>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER.

GET READY FOR AN ADVENTURE--AN UNUSUAL ADVENTURE, AN EXCITING ADVENTURE.

WE'RE SPENDING THE DAY IN MONROVIA, THE ALL-AMERICAN CITY OF MONROVIA.

WE'RE BASICALLY RIGHT NOW RIGHT OFF THE 210 FREEWAY ON THE CORNER OF MYRTLE AND EVERGREEN, AND WE'RE STARTING OFF OUR ADVENTURE IN THIS BUSINESS.

NOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN BUSINESSES IN MONROVIA, MAYBE EVEN IN ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1975.

IT'S CALLED THE WIZARD OF BRAS.

DOES THAT PIQUE YOUR INTEREST?

OK. WE'RE INSIDE THE WIZARD OF BRAS.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN HERE, NOT JUST BRAS.

BUT WE'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO COME TO THE BACK HERE AND-- LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL, BIG ROOM.

AND HERE SHE IS.

I HAVE A FEELING YOU ARE THE WIZARD.

>> I HOPE SO.

Huell: INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> MY NAME IS BONNIE .. AND I STARTED THIS BUSINESS IN 1975.

AND WE'VE BEEN ON THIS CORNER FOR 32 YEARS.

Huell: BRAS.

NOW, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING SUBJECT.

AND I MEAN, IT REALLY IS, ISN'T IT?

>> YES.

YES, IT IS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO WOMEN, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MEN.

Huell: AND BRAS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR HOW LONG?

>> ACTUALLY, ABOUT 2,000 YEARS.

THERE ARE PICTURES--THERE'S FRESCOES, IN ROMAN AND GREEK TIMES, OF WOMEN WEARING VARIOUS BANDS AROUND THEIR BREASTS, IF THEY WERE DOING ATHLETIC THINGS.

AND THEN, SOMEWHERE ABOUT 500 YEARS AGO--WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO BLAME, THE ITALIANS OR THE SPANISH--BUT THEY CREATED CORSETRY AND WHAT IS CALLED TIGHT LACING.

IT'S EQUIVALENT TO THE CHINESE WOMEN BINDING THEIR FEET.

Huell: YEAH.

YES.

SO BRAS .. BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

>> YES, THEY HAVE.

Huell: AND YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF BRAS HERE.

LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

JUST KIND OF LOOKING DOWN HERE, THIS WHOLE THING GOES--HOW MANY BRAS HAVE YOU GOT IN HERE?

>> ABOUT 17,000.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

>> AND EVERY CONCEIVABLE SIZE, FROM 28 TO 58.

Huell: AND WHAT DO WOMEN DO?

THEY COME IN HERE.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SPECIAL NEEDS.

>> EXACTLY.

WE DO MEDICAL, AND WE DO MATERNITY, AND WE DO WEDDINGS.

WE DO EVERYTHING, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH FOUNDATIONS.

Huell: YEAH.

OK. >> SO THIS IS A 28 BAND BOX.

NOW, WOMEN DON'T COME IN HERE AND PULL THESE BRAS DOWN BY THEMSELVES.

THEY COME IN, AND EVERYONE SIGNS IN IN THE FRONT AND GETS A FITTER.

THERE'S A BIG STAFF HERE.

AND SO, EVERYONE GETS PERSONAL SERVICE.

AND THIS IS 28-- Huell: WELL, THAT'S A FANCY .. >> OH, YES.

THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL THINGS AND PLAIN THINGS.

AND THIS ISN'T THAT BIG A CUP.

YOU CAN SEE HOW SMALL AROUND IT IS.

THIS IS A 28 F. NOW, 28 F DOESN'T WALK IN HERE EVERY DAY, BUT WHEN SHE DOES, UM--[LAUGHS] SHE THINKS THIS IS A MIRACLE.

Huell: YEAH.

SO REALLY, YOU'RE PROVIDING A REAL SERVICE FOR A LOT OF WOMEN.

>> YES, YES.

WE DO SHIP ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE DO HAVE A WEBSITE.

AND WE TRY TO HELP WOMEN UNDERSTAND THEIR SIZING ISSUES.

THIS IS A 28 JJ.

SO YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S-- Huell: JJ?

>> JJ.

UM--[LAUGHS] Huell: WHO STARTED THIS SIZING SYSTEM?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, IT .. START UNTIL THE 1930s.

THEY WERE MAKING BRAS IN EUROPE AND THE U.S., BUT CUP SIZING WAS UNHEARD OF.

ADJUSTABLE STRAPS WERE UNHEARD OF.

THAT'S A PATENTED INVENTION.

Huell: AND THEN, FOR A WHILE, WASN'T IT BACK IN THE SIXTIES, BRAS WERE UNHEARD OF?

>> WELL, TO A SMALL SEGMENT OF THIS SOCIETY, BUT THEY MADE THE FRONT PAGES OF THE NEWSPAPERS.

Huell: THE BRA BURNERS.

>> BRA BURNERS, YES.

[LAUGHS] Huell: AND WOMEN WHO DIDN'T WEAR BRAS.

NOW, ARE BRAS BACK NOW?

>> OH, YES.

YES.

IT WOULD BE A RARE, RARE THING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT WEAR A BRA.

Huell: WELL, YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR HISTORY.

>> I HOPE SO.

Huell: WE COULD DO A WHOLE PROGRAM ON BRAS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST HERE, ISN'T THERE?

>> WOMEN--MEN AND WOMEN NEED..

UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE IF THE WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE IS MISERABLE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE HER BRA IS KILLING HER, IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY.

Huell: YEAH.

>> BRAS ARE--THEY DO IMPACT POSTURE.

