Uncle Milton

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING MORE FUN THAN TO VISIT WITH AN OLD FRIEND.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTIN' READY TO DO RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE IT WAS BACK IN THE MID TO LATE 1980s, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, THAT WE FIRST MET UNCLE MILTON LEVINE, WHOSE MAIN CLAIM TO FAME WAS THAT HE'S THE GUY WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA, WHO INVENTED THE WORLD FAMOUS ANT FARM.

AND WE ALL KNOW ABOUT ANT FARMS.

WE EITHER HAD 'EM IN OUR CLASSROOMS AT SCHOOL OR IN OUR ROOMS AT HOME.

WE'D SIT THERE AND WATCH THOSE LITTLE ANTS CRAWL AROUND.

WELL, UNCLE MILTON IS A VERY INTERESTING AND COLORFUL CHARACTER, AND HE LOVES ANTS, AND WHY SHOULDN'T HE?

OVER THE YEARS, ANTS HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD TO HIM.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW IS GO BACK IN TIME ALMOST 20 YEARS TO THAT FIRST DAY, THAT FIRST ENCOUNTER WE HAD WITH UNCLE MILTON AND HIS BELOVED ANTS.

ENJOY.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [WIND HOWLING, SCREECHING] >> AAH!

Huell: ANTS--THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, AND THIS IS A BIG ANT.

NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU GETTING SCARED RIGHT NOW, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS NOT A REAL ANT.

THIS IS JUST A CLIP FROM AN OLD SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE.

>> SHOOT THE ANTENNAE!

SHOOT THE ANTENNAE!

Huell: NOW, THESE ARE REAL ANTS, POGONOMYRMEX CALIFORNICUS TO BE EXACT, WHICH IS THE TECHNICAL NAME FOR GOOD OLD CALIFORNIA HARVESTER ANTS.

AND WHY, YOU MAY ASK, ARE WE LOOKING AT THESE ANTS?

WELL, THESE ANTS JUST HAPPEN TO BE PART OF AN HONEST- TO-GOODNESS ANT EMPIRE.

THEY'RE COUNTIN' THE MONEY AT UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED IN CULVER CITY, MONEY BEING SENT IN FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR THE PURCHASE OF CALIFORNIA ANTS AND ANT FARMS.

UNCLE MILTON ANT FARMS TO BE EXACT.

NOW, HOW MANY OF US HAVE HAD AN ANT FARM AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, EITHER AT HOME OR AT SCHOOL?

THEY'RE PART OF GROWIN' UP, AND IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE 32 YEARS AGO WHEN UNCLE MILTON LEVINE INVENTED THE ANT FARM.

NOW, THE OUTER OFFICE OF THIS PLACE IS BUSTLING.

HUNDREDS OF ORDERS COME IN EVERY DAY.

IN FACT, THEY HAVE ONE WHOLE WALL THAT'S COVERED WITH NOTHING BUT PERSONAL LETTERS WRITTEN DIRECTLY TO UNCLE MILTON HIMSELF.

>> SHOULD I READ THIS?

IS THAT APPROPRIATE TO READ?

Huell: OH, I DON'T KNOW.

READ IT TO ME.

>> "DEAR SIRS, MY LITTLE BROTHER KILLED ALL MY ANTS AND PEED ON THE SAND.

PLEASE SEND A DOUBLE SUPPLY OF ANTS, SAND, AND YOUR ANT FOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SINCERELY, RICHARD COHA."

Huell: [LAUGHING] SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF LETTERS YOU GET.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WELL, MOVIN' RIGHT ALONG, BY NOW, I WAS READY TO MEET THE MAIN MAN--UNCLE MILTON HIMSELF, WHO I WAS TOLD WAS HARD AT WORK BACK IN HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

HELLO, UNCLE MILTON.

>> HEY, HUELL, HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: HOW YOU DOIN'?

>> FINE, THANK YOU.

Huell: HOW'S THE ANT BUSINESS?

>> BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.

[LAUGHING] Huell: NOW, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT I'D EXPECTED, BUT I WASN'T DISAPPOINTED, AS I SPENT THE WHOLE MORNING TALKING ANTS WITH THE ANT TYCOON HIMSELF.

>> IT WAS AN INSTANT SUCCESS.

WE PUT A 3-INCH AD, OR I THINK 2 1/2 INCH AD IN A LOCAL PAPER... Huell: IN LOS ANGELES?

>> IN THE L.A. TIMES, UH, A MAIL ORDER SECTION THEY HAD AT THAT TIME.

I THINK THEY STILL HAVE IT.

AND THE RESPONSE WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC.

COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

Huell: AND IT HASN'T STOPPED SINCE.

>> HASN'T STOPPED SINCE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS OUR BEST--'88 WAS OUR BEST YEAR.

Huell: '88 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR ANTS.

>> OH, IT WAS TREMENDOUS.

Huell: WHY?

>> WHY?

I THINK A LOT OF NOSTALGIA.

WE'RE UP TO OUR THIRD GENERATION, AND, UH, MANY OF THE SO-CALLED, I GUESS YOU CALL 'EM YUPPIES, THEY WANT ANT FARMS FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR KIDS.

A LOT OF GRANDPARENTS.

SO IT'S A GREAT THING WITH AN ANT FARM, WE...AS FAR AS SELLING IS CONCERNED, UH, IT GOES FROM KIDS ABOUT THIS HIGH TO, UH, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND OLDER PEOPLE.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FASCINATION IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH SITTIN' THERE AND LOOKING AT ANTS CRAWLING AROUND?

>> IT'S, UH...I'M GONNA COMPARE IT TO GOLDFISH.

WHAT ARE THE FASCINATION OF GOLDFISH, SWIMMING BACK AND FORTH?

BUT THESE ARE A LITTLE MORE FASCINATING BECAUSE YOU CAN WATCH 'EM DIG TUNNELS AND BUILD BRIDGES AND MOVE MOUNTAINS.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY STRONG, THE ANTS.

THEY'LL PICK UP ONE GRAIN AT A TIME AND BRING IT UP HERE.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND THAT'S ABOUT 10 TIMES THEIR NORMAL WEIGHT, EACH GRAIN.

Huell: NOW, DO YOU STILL SIT AROUND AND LOOK AT ANTS?

>> OH, YES.

Huell: OR HAVE YOU GOTTEN A LITTLE TIRED OF IT?

>> NO, NO, NO, YOU NEVER--YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF THEM.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY SHIPPED AND SOLD OVER 9 MILLION OVER THE YEARS, WHICH IS A LOT, BUT DON'T FORGET THAT'S OVER 30 YEARS.

AND, UH, MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THEM.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE BOUGHT THEM, BUT THEY'VE SEEN--WE'RE IN PRACTICALLY EVERY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY AND PRACTICALLY EVERY GRADE, ALL THE WAY FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE.

THIS IS FOR OBSERVATION, AND IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THERE, YOU'LL SEE THE ANTS ABOUT 10 TIMES THEIR SIZE.

Huell: MM-HMM.

YOU SEE ANYTHING INTERESTING GOING ON IN THERE TODAY?

>> WELL, LET'S SEE.

YEAH, THIS LITTLE FELLOW HERE IS GONNA PICK UP A GRAIN.

HE'S GONNA BRING IT THROUGH THIS HOLE AND BUILD A MOUNTAIN, AND THE OTHER FELLOW, PERHAPS IS GONNA GO DOWN AND BUILD A BRIDGE OR A TUNNEL.

THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW THE REAL ANTHILL LOOKS UNDERNEATH.

Huell: UNDERNEATH.

>> RIGHT.

EXCEPT, OF COURSE, IT'S MUCH BIGGER.

Huell: NOW IS THERE A METHOD TO THEIR MADNESS?

DO EACH ONE OF THESE ANTS KNOW WHAT THE OTHER ONE'S DOING?

>> THEY, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AN ANT KNOWS WHAT IT'S GONNA DO BEFORE IT'S BORN.

UH, THAT'S A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT'S PREDESTINED TO DO A CERTAIN THING, AND THAT'S ALL IT'LL DO.

SOME ARE SOLDIERS, SOME ARE NURSES, SOME OF THEM THEY CALL SLAVES, BUT THEY--THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

Huell: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM LOOKING AT AN ANT FARM?

>> MY FAVORITE EXPRESSION IS, IF YOU COULD LEARN THAT PERSEVERANCE IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS, AND THESE GUYS PERSEVERE.

YOU NEVER SEE THEM LOAFING.

IF YOU AND I WORKED THAT HARD, WHY WE'D OWN THE STATION.

[LAUGHS] Huell: DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA GO ON AND ON AND ON?

THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT TO EVER STOP.

>> NO, THERE'S NO REASON TO STOP AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE AND AS LONG AS THERE ARE ANTS, IT'S NOT GONNA STOP.

Huell: WELL, I COULD'VE LISTENED TO UNCLE MILTON'S ANT STORIES ALL DAY, BUT I STILL HAD PLACES TO GO AND PEOPLE TO MEET LIKE UNCLE MILTON'S SON STEVE, WHO TOOK ME ON A TOUR OF THE SHIPPING DEPARTMENT, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY MAIL OUT BOOKS ABOUT ANTS AND ANT FOOD AND THE ANTS THEMSELVES, WHICH BRINGS UP THE QUESTION, WHERE DOES UNCLE MILTON GET HIS ANTS?

>> WELL, UM, WE GET THEM OUT IN THE DESERT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE EXACT LOCATION.

IT'S KIND OF KEPT A SECRET, UH-- Huell: A SECRET?

>> WELL, WE'VE USED THIS AREA FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.

IT'S--WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.

IT'S A GOOD SOURCE OF ANTS.

Huell: WHAT, ARE YOU AFRAID SOMEBODY'S GONNA GO OUT AND STEAL THE ANTS?

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

IT'S A VALUABLE COMMODITY TO US.

Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT A SPECIFIC SECRET LOCATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WHERE IS IT?

Steve: WE WON'T TELL.

Huell: OH, COME ON, STEVE.

Steve: NO.

I'M SORRY WE CAN'T TELL.

IT'S JUST--IT'S A COMPANY SECRET.

[HUELL LAUGHS] Huell: WELL, AFTER PROLONGED DISCUSSION AND OUTRIGHT BEGGING ON MY PART, AND AFTER PROMISING NEVER, EVER TO TELL ANYONE WHERE IT WAS, UNCLE MILTON AND STEVE FINALLY GAVE ME DIRECTIONS TO THEIR SECRET ANT PLACE, WHERE I MET UP WITH ROBIN AND SHERRY AND PAULINE, WHO WERE HARD AT WORK COLLECTING ANTS, ACTUALLY SUCKING THEM OUT OF THE GROUND WITH A CAR VACUUM CLEANER, WHICH IS CERTAINLY EASIER THAN THE WAY ROBIN AND SHERRY'S FATHER USED TO DO IT WHEN HE FIRST HOOKED UP WITH UNCLE MILTON 32 YEARS AGO AND PICKED THEM BY HAND, ONE BY ONE.

>> WE DIG ABOUT 10 HOLES A DAY.

Huell: HOW MANY ANTS A DAY?

>> GOSH, THAT'S A HARD QUESTION.

Huell: WELL, I KNOW YOU DON'T COUNT THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

I WANT--THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING.

>> WE DO COUNT THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

Huell: YOU COUNT EVERY ONE OF THESE ANTS?

>> YEP.

INTO THE LITTLE VIALS BEFORE THEY'RE MAILED OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ANT FARMS.

Huell: THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING--I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MANY ANTS BEFORE.

HOW MANY ANTS IN THERE, QUICK?

>> [SIGHS] 8,000.

9,000.

Huell: 9,000 ANTS?

I'M GONNA PUT THESE DOWN.

EXCUSE ME FOR JUST A MINUTE.

I'M AFRAID ONE'S GONNA BITE ME.

>> OK. Huell: HERE.

I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.

I'M BEGINNING TO SCRATCH JUST BEING AROUND ALL THESE ANTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

Huell: I'M SERIOUS.

>> GETTING HELP IS HARD BECAUSE OF THAT.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> PEOPLE SAY, "ANTS, OH, MY GOD."

YOU KNOW.

THEY WALK IN YOUR HOUSE AND SEE A PAN OF ANTS SITTING THERE-- >> AND THEY START ITCHING.

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

AND THEY'LL START ITCHING.

Huell: WELL, I'M SERIOUS.

I'VE FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO ITCH.

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

EVERYBODY ITCHES.

Huell: IS THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL?

>> YES.

YES, IT IS.

Huell: WELL, I'M GLAD I'M NORMAL 'CAUSE I'M TELLING YA-- >> EVERYBODY DOES IT.

EVERYBODY DOES IT.

Huell: HAVE YOUR ANTS EVER GOTTEN LOSE IN THE HOUSE?

>> OHHHH, YEAH.

[LAUGHS] >> YEAH.

>> WE'VE SPILT WHOLE ENTIRE-- >> WHOLE ENTIRE PANS.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

IN THE HOUSE?

>> IN THE HOUSE.

ON US.

Huell: NO.

>> YES.

>> OH, YES.

Huell: THAT'S A FRIGHTENING THOUGHT.

YOU LITERALLY GOT ANTS IN YOUR PANTS.

>> OH, YES.

RIP YOUR CLOTHES OFF.

Huell: BOY, THIS COULD GET OLD REAL FAST.

>> YOU SEE THAT?

Huell: WHAT'S THAT?

>> THAT IS THEIR HOME.

>> IT'S A HOME.

>> FOLLOW THAT.

SOMETIMES YOU FOLLOW THAT DOWN 6 FEET.

>> I DUG ONE THIS MORNING.

I WENT DOWN TO ABOUT ALMOST TO MY NECK.

Huell: WHAT?

>> BEFORE I HIT THEIR MAIN HOME.

Huell: SO THOSE LITTLE CRITTERS GET WAY DOWN IN THERE.

>> OH, YEAH, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER TIME.

>> NOW HERE'S WHERE YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE IF YOU LOSE THE SIGN... Huell: OH, LOOK!

THERE THEY ARE!

WE FOUND 'EM.

>> YES.

Huell: THEY WERE ELUSIVE, BUT WE FOUND 'EM.

WELL, I'VE HAD MY SHARE OF ADVENTURES DOING VIDEOLOGS, BUT THIS DAY HAS TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND FUN OF ALL.

FIRST, I GOT TO MEET UNCLE MILTON AND HIS SON STEVE AND SOME OF THE NICE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE OFFICE, AND THEN I GOT TO VISIT THE SECRET ANT LOCATION, AND NOT ONLY MEET SOME SECOND-GENERATION ANT PICKERS, BUT GO ON AN AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS ANT HUNT MYSELF, AND BY THE END OF THE DAY, I HAD LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS THING THAT STARTED OUT AS JUST A PRODUCT 32 YEARS AGO, BUT HAS BECOME, OVER THE YEARS, SOMETHING THAT'S FAMILIAR TO ALMOST EVERYBODY.

AND BY THE WAY, IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, THOSE ANT PICKERS, THEY GET A PENNY AN ANT.

I'M HUELL HOWSER FOR VIDEOLOG.

OK. TIME HAS PASSED.

A LOT OF TIME.

ALMOST 20 YEARS, BUT STEVE LEVINE, YOU'RE STILL HERE.

I'M STILL HERE.

WE'RE A LITTLE OLDER.

WE'RE A LITTLE WISER.

Steve: HOPEFULLY.

Huell: THE FIRST QUESTION I'VE GOT TO ASK, AND I KNOW IT'S ONE THAT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND AT HOME, WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE TWO WOMEN WHO WERE OUT THERE PICKING THE ANTS OUT--WELL, THEY WERE SUCKING THEM OUT WITH THESE LITTLE VACUUM CLEANERS, LITTLE CAR VACUUM CLEANERS AND GETTING A PENNY AN ANT.

ARE THEY STILL DOING THAT?

Steve: THEY--NOT ANY MORE.

THEY BUILT A NICE NEST EGG FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY'RE--THEY'RE HAPPILY RETIRED, AND WE HAVE A NEW GROUP OF ANT PICKERS.

Huell: SO YOU STILL LITERALLY PICK YOUR ANTS OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> LITERALLY.

Huell: ONE AT A TIME.

>> PRETTY MUCH ONE AT A TIME, YEAH.

Huell: AND IS IT STILL A PENNY AN ANT, OR OVER THE YEARS, HAS INFLATION-- >> IT'S A LITTLE BIT--A PENNY AND A FRACTION PER ANT.

Huell: SO INFLATION HAS HIT-- >> YEAH.

Huell: THE ANT PICKING BUSINESS AS WELL.

>> YES.

COST OF LIVING.

Huell: 'CAUSE OF ALL THE QUESTIONS WE GET AND COMMENTS WE GET OUT OF THAT PROGRAM, PEOPLE ARE FASCINATED BY THOSE WOMEN OUT THERE GETTING THOSE ANTS AT A PENNY AN ANT.

>> IT'S AN UNUSUAL JOB.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

SO A LOT HAS CHANGED.

THE BASIC ANT FARM IS STILL HERE.

>> STILL HERE.

Huell: IT'S STILL YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S OUR CLAIM TO FAME.

Huell: HOW MANY OF THESE DO YOU SELL STILL A YEAR?

DO YOU HAVE ANY-- >> WELL--AVERAGE ABOUT A HALF MILLION.

Huell: A HALF A MILLION?

>> ABOUT.

YEAH.

Huell: JUST THE OLD-FASHIONED ANT FARM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

A CLASSIC ANT FARM.

Huell: BASIC AS IT GETS.

>> YEP.

Huell: BUT SINCE WE HAVE LAST SEEN YOU, THE ANT EMPIRE HAS LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY GROWN.

>> YES, IT HAS.

Huell: AND TO EXPLAIN THAT TO US, LET'S BRING OUT OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS HERE.

GENTLEMEN, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.

>> FRANK ADLER.

I'M EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF UNCLE MILTON.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> HI.

ERIC PESCH, SENIOR VP OF DESIGN.

Huell: DESIGN!

BECAUSE THIS GUY--YOU AND YOUR LITTLE ELVES HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> WE HAVE.

WE HAVE.

WE'VE BEEN BUILDING OUT THE LINE AND TRYING TO PUSH BEYOND OUR CLAIM TO FAME AND EXPAND INTO NEW CATEGORIES.

Huell: PUSH BEYOND.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUSHING BEYOND, LET'S START, BECAUSE HERE'S THE BASIC ANT FARM.

RUN-OF-THE-MILL ANT FARM, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING RIGHT HERE THAT IS CALLED THE-- Frank: ANT FARM VILLAGE.

Huell: THE ANT FARM VILLAGE, AND I ASSUME THIS IS THE BASIC HARDCORE PART OF THE VILLAGE RIGHT HERE.

Frank: THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S THE VILLAGE.

Huell: AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS CONNECTOR ROUTE THAT THE ANTS CAN VISIT THE SUBURBS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE VILLAGE.

Frank: THAT'S RIGHT.

THE ANTS TRAVEL THROUGH THE TUBES OUT TO THE FARM.

Huell: NOW, WHO THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?

WHO THOUGHT THIS UP?

Eric: I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF STEVE'S BRAINCHILDS, THEN THAT'S, UH -- Steve: WE--WE DO A LOT OF BRAINSTORMING HERE.

I MEAN, WE GO IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, THROW THINGS ON THE WALL, AND IF IT STICKS, HOPEFULLY IT'S A GOOD PRODUCT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO THIS WORKED.

THE ANT VILLAGE.

Steve: ANT FARM VILLAGE.

YES.

Huell: ANT FARM VILLAGE.

THEN WE HAVE--THIS IS MY FAVORITE HERE.

WHAT ARE--WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE?

Steve: THIS IS THE EXTREME ANT FARM.

Huell: THE EXTREME ANT FARM, WHICH MEANS WHAT?

Steve: THERE WE'VE GIVEN ANTS, UH, THEIR OWN EXTREME PARK, UH, SKATE PARK, BMX BIKING ARENA, UH, CLIMBING WALL, BUNGEE JUMP, ALL THE THINGS ANTS WERE ASKING US FOR.

Huell: SO THE ANTS START UP HERE AND, LOOK, THEY GO DOWN THIS LITTLE, UH...THERE'S A LITTLE SLIDE HERE, OR A-- Steve: YES.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THE, UH, STREET LUGE, UH, SPEEDWAY.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

Steve: OF COURSE.

ANTS LOVE TO LUGE.

Huell: YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE HAD--YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO SIT AROUND AND--YOU ALL HAVE HAD TOO MUCH TIME.

WHO THOUGHT THIS UP, OR WAS THIS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT?

Eric: COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

YEP.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'VE GOT THE--WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

HERE'S THE FROG.

Frank: THAT'S THE PLANET FROG.

Huell: PLANET FROG, SO YOU BROUGHT FROGS INTO THE PICTURE.

Frank: YES.

PLANET FROG WAS A NATURAL EXTENSION FOR US.

UH, HERE WE SHIP LIVE TADPOLES DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER.

UH, THEY GET TO WATCH THEM MORPH, UH, GO THROUGH METAMORPHOSIS IN ABOUT 30 DAYS AND BECOME FROGS.

Huell: WHAT IS THE SURVIVAL RATE ON FROGS?

Frank: FROGS ARE PRETTY HARDY CREATURES.

THEY, UH, THEY CAN LAST UP TO FIVE YEARS IF, UH, CARED FOR PROPERLY.

Huell: SO YOU ARE SHIPPING FROG TADPOLES OUT.

Steve: SHIPPING TADPOLES, AND THE CHILD CAN WATCH IT METAMORPHOSE INTO A FROG, AND IT'S VERY EDUCATIONAL.

Huell: HOW DID YOU GET FROM ANTS TO FROGS?

Eric: JUST--WE HAVE THESE MEETINGS, AGAIN, STEVE MENTIONED.

WE JUST TRY TO KNOCK AROUND THE IDEAS, AND WE THOUGHT, WELL, WE'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH LIVE ANTS, SO WHAT OTHER LIVE CREATURES COULD WE GET INTO?

Steve: WE'RE GOING UP THE EVOLUTIONARY SCALE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU MIGHT BE GOING DOWN IN THIS ONE BECAUSE WHAT IS THIS ONE?

Steve: THIS IS CALLED AQUASAURS, AND, UH, THIS IS A HABITAT.

IT COMES WITH EGGS.

THESE EGGS ARE, UH, 20 YEARS, COULD BE 20 YEARS OLD.

THIS SPECIES OF CRUSTACEAN ACTUALLY PREDATES THE DINOSAURS.

Huell: SO THESE ARE CRUSTACEANS?

Steve: THEY LOOK LIKE SHRIMP.

THEY'RE CRUSTACEANS.

THEY GOT THREE EYES.

Huell: ARE THEY IN HERE?

THIS IS--THIS ONE ACTUALLY HAS SOME.

Steve: YES, WE JUST PUT SOME EGGS IN THERE.

IN ABOUT A FEW DAYS, THEY'RE GONNA HATCH, AND THEY DOUBLE THEIR SIZE EVERY DAY, AND THEY GET ABOUT 2 INCHES IN LENGTH.

Huell: SO NOW WE'VE GOT CRUSTACEANS, AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE UNDERSEA ENCOUNTER.

Steve: YES.

THIS IS AN AQUARIUM.

GOLDFISH--THAT TYPE OF THING.

Huell: DO YOU LOOK DOWN THROUGH HERE DOWN INTO-- Steve: YEAH, IT HAS A LITTLE EXPLORATION SUB IN THERE, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS REVERSE PERISCOPING AND LOOK AT A, UH, FISH-TO-FACE VIEW.

Huell: NOW WAS THIS--WHAT KIND OF FISH GO IN HERE?

Steve: UH, BETAS OR GOLDFISH.

IT'S EASY TO TAKE CARE OF.

IT'S FRESHWATER AQUARIUM.

Huell: ARE YOU SHIPPING THOSE OUT AS WELL?

>> NO.

NO.

Huell: PEOPLE GET THEIR OWN.

>> GET THEIR OWN, YEAH.

THOSE ARE EASY TO GET.

Huell: NOW IS THIS ALL--WAS THIS ALL DONE BECAUSE THE AVERAGE KID TODAY IS BORED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND NEEDS MORE TO--TO HOLD THEIR INTEREST?

YOU'RE STILL SELLING HALF A MILLION OF THESE A YEAR.

>> WE JUST RECOGNIZED THERE'S A MARKET OUT THERE FOR OTHER HABITATS, AND IT'S SORT OF OUR NICHE.

THAT'S OUR FORTE IS A HABITAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE ONES THAT WE PROVIDED THE CREATURE.

Huell: MM-HMM.

>> UH, WE DO THAT LIKE NO ONE ELSE CAN.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE EXPAND.

Huell: BUT YOU'VE GONE BEYOND LIVING CREATURES TO THESE KIND OF, UH, INTERGALACTIC SPACE, UH, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT.

WHAT DO YOU--WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS RIGHT HERE?

Frank: STAR THEATER TWO IS A HOME PLANETARIUM, AND, UH, IT PROJECTS THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS ONTO THE CEILINGS AND WALLS OF ANY, UH, ROOM.

Huell: SO YOU COULD HAVE YOUR OWN LITTLE PLANETARIUM IN YOUR ROOM.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

Huell: AND THIS IS CALLED-- Frank: 3-D ADVENTURE PROJECTOR.

Huell: 3-D ADVENTURE PROJECTOR, AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT?

Frank: HERE YOU, UH, RUN SLIDES THROUGH THIS PROJECTOR.

IT PROJECTS THEM IN 3-D. YOU WEAR 3-D GLASSES, AND THE SLIDES ARE ALL IN A SEQUENTIAL ORDER, SO IT TELLS A STORY, SO IN THIS PARTICULAR VERSION, UH, IT'S THE SPACE PROJECTOR, AND, UH, YOU GET A WHOLE JOURNEY THROUGH SPACE.

Steve: THE CD THAT COMES WITH THIS IS AN AUDIO AND VISUAL EXPERIENCE.

Huell: ERIC HAS A NEW TOY.

THIS IS ONE OF YOUR NEWEST INVENTIONS.

Eric: THIS IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST.

IT'S THE RC SNAKE.

Huell: THE RC SNAKE, AND YOU'VE GOT A REMOTE CONTROL RIGHT HERE.

>> YOU BET.

Huell: AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH--OH, MY GOSH.

CAN YOU MAKE HIM GO--THERE WE GO.

CAN HE GO BACKWARDS?

OH, MY GOSH.

NOW WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE BEHIND THIS SNAKE?

>> WELL, IT IS TRUE TO, UH, ACTUAL KIND OF SNAKE.

THIS IS A-- Huell: A GREEN SNAKE.

>> THE GREEN MAMBA, AND, UH, IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST-- Huell: IT'S JUST A SNAKE.

>> IT JUST ROLLED OVER AND DIED.

Huell: IT DID.

WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE LIFE CYCLE.

SNAKES DIE.

SO IS THIS A BIG SELLER, THE SNAKE?

>> THIS HAS BEEN A VERY, UH, GOOD SELLER FOR US, ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: LET'S GET HIM GOING JUST--THERE WE GO.

AND THIS IS YOUR BRAINCHILD.

>> WELL, IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S A JOINT EFFORT.

WE--WE JUST KNOCK AROUND IDEAS AND SEE WHAT STICKS.

Huell: HOW'S THIS SELLING?

>> IT'S SELLING VERY WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: THERE HE GOES.

[LAUGHS] FROM GREEN SNAKES TO BEETLES.

>> BEETLES.

MEET THE BEETLES.

THESE ARE, UH, WHAT'S CALLED OUR NEW RUMBLE BUGS.

Huell: RUMBLE BUGS.

>> RUMBLE BUGS.

Huell: NOW HOW DO THESE WORK?

'CAUSE THESE ACTUALLY LOOK--LOOK AT THESE THINGS.

THESE ARE--THESE ARE PRETTY REALISTIC-LOOKING BEETLES HERE.

>> THEY'RE BASED ON REAL BEETLE SPECIES, AND, UH, EACH BEETLE FEATURES A POWER WINDER UNDERNEATH.

Huell: OK, SO WE'RE WINDING 'EM UP, AND AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS-- >> THE--THE BATTLE LOG.

Huell: THE BATTLE LOG.

>> JUST LIKE BEETLES WOULD BATTLE IN THE WILD.

WE'VE SIMULATED THE EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS, CAMERA.

>> YOU CAN PUT OUT YOUR, UH, BATTLE WINGS FOR INTIMIDATION FACTOR, AND THEN WE LET 'EM GO AT EACH OTHER.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

>> AND THE LAST-- Huell: PUSHES THE OTHER ONE OFF.

>> THAT'S THE WINNER.

Huell: LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

Huell: YOU HAVE TO KEEP WINDING 'EM UP.

>> OH, YES.

Huell: SO THESE ARE SHORT BATTLES.

>> THEY'RE SHORT BATTLES, BUT-- Huell: BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> KIDS FIND IT FUN-- Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> AND THEY LEARN ABOUT BEETLES IN THE PROCESS.

Huell: UH-OH, WE GOT A MISS.

THERE HE GOES.

AND THIS ONE WON.

>> HE'S THE, UH, KING OF THE LOG.

Huell: NOW WHAT DO THEY LEARN FROM--LOOK AT THESE THINGS?

WHAT DO THEY LEARN FROM THIS?

>> WELL, BY PLAYING WITH THEM, THEY LEARN ABOUT BEETLE SPECIES, THAT THERE'S MANY, MANY DIFFERENT BEETLE SPECIES IN THE WORLD, AND, UH, THEY LEARN WHAT THEIR COLORINGS ARE, THEIR MARKINGS, AND THEY LEARN THAT THEY ACTUALLY BATTLE ON LOGS.

Huell: SO YOU ALL HAVE REALLY--WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN TALKING ABOUT THE WAY YOU'D EXPANDED, BUT YOU'VE STAYED TRUE TO YOUR--TO YOUR ORIGINAL CALLING OF PUTTING OUT THINGS THAT ACTUALLY, UH, ENTERTAIN, BUT--BUT EDUCATE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> YEAH, THAT'S BEEN OUR WHOLE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT FUN FIRST, AND THEN THE EDUCATION IS A BY-PRODUCT.

Huell: AND THE KIDS BUY INTO THIS BIG TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

UH, WE REALIZE WE'RE GOING UP AGAINST VIDEO GAMES AND OTHER FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT OUT THERE, AND WE GOT TO MAKE SCIENCE, NATURE, AND EXPLORATION EXCITING.

Huell: FROM THE ORIGINAL ANT FARM, CREATED AND INVENTED BACK IN 1956, HERE'S THE MAN HIMSELF.

UNCLE MILTON IS STILL GOING STRONG.

Milton: WELL, NOT AS STRONG AS I USED TO BE, BUT-- Huell: WELL, NO, YOU'RE--BUT LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS IDEA YOU STARTED OFF WITH.

>> YEAH, LOOK AT IT--LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY DID IT, NOT ME.

Huell: WELL, BUT YOU CAME UP WITH THE ORIGINAL IDEA.

>> I GUESS SO.

Huell: DID YOU, IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, HAVE ANY IDEA THAT IT WOULD TURN INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> NEVER, NEVER.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD LAST MAYBE 2 YEARS, AND HERE, 2 YEARS STRETCHED INTO 50.

Huell: YEAH.

AND THAT'S JUST FOR THE ANY FARM ITSELF.

WE'RE TALKIN' ABOUT--NOW WE'RE TALKI'' ABOUT FROGS AND BEETLES AND TARANTULAS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GONNA COME OUT NEXT?

>> THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE BOYS DID, NOT ME.

Huell: YEAH, BUT YOU GAVE THEM THE--HE'S ALWAYS GIVEN THE LEEWAY TO BE CREATIVE, HASN'T HE?

>> WELL, YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> AT THE BEGINNING, IT WAS A LITTLE TOUGH, BUT, UH...WHEN HE HAD MORE CONFIDENCE IN ME, HE GAVE MORE LEEWAY.

Huell: SO HE--HE WANTED--YOU WANTED TO PROBABLY JUST STICK WITH THE ANT FARM, DIDN'T YOU?

>> I DID, AND, UH...IT'S MY BABY, YOU KNOW?

SO... Huell: WELL, ANTS, I DON'T CARE WHAT ELSE IS INVENTED, UH, AS FAR AS WHAT IS GONNA BE MARKETED.

NOTHING CAN BEAT THE GOOD OLD ANT FARM.

>> ABSOLUTELY TRUE, HUELL.

Huell: AND WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

WHAT IS IT AGAIN ABOUT THE ANTS THAT YOU THINK MAKES 'EM SO POPULAR WITH EVERYBODY?

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE THE WORLD'S SMARTEST ENGINEERS.

THEY'RE SMARTER THAN WE ARE.

THEY DO THINGS WITHOUT A BLUEPRINT-- BUILD TUNNELS AND BRIDGES AND MOUNTAINS.

THEY'RE GREAT.

Huell: AND PEOPLE ARE--NO MATTER HOW HIGH-TECH WE GET, PEOPLE SEEM TO STILL BE FASCINATED AND MESMERIZED BY JUST SITTING AND WATCHING 'EM CRAWL AROUND.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IT SUPERSEDED TELEVISION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT IT ON TOP OF THEIR TELEVISION SETS, AND THEY WOULD WATCH THAT INSTEAD OF THE PICTURE.

Huell: AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS SO AMAZING?

AS MANY YEARS AS YOU'VE BEEN DOIN' THIS, YOU STILL GET EXCITED WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ANTS.

>> OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

IT'S, UH, MY CHILD.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, IT'S BEEN A GOOD CHILD.

>> THE BEST.

Huell: ANTS HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD TO YOU, UNCLE MILTON.

>> THEY PUT 3 KIDS THROUGH SCHOOL.

Huell: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVEN'T MET YOU.

>> WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: ACTUALLY, WE HAVE MET.

YOU REMINDED ME.

YOU WERE IN THAT VERY FIRST PROGRAM WE DID.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S TRUE.

Huell: YOU WERE WORKING IN THE OFFICE.

>> YES, OPENING THE ENVELOPE.

Huell: SO FROM THE VERY EARLY DAYS, UNCLE MILTON HAS BELIEVED IN THE FAMILY THAT WORKS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE BEST.

Huell: SO HE HAD YOU WORKING, HE HAD YOU WORKING, YOUR SISTER'S PART OF THIS THING.

IT'S A WHOLE FAMILY THING.

>> IT'S A FAMILY THING.

NOT ANYMORE.

NOW IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

Huell: YEAH, IT'S A...WELL, THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION NOW.

>> YES, IT IS.

YES, IT IS.

Huell: DO YOU STILL COME IN, OR DID YOU JUST COME IN TODAY FOR US?

>> I COME IN MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, TALK TO EVERYBODY, RAISE A LITTLE HELL, AND GO HOME.

[LAUGHING] Huell: SO EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS THE DAY HE'S COMING IN, DON'T YOU?

>> USUALLY, WE DO.

Huell: OR DOES HE TRY TO SURPRISE YOU, CATCH YOU OFF GUARD?

>> NO, YOU KNOW, HE GIVES US A LITTLE WARNING USUALLY, BUT, UH, IT'S FUN TO HAVE HIM AROUND.

Huell: WELL, DO YOU GIVE THE-- EVERYBODY'S DOING A GOOD JOB?

DO YOU GIVE THE COMPANY AN A-PLUS?

>> A-PLUS-PLUS.

Huell: YEAH.

EVERYTHING'S DOING... >> WONDERFUL, REALLY.

I'M PRETTY PROUD OF 'EM.

Huell: WELL, WE'RE PRETTY PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOU ALL THESE YEARS.

WE'VE BOTH HELD IN THERE PRETTY WELL.

>> I GUESS, FOR AN OLD CODGER, I GUESS SO.

[LAUGHING] Huell: NICE TO SEE YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, HUELL.

Huell: WE'LL BE BACK IN ANOTHER 20 YEARS FOR ANOTHER UPDATE.

NO TELLING WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE GOING IN 20 YEARS.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU, TOO.

Huell: STEVE, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

NICE TO MEET YOU ALL.

THE UNCLE MILTON ANT EMPIRE JUST CONTINUES TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW INTO ALL AREAS OF LIFE.

WHO KNOWS WHERE IT'S GONNA STOP?

BUT WE KNOW WHERE IT STARTED.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: RIGHT HERE WITH THIS ANT FARM INVENTED BY THIS MAN RIGHT HERE, UNCLE MILTON LEVINE.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: THE INVENTOR OF THE FASCINATING ANT FARM, THE LIVE ANT HABITAT, WHICH IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL.

>> YES, IT IS.

THANK YOU, HUELL, IT WAS REALLY NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN AFTER 15, 17 YEARS.

Huell: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN.

Milton: AN ANT KNOWS WHAT IT'S GONNA DO BEFORE IT'S BORN.

THAT'S A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT'S PREDESTINED TO DO A CERTAIN THING, AND THAT'S ALL IT'LL DO.

SOME ARE SOLDIERS, SOME ARE NURSES, UH, SOME OF THEM THEY CALL SLAVES, BUT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

Huell: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM LOOKING AT AN ANT FARM?

>> MY FAVORITE EXPRESSION IS THAT YOU COULD LEARN THAT PERSEVERANCE IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS, AND THESE GUYS PERSEVERE.

YOU NEVER SEE THEM LOAFING.

YOU AND I WORKED THAT HARD, WHY, WE'D OWN THE STATION.

Huell: DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS GONNA GO ON AND ON AND ON?

THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT TO EVER STOP, IS THERE?

>> NO, THERE'S NO REASON TO STOP AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE AND AS LONG AS THERE ARE ANTS, IT'S NOT GONNA STOP.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] >> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]