01/08/2006 | 26m 33s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell finds out why Venice Beach is such a popular attraction for both tourists and locals alike. He watches paddle tennis, volleyball and meets the “tree man.”
Aired: 01/08/06
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning
Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.
I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA RECREATE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
LET'S SET THE SCENE.
IT WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, A SUMMER SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
I HAD SOME TIME OFF, SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE OUT HERE TO VENICE BEACH.
I CAME OUT, PARKED MY CAR, AND CAME INTO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT, ESPECIALLY SUNDAY BRUNCH.
I CAME INTO THIS PLACE CALLED JAMES' BEACH, WHICH IS RIGHT ON VENICE BOULEVARD RIGHT OFF THE BEACH, AND I WAS SITTING HERE AT THE BAR WITH MY NEW FRIEND SCOTT, WHO MAKES A TERRIFIC BREAKFAST MOJITA.
John: PACKED FULL OF PROTEIN.
Huell: ABSOLUTELY.
AND I WAS SITTING HERE HAVING A MOJITA, AND, JOHN, YOU'RE THE GENERAL MANAGER HERE.
YOU WERE ACTUALLY HERE AT THAT MOMENT, SO YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED.
WHAT HAPPENED?
A COUPLE CAME IN HERE, DIDN'T THEY?
John: WELL, THERE WAS A COUPLE HERE THAT GENERALLY COMES IN.
THEY HAVE A COUPLE BREAKFAST DRINKS, AND THEY'RE HERE USUALLY EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AND THEY HAPPEN TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS TREE GUY, AND I'M TELLING, WE BOTH LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, "TREE GUY?"
BUT REALLY, LIKE THERE'S THIS GUY THAT DRESSES UP LIKE A TREE AND RUNS AROUND ON THE BOARDWALK ON STILTS, AND HE HAD TO GO CHECK IT OUT.
Huell: IT GOT ME INTERESTED IN CHECKING IT OUT, SO I LEFT MY HALF-FINISHED MOJITA-- John: ORDERED ANOTHER FOR WHEN HE GOT BACK.
Huell: HA!
LEFT IT HERE WITH SCOTT.
AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.
WE WALKED RIGHT OUT HERE.
HERE'S THE RESTAURANT.
LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY MORNING BRUNCH CROWD.
HELLO, EVERYBODY.
HOWDY.
EVERYBODY'S HAPPY.
WE WALKED OUT HERE AND I HEADED RIGHT DOWN VENICE BOULEVARD HEADING FOR THE BEACH LOOKING FOR THE TREE MAN.
THIS WAS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.
WELL, I DIDN'T GET VERY FAR.
ACTUALLY, I GOT LESS THAN 50 FEET DOWN VENICE BOULEVARD AND I RAN INTO THESE TWO GUYS.
YOUR NAME IS?
Irv: IRV FELL.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU AGAIN.
AND?
Lawrence: HUELL, I'M LAWRENCE.
LAWRENCE BROWDY.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE RECREATING WHAT HAPPENED THAT SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
TELL US EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, AND IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.
Lawrence: YEAH, RIGHT AT THIS SPOT.
WE WERE WALKING ALONG AND GOING TO GET A COLD DRINK, TAKING A BREAK FROM OUR GAME, AND I SPOTTED YOU COMING OUT OF THE JAMES' BEACH RIGHT HERE, AND I'M LOOKING AND I'M LOOKING, AND I'M SAYING, "OH, I KNOW HIM."
I SAID, "OH, HUELL!"
AND YOU STOPPED, AND IN YOUR VERY FRIENDLY WAY LET US ENGAGE YOU, AND WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE PADDLE TENNIS PLAYERS AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND WE WONDERED IF YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN COMING DOWN AND DOING A FEATURE ON OUR SPORT AND GIVING US A LITTLE ATTENTION.
Huell: WHY DO YOU THINK IT NEEDED--WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR PADDLE BALL GROUP NEEDS ATTENTION?
Irv: WELL, YOU KNOW IT'S A GREAT SPORT AT THE BEACH, AND THE PEOPLE THAT PLAY IT ENJOY IT, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN NEW TO PLAY IT AND JOIN THE SPORT.
Huell: SO YOU ALL ARE OLD TIMERS.
Lawrence: VERY OLD TIMERS.
WE HATE TO SAY--YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY HOW OLD, BUT, YES, WE'RE OLD TIMERS.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PLAYING--I MOVED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE SUMMER OF 1974, AND BY LABOR DAY I WAS ADDICTED TO THIS GAME, AND THAT'S HOW LONG I'VE BEEN PLAYING.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO I WAS HEADING DOWN TO VISIT THE TREE, THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING, WAS GOING TO SEE THE TREE GUY, BUT THESE TWO GUYS, THE PADDLE-- Lawrence: TENNIS.
Huell: TENNIS.
IT'S NOT PADDLE BALL.
PADDLE TENNIS GUYS HOODWINKED ME, SIDESWIPED ME, PULLED ME OFF TO THE SIDE HERE.
Lawrence: WELL, YOU DIDN'T SEEM TOO AVERSE TO BEING HOODWINKED OR SIDESWIPED I HAVE TO SAY.
Huell: OK, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GO WITH YOU DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS TO DO A STORY ON YOUR PADDLE TENNIS.
SO THIS IS THE WAY THE ADVENTURE WENT, RIGHT?
WE'RE RECREATING HISTORY.
Irv: OK, WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
Huell: AND NOW WE'RE PICKING UP TODAY.
HERE WE GO.
OK, WE'RE WALKING DOWN THE VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK, AND HERE ARE THE PADDLE TENNIS COURTS OVER HERE.
NOW WHAT HAPPENS OVER HERE, FELLAS?
WHO'S GONNA BE OUR OFFICIAL GUIDE?
BOTH OF YOU, I GUESS.
TELL US WHAT HAPPENS.
Lawrence: WELL, PEOPLE JUST-- ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT OUR SPORT IS YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF PREPARATION IN ADVANCE IN ORDER TO PLAY.
PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP.
THEY PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR PEOPLE THEY'VE PLAYED WITH BEFORE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REALLY BRING A PARTNER OR ARRANGE ANYTHING MUCH IN ADVANCE.
Huell: WELL, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF SCHEDULING?
Irv: THIS IS A PUBLIC FACILITY.
THIS IS PARKS AND RECREATION.
YOU DON'T NEED A MEMBERSHIP.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE.
ANYBODY CAN COME DOWN AND USE THE COURTS FREE.
Lawrence: HIGHLY DEMOCRATIC SPORT.
Huell: BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME KIND OF A HIERARCHY.
Lawrence: SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU PUT YOUR PADDLE DOWN RIGHT INSIDE OF THE GATE.
Huell: SO THIS IS THE WAY YOU RESERVE THE COURT.
Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT.
Irv: INDICATES THAT YOU'RE NEXT.
AND THEN WHEN THE SET IS OVER, THE NEXT COUPLE OF PEOPLE GO UP OR A FOURSOME GOES UP.
Lawrence: THE RULE IS THAT YOU ONLY GET TO PLAY ONE SET-- Huell: WHICH LASTS ABOUT HOW LONG?
Lawrence: OH, MAYBE 15, 20 MINUTES OR SO.
HALF-HOUR AT THE MOST IF IT'S A REAL HARD-FOUGHT SET.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT UP TO THE NEXT PEOPLE WAITING.
IF 2 PEOPLE ARE CHALLENGING FOR DOUBLES, THEY GET TO PLAY THE WINNERS.
Huell: NOW THERE'S SOME YOUNG PEOPLE OUT HERE.
Lawrence: THERE ARE SOME, YES, THERE ARE SOME, AND OUR SPORT HAS GONE UP AND DOWN IN TERMS OF ITS POPULARITY OR INTEREST OR RECRUITING NEW PEOPLE.
Huell: HOW OLD A SPORT IS THIS?
Lawrence: I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.
THIS SPORT WAS ORIGINATED BY A MINISTER IN ALBION, MICHIGAN, IN 1898.
HIS NAME WAS BEAL.
FRANK PEER.
P-E-E-R. BEAL.
B-E-A-L. Huell: BOY, YOU'RE HARDCORE.
Lawrence: I AM.
I'M IN TOUCH WITH ALL THE ARCHIVISTS AND-- Man: HE DID HIS RESEARCH!
Huell: YOU'RE LAUGHING.
DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY?
Man: I KNOW HIM.
UNFORTUNATELY I KNOW HIM.
Huell: SO YOU PLAY THIS GUY?
Man: YES, I DO.
AND HE IS A GOOD PLAYER.
Huell: IS HE?
Man: YES, VERY GOOD PLAYER.
Lawrence: I'M GOOD FRIENDS WITH HIM.
Huell: BECAUSE I FIGURE EVERYBODY PROBABLY GETS ALONG PRETTY WELL OVER HERE, DON'T THEY?
Irv: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU HAVE TO GET ALONG, OTHERWISE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY SETS OR ANY GAMES.
Lawrence: HE SAID SETS.
SETS.
Huell: AH!
SO WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU COME AND HANG OUT HERE ALL DAY?
Irv: ON THE WEEKEND, SURE.
YOU GET DOWN-- Huell: YOU HAVE NO FAMILY LIFE AT HOME?
Irv: YEAH, SURE I DO, BUT THEY'RE DOING OTHER THINGS.
Huell: OH!
AND THEY KNOW THAT DAD IS AT THE BEACH.
Irv: WELL, THE WEEKENDS FOR ME ARE TO RECREATE.
Huell: I GOT YOU.
Lawrence: PLEASE DON'T ASK MY NOW GROWN DAUGHTER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU'LL GET AN EARFUL ABOUT THE TIME I SPENT HERE WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP.
Huell: WELL, LET'S GET OVER HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE--THIS IS--I MEAN NOW WOULD YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE?
Irv: WE WOULD AND WE DO.
INTIMATELY, INTIMATELY.
Huell: SO I MEAN IS THIS A GROUP THAT'S GROWN CLOSE OVER THE YEARS THROUGH THIS GAME?
I MEAN YOU ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.
Lawrence: SOME OF US DEVELOPED FRIENDSHIPS THAT GO BEYOND THE ASPHALT SO TO SPEAK, AND OTHERS ONLY KNOW EACH OTHER HERE.
I FOUND ONE OF THE CURIOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME, HAVING STARTED HERE 31 YEARS AGO, IS THAT IT REALLY TOOK ME YEARS TO FEEL LIKE I BELONGED AND I WAS A REGULAR.
I ONLY KNEW PEOPLE'S FIRST NAMES.
IT TOOK ME YEARS TO FIND OUT PEOPLE'S LAST NAMES AND WHAT THEY DID FOR A LIVING AND ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.
IT'S A KIND OF PLACE WHERE YOU COME TO ENJOY THE SPORT AND HAVE YOUR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY AND THEN KIND OF EVERYBODY GOES THEIR OWN WAY, BUT FRIENDSHIPS HAVE AND DO DEVELOP HERE.
Huell: AND DO YOU HAVE NOVICES?
FELLAS, COME OVER HERE JUST A MINUTE.
LET ME JUST INTERRUPT THIS GAME FOR JUST A SECOND.
COME ON OVER HERE.
Lawrence: WHY DON'T YOU STEP UP THERE, STEVE?
Huell: YOUR NAME IS?
Steve: STEVE UNDERWEISER.
Huell: AND HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOUR BEEN PLAYING?
Steve: OH, ABOUT 13.
Huell: 13.
THIS GUY OVER HERE?
Man: 35.
Huell: 35 YEARS?
AND WHAT ABOUT THIS GUY?
Man: I'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR 10 YEARS.
Huell: 10 YEARS.
Man: I'M THE YOUNG GUY.
Huell: SO THERE'S STILL A REAL SENSE OF COMPETITION, ISN'T THERE?
Steve: DEFINITELY.
Sandy: WITH HIM, THIS GUY-- Steve: EVERY DAY.
EVERY DAY I CARRY HIM.
BIG LOAD.
Huell: SO IT REALLY IS--THIS REALLY IS LIKE A BIG FAMILY DOWN HERE.
Irv: IT'S LIKE A FAMILY.
A SOCIAL CLUB.
Huell: CAN WE GO IN DOWN HERE?
BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST SITTING AROUND.
CAN WE GO IN DOWN HERE?
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE OCEAN.
YOU'RE JUST A BLOCK--A FEW HUNDRED FEET OFF THE OCEAN.
Irv: THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE PLACE SO ENJOYABLE AND THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT IS AT THE BEACH.
Huell: SO YOU GOT--HOW MANY COURTS YOU GOT?
Lawrence: WE HAVE 11.
THIS STARTED WITH 2 COURTS OVER WHERE THE VOLLEYBALL COURTS ARE 35 OR MORE YEARS AGO AND HAVE GROWN OVER THE YEARS TO WHERE WE HAD 8, AND THEN THEY ADDED SEVERAL MORE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE 11 COURTS AT THIS POINT.
Huell: SO THERE MUST'VE BEEN A NEED TO DO THIS.
Lawrence: YES.
THERE WAS A HUGE SCENE HERE IN THE SEVENTIES AND INTO THE EIGHTIES.
Huell: NOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE?
Lawrence: WELL, YES, WE DO.
WE CERTAINLY DO.
Huell: HOWDY.
I'M HUELL HOWSER.
Emiliano: NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'M EMILIANO.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
THAT'S AN ITALIAN NAME.
Emiliano: EXACTLY.
Huell: DO THEY PLAY PADDLE TENNIS IN ITALY?
Emiliano: THEY DO.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
ACTUALLY I'M NOT FROM ITALY.
I'M FROM ARGENTINA.
Huell: OH, ARGENTINA!
Emiliano: WE'RE KNOWN FOR BEING VERY GOOD PLAYERS.
JUST SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THEN THIS KIND OF PADDLE BECAUSE WE PLAY OFF THE WALLS.
Huell: SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO COME DOWN HERE AND GET IN WITH THIS GROUP?
Emiliano: ABSOLUTELY LOVELY.
I MEAN, AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO USUALLY COME OUT HERE EVERY SATURDAY, AND IT'S LIKE THE CONCEPT OF A SPORTS CLUB.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO WE'RE ALWAYS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PEOPLE.
WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU SAID COME OUT HERE ON SATURDAY.
TODAY'S SUNDAY.
Emiliano: SUNDAYS IT'S NOT AS USUAL, IT'S NOT THAT USUAL, BUT-- Huell: A LITTLE SLOWER ON SUNDAY.
Emiliano: IT'S A LITTLE SLOWER.
Huell: IS THAT WHEN THE OLD TIMERS COME OUT LIKE THESE GUYS OVER HERE?
Emiliano: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
Lawrence: AND THOSE WHO ARE SO AFFLICTED THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK ALL WEEK LONG WILL USE THEIR WEEKENDS AND SPEND THEIR WEEKEND TIME HERE.
Huell: AND YOU ARE FROM?
Mark: I'M FROM THAILAND.
MY NAME IS MARK SURBAN.
Huell: AND DID YOU PLAY PADDLE TENNIS--STAND UP HERE A MINUTE.
DID YOU PLAY PADDLE TENNIS IN THAILAND?
Mark: NO, NO.
I WAS ACTUALLY BORN HERE, BUT MY PARENTS ARE FROM THAILAND.
Huell: AND IS THERE ANY TRADITION OF PADDLE TENNIS IN THAILAND?
Mark: NO, JUST YOUR TRADITIONAL TENNIS.
Emiliano: JUST GREAT FOOD.
Huell: GREAT FOOD!
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS GROUP?
Mark: UM... Huell: JUST CAME DOWN HERE?
Mark: YEAH, LIKE MAYBE 3 YEARS AGO AND JUST GOT ADDICTED TO IT.
Huell: HAD YOU EVER PLAYED BEFORE?
Mark: NO, I HADN'T.
I PLAYED TENNIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
Huell: BUT NEVER PADDLE TENNIS.
Mark: NEVER PADDLE TENNIS.
Huell: CAN WE WATCH YOU ALL PLAY?
WERE YOU TAKING A BREAK HERE AND GETTING READY TO PLAY AGAIN?
Emiliano: NO, WE'RE READY TO GO FOR ANOTHER SET.
Huell: OH, ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
AND YOUR NAME IS?
Pierre: MY NAME IS PIERRE.
I'M FROM FRANCE OBVIOUSLY.
Huell: WOW!
AND YOUR NAME IS?
Eddie: EDDIE.
AND I'M FROM MEXICO.
Huell: SO WE'VE GOT FRANCE, MEXICO, ARGENTINA, AND THAILAND RIGHT HERE!
Lawrence: IT'S ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THIS MILIEU, HUELL, IS THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM SO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD WHO COME AND MEET AND PLAY HERE AND INTERACT TOGETHER.
Pierre: IT'S A WONDERFUL, VERY ADDICTIVE GAME.
IT'S LIKE IF YOU GUYS PLAYED TENNIS BEFORE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE GAME.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
Huell: IT'S EASY TO PICK UP?
Eddie: IT'S EASIER TO PICK UP THAN TENNIS.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
IT'S A FAST PACED SPORT, AND IT'S JUST--THE PEOPLE YOU MEET.
YOU CAN'T BEAT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET OUT HERE, AND LIKE HE SAID YOU GET ADDICTED.
Huell: ALL RIGHT, LET'S WATCH YOU PLAY.
Pierre: TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, PEOPLE STARTING TO PLAY TENNIS, PROBABLY THEY TAKE ABOUT 3 YEARS TO START HAVING FUN.
HERE IF YOU LOOK AT 2 BEGINNERS PLAYING AFTER 15 MINUTES THEY CAN ACTUALLY PLAY WELL AND HAVE FUN.
Huell: WOW!
Pierre: IT'S FAR EASIER THAN TENNIS.
Mark: UNH!
COME ON!
Huell: I THINK WE GOT INTO A VERY SERIOUS GROUP HERE.
JUST BY ACCIDENT I HAPPENED TO WALK IN HERE.
Lawrence: THIS INTERNATIONAL LITTLE FOURSOME THAT YOU HAPPENED TO WALK IN ON HAPPENS TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE REALLY BEST PLAYERS DOWN HERE.
