPARE.

Huell: NOW, LOOK AT OVER HERE.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SERVANTS QUARTERS IN HERE.

>> THIS IS THE SERVANTS QUARTERS, AND IT SLEEPS 2 OR 3.

ONE WOULD STAY UP, APPARENTLY, AT NIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SLEEPING COMPARTMENTS FOR 2.

ONE FOLD-DOWN BERTH, AND THEN THE 2 CHAIRS FOLD AND MAKE INTO A SLEEPING COMPARTMENT.

Huell: BOY, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL ROOM THERE, AND THIS IS--WOULD IT HAVE BEEN THIS SHINY?

>> YEAH, THAT'S NICKEL-PLATED STEEL, AND THAT WOULD BE JUST LIKE THAT.

Huell: WOW.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> WELL, WE'LL BE DOING SOME MORE OUTFITTING OF THIS GALLEY, OF THIS KITCHEN, WITH SOME OF THE POTS AND PANS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE USED.

BUT THIS IS A BRAND-NEW PROJECT, JUST RECENTLY OPENED.

SO WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO ON THIS CAR.

Huell: WE'VE COME BACK TO THE DINING CAR, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CLARA BALDWIN.

I KNOW THAT HER FATHER, LUCKY, WAS QUITE A CHARACTER, BUT SHE MUST HAVE ESTABLISHED QUITE A REPUTATION HERSELF.

>> I THINK SHE REALLY DID.

SHE HAD TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO COME INTO HER INHERITANCE.

SHE WAS 65 WHEN SHE ORDERED THIS CAR.

AND SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

AND SO SHE ORDERED A YACHT AND A RAILROAD CAR.

WENT TO EUROPE AND SPENT $200,000 ON DIAMONDS AND A NEW WARDROBE-- Huell: WOW.

>> AND THEN BUILD HERSELF AN ESTATE OUT IN ARCADIA.

Huell: SO HER FATHER HAD BEEN KIND OF TIGHT WITH HIS MONEY.

HE DIES, AND THE DAUGHTERS GO WILD.

>> YEAH, SHE TOOK AFTER HIM SOMEWHAT.

SHE WAS MARRIED SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAD QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT AFFAIRS WITH OTHER MEN.

IT WAS QUITE AN INTERESTING WOMAN.

Huell: WELL, THIS RAIL CAR WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE AN AFFAIR.

[ALL LAUGH] >> WELL, WE COULD SPECULATE ALL AFTERNOON ABOUT THAT, HUELL.

Huell: BACK HERE, LET'S CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT, AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE RIGHT HERE.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN--THEY WOULD HAVE HAD BIG FANCY DINNER PARTIES HERE.

>> OH, YES, THEY HAD A GOOD CHEF, AND THEY HAD GOOD CHINA, AND THEY USED IT WELL.

Huell: SO THIS WOULD HAVE REALLY BEEN AN ELEGANT, SIT-DOWN DINNER DINING CAR.

>> OH, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

AND SHE WOULD HAVE HAD THE FINEST WINES.

THEY HAD A WINE LOCKER SOMEWHERE UNDER THE FLOOR Huell: OF THIS CAR?

>> YES.

THERE WAS A WINE LOCKER UNDER THE FLOOR, AND I'M SURE SHE HAD THE ONLY KEY FOR IT.

AND, SO, THEY KEPT THINGS LOCKED UP.

AND I GUESS ONLY WHEN THE WINE WAS ORDERED, WAS THE SERVANT ALLOWED TO OPEN THAT AND BRING OUT THE BOTTLE.

Huell: WOW.

ANY OTHER GOOD CLARA BALDWIN STORIES?

>> WELL, THE FACT THAT SHE HAD--SHE ALWAYS DRESSED IN VERY COLORFUL CLOTHING.

AND ONE AUTOMOBILE SHE HAD WAS A 1912 LOCOMOBILE, AND IT WAS PAINTED PURPLE.

Huell: WE'RE STEPPING OFF CLARA'S PRIVATE CAR.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE JUST ARRIVED FROM AN EXCURSION.

WE'RE BACK HERE IN SYLMAR.

LOOKING AT THE SIDE OF THE CAR HERE IS THE WORD CALIFORNIA.

NOW, HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN CALLED THE CALIFORNIA?

>> YES, CLARA NAMED IT THE CALIFORNIA WHEN SHE HAD IT BUILT.

Huell: IN 19--?

>> 1912.

Huell: DID PEOPLE NAME THE CARS?

>> YES, THEY DID.

THEY NAMED THEM EITHER FOR THEMSELVES--SHE NAMED IT FOR HER HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA--AND THE CAR CARRIED SANTA FE NUMBER 100, IT'S PRINCIPLE ROAD.

THAT'S THAT 100 NUMBER.

Huell: NOW, DID PEO--OH, THAT'S THE 100 RIGHT THERE.

SO, DID SHE SPEND MOST OF HER TIME TRAVELING AROUND CALIFORNIA IN THIS PRIVATE CAR?

>> PROBABLY A GOOD DEAL OF CALIFORNIA, BUT SHE LOVED TRAVELING, AND I'M SURE THIS CAR WENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND PROBABLY TO FLORIDA, AND NEW ENGLAND.

JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

Huell: NOW, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?

DID IT--SHE KEPT IT UNTIL SHE DIED?

>> SHE KEPT IT UNTIL HER DEATH, AND THEN UPON HER DEATH, IT WAS SOLD TO THE BOSTON AND MAINE RAILROAD, AND IT WAS USED AS A SUPERINTENDENT'S TRAVELING OFFICE FOR 25 YEARS THEREAFTER.

Huell: UP UNTIL?

>> 1955.

Huell: THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

>> IT WENT TO A MUSEUM, EDAVILLE RAILROAD, NEAR HYANNISPORT, MASS.

Huell: AND SO, PEOPLE KIND OF USED IT AS-- >> THEY PAID A DOLLAR TO WALK ABOARD AND SEE WHAT HAD ONCE BEEN A LOVELY PRIVATE CAR.

Huell: BUT THERE WAS NO CALIFORNIA CONNECTION.

THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS, WHILE LOOKING AT IT, WOULDN'T GET THE CONNECTION.

>> THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T, AND AS THE CAR DETERIORATED, ANOTHER EXCURSION RAILROAD THOUGHT, "WOULDN'T IT MAKE A NICE DINING CAR IF WE SIMPLY GUTTED THAT WHOLE INTERIOR," THAT YOU JUST SAW?

Huell: SO THEY WERE GOING TO GUT IT?

>> WITHIN A MONTH OF IT BEING SOLD, TO HAPPEN TO IT IN THAT AWFUL WAY, IT WAS RESCUED, AND BROUGHT HOME TO CALIFORNIA.

Huell: WELL, THANK GOODNESS.

YOU RESCUED IT?

>> YES, SIR, THANK YOU.

Huell: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU BROUGHT CLARA'S CAR BACK.

>> ACTUALLY, MR. NETHERCUTT DID.

I WAS THE INSTRUMENT IN DOING SO.

Huell: THANK YOU, MR. NETHERCUTT, BECAUSE HE WROTE THE CHECK, DIDN'T HE?

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

LOOK, WE'VE GOT THE--THESE CARS, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF THEM.

THE RICHEST FAMILIES IN THE NATION, IN THE WORLD, HAD THESE CARS CHUGGING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 1900s.

>> THEY DID HAVE, AND RIGHT UP UNTIL THE 1930s DEPRESSION.

AND WITH THAT, A LOT OF FORTUNES WERE LOST, AND THE CACHET OF HAVING A PRIVATE CAR, JUST LIKE THE PRIVATE YACHTS, JUST SUDDENLY--YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE.

AND SO MOST OF THE CARS WERE JUNKED.

THIS CAR WAS JUST FORTUNATE THAT IT REMAINED.

Huell: WELL, IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PART OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY.

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: TO THINK THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS CROSS-COUNTRY, YOU'VE RESTORED IT BACK TO ITS GRANDEUR, AND NOW PEOPLE CAN SEE IT NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM WHERE IT ORIGINALLY STARTED OFF WITH HER, CLARA, BACK IN 1914.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS JUST WONDERFUL.

DO WE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING HERE?

I'M ALMOST SPEECHLESS.

>> DID YOU WANT TO HEAR THAT PIANINA?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE OF THAT MUSIC FROM THE PIANINO?

Huell: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT INSIDE.

SHE HAD THAT PUT ABOARD.

THERE WAS NO RADIO, NO PHONOGRAPH ABOARD, YOU COULDN'T DO THAT.

SO SHE HAD A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PUT ABOARD.

Huell: WOW, WELL, THAT'S GOT TO--WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT?

>> WE FOUND THAT IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND COULD BE THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT WAS IN HERE.

WE'RE NOT-- Huell: WHERE DID YOU GET ALL OF THIS STUFF?

>> IT WAS--THERE IS A NETWORK OF COLLECTORS, AND WE KIND OF TAP INTO THE NETWORK A LITTLE BIT.

DO A LOT OF WORK ON THE INTERNET AND FIND THINGS LIKE THE FURNISHINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE CHINA.

AND WE DID FIND THE PIANINO THROUGH MUSICAL COLLECTORS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTORS.

Huell: WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL USE FOR THE CREDITS.

WELL, TURN THAT ON.

>> AND THE THING IS, WITH THIS PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT, MOST OF THEM WERE MADE IN OAK.

THIS IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR IN MAHOGANY, WHICH MATCHES THIS INTERIOR, WHICH MAKES US THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL ONE FOR THIS CAR.

Huell: WELL, I WOULD EXPECT NO LESS THAN THAT FROM CLARA BALDWIN TO HAVE A MAHOGANY PIRANIRO.

>> PIANINO.

Huell: PIRANINO.

WHAT IS A PIRANINO?

>> LIKE PIANO, BUT PI-A-NI-NO.

Huell: PIANINO.

>> IT'S A LITTLE PIANO THAT HAS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AN AIR PUMP, A 10-TUNE PAPER MUSIC ROLL, AND PLAYS AUTOMATIC MUSIC.

Huell: [LAUGHS] WELL, THAT'S JUST ONE MORE THING WE LEARNED TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS HAS BEEN OUR AFTERNOON OUT HERE AT THE NETHERCUTT MUSEUM IN SYLMAR.

A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL CARS INSIDE, AND A WONDERFUL RAIL CAR OUTSIDE.

WHICH IS JUST THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY, WHICH HAS BEEN LOVINGLY RESTORED, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF US TO COME OUT AND SEE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE HOPE EVERYONE WILL COME AND SEE US.

Huell: AND AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS, WE'RE ALSO GONNA ROLL THE-- >> PIANINO.

Huell: PIANINO.

>> [LAUGHS] [PIANINO PLAYS] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]