(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN PART BY SPRINT, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING YOU TO THE WORLD.

(man) ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE'S GOT THE MAP, SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ (Don) DEAR TV MAILBAG, WHERE ARE THOSE BLOOD-SUCKIN' BUGS?

HI, DON THE CAMERA GUY HERE, FULLY AWARE THAT THE STATE BIRD OF WISCONSIN IS THE MOSQUITO.

MAYBE IT'S JUST TOO EARLY FOR 'EM, BUT NOT TOO EARLY THIS MORNING FOR A PIECE OF PIE.

SUDDENLY, THESE PRODUCERS REALIZE WE'RE IN OSSEO, HOME OF THE ORIGINAL NORSKE NOOK, JUSTIFIABLY FAMOUS FOR THEIR BAKED GOODS WHOSE BAKED GOODNESS WE'VE SAMPLED BEFORE AT THEIR OTHER LOCATION.

(Mike) OH, LORD, YEAH.

THAT'S THE RASPBERRY SOUR CREAM.

MISTY SAID THAT WAS THE BEST PIE IN THE HOUSE.

YEAH.

I'M SUFFERING FROM SLIDING MERINGUE.

PUT IT ON THE DASHBOARD, IT COULD BE LIKE AN EXTRA AIRBAG.

OH, I GOT TO LEARN TO MAKE THIS.

I GOTTA LEARN TO GET TO WISCONSIN MORE OFTEN.

(Don) CALORICALLY SPEAKING, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH SHOT OUR WAD FOR THE DAY, IF NOT FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK, BUT THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A LAND WHERE BIG THINGS ABOUND.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, NEILLSVILLE, HOME OF CHATTY BELLE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST TALKING COW WHO WILL CHAT YOU UP FOR THE PRICE OF A QUARTER.

[female voice over speaker] Hello, my name is Chatty Belle.

Thanks for stopping at WCCN's Wisconsin pavilion.

WELCOME.

THANKS FOR TALKING TO US.

(Belle) On the other side of me is a replica of the original world's largest piece of cheese.

(Mike) 14 1/2 FEET LONG, 6 1/2 FEET WIDE, 5 1/2 FEET TALL.

I LIKE THIS: "THE LARGEST CHEESE IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND."

THAT'S RIGHT, BULLET-- THIS IS BULLET, CHATTY BELLE'S LITTLE ONE.

I'LL WATCH IT IN CASE ALBERT SHOWS UP.

(Mike) ALBERT THE BULL?

(Randy) YEAH, THEY HAD A LITTLE THING.

THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY FAMOUS, SO THEIR HANDLERS WERE TRYING TO KEEP IT QUIET.

(Don) SOUNDS LIKE RANDY'S HAD TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH COFFEE, WHICH HELPS EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE HEADIN' NOW FOR THE RADIO STATION/ GIFT SHOP TO SAMPLE SOME MORE OF THE LOCAL SOUVENIRS.

AFTER SOME CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE PURCHASES, WE SACKED UP THE GOODS AND RESUMED THE DRIVING PORTION OF OUR SHOW, DRIVING EVEN DEEPER INTO THE HEART OF THE STATE.

HERE, JUST OUTSIDE MARSHFIELD, A LAWYER WITH APPARENTLY TOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS HAS UNEARTHED SOMETHING HE FEELS COMPELLED TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD.

(Clyde) IT ALL COMES OUT OF THE MARSH DOWN HERE.

WE LIVE ON THE EDGE OF THE McMILLAN MARSH.

IT STRETCHES FOR SEVERAL MILES NORTH OF TOWN, AND I WAS DIGGIN' DOWN THERE A FEW YEARS AGO AND CAME ACROSS THIS BIG BIRD WITH A NINE-FOOT WINGSPAN.

HUNG IT IN THE TREE UP THERE, AND IT FLIES.

THE NEIGHBORS WOULD COME BY AND SAY, "WHERE'D YOU EVER GET THIS?"

"I DUG IT OUT OF THE MARSH."

IT INHABITED THE MARSH DURING THE IRON AGE, THEY'RE EXTINCT NOW.

(Mike) WHAT EXTINCT-ED THEM?

(Clyde) SOME--I THINK INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION IS ONE OF THE CAUSES.

IT CAME IN, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANTI-RUST SOLUTIONS OR ANYTHING, AND I THINK THEY JUST CORRODED AWAY.

HERE'S A REAL MEDICAL CURIOSITY.

IT'S A SIAMESE TWIN CHAIN DRAGON.

THIS IS A SWAMP GATOR HERE.

THIS IS A POSITRON.

SEE, THEY'RE VERY AFFIRMATIVE BIRDS.

THESE ARE THE MARSH MOSQUITOES.

THEY WERE WORSE LAST YEAR.

THIS IS AN AMBIVALETRON.

SEE, THEY'RE VERY INDECISIVE BIRDS.

THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE MARSH POLICE.

HE CLEARS THE MARSH OF RIFFRAFF.

THAT'S RIFFRAFF UP ON HIS FOUR-PRONGED TRIDENT.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BONG BIRD?

NO.

bong!

(Clyde) I ALWAYS TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO DO THINGS I WANT TO DO.

I DID A LOT OF STAINED GLASS, MOTORCYCLING, CERAMICS, BUILT ALL MY KILNS AND EVERYTHING AND JUST PLAYED AROUND.

AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO GET INTO METAL SCULPTURE.

I ALWAYS HAD MY WELDING EQUIPMENT AND THAT, BUT THEN I DID THAT ONE BIRD, AND IT JUST SORT OF CLICKED WITH MARSH STORY, AND I KEPT ON DIGGING.

(Randy) IT'S A STORY?

YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU ACTUALLY WELD THESE?

I HAVE TO.

MY WIFE CAN'T WELD WORTH DIDDLY.

(Mike) SHE--SHE APPARENTLY CAN'T BUILD A STRAIGHT LINE EITHER.

(Clyde) MY WIFE AND I DID THAT WALL UP FRONT, YOU CAN SEE THE WOMAN DOESN'T HAVE AN EYE FOR LEVEL.

(Randy) WELL, SHE'S HUNG ON TO YOU, THOUGH.

APPARENTLY THAT WAS-- SHE'S--SHE'S A SMART WOMAN.

IT'S NEVER DULL.

UM, WE'VE BEEN MARRIED ALMOST 44 YEARS NOW, SO YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A HABIT.

(Clyde) A YEAR AGO, WE STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH SOME GENETICALLY MODIFIED FERROUS SEEDS AND CAME UP WITH THESE HYBRIDS.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T REPRODUCE, BUT THEY SEEM TO BLOOM FOREVER.

WHEN WE FOUND THIS ONE IN THE YARD, I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A JAPANESE CEREMONIAL TURTLE.

gong!

HE GETS CARRIED AWAY.

THESE ARE MY COOL DUDES.

[laughter] IT'S ALMOST GETTING OUT OF HAND.

YEAH, WE HAVE SOME WITH REAL CRUDE SOCIAL HABITS WE HAVE TO KEEP AR OUND THE CORNER.

OH, DEAR.

THIS IS AN OOH-OOH TURTLE.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN OOH-OOH TURTLE?

THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR FLIGHTS, KEEP THOSE FEET OUT THERE ALL THE TIME-- WHEN THEY'RE THERE FOR MONTHS, THOSE FEET GET PUSHED UP SHORTER AND SHORTER.

BUT HANGING DOWN IN THE WIND STREAM, THE TESTICLES HANG OUT LONGER AND LONGER.

SO WHEN IT COMES IN FOR A LANDING, IT GOES "OOH, OOH, OOH."

(Nancy) LOOK WHAT'S RAISED OUT OF THE PRIMORDIAL OOZE.

(Don) YOU GET A LOT OF PRIMORDIAL OOHS AND AAHS.

OH, YAH.

[laughs] (Randy) WELL, SUDDENLY, JURISTIC PARK MAKES SENSE.

(Clyde) JURUSTIC.

(Randy) JURUSTIC, BUT YOU COULD BE JURISTIC TOO WITH YOUR PREVIOUS CAREER.

[Randy guffaws] (Mike) WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?

WHY DID YOU BRING HIM?

(Mike) YO U DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THAT; COME ON.

LET'S GET OUT OF THERE.

(Don) NOW, IF YOU THINK CLYDE'S REALLY THIS GRUMPY, THEN I HATE TO BUST YOUR BUBBLE, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THE WORK HE'S DONE ON JURUSTIC PARK PROVES AGAIN THIS STATE IS A WORLD ALL ITS OWN.

WE WERE SOON, IN FACT, PASSING BY RUDOLPH, HOME OF THE WONDER CAVE AND GROTTO GARDEN, WHICH IS WELL WORTH A STOP, THOUGH WE WEREN'T STOPPING TILL STEVENS POINT.

HERE, ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, TONY FLATOFF'S BACKYARD HARBORS YET ANOTHER ONE-OF-A-KIND HOMEMADE ATTRACTION WE CAN'T RESIST.

(Mike) WOW.

(Randy) I LIKE THIS; THIS IS-- (Tony) YEAH, THIS WAS STARTED WHEN-- OH, ABOUT 45 YEARS AGO.

AND WITH A BIG FAN IN THE MIDDLE THERE.

THE BIG ONE, THAT USED TO BE THE WHITEY HOTEL.

YEAH, IT WAS IN THE WALL.

THEY REMODELED IT AND EVERYTHING.

THE THREW IT OUT, SO I BROUGHT IT HERE.

GOT THE GREASE OFF OF IT AND PAINTED IT.

(Mike) AND PUT THAT ONE FAN UP.

YEAH, ONE FAN AND THE FOUR BUGGY WHEELS.

THAT'S ALL I HAD FROM THE START.

(Randy) WHERE DID THE OTHER FANS COME FROM?

(Tony) OH, I WAS PICKING THEM UP, AND I HAD AN ELECTRICIAN HERE IN THE TOWN.

HE HAD A LOT OF FANS, SO HE ALWAYS JUST GAVE 'EM TO ME.

(Randy) NOW, DOES THE WISCONSIN WIND BLOW THESE THINGS LIKE CRAZY?

(Tony) OH, YEAH, EVERY ONE.

THE WAY THE WIND IS THIS YEAR, EVERY ONE WAS TURNING.

(Mike) SO THEY JUST GO LIKE MAD ALL DAY?

(Tony) OH, YES, THEY GO JUST STEADY.

THEY ALL TURN; EVEN THAT BIG ONE TURNS.

(Randy) OKAY, WE'LL GET-- WE'LL BE THE WIND.

(Tony) NO, THAT'S--IT'S REALLY QUIET; TODAY'S REALLY QUIET.

(Randy) IT'S LIKE A SCULPTURE.

(Tony) IT IS, YEAH.

I DIDN'T THINK, FROM THE START, WHEN I DONE SOMETHING.

IT THOUGHT THIS MAYBE-- DOING FOOLISH THING, BUT NOW, I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S--IT'S IN ME; I GOTTA BE BUSY WITH ALL THIS.

JUST LIKE MY WIFE, SHE'S BUSY WITH DOLLS, AND I'M BUSY WITH THIS.

THAT'S WHY WE GOT OLD.

(Don) IT'S A NO-WIND SITUATION.

(Don) NOW, TONY'S TOWN IS ALSO KNOWN FOR A GOLDEN BEVERAGE THAT'S PRODUCED HERE, OF WHICH I WOULD BE A FAN.

AND FOR ONCE, IT APPEARS I AM IN LUCK.

BOY, AM I THIRSTY.

YOU SAID "WRAP."

THOUGH, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS SIGN AND MY STOMACH AREN'T GETTING ALONG SO WELL.

(Mike) WOW, THAT-- THAT WATER'S REALLY ROARIN'.

(Don) PAPER PACKIN', THAT'S WHAT THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS FAMOUS FOR, AND PAPER PACKERS DO DEPEND ON THE POWER OF THE FOX RIVER TO HELP PRODUCE THEIR PRODUCTS.

LOOKS LIKE THE DAM TENDER TENDS HIS DAM WITH A LITTLE EXTRA FLAIR.

NOW, APPLETON WOULD BE THE HOMETOWN OF HARRY HOUDINI, BUT WE'VE GOT NO TIME FOR THAT.

WE ARE MERELY PASSING THROUGH PAST A PROMINENT PIECE OF PUBLIC ART SOME SAY RESEMBLES A HORSE, WHILE OTHER SEE SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

OUR TIME CRUNCH MIGHT BEST BE DESCRIBED THIS WAY: RUDY ROTTER'S WAITIN' FOR US.

AND RUDY'S MUSEUM IN MANITOWOC TAKES SOME TIME TO EXAMINE.

THAT'S BECAUSE RUDY, TRAINED FIRST IN DENTISTRY AND ZOOLOGY, HAS GONE ON TO FILL THREE WHOLE FLOORS OF THIS OLD FACTORY WITH PIECES OF ART THAT HE'S DRAWN, CARVED, TWISTED, AND BEATEN INTO BEING.

(Rudy) I STARTED OUT WITH THE USE OF CLAY AND PLASTER, COMPLETELY SELF-TAUGHT.

I HAD DONE DISSECTION IN THE DENTAL SCHOOL, AND I RESTUDIED ANATOMY.

THEN I STARTED WITH CLAY, 'CAUSE WITH CLAY, YOU CAN ADD; YOU CAN TAKE AWAY; YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND.

THAT'S A PORTRAIT OF MYSELF.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE.

AND THEN AFTER ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS, I TOOK UP A HAMMER AND A CHISEL, AND I STARTED CARVING.

AND AT FIRST, I CARVED WITH LOCAL STONE.

THEN I WENT INTO BUYING ITALIAN ALABASTER LIKE THIS PIECE IS, CARRARA MARBLE, WHICH COMES FROM THE SAME MOUNTAIN IN ITALY THAT MICHELANGELO'S CARVINGS CAME FORM.

AND SO I CARVED ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF STONES AND WOODS AND TEAKWOODS.

I'M A BIG FAMILY MAN, AS YOU CAN SEE.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FAMILY: MA, PA, AND THE KIDS, AS WE USED TO SAY.

I WORK F.B.S., FAST BUT SLOPPY.

AND I--I DON'T-- JUST LIKE DON.

(Don) OH, SORRY.

THIS IS AN OLD BARN BEAM.

YEAH.

SEE, SO I TOOK THAT.

SOMETIME, I'LL SIT DOWN HERE, AND I'LL SAY TO MYSELF, "ROTTER, HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU EVER DRAG ALL THIS STUFF AND CHOP IT?"

TOOK ME A NUMBER OF YEARS JUST TO LEAVE THE CHISEL MARKS IN, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S SUCH A STRENGTH AND BEAUTY TO THE MARKS OF THE CHISELS.

(Randy) BUT IT'S KIND OF A DEPARTURE THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THINGS LIKE THIS.

(Rudy) YES, AS TIME WENT ON, MY JOINTS WORE OUT.

THAT'S WHAT MY SURGEON, THE PHYSICIAN, SAID.

YEARS OF SHOT-PUTTING, DISCUS THROWING, FOOTBALL, 50 YEARS OF PRACTICING DENTISTRY, 45 YEARS OF HAMMER AND CHISEL-- SO I WAS AT A LOSS AT FIRST, AND THEN I STARTED LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I CAME UPON THE TROPHY INDUSTRY.

AND I BECAME ENAMOURED WITH THIS.

THESE ARE ALL TROPHIES, AND I TAKE THEM AND CUT PIECES OF WOOD, PUT THESE-- THESE DIFFERENT COLORS TO REFLECT THE LIGHT.

SEE, SOMETHING LIKE THIS, FOR INSTANCE, IS JUST A STRAIGHT PIECE OF METAL, EXCESS METAL.

AND I NAILED IT DOWN HERE.

THEN I TAKE AND START TWISTING IT.

OH, OKAY, SO-- AND IT'S THE ACTIVITY OF THE TWISTING THAT TURNS INTO THESE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS.

I DID A WHOLE SERIES OF THESE, CALLED ANCIENT EGYPT.

AND THIS IS THE ANCIENT CHINESE TEMPLES.

I CALL THESE ALL VARIATIONS ON A THEME.

(Mike) RUDY, I'M LOOKING AROUND THIS ROOM, AND I AM SEEING--I DON'T KNOW.

I COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COUNT HOW MANY PIECES.

(Rudy) OH, WELL.

(Mike) WHERE DID YOU FIND THE TIME?

(Rudy) THIS WAS MY HUNTING.

THIS WAS MY FISHING.

THIS WAS MY CARD PLAYING, EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE BRIDGE.

I USED TO PLAY A LITTLE BRIDGE.

THIS IS A JELL-O MOLD, AND IF YOU LOOK, YOU'LL SEE THIS LITTLE OUTER SPACE CRITTER.

(Randy) MM-HMM, AND THESE ARE FROM WHAT AGAIN?

FOUNDRY PATTERNS, ALL THESE RED THINGS.