THESE ARE GUYS WHO HAVE COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD AND JUST LOVE THE GAME AND HAVE LEARNED IT, AND THEY'RE MARVELOUS ATHLETES, THEY'RE REALLY TERRIFIC, AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH THEM, AND IT'S FUN TO PLAY WITH THEM WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH THEM SOMETIMES.
THIS IS A HIGH LEVEL THAT THESE GUYS ARE AT.
Huell: I WAS GONNA SAY.
THIS DOESN'T LOOK THAT EASY TO ME.
I MEAN THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF SKILL INVOLVED IN THIS, ISN'T THERE?
Lawrence: THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF SKILL.
IT'S--AS THEY SAY, IT'S SIMPLE, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EASY.
BUT PEOPLE FROM ALL--AT ALL LEVELS PLAY THIS SPORT.
Huell: IT'S A FAST GAME.
IT'S AN INTENSE GAME, TOO.
Lawrence: YES, THAT'S ONE OF THE THING THAT DISTINGUISHES IT FROM TENNIS IN THAT IT'S A NET GAME AND IT'S A QUICK GAME.
IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY-- I LIKEN IT TO PLAYING TABLE TENNIS, BUT STANDING ON THE TABLE IS WHAT PADDLE TENNIS IS LIKE.
Huell: AND HOW'S IT SCORED?
WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO GET TO?
Lawrence: WE SCORE THE SAME WAY AS WE DO IN TENNIS EXCEPT WE GET ONLY ONE UNDERHAND SERVE INSTEAD OF 2, AND WE CAN SERVE DIAGONALLY ACROSS COURT INTO EITHER BOX.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SERVE INTO THE INNER BOX.
Huell: NOW IS THIS PLAYED ANYWHERE ELSE IN LOS ANGELES?
Lawrence: YES, THERE ARE COURTS IN CULVER CITY.
THERE ARE COURTS--THERE ARE OTHER COURTS IN WEST L.A. COURTS DOWN HERE IN THE MARINA.
AND ALL OF THE BEACH CLUBS UP ALONG THE COAST HERE ALL HAVE PADDLE TENNIS COURTS.
Huell: YEAH, BUT THIS IS PUBLIC RIGHT HERE, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS SO INTERESTING.
Lawrence: THIS IS TOTALLY PUBLIC AND OPEN TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.
Huell: BOY, LOOK AT THIS!
Lawrence: THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY EXCELLENT PLAYERS, AND LIKE I SAY THERE ARE ALL LEVELS OF PLAY CAN BE FOUND HERE.
THE MINISTER I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT BEFORE WHO DEVELOPED THE GAME AS A KIDS' PLAYGROUND GAME IN 1898.
Huell: A KIDS' PLAYGROUND GAME?
Lawrence: HE DEVELOPED IT AS A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND GAME.
HE WAS IN ALBION, MICHIGAN, AND HE MADE A COURT OUT OF ABOUT A QUARTER THE SIZE OF A FULL TENNIS COURT.
20 SOME YEARS LATER, HE BECAME THE ASSOCIATE MINISTER AT THE JUDSON STREET CHURCH IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, AND HE INTRODUCED THE GAME TO NEW YORK, AND THE NEXT YEAR, 1922, WAS THE FIRST TOURNAMENTS THAT WERE HELD DOWN IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK, AND FROM THAT POINT ON THE GAME GREW.
Huell: AND PEOPLE PROBABLY-- WHEN THEY MOVED TO CALIFORNIA FROM NEW YORK BROUGHT THE GAME WITH THEM.
Lawrence: PRECISELY.
AND THEY ALSO MOVED DOWN THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD AND THEY TOOK THE GAME TO VIRGINIA AND THE CAROLINAS, AND IN FLORIDA, ACTUALLY, THERE'S A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT THAT'S STILL HELD ON THE BEACH AT ST. AUGUSTINE IN HARD PACKED SAND.
Huell: YOU KNOW, THIS IS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WALKING UP AND DOWN THE BOARDWALK FOR YEARS, AND I THINK I'VE JUST ALWAYS WALKED RIGHT BY THIS PLACE.
IT'S EASY TO MISS, ISN'T IT?
Lawrence: IT IS EASY TO MISS.
IT'S ONE OF THE--PROBABLY THE MOST OBSCURE OF THE BEACH SPORTS, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE-- Huell: BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT HANDBALL DOWN THE WAY.
Lawrence: VOLLEYBALL BECAME SUCH A HUGE, HUGE SPORT.
NOW I'LL TELL YOU, WILT CHAMBERLAIN, WHO REALLY DEVELOPED BEACH VOLLEYBALL, AT A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS IN THE SIXTIES AND IN THE EIGHTIES, WILT CAME AND PLAYED HERE WHEN HE HAD HIP OR KNEE SURGERY AND COULDN'T PLAY VOLLEYBALL.
Huell: WOW.
Lawrence: THERE ACTUALLY WAS A RULE CHANGE INSTITUTED BECAUSE OF WILT ONCE.
THE RULE USED TO BE THAT ONE COULD SERVE ONLY FROM THE WAIST, NO HIGHER THAN ONE'S WAIST.
WHEN WILT WAS OBSERVED SERVING, WHOEVER LOOKED AT HIM SAID, "YOU KNOW, WILT'S WAIST IS AS HIGH AS ROSIE CASALE'S SHOULDER, SO WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE SERVICE RULE TO 31 INCHES, WHICH IS THE HEIGHT OF THE NET."
Huell: WOW.
WOW, THIS IS GREAT JUST TO STAND HERE AND WATCH THIS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY INTENSE.
Mark: DEFINITELY IS.
Huell: IT REALLY IS.
Mark: YEAH, IT'S A GREAT SPORT.
HOPEFULLY MORE PEOPLE PICK IT UP.
Huell: YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS STOPPED ME HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO GET ME TO DO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY NEED MORE YOUNG BLOOD HERE.
Mark: YEAH, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO COME OUT.
Huell: BUT Y'ALL ARE YOUNG BLOOD.
SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE GETTING INTO THIS THING.
Mark: DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED MORE PEOPLE TO COME OUT.
Huell: AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM--WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PITCH TO THEM TO GET THEM TO COME OUT HERE, WHY THEY SHOULD START PLAYING OUT HERE?
Eddie: IT'S A FUN SPORT.
YOU CAN'T BEAT VENICE BEACH.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO.
COME OUT HERE TO HAVE FUN, PLAY PADDLE TENNIS FOR 3 HOURS.
STOP.
GO AND HAVE LUNCH OUT HERE.
IT'S A FUN PLACE.
Huell: YEAH, THE BEACH IS JUST RIGHT HERE, AND IT'S GOTTA KEEP YOU IN SHAPE, TOO.
I MEAN YOU'RE BURNING UP A LOT OF CALORIES.
Eddie: CALORIES.
IT'S A FUN SPORT.
YOU CAN'T BEAT IT.
Huell: WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
WE'LL JUST KIND OF QUIETLY STEP OFF AND WATCH YOU ALL FINISH THIS.
WHO'S WINNING THIS MATCH?
Mark: OH, DEFINITELY US.
NUMBER ONE RIGHT HERE.
Player: WOO-HOO!
Huell: AND HERE'S THE OLD MAN OVER HERE.
COME ON.
HE'S WATCHING, FELLAS.
BOY, IT HURTS, BUT LOOK AT YOU.
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU KNOW THE CAMERA'S ROLLING?
Lawrence: YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO HURT A GUY, DON'T YOU?
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THAT-- Huell: YOU PROBABLY WANT TO PLAY THIS GUY, DON'T YOU?
Man 1: ALWAYS.
Man 2: IF I EVER WANT TO WIN, I'LL PLAY THIS GUY.
IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE SPORTS THAT PEOPLE PLAY, THIS SPORT, YOU HAVE LIKE GUYS THAT ARE IN THEIR EIGHTIES OR NINETIES.
YOU HAVE GUYS-- THIS IS LIKE FASTER THAN TABLE TENNIS.
IT'S LIKE TENNIS, BUT A COMBINATION OF TENNIS, BADMINTON, TABLE TENNIS, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
YOU PUNCTURE THAT BALL WITH A NEEDLE AND IT DOESN'T GO SAIL OFF TO MARS.
THIS IS LIKE--IF MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THIS SPORT, YOU WOULD HAVE MORE PEOPLE PLAYING THIS.
THIS IS JUST SO-- AND WE'RE AT THE BEACH.
YOU'VE GOT THE BREEZE.
I USED TO COMPETE IN TABLE TENNIS NATIONALLY.
THIS SPORT IS SO MUCH FOR FUN.
SO I THINK THE GUY THAT'S DOING THE INTERVIEWING LIKE YOU SHOULD START PLAYING THIS.
Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU SOLD ME.
THIS IS GREAT.
Lawrence: YEAH, HE'S RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL AGES REALLY.