THEY CAN IMPACT BREAST HEALTH.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

IT IS REALLY A VERY COMPLEX SUBJECT.

Huell: AND A SUBJECT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT.

I BET A LOT OF SALES PEOPLE IN A LOT OF DEPARTMENT STORES DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT BRAS.

>> WELL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SIZE RANGE--WHAT WE OFFER IS A COMPLETE SIZE RANGE.

SO YOU CAN ONLY OFFER WHATEVER SIZES YOU CARRY.

WE ARE NOT LIMITED WITH THAT.

WE ALSO SEW NEXT DOOR.

I HAVE A-- Huell: SO YOU COULD MAKE A CUSTOM BRA.

>> YEAH, OR WE CAN RETROFIT ANYTHING TO FIT ANYBODY.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS SO INTERESTING.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK.

>> I WOULD LIKE THAT.

THANK .. Huell: AND DO A WHOLE BRA SHOW WITH YOU, 'CAUSE THIS IS REALLY FASCINATING STUFF.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT HERE TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY WITH YOU.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

Huell: WE'RE HERE TO SPEND THE DAY WITH YOUR DAUGHTER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.

[LAUGHS] Huell: ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK THIS LADY HAS AN INTERESTING STORY AND HAS INTERESTING HISTORY AND KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, JUST WAIT TILL YOU MEET THE DAUGHTER.

THERE'S A REAL--THERE'S A WHOLE ANOTHER STORY THERE, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WORLD TRAVELER, TOO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

AND SHE'S JUST RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM YOU.

>> YES, SHE IS.

MONROVIA .. TO BE A NICE PLACE FOR ALL OF US.

Huell: WE'RE HEADING TO STOP NUMBER 2, FROM MOTHER TO DAUGHTER.

OK. OUR MONROVIA ADVENTURE CONTINUES.

WE HAVE LEFT THE WIZARD OF BRAS.

WE HAVE NOW COME LESS THAN A MILE.

WE'RE IN OLD TOWN MONROVIA, AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY WITH BONNIE'S DAUGHTER, WHO OWNS AND OPERATES STUDIO C HAIR ARTISTRY.

AND IF YOU THINK HER MOTHER HAD A GREAT STORY, WAIT TILL YOU HEAR THE DAUGHTER'S STORY.

[HAIR DRYER HUMMING] Huell: OK. SHE'S HARD AT WORK BLOW DRYING A CUSTOMER.

GOOD MORNING.

>> HI, HUELL.

GOOD MORNI.. YOU, TOO.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS... >> I AM CAROLE ANNE KA.. Huell: BOY, WE JUST SPENT SOME TIME WITH YOUR MOM.

WHAT A LIVE WIRE.

>> ISN'T SHE AMAZING?

SHE JU.. YOU KNOW, SHE'S THE WORLD EXPERT ON BRAS ANYWHERE THAT YOU'LL JUST FIND.

Huell: SHE KNOWS MORE THAN ANYBODY, PROBABLY, IN THE WORLD ABOUT BRAS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK THAT ASSERTION WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE-- THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO KNOW THAT SHE COULD KNOW.

Huell: AND SHE IS NOT A SHRINKING VIOLET.

>> OH, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

THE WOMAN GETS YOUNGER EVERY YEAR.

Huell: NOW, DOES THAT RUB OFF ON YOU?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN THIS HOUSEHOLD?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE PARENTS THAT I HAD.

MY MOTHER WAS AN ABSOLUTE ROLE MODEL OF FEMINISM AND HARD WORK.

MY DAD WAS ANOTHER UNIQUE CHARACTER HIMSELF.

HE WAS A REFLEXOLOGIST AND A SPIRITUAL HEALER.

SO TO SAY THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN AVERAGE CHILDHOOD WOULD PROBABLY BE ACCURATE.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SHOP YOU'VE GOT HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Huell: AND I KNOW YOU'RE FINISHING UP ON A CUSTOMER.. SHE'S A PRETTY GOOD--SHE'S PRETTY GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: SHE'S VERY GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES.

LOOK AT ALL THESE TROPHIES OVER HERE.

THE CATCH IS, THESE TROPHIES DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HAIR STYLING, DO THEY?

>> NO, THEY SURE DON'T.

Huell: YOU WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW ABOUT A 30-SECOND HINT AS TO WHAT YOU DO?

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS WILL BE A HINT.

SEE IF YOU CAN GUESS WHAT I DO.

[WHISTLING "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW"] Huell: WOW.

[GIGGLES] Huell: YOU GET A LOT OF THAT, DON'T YOU?

>> YES, I DO!

[LAUGHS] Huell: THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF COMING HERE TO GET YOUR HAIR DONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY!

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

SHE'S FINISHED YOU UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO THE SERIOUS BUSINESS-- YOU GUESSED IT--OF WHISTLING, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS LADY DOES BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

OK. NOW WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE SERIOUS WHISTLING INTERVIEW.

I'VE BEEN THINKING OF GOOD WHISTLING QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU.

HOW DID YOU START WHISTLING?

>> WELL, I CAME FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, HUELL.

I JUST STARTED WHISTLING IN MY DAD'S TRUCK WHEN I WAS 5.

YOU KNOW, HE WHISTLED ALL THE TIME.

AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE NEATEST THING.

Huell: SO YOUR DAD WAS A WHISTLER.

>> YEAH, HE WAS.

Huell: AND HOW DID YOU DISCO.. THAT YOU WERE A WHISTLER?

>> WELL, YOU DON'T REALLY DISCOVER THAT YOU'RE A WHISTLER.

YOU JUST SORT OF WHISTLE, AND THEN, YOU KEEP WHISTLING, AND THEN, EVENTUALLY, SOMEBODