>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED BY:
>>> WE ARE STANDING ON THE BANKS
OF THE WABASH RIVER AT INDIANA'S
ORIGINAL CITY, VINCENNES.
>> AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO
VISIT DURING THE INDIANA
BICENTENNIAL YEAR THAN THE PLACE
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
>> AND CELEBRATE GROUSELAND, THE
ORIGINAL CITY.
HONOR HOOSIER MEN AND WOMEN WHO
SERVED THE STATE AND THE NATION
AT THE INDIANA MILITARY MUSEUM,
AND GET A TASTE OF LOCAL HISTORY
AS WE VISIT CHARLIE'S CANDY
SHOP.
>> AND LAUGH ALONG WITH
INDIANA'S OWN RED SKELTON.
>> GET TO KNOW VINCENNES WITH
US.
IT'S ALL COMING UP ON "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL."
♪♪
>> HI, I'M ERICA SAGON.
>> AND I'M DARRYL NEHER.
VINCENNES IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT
CITY TO THE STATE AND THE
REGIONAL HISTORY.
THIS COMMUNITY REEKS WITH
HISTORICAL TREASURES.
>> LIKE THIS THE GEORGE ROGERS
CLARK MEMORIAL.
IT COMMEMORATES THE OLD
NORTHWEST TERRITORY AND THE
LARGEST NATIONAL MONUMENT
OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, D.C..
VINCENNES MAY BE A SMALL CITY
BUT IT'S FULL OF HISTORY.
SO LET'S START BY TAKING A PEEK
INTO ITS PAST.
>> THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE THE
BANKS OF WABASH, SENT PIONEERS
IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
IT WAS HOME TO THE EARLIEST
KNOWN TRIBES.
THEIR BURIAL GROUNDS REMAIN
UNDISTURBED FOR 130 YEARS.
BY THE 1700S, FUR TRADERS
SETTLED IN THE AREA, DRAWN BY
PLENTIFUL GAME AND THE NATURAL
WABASH RIVER, CLAIMING THE LAND
FOR THE FRENCH COLONY OF CANADA.
>> THE FRENCH HAD BEEN
DEVELOPING THE WABASH RIVER AS A
NEW ROUTE TO CONNECT NORTHERN
AREA CANADA WITH THE SOUTHERN
AREA OF LOUISIANA.
AND THEY ESTABLISHED A SERIES,
DETROIT, AND THE LOGICAL THING
WAS TO BUILD A FORT ON THE LOWER
WABASH RIVER.
THEY CHOSE FOR THIS ONE OF THE
FRENCH CANADIAN MARINE OFFICERS,
FRANCOIS MARIE VINCENNES IN
1730, HE CAME DOWN AND BROUGHT
WITH HIM A TRIBE OF INDIANS DOWN
INTO THE LOUISIANA AND
ESTABLISHED HIS FORT HERE.
>> KNOWN AS THE COAST, BEFORE
BEING RENAMED VINCENNES IN 1735,
THE FORT BECAME THE FIRST
EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT IN INDIANA,
HOME TO A NUMBER OF
FRENCH-CANADIAN FAMILIES WHO
LIVED IN PEACE ALONGSIDE THE
NEIGHBORING VILLAGE.
AFTER VINCENNES' DEATH.
>> HE DECIDED TO PUT THE TOWN ON
A MORE PERMANENT BASIS BY
ESTABLISHING AGRICULTURE.
HE LAID OUT STREETS IN THE TOWN
AND HE ESTABLISHED A CHURCH
ALONG THE WABASH.
AND SO YOU HAD EDUCATION AND
THEN VINCENNES BECAME ON A MORE
PERMANENT BASIS.
>> IN 1764, THE FRENCH AND THE
INDIAN WAR ERUPTED ACROSS THE
TERRITORY, WITH THE FRENCH
DEFEAT ALL CANADIAN LANDS
INCLUDING VINCENNES WERE PLACED
UNDER BRITISH RULE, BUT AS THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR BEGAN
IN THE EAST, A YOUNG MAN BY THE
NAME OF GEORGE ROGERS CLARK
FORMED A BOLD PLAN TO CAPTURE
THE FORMER FRENCH SETTLEMENT,
THUS OPENING THE MISSISSIPPI TO
SAFE PASSAGE AND ENSURING THE
PATRIOTS WOULD CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE SUPPLIES FROM NEW
ORLEANS.
ON JULY 4th OF 1778, CLARK AND
150 MEN BEGAN THEIR ATTACK.
THOUGH GREATLY OUTNUMBERED THEY
SUCCESSFULLY CAPTURED FORT,
INCLUDING VINCENNES.
>> HENRY HAMILTON, THE BRITISH
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF DETROIT
RECEIVED WORD OF THIS AND
DECIDED THIS WAS NOT GOING TO
STAND.
HE FORMED AN ARMY OF HIS OWN AND
HEADED DOWN THE WABASH RIVER,
ARRIVING INTO THE VICINITY OF
THE VINCENNES IN 1778.
>> THE HANDS WERE NO MATCH FOR
HAMILTON'S ARMY.
HE RECAPTURED THE FORT WITHOUT
FIRING A SINGLE SHOT.
BUT BELIEVING THAT CLARK WOULD
DARE NOT ATTACK DURING WINTER,
HAMILTON RELEASED HIS ARMY FOR
HOME.
CLARK POUNCED.
IN FEBRUARY OF 1779, HE LAUNCHED
A BRAZEN WINTER EXPEDITION.
CLARK HAD A LARGE ARMY JUST
BEHIND HIM, HAMILTON
SURRENDERED.
IT WAS THE LARGEST LAND CONQUEST
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
IT WAS KNOWN AS THE NORTHWEST
TERRITORY IN THE NEWLY FORMED
UNITED STATES.
>> ALL THE WESTERN PART OF THE
LAND IN 1800 BECAME THE INDIANA
TERRITORY AND VINCENNES WAS
SELECTED AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF
THIS INDIANA TERRITORY.
>> IT WAS THE HOLDEST TOWN IN
THE TERRITORY.
IT WAS 70 YEARS OLD AT THIS
TIME, WAY OLDER THAN ANY OTHER
COMMUNITY.
IT WAS ALSO CENTRALLY LOCATED.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, WHO HAD
BEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS
APPOINTED AS GOVERNOR OF THE NEW
INDIANA TERRITORY, ARRIVED OUT
HERE IN JANUARY OF 1801 TO SET
UP THE GOVERNMENT.
>> HARRISON'S ARRIVAL ENTERED IN
A NEW INTELLECTUAL ERA.
HE ESTABLISHED THE JEFFERSON
AACADEMY, TODAY KNOWN AS
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY.
HE ALSO HIRED A PRESS, CREATING
THE INDIANA GAZETTE.
BUT IT WAS HARRISON'S EFFORTS
OUTSIDE OF TOWN THAT RAISED
TENSIONS.
GOVERNOR HARRISON MADE TREATY
AFTER TREATY WITH THE
SURROUNDING TRIBES.
BY THE END OF THE DECADE, HE HAD
CEDEED 75% OF THE TERRITORY FROM
THE NATIVE AMERICANS.
IN 1810, ONE OF THE TRIBES
NEGOTIATED A LAND COMPROMISE.
HARRISON WAS FUMING, AND IT LED
TO THE WAR OF 1812.
HARRISSON'S VICTORY AS COMMANDER
OF THE NORTHWEST ARMY WOULD EARN
HIM A GOLD MEDAL FOR SERVICE AND
PAVE THE WAY FOR HIS EVENTUAL
PRESIDENCY.
IN HARRISON'S ABSENCE, HOWEVER,
POLITICIANS MOVED THE
TERRITORIAL CAPITAL FROM
VINCENNES TO CORYDON.
TODAY, 100 MILES AWAY, VINCENNES
REMAINS A TESTIMONY NOT JUST TO
THE FOUNDING OF THE STATE, BUT
THE FOUNDING OF THE AMERICAN
WEST.
>> VINCENNES HAS A PROUD PAST.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR
HISTORY.
WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TO BE THE
MOST HISTORICAL COMMUNITY IN
INDIANA, THE BEGINNINGS OF
RELIGION REPRESENTED BY THE OLD
CATHEDRAL AND THE OLD CATHEDRAL
LIBRARY.
WE HAVE OUR TERRITORIAL CENTER
HERE, THE SITTING OF GOVERNMENT,
THE BEGINNING OF EDUCATION, WITH
THE JEFFERSON ACADEMY.
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF
INTERPRETATION IN THE BEGINNINGS
OF INDIANA.
AND IT'S FROM THE STUDY OF THESE
BEGINNINGS THAT INDIANA IS THE
WAY IT IS.
>> UNDERSTANDING THAT HISTORY IS
SO IMPORTANT TO GETTING TO KNOW
VINCENNES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE STATE OF INDIANA, BUT
THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR PROPERTY
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON
AND THAWS THAT'S GROUSELAND, AND
THAT'S MOMENT OF WILLIAM HENRY
HARRISON -- THE HOME OF WILLIAM
HENRY HARRISON.
LISA, WE TAKE A LOOK AT
GROUSELAND, IT'S MORE THAN JUST
A HOME.
AND HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE
WHAT THIS BUILDING REPRESENTS?
>> THIS BUILDING IS A
REPRESENTATION OF A PERSONAL
INVESTMENT BY WILLIAM HENRY
HARRISON WHEN HE CAME HERE
APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT JOHN
ADAMS TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF THE
NEWLY ALIGNED INDIANA TERRITORY.
HE WAS 27 YEARS OF AGE WHEN HE
CAME TO VINCENNES.
THE TERRITORY HERE IN VINCENNES
WAS ACQUIRED THROUGH TREATY
GREENVILLE.
SO THIS WAS AMERICAN PROPERTY
AND HE BUILT THIS REALLY SHOWY,
MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF
ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE HE HAD TO
BASICALLY CLAIM TORT.
THE AMERICANS WERE NEW TO THE
TERRITORY AND THEY HAD TO MAKE
THE PRESENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT
KNOWN.
>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND HOW
THIS HOME WAS BUILT AND SOME OF
THE FEATURES THAT ARE REALLY
NOTABLE?
>> I LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT
HARRISON MADE THE PERSONAL
INVESTMENT HERE IN THE
TERRITORY.
I THINK IT'S A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY PRIDE HERE THAT EVEN
OVER 200 YEARS AGO, SOMEONE SAW
A REASON TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT
HERE.
$20,000 OF HIS OWN MONEY, BUT HE
INCORPORATED IN THE STRUCTURE
400,000 BRICKS, BRICKS LOCALLY
MADE HERE, CRAFTSMEN WERE
TRAINED HERE ON SITE.
THE WALLS ARE FOUR BRICKS THICK.
IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF HOSTILE
TERRITORIES GOING ON, THE PEOPLE
COULD COME HERE AND FEEL
PROTECTED.
HE DID HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY
TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME HERE
AND SO WE SAY HERE AT GROUSELAND
THAT WE ARE THE BIRTH PLACE OF
HOOSIER HOSPITALITY.
WE TELL PEOPLE THAT HARRISON WAS
GIVEN TWO IMPORTANT JOBS TO DO
WHEN HE CAME HERE TO THE
TERRITORY TO ATTRACT AS MANY
SETTLERS HERE AS HE POSSIBLY CAN
AND HELP TO OBTAIN AS MUCH LAND
FOR THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AS
HE COULD AND HE DID BOTH OF THEM
VERY WELL.
>> AND SO MUCH OF WHAT WILLIAM
HENRY HARRISON WAS ABLE TO DO
HERE AT GROUSELAND IN THIS
TERRITORY, SERVES AS A
SPRINGBOARD FOR HIS ABILITY TO
RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WILLIAM HENRY
HARRISON AND THE LIMITED TENURE,
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT DISMISS HIM,
BUT AS YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED,
THERE'S A MUCH DEEPER HISTORY
THAT HE'S REMEMBERED FOR.
>> YES, WHEN VISITORS COME HERE,
WE ASK THEM WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
AND COMMONLY, THEY SAY WE KNOW
HE WAS THE SHORTEST TIME IN
OFFICE, AND HE WAS FIRST
PRESIDENT TO DIE IN OFFICE, AND
HE GAVE A LONG INAUGURAL ADDRESS
BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT
HE DID THE 30 YEARS BEFORE.
THE SKILL SET THAT WAS REQUIRED
TO DO ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS.
WE KNOW THAT HE HAS DETRACTORS.
WE KNOW THE NATIVE AMERICAN SIDE
OF THE STORY AND THEIR
SUPPORTERS ISN'T AS GENEROUS TO
HARRISON'S REPUTATION.
BUT WE FEEL LIKE HERE, BECAUSE
HE HAD A LARGE FAMILY, BECAUSE
HE HAD A 45-YEAR MARRIAGE,
BECAUSE HE TRIED TO DO THINGS
FOR THE COMMON PURPOSE AND
BECAUSE HE HAD THE VIRGINIA
NOBLEMAN MENTALITY TO SERVE, WE
FEEL THAT THERE'S SOME GOOD
CHARACTER REFERENCES ABOUT THE
MAN.
>> LISA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
GROUSELAND AND WILLIAM HENRY
HARRISON.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO
GROUSELAND.
>> VISIT
GROUSELANDFOUNDATION.ORG.
>> THANKS AGAIN, LISA.
WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT HARRISON
WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING HIS
COUNTRY AND HIS COMMUNITY.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THE
ROAD TO THE INDIANA MILITARY
MUSEUM, DEDICATED TO MEN AND
WOMEN WHO FELT THE SAME WAY.
♪♪
>> MY INTEREST IN MILITARY
HISTORY AND MEMORABILIA GOES ALL
THE WAY BACK TO WHEN I WAS A
CHILD 5 YEARS OLD.
AND MY FATHER BUILT DRIVE-IN
THEATERS AND THIS IS RIGHT AFTER
WORLD WAR II.
GUESS WHAT, LOTS OF WORLD WAR II
MOVIES AND ALL SORTS OF WAR
MOVIES BEING PLAYED.
IT BECAME NATURAL.
I BECAME INTERESTED IN MILITARY
ITEMS AND MILITARY ARTIFACTS AND
MILITARY HISTORY BECAUSE I SAW
SO MANY JOHN WAYNE MOVIES, I
SUPPOSE.
MY DAD WAS NOT A COLLECTOR.
HE CAME HOME ONE DAY WITH A
CIVIL WAR MUSKET.
THEY OWNED HIM $20 OR $30 AND
THEY GAVE HIM THE MUSKET.
AND SO I REMEMBER THAT, YOU
KNOW, I TOOK CHARGE OF THAT
MUSKET RIGHT AWAY.
I REMEMBER IT WAS MUCH TALLER
THAN I WAS AT THE TIME.
AND THEN FOLLOWED VERY SHORTLY
THEREAFTER, THE VETERAN FROM
WORLD WAR II WAS GOING BACK WITH
THE GERMAN HELMET, A FLAG AND A
BELT AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND
SAID, HERE.
THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE
COLLECTION, PROBABLY 7 YEARS OLD
AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND TOUCH
THESE THINGS, THE ARTIFACTS,
KIND OF BROUGHT IT ALIVE.
THE MUSEUM WILL ALLOW YOU TO
WALK UP AND ACTUALLY TOUCH A
TANK OR AN OLD VEHICLE OR
WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
THAT'S EXCITING.
SO I CONTINUED AS A YOUNG BOY TO
ACCUMULATE ARTIFACTS FROM
WHOEVER WOULD LET ME HAVE THEM.
AND THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL I DID
THAT AND THEN IN COLLEGE, I
CONTINUED TO DO THAT, AND THE
COLLECTIAN BEGAN TOCOLLECTION BEGAN TO GROW AND
GROW, FILLING MY APARTMENT'S
BASEMENT.
I THINK THE BIG TRANSITION WAS
WHEN I ACQUIRED SOME VEHICLE AND
ARTILLERY, THE BIG THINGS AND
STARTED POPPING THEM IN THE
BACKYARD THAT IF BECAME MORE
SERIOUS.
ONCE I STARTED ACQUIRING BIG
THINGS LIKE ARTILLERY PIECES AND
FIRST THING WAS A JEEP AND THEN
A HALF TRACK AND THEN LATER ON
IT GOES TO A TANK OR SOMETHING
ELSE.
PEOPLE ALWAYS SUGGESTED, YOU
KNOW, YOU REALLY NEED TO PUT
THIS STUFF IN A MUSEUM SO PEOPLE
CAN SEE AND APPRECIATE THESE
THINGS.
SO ULTIMATELY, IN 1984, WITH
INCORPORATED THE MUSEUM INTO A
501(c)(3) NOT FOR PROFIT
MUSEUM CORPORATION AND
ESTABLISHED THE MUSEUM IN THAT
FASHION.
SO THEN ITEMS THAT THE MUSEUM
ACCUMULATED, OF COURSE, BELONGED
TO THE MUSEUM.
ITEMS I PREVIOUSLY ACCUMULATED,
AND DONATED TO THE MUSEUM, I'M
STILL DOING THAT TODAY.
WE OPERATED ON VOLUNTEER AND WE
STILL OPERATE ON TOTAL
VOLUNTEERS.
WE HAVE A CORE OF 50 OR 60
SERIOUS VOLUNTEERS WITH THE
MUSEUM RIGHT NOW.
THE WAY WE WERE EXPANDING, WE
KNEW WE HAD TO FIND A NEW
LOCATION.
SIX YEARS AGO WE BEGAN A
CAMPAIGN TO RAISE THE FUNDS TO
PURCHASE THE LAND THAT WE ARE
ON, 14 ACRES WHICH DOWNTOWN
VINCENNES, ADJACENT TO THE PARK,
AND IT SOME EXISTING BUILDING.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO EXPAND AND WE
HAVE LOTS OF NEW PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE.
♪♪
♪♪
>> THE EVENTS ARE WHAT WE CALL
LIVING HISTORY EVENTS.
WE HAVE REENACTORS COME IN FULLY
EQUIPPED THAT SET THEIR CAMPS UP
AND SET THEIR DISPLAY UPS.
THEY GO INTO THE STRETCHES.
PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND AND SEE
ALL OF THESE THINGS, JUST AS
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DURING
WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II OR
EVEN THE CIVIL WAR.
AND THEY ARE GREAT FOR
EVERYBODY, YOUNG AND OLD.
THEY PUT ON ONCE A DAY, AT
LEAST.
THEY PUT ON A MOCK BATTLE, PLUS
WE MAY HAVE SOME WORLD WAR
VETERANS WHO WILL STILL GET UP
AND TELL THEIR STORIES AND
INTERVIEWS.
IT'S AN EXCITING WEEKEND WHEN WE
HAVE THESE ETCHES AND THE EVENTS AND THE WHOLE
FAMILY CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY.
IT DOES BRING HISTORY ALIVE TO
THE FULLEST INSTEAD OF ON THE
SCREEN OR ON THE PAGE IN A BOOK,
THERE IT IS IN REAL LIFE.
AND TALK TO THESE COLLECTORS AND
THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO GET INTO
IT.
IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AS
WELL.
IT'S GRATIFYING TO SEE THE
SCHOOL GROUPS COME IN AND THE
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT
IT.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COST OF
FREEDOM IS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND
WHAT MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR ARMED
SERVICES HAVE HAD TO DO TO
MAINTAIN THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY.
I THINK THAT'S THE GOAL, THE
ULTIMATE GOAL, OF COURSE, OF
WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS
WOULD COME IN AS OUR DOSEONS
WITH THE SCHOOL GROUPS AND TALK
TO THEM.
THOSE ARE FANTASTIC WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN HELP THE YOUNG
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
PERHAPS ANOTHER GENERATION,
EXCEPT WHERE WE LEAVE OFF.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEE A YOUNG
PERSON COME IN HERE -- AND, I
MEAN, I HAVE SEEN BOYS AND GIRLS
COME IN HERE, 10, 11, 12 YEARS
OLD, THAT KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS
STUFF THAN I DID WHEN I WAS THAT
AGE.
WE ARE ACHIEVING A LOT BY
NURTURING THOSE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE
SATISFIED WITH A BOOK OR
SATISFIED WITH A DVD AND A MOVIE
OR WHATEVER, BUT IF THE PERSON
COMES HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE
INTERESTED IN HISTORY, AND THEY
ARE JUST GOING TO BE SATISFIED
THAT, HEY, I HAVE SEEN WHAT I
CAN SEE AND THIS IS A PACKAGE
THEY CAN'T BEAT ANYWHERE ELSE.
GO TO A MUSEUM WHERE YOU CAN SEE
THE ARTIFACTS THAT WERE THERE
WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, IT
BRINGS IT ALL TO LIFE.
♪♪
>> ERICA, I LOVE CELEBRATING
INDIANA HISTORY.
IT'S SUCH IMPORTANT STORIES BUT
CELEBRATING THE LOCAL HISTORY
EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
>> AND CHARLIE'S CANDY SHOP IS
ONE OF THOSE MACES.
IF YOU WANT -- PLACES.
IF YOU WANT THE REAL FAVOR FLAVOR OF
VINCENNES, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE
TO GO HERE.
>> LORINDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING US AT CHARLIE'S.
IT SMELLS AMAZING IN HERE.
CHARLIE'S HAS BEEN HERE SINCE
1952.
TELL US HOW CHARLIE'S CAME TO
BE.
>> CHARLIE WAS THE ORIGINAL
FOUNDER OF THE STORE AND THEY
WERE DOING SOME REMODELING HERE
IN THIS HOME, AND THE PEOPLE
HELPING HIM WOULDN'T TAKE PAY.
SO THEY DECIDED TO MAKE CARAMEL
CORN AS THANK YOU GIFTS.
PEOPLE STARTED LIKING IT SO
WELL.
AND LORETHA RAN AN AD IN THE
NEWSPAPER WITHOUT CHARLIE'S
KNOWLEDGE, AND PEOPLE STARTED
COMING.
>> YOU OWN CHARLIE'S WITH YOUR
HUSBAND YOUR BROTHER AND
SON-IN-LAW.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO
THE CANDY BUSINESS.
>> WELL, WHEN LOETHA WAS AROUND
80 YEARS OLD, SHE DID NOT HAVE
ANY CHILDREN, AND CHARLIE AND
LORETHA WERE MY GRANDPARENT'S
BEST FRIENDS.
WE WERE AROUND A LOT AS A CHILD
AND WHEN SHE WANTED TO SELL, SHE
CAME TO US AND ASKED IF WE WERE
INTERESTED IN BUYING THE
BUSINESS.
>> AND WHAT MADE YOU SAY YES?
>> WELL, IT IS A BLESSING.
IT IS A GREAT MACE PLACE TO WORK AND,
AGAIN, WE WANTED TO CARRY THE
TRADITION ON AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE WOULD HAVE
SOLD IT TO ANYONE ELSE.
AND IT IS A POSITIVE PLACE.
PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY ARE
HAPPY.
PEOPLE LEAVE AND THEY ARE HAPPY.
IT'S A WIN/WIN SITUATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK CHARLIE AND
LORETHA WOULD THINK IF THEY CAME
BACK IN TODAY.
>> I THINK THEY WOULD BE PROUD
OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
I THINK THEY WOULD BE PROUD THAT
WE CARRIED ON THEIR TRADITION,
THEIR HOMETOWN FEEL, AND YET
STILL MADE IT A LITTLE BIGGER
THAN WHAT THEY HAD IN THE PAST.
>> WELL, IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US
A PEEK INTO THE HISTORY OF IT
AND DEFINITELY GOING TO STICK
AROUND AND TRY SOME OF THOSE
CHOCOLATES.
IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT CHARLIE'S
CANDY SHOP, VEST VISIT
CHARLIESCANDYSHOP.COM.
>> IT GAVE ME GREAT NOSTALGIA
BEING HERE BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME
OF 9 CANDY SHOP IN MY HOMETOWN.
NEXT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT
VINCENNES' OWN RED SKELTON.
>> HERE HE IS THE STAR OF OUR
SHOW, RED SKELTON!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN.
>> FOR OVER 70 YEARS, RED
SKELTON ENTERTAINED AUDIENCES
ACROSS AMERICA.
WHAT FEW KNOW IS THAT HIS CAREER
BEGAN ON THE STREETS OF
VINCENNES.
THE YOUNGEST OF FOUR BOYS TO A
WIDOWED MOTHER, RED SKELTON
BEGAN WORKING AT ONLY 8 YEARS
OLD AS A NEWS BOY PERFORMING FOR
PASSERSBY IN A BID TO SELL
PAPERS.
IT WAS ON ONE SUCH DAY WHEN
STANDING IN FRONT OF THE SAME
THEATER THAT THE PERFORMANCE
ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF A
WELL-DRESSED GENTLEMEN.
>> HE SAID A VERY FANCY DRESSED
MAN CAME BY AND ASKED IF HE WAS
GOING TO THE SHOW THAT NIGHT.
RED SAID NO, NO, I CAN'T.
I NEED TO SELL MY PAPERS.
THE MAN GAVE HIM $1 AND GAVE HIM
AIL TICK TO THEA TICKET.
AND THERE HE WAS, HE SAYS THAT'S
MY FRIEND!
THAT'S MY FRIEND!
AT INTERMISSION, HE BROUGHT HIM
BACK STAGE AND HELD HIM UP TO
THE BIG LEAD-WEIGHTED CURTAINS
AND HE PEEKED THROUGH THE
CURTAIN AND SAID LOOKING AT THAT
AUDIENCE, THAT'S WHAT MADE HIM
WANT TO BE IN SHOW BUSINESS.
>> FIRST IN VAUDEVILLE AND THEN
AN EMCEE FOR DANCE MARATHONS,
RED TRAVELED THE COUNTRY
PERFORMING.
IT WASN'T UNTIL HE MET HIS FIRST
WIFE AND BUSINESS PARTNER EDNA
THAT RED'S POPULARITY BEGAN TO
GROW.
PERFORMING TOGETHER AT THE
DOUGHNUT DUNKERS, THE COMICAL
COUPLE MADE THEIR PREMIER IN
1937, AND IN 1941, RED HAD HIS
OWN RADIO SHOW.
HE WOULD PERFORM FOR THE LIKES
OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND
APPEAR IN OVER 40 MGM STUDIO
FILMS YET HIS PASSION REMAINED
WITH RADIO AND BIRTH PLACE OF
MANY OF HIS BELOVED CHARACTERS
INCLUDING THE ICONIC AND
LEGENDARY PHRASE.
THE PHRASE THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A
PART OF THE NATIONAL LEXICON
THAT WHEN GENERAL DOOLITTLE DID
THE WORLD WAR BOMBING OF TOKYO,
NEWSPAPERS DOOLITTLE DO IT.
THE NATION FINALLY HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SKELETON'S
CHARACTERS COME TO LIFE WITH THE
TELEVISION PREMIER OF THE RED
SKELTON SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 30th
SEPTEMBER 30th, 1951.
>> RED SKELTON'S TV SHOW, IT RAN
20 YEARS AND IT WAS IN THE
VARIETY SHOW MAT.
IT WAS A SERIES OF STEPS THAT --
SKETCHES THAT WOULD BE PERFORMED
BY RED AND THE STARS OF THE DAY.
IT WAS A TOPICAL SHOW LIKE
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" OR
SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT SEE
TODAY, WAS THE RED SKELTON SHOW.
AS DIFFERENT THINGS WERE
OCCURRING IN THE COUNTRY AND IN
THE WORLD, RED WOULD REFLECT ON
THOSE IN A FUNNY WAY IN HIS RED
SKELTON SHOW.
I THINK THE THING THAT STOOD OUT
MOST ABOUT RED SKELTON DURING
HIS TELEVISION SHOW WAS HIS LOVE
FOR HIS COUNTRY AND LOVE FOR
LAUGHTER AND JUST HIS KINDNESS.
IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN FOR
PEOPLE TO WATCH IT AND HIS
PATRIOTISM REALLY SHOWN THROUGH.
PROBABLY ONE OF RED'S MOST
FAMOUS PATRIOTIC SKITS WAS THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
HE CREDITS THAT TO A FOURTH
GRADE TEACHER, MR. LASZLO.
RED RECITES IT BUT HE DESCRIBES
EACH WORD AND WHAT IT MEANS SO
THAT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE, THEY ARE NOT JUST
SAYING THE WORDS BUT THEY ARE
FEELING THE MEANING OF THE
PLEDGE OF THE THE PLEDGE OF PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE WAS FIRST AIRED IN
1969.
I THINK PEOPLE COULD LOOK TO RED
AND SAY, OKAY, WE ARE STILL A
GREAT COUNTRY.
WE ARE STILL PROUD OF WHERE WE
ARE FROM.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO RED.
>> AND JUSTICE, THE PRINCIPLE,
THE QUALITY, THE FEELING WITH
OTHERS, FOR ALL.
FOR ALL.
WHICH MEANS, BOYS AND GIRLS,
IT'S AS MUCH YOUR COUNTRY AS IT
IS MINE.
>> AFTER THE SHOW'S CANCELLATION
IN 1971, RED SKELTON RETURNED TO
THE THEATER, PERFORMING FOR
AUDIENCES UNTIL HIS DEATH ON
SEPTEMBER 17th, 1997, AT THE
AGE OF 84.
AFTER HIS PASSING, THE ACTING
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
PETITIONED TO BUILD A THEATER
AND MUSEUM IN MONDAYOR OF HONOR OF
SKELETON'S LEGACY.
THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
OPENED AT THE VINCENNES
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
SEVEN YEARS ON THE 100th
100th ANNIVERSARY OF RED'S
BIRTH, THE RED SKELTON MUSEUM
OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
>> IT'S SHEER FUN.
IT'S SO INACTIVE AND JUST
SOMETHING FOR EVERY AGE, BUT YOU
ARE NOT JUST READING ABOUT RED
AND LOOKING AT PICTURES ABOUT
RED.
YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO HIS RADIO
SHOWS AND PANTOMIME WITH RED AND
YOU GET TO DO INTERACTIVE CLOUD
MAKEUP VIRTUALLY ON YOUR FACE.
THE MUSEUM'S MOTTO IS:
PRESERVING RED'S LEGACY OF
LAUGHTER.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO HERE
BECAUSE WE KNOW NOT EVERYBODY
TODAY REMEMBERS RED SKELTON
REMEMBERS HIM BEING ON
TELEVISION BUT HIS HUMOR IS
RELATABLE TO EVERYONE.
THE THING ABOUT RED SKELTON AND
PRESERVING HIS LEGACY, YOU MAY
COME FROM POOR BEGINNINGS AND
REALLY STRUGGLE, BUT THROUGH
YOUR OWN PERSEVERANCE AND HARD
WORK, YOU CAN GO ON TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND BRING JOY TO SO
MANY PEOPLE ALL THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD.
>> AND IF BY CHANCE SOME DAY YOU
ARE NOT FEELING WELL AND YOU
REMEMBER SOMETHING I HAVE SAID
OR DONE AND IT BRINGS BACK A
SMILE TO YOUR FACE AND A CHUCKLE
TO YOUR THOUGHTS THEN MY PURPOSE
HAS BEEN SERVED FOR MY FELLOW
MAN.
MAY I WISH YOU ALL CONTINUED
SUCCESS AND GOD BLESS.
GOOD NIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ERICA, WHILE RED SKELTON MADE
THE NATION LAUGH, IT WAS GREAT
THAT HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP
VINCENNES AT THE HEART OF HIS
HUMOR.
>> IT WAS FUN TO EXPLORE HIS
MUSEUM.
I HAVE A FEELING WE JUST
SCRATCHED THE SURFACE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US IN
VINCENNES.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
♪♪
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