MEN, WOMEN, GIRLS, BOYS FROM SMALLEST KIDS TO THE OLDEST FOLKS WHO CAN'T REALLY MOVE THAT WELL CAN STILL USUALLY SWING A PADDLE, GET OUT HERE ON THE COURT AND DON'T HAVE TO COVER THE KIND OF TERRITORY YOU HAVE TO ON THE TENNIS COURT.
Huell: WELL, YOU'VE SOLD ME.
I'M GLAD I RAN INTO Y'ALL.
Lawrence: SO AM I, HUELL.
Man 2: WHEN YOU SAY THAT--WHEN YOU SAY THAT "DON'T MOVE THAT WELL," I MEAN, HE MAY BE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
Huell: WELL, I'M GLAD WE RAN INTO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR PARTNER WENT.
WHERE'D IRV GO?
Lawrence: WELL, HE GOT SO DESPERATE TO PLAY-- Huell: OH, HE'S OUT THERE PLAYING!
Lawrence: HE GOT TIRED OF TALKING AND WANTED TO PLAY.
Huell: HEY, IRV!
IRV!
THANKS A LOT!
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HE'S OUT THERE PLAYING.
Man 1: AND THIS GAME SHOWS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE BEST SHAPE IN ORDER TO PLAY THIS GAME.
Lawrence: I TAKE A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF ABUSE FOR A GUY WHO'S AS NICE AS I AM.
Huell: I THINK WE'LL LEAVE THE PADDLE TENNIS COURTS RIGHT NOW AND HEAD ON DOWN TO OUR ORIGINAL DESTINATION.
WE'RE STILL IN SEARCH OF THAT ELUSIVE TREE GUY.
[MAN PLAYING PERUVIAN MUSIC] OK, WE'VE MOVED DOWN THE VENICE BOARDWALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO STOP AND HEAR THIS GUY FROM PERU.
HE PLAYS SOME GREAT MUSIC DOWN HERE, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE TO LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC.
WE'RE HERE TO FINALLY.
REVISIT THE TREE.
AND HERE'S THE TREE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT WHERE I FIRST SAW HIM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO FOR THE FIRST TIME.
EXCUSE US.
AND HERE IS A MOVING, WALKING, ORGANIC TREE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE MADE WITH THE TREE.
DON'T WORRY, HE WON'T BITE.
LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS AMAZING.
HE JUST STANDS OUT HERE.
MR. TREE, DO YOU TALK?
HE DOESN'T MAKE ANY SOUND AT ALL.
BUT HE IS--LOOK AT THIS.
HE JUST KIND OF STANDS HERE AND PEOPLE PUT MONEY IN THE LITTLE BAGS HE'S GOT DOWN THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS SITUATION EXCEPT THAT HE HAS--HE ALWAYS DRAWS A CROWD.
LOOK AT THIS!
AND PEOPLE ARE FASCINATED BY SEEING A GUY DRESSED UP LIKE A TREE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TREE?
Woman 1: AMAZING.
Huell: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A-- Woman 1: IN WALT DISNEY MOVIES ONLY.
Huell: YEAH!
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS?
Woman 2: NO.
Huell: YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS?
Woman 3: NO, NOT AT ALL.
Huell: THIS REALLY IS A PIECE OF ART, ISN'T IT?
Woman 4: YEAH, IT IS.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA, RIGHT?
Huell: ONLY ON VENICE BEACH.
Woman 4: THERE, YOU'VE GOT IT.
Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
HE JUST KIND OF STANDS AND MOVES Woman: I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND ELEGANT.
Huell: NOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS OR DID YOU JUST KIND OF STUMBLE UPON IT?
Woman: NO, WE CAME DOWN TO CATCH CRABS DOWN BY THE ROCKS DOWN HERE.
WE TOOK A WALK DOWN THE BEACH.
WE'RE JUST GONNA GO CHECK--CATCH THE BUS AND WE JUST HAPPENED TO SEE IT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN IT.
Huell: YEAH, I THINK HE'S FAIRLY NEW HERE.
OR IT OR--YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A HIM OR A HER.
Woman: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A HIM OR A HER.
Huell: I DON'T THINK IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.
Woman: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?
Huell: IT REALLY CATCHES YOUR EYE, DOESN'T IT?
Woman: QUITE ELEGANT, HUH?
IT REALLY MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIG TREES UP NORTH AND EVERYTHING.
Huell: YEAH.
Woman: I THINK IT'S GORGEOUS.
Huell: DO YOU HAVE A CAMERA?
ARE YOU GONNA HAVE YOUR PICTURE-- Woman: NO, I DON'T HAVE-- WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT ANOTHER DAY.
I'M A LOCAL, SO I DON'T HAVE TO-- Huell: YOU'LL BE BACK.
Woman: I'LL BE BACK EXACTLY.
THANK YOU.
Huell: WOW!
THE KIDS LOVE IT.
LOOK HOW THEY GET RIGHT UP--RIGHT UP ON IT.
LOOK OVER HERE.
HA!
GIRLS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TREE?
Girl 1: IT'S AWESOME!
Girl 2: IT'S BIG AND IT'S GREEN!
Girl: IT'S COOL AND AWESOME!
Huell: LET'S WALK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TREE.
LADIES, I SAW YOU ALL STARING AT THE TREE.
WE NEED TO GET YOU ALL UP HERE.
COME ON.
WE NEED TO GET YOU UP HERE BY THE TREE.
COME ON.
COME ON.
LET'S GET UP WITH THE TREE HERE.
COME ON.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Woman 1: IT'S PRETTY COOL.
I'M IMPRESSED.
THIS IS AWESOME.
Huell: YEAH.
IT KIND OF CATCHES YOU OFF-GUARD, DOESN'T IT?
Woman 1: UNBELIEVABLE.
PRETTY WILD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, GIRLS?
Woman 2: THAT'S WEIRD!
Woman 1: THEY JUST CAME HERE TO AMERICA FROM JAPAN.
Huell: OH, YOU JUST GOT HERE FROM JAPAN!
Woman 2: NO, I'M FROM NEW YORK.
Woman 1: HERE IN NEW YORK, BUT THEY'RE FROM JAPAN.
I'M THEY'RE HOST MOM.
Huell: WELL, WELCOME TO VENICE BEACH.
Woman 2: YEAH!
Woman 1: I TOLD THEM, BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING.
HA HA HA!
I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS ANYTHING.
Huell: DID YOU GET A GOOD SHOT OF THE TREE?
Woman: NO, I DIDN'T.
I GOT 3 PEOPLE'S HEADS.
HA HA HA!
Huell: BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS THING?
Woman: IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING.
Huell: WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Woman: JUST WEST OF CLEVELAND.
Huell: OH, YOU'RE VISITING FROM OHIO.
Woman: RIGHT.
Huell: SO YOU CAME DOWN TO VENICE BEACH EXPECTING TO FIND SOMETHING LIKE THIS, DIDN'T YOU?
Woman: NO, I DIDN'T.
MY HUSBAND DID!
Huell: YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ALL THESE STRANGE CALIFORNIA THINGS, WEREN'T YOU?
Woman: NO, WE CAME DOWN HERE ACTUALLY FOR A BIG CAR SHOW.
Huell: UH-HUH.
Woman: AND MY HUSBAND WANTED TO COME HERE.
Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Woman: IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING.
Huell: YEAH, YOU DON'T HAVE THIS IN OHIO.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TREES IN OHIO, BUT THEY DON'T MOVE LIKE THIS.
Woman: WELL, NOT EXACTLY THAT WAY, NO.
Huell: SEE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A NICE STORY TO TELL WHEN YOU GET HOME TO CLEVELAND.
Woman: I SURE AM!
HA HA HA!
Samuel: HELLO.
Huell: HI.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TREE?
Samuel: UM, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
LIKE--IN LIKE VERY INTERESTING WAYS, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN NOTHING REALLY LIKE THIS, AND I REALLY WANT TO GIVE HIM SOME MONEY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
Huell: OH, GOOD.
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR PICTURE MADE WITH HIM YET?
Samuel: NO.
Huell: WELL, STAND OVER THERE AND WE'LL TAKE YOUR PICTURE.
THERE WE GO!
Man: HUELL, GO STAND NEXT TO THE TREE.
Huell: OH, THERE HE GOES.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
Samuel: SAMUEL.
Huell: YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY THE TREE.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE UNDER THERE?
Samuel: IT FEELS...WEIRD.
Huell: HA HA HA!
AND I GUESS WE CAN JUST END THE PROGRAM RIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN TO PLACE WHERE WE WANTED TO BE.
THIS IS WHERE OUR WHOLE ADVENTURE--THIS IS THE FINAL DESTINATION THAT WE STARTED OUT FOR A LONG TIME AGO.
WE GOT DIVERTED BY THE PADDLE TENNIS COURTS, BUT WE FINALLY MADE IT.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND ON VENICE BOULEVARD, BUT THIS IS AS BEAUTIFUL AND CREATIVE AND INTERESTING A PIECE OF ART AS I HAVE EVER SEEN ANYWHERE ON VENICE BEACH, AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY WORTH THE TRIP.
WE HAVE REACHED OUR DESTINATION.
THEY'RE HAVING THEIR PICTURES MADE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL TREE.
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA, ONLY ON VENICE BEACH.
WE HAVE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.