(Randy) YOU HATE TO WASTE ANYTHING.

(Rudy) YEAH, YEAH.

SEE, THESE, FOR INSTANCE, ARE OLD HOSPITAL CHARTS.

(Randy) ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER.

(Rudy) YEAH, YEAH.

THAT'S THE FUN OF IT.

THIS IS ALL RESURGE-IC CONSTANT EXPERIMENTATION AND CONSTANT FINDING DIFFERENT THINGS.

(Randy) SO CAN YOU ESTIMATE HOW MANY PIECES YOU'VE DONE?

(Rudy) OVER 16,000, AND THAT'S WITHOUT THE DRAWINGS.

MY PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN THAT THE ACT OF FINDING AND CREATING A PIECE IS MORE ENJOYABLE THAN THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

AND SO, WHEN I GET DONE WITH ONE, I GO ON TO THE OTHER ONE, GET DONE WITH THAT, GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE UNTIL I POOP OUT, SO TO SPEAK.

(Mike) I NOTICED THAT SO MANY OF THE BASES SAY "HAPPY."

(Rudy) THE REASON FOR THAT "HAPPY" IS, WHEN I GOT TO BE 80 YEARS OLD, I WAS HAPPY THAT I WAS STILL ALIVE, 'CAUSE MY PARENTS HAD DIED AT 62.

AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

SO I SIGN EVERYTHING NOW, "HAPPY."

THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN A KIND OF A LOVE THING FOR ME, AND I STILL LOVE IT AND ENJOY IT.

OH, YOU'RE HERE TOO.

(Mike) HOW ARE MY TEETH LOOKIN'?

WHILE I'M HERE, I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD-- ARE THEY LOOKIN' OKAY?

YEAH, YOUR GUMS COULD USE A LITTLE MASSAGE.

A LITTLE MASSAGE ON THE GUMS.

YEAH, YEAH.

BUT THE REAL THING IS, DON IS MISSING A DENTAL APPOINTMENT TODAY.

WELL, COME RIGHT INTO MY WORKSHOP.

(Don) NOW AT 88, RUDY FIGURES HE'S ADDED 15 YEARS TO HIS LIFE EXPECTANCY BY DOING ALL THIS, AND WE HOPE HE GETS 15 MORE.

BUT AS USUAL, OUR CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN FAST.

SO INSTEAD OF SAVORING THE MOMENT, WE'VE DECIDED TO SASHAY ON TO SHEBOYGAN.

FANS OF GRASSROOTS ART AND GOOD PLUMBING MAY WELL RECOGNIZE THIS AS KOHLER COUNTRY.

IN FACT, WE'LL BE CHECKING IN WITH THEM TOMORROW.

BUT FOR NOW, SINCE WE CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO EXPLAIN THIS BEVY OF BIRDHOUSES TO US, WE'RE CHOOSIN' TO ESCHEW TRESPASSING IN FAVOR OF GOIN' WHERE THE GULLS ARE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR SOME MINDLESS SELF-INDULGENCE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN.

(Randy) YOU KNOW, THEY KEEP A PRETTY GOOD INFIELD HERE, DON'T THEY?

GO OUT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE AND SHAG THAT FLY.

HEARD OF SANDLOT BASEBALL?

(Mike) YEAH.

(Randy) IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THE MOON HERE.

SMELT?

OH, SWEET.

(Don) GUESS WE'RE HEADED FOR THE SHOWERS.

HOPE WE WON'T SEE ANY TOMORROW.

(Mike) ♪ BA, BA, BA, BA.

♪ (Don) YOU HAVEN'T SUNG IN THE MORNING IN QUITE A WHILE.

♪ DA, DA, IT'S GONNA RAIN ALL DAY.

♪ ♪ (Don) IT DOES INDEED LOOK LIKE A GOOD DAY FOR SEEIN' OUTSIDER ART INSIDE.

BUT FORTUNATELY, THE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ART CENTER HAS PLENTY OF IT TO SEE.

WHILE THE KOHLER FOUNDATION SEEKS OUT SITES TO SAVE, THE CENTER SERVES AS A SHOWCASE FOR ART THAT'S HAD TO BE MOVED TO SURVIVE.

IN THIS CASE, MOVED ALL THE WAY FROM INDIA, WHERE A ROAD BUILDER NAMED NEK CHAND WORKED FOR YEARS ON A SECRET GARDEN FILLED WITH FIGURES LIKE THESE.

(Leslie) HE WAS WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT ON THE CAPITAL CITY PROJECT TO BUILD THE NEW CAPITAL OF CHANDIGARH.

AND--AND IT STRUCK AN IDEA IN HIM, AND HE WENT BACK TO A STORY THAT HIS MOTHER HAD TOLD HIM WHEN HE WAS A KID ABOUT A MAGICAL KINGDOM WHERE EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT PEACE AND LOVE AND A LOT OF SPIRITUAL BELIEFS OF HINDUISM INCORPORATED INTO THAT.

HE COLLECTED AND STOCKPILED AND HAULED THINGS OUT TO THE--TO THE SITE ON HIS BICYCLE AT NIGHT FOR SIX YEARS BEFORE HE EVEN STARTED BUILDING.

A LOT OF THE-- THE CONCRETE HE MADE IS SORT OF A HANDMADE CONCRETE.

THE BROKEN DISHES CAME FROM COUNTLESS HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR MARKINGS AND THEIR INSIGNIAS FREQUENTLY.

HE'S A MASTER COLLECTOR, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF THE CONTINUITY IN HIS VISION COMES FROM HIS ABILITY TO STOCKPILE THIS STUFF UNTIL HE HAS ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING WITH.

AND THE BANGLES THAT ENCRUST THE SURFACE HERE, THEY'RE ALSO--IF YOU SEE THESE FIGURES BACK IN THE CORNER-- THEY'RE MADE FORM THE BANGLES.

A LOT OF THE WORKS HAVE BEEN VANDALIZED, DAMAGED BY WEATHER.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM.

SO WE--WE TOOK A LOT OF WORKS THAT NEEDED CONSERVATION, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE PROJECTS.

(Randy) AND OVER IN THE OTHER ROOM, LITTLE THINGS WHICH-- WHICH ARE PART OF, I GUESS, WISCONSIN'S LORE AS WELL.

(Leslie) LEVI FISHER AMES WAS A CIVIL WAR VETERAN AND DID A LOT OF WOOD CARVINGS, SORT OF, IN HIS RETIREMENT.

HE WAS A STORYTELLER, AND HE JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVED TO HAVE PEOPLE OVER.

HE WOULD CARVE LITTLE ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND BUGS AND THINGS AND TALK ABOUT THEM.

AND I THINK, THE MORE INVESTED HE BECAME IN TELLING THE STORY, THE MORE COMPLEX HIS CARVINGS BECAME.

LEVI FISHER AMES THE ARTIST NEVER SOLD ANY OF THE WORKS.

HE BELIEVED FIRMLY THAT YOU JUST COULDN'T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND THE GROUP UNLESS IT WAS SEEN TOGETHER.

HE USED TO PACK 'EM ALL UP AND PUT 'EM IN CRATES THAT HE HADE MADE AND TAKE 'EM FROM SITE TO SITE AT LOCAL STATE FAIRS AND SET 'EM UP AND TELL ALL ABOUT THEM.

(Don) NOW, CONSIDERING WHO'S BEHIND ALL THIS, IT'S NOT REALLY ALL THAT SURPRISING THAT THE FACILITY'S FACILITIES ARE UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE, SO NICE THAT THESE PRODUCERS SEEM RELUCTANT TO LEAVE.

BUT WAIT; THERE'S MORE DOWN IN STORAGE, WHERE ONLY WEASELS DARE TO TREAD, INCLUDING NEARLY ALL THE PIECES FROM JIMMY BOWLIN, THE ORIGINAL RHINESTONE COWBOY'S RHINESTONEY ABODE, MOVED LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL FROM McCOMB, MISSISSIPPI, FOR PERIODIC DISPLAY HERE.

(Leslie) IT'S AN ENORMOUS PROJECT, AND IT'S VERY FRAGILE.

YOU CAN ONLY TAKE IT DOWN AND PUT IT UP SO MANY TIMES.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, GLITTER ON CONSTRUCTION PAPER WITH GLUE: IT WAS A CHALLENGE TO SAVE IT.

HE WAS A PERFORMER, SORT OF, BEFORE HE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A VISUAL ARTIST.

SO HIS CLOTHING, HIS HATS, HIS BOOTS, HIS JACKETS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE FURNITURE, THEY'RE ALL SORT OF PART OF THE PERSONA THE HE BUILT UP.

(Mike) EVEN HIS TEETH.

(Leslie) YES, EVEN HIS RHINESTONE-INLAID DENTURES.

(Don) YES, JIMMY'S CLAIM TO FAME WERE THOSE RHINESTONES, WHILE EUGENE VON BRUENCHENHEIN, A POET, PAINTER, AND PHOTOGRAPHER FROM MILWAUKEE MAY BEST BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS WORK IN A MEDIUM THAT MUST BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED.

(Randy) HOW DOES ONE WORK WITH CHICKEN BONES?

(Emil) THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE ONLY ONE'S I'VE EVER SEEN.

FROM WHAT WE CAN FIGURE BY HAVING THEM IN OUR POSSESSION AND WORKING WITH THEM, IS THAT HE USED MODEL AIRPLANE GLUE.

SO THEY'RE GLUED TOGETHER WITH AIRPLANE GLUE, AND THEN THERE IS A SMALL WIRE, SOMETIMES, THAT RUNS INSIDE THE NECK PIECES AND IN THE COILS UP HERE AND IN THE TOPS.

WE FOUND HIS HOME LITERALLY STACKED WITH ARTWORK, FROM FLOOR TO CEILING AND WALL TO WALL.

THESE, WE FOUND ALL THROUGH THE HOME.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY STURDY LITTLE PIECES, MUCH MORE STURDY THAN THE BONE TOWERS ARE.

(Randy) THAT'S A THRONE ALMOST.

(Emil) RIGHT, A THRONE, EXACTLY.

WHICH IS THE LARGEST ONE WE FOUND IN THE HOUSE.

MADE OF ALL KINDS OF LARGE FOWL BONES.

(Randy) HOW MUCH CHICKEN WOULD YOU HAVE TO EAT TO MAKE THESE?

(Emil) I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT IF KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN WAS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET RID OF A LOT OF THINGS.

(Randy) OH, MY.

(Emil) WE DO KNOW THE PAINT ON A LOT OF THE PIECES WAS FROM PAINT GIVEN TO HIM BY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS OF HIM, BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD PAINT.

(Don) CLEARLY, THE KOHLERS HAVE MADE THIS THEIR MISSION, SAVING GRASSROOTS ART, HITHER AND YON, WHICH EVEN INCLUDES RIGHT HERE IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

SEEMS THAT JAMES TELLEN WAS A LOCAL FURNITURE MAKER WHOSE FANCY TURNED TO CONCRETE, WHICH HELPS EXPLAIN WHY HIS WOODS WERE FILLED WITH RELIGION AND HISTORY... (Mike) MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT...

NATURE, DISNEY MOVIES, PIECES THAT ARE BEST APPRECIATED IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

BUT NOW WE'RE SAYIN' "SO LONG" TO SHEBOYGAN, CLIMBING BACK INTO A CRAMPED MINIVAN FOR ONE FINAL FLING AT ANOTHER GENUINE ROADSIDE ATTRACTION.

OUTSIDE PARDEEVILLE, IT IS A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL, A WORLD OF STYROFOAM MINIATURES ALL MADE BY A RETIRED JUNIOR HIGH TEACHER WHO SEEMS TO FAR TOO GLAD TO SEE US.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET YOUR TUSH IN HERE.

(Don) YOU HAVE COME FOR ME, EH?

(Paul) I HAVE COME FO R YOU, KID.

(Don) ALL RIGHTY.

(Paul) HO W YOU DOIN'?

I STARTED BUILDING MODELS IN '72.

WE BUILT 'EM, ORIGINALLY, FOR OURSELVES AT HOME.

AND THEN WE OUTGREW THE BACKYARD, SO WE BOUGHT THIS PLACE.

AND ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE PARK IS NOW STYROFOAM.

MY WIFE AND I BOTH WORK TOGETHER ON THESE.

SHE DOES WHATEVER, AND "WE" IS POLITICALLY CORRECT.

DID YOU GET THAT?

HERE'S TARA FROM GONE WITH THE WIND.

YOU NOTICE THE TWO FIGURES ON THE FRONT PORCH.

(Don) FR ANKLY, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN.

(Paul) OFF TO MY RIGHT IS AN ENGLISH PUB WHERE DICKENS WROTE THE CHRISTMAS CAROL.

(Mike) THAT'D BE YOUR OTHER RIGHT.

(Randy) THAT'D BE YOUR OTHER RIGHT.

(Paul) THAT'S MY LEFT, YEAH.

I'M SORRY.

(Mike) LOOSEN UP A LITTLE, WILL YA?

(Paul) YOU GUYS ARE TERRIBLE.

OFF TO MY RIGHT IS A FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOME CALLED THE ROBIE HOUSE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

(Don) IF IT WAS OVER THERE, IT'D BE FRANK LLOYD LEFT.

(Paul) RIGHT.

NOW, THIS IS THE UNITED NATIONS COMPLEX.

(Randy) OH, YEAH, I RECOGNIZE THAT.

(Mike) WOW, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL IN THAT.

(Randy) OR THERE WAS.

YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A PLAN ON--ON THESE THINGS TILL JUST A MOMENT STRIKES YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR WHAT?

(Paul) YE AH, SORT OF.

WE TRY TO DO AS MANY HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AS POSSIBLE.

(Randy) THERE'S NO GEOGRAPHY PART, THOUGH, IN HERE.

I MEAN, ANYTHING CAN BE ANYWHERE, RIGHT?

CORRECT.

'CAUSE THE TAJ MAHAL IS AWFULLY CLOSE TO PHILADELPHIA THERE.

WELL, WE MOVED IT.

(Randy) SO YOU ACTUALLY WORK FROM PLANS?

(Paul) YES.

YEAH, WE TRY TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN, IF NOT THE EXACT PLANS, SOME FAIRLY EXACT DIMENSIONS.

THEN I SCALE IT DOWN.

(Randy) WHAT WAS THE MOST DAUNTING CHALLENGE?

(Paul) THE CATHEDRAL TOOK OVER 9,000 HOURS.

[mouths words] YEAH, FIVE YEARS.

REALLY?

(Paul) YEAH, OFF AND ON.

(Randy) NOT STRAIGHT?

(Paul) YEAH, WE DID THE STATUARY, ALL THE GLASSWORK OURSELVES.

(Randy) DID YOU GO HOG WILD ON THIS BECAUSE OF YOUR FRENCH BACKGROUND?

(Paul) NO, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CATHEDRALS IN THE WORLD.

(Randy) I'D SAY WE'RE PRETTY JAW-DROPPED BY THE WHOLE THING.

(Mike) I'M AMAZED AT HOW MUCH WORK YOU'VE DONE HERE.

(Paul) IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

I REALLY ENJOY DOING IT.

(Randy) WHAT IS IT WITH WISCONSIN?

MAYBE YOU CAN-- A BUNCH OF ODDBALLS LIVE HERE.

(Don) SO NOW IT'S THAT TIME IN THE SHOW WHEN WE BESTOW OUR OFFICIAL SHIRT... WELL, THANK YOU.

(Don) ONLY COMES IN XL; DOESN'T COME IN MINIATURE.

GRAB A FEW SOUVENIRS, AND START HEADING FOR HOME.

ALTHOUGH I FEAR MIKE MAY BE A LITTLE TOO EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT.

(Randy) BE CAREFUL, MIKE.

(Don) THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNIN' OFF.

(Mike) I'M OUT OF HERE.

(Randy) THAT'S A GOOD SHOT.

HEY, MIKEY.

IT'S OVER HERE, A TITLEIST?

Captioning provided by KCPT Television.

Captioning by Jeremy atCaptionMax www.captionmax.com (Randy) SEE.

(Don) OKAY, NOW PULL IT AWAY.

(Randy) JUST PROVE HOW GOOD A LIKENESS.

PRETTY GOOD.

LOOK INSIDE; LINCOLN'S SITTING ON HIS THRONE AND EVERYTHING.

(Paul) AND THE ROOFS ARE ALL A PRODUCT CALLED INSULCRETE.

IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE OF HAIL.

WE GET HAIL HERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AND... (Mike) I CATCH HAIL AT HOME SOMETIMES.

I CATCH IT ALL THE TIME.

(Randy) NOW, THOSE ARE MINIATURE.

RIGHT?

THAT'S SMALLER THAN THE ACTUAL CAPITOL WAS.

(Paul) THESE GUYS ARE TERRIBLE.

I TELL YOU.

(Randy) SAY WHAT?

I SAY YOU GUYS ARE TERRIBLE.

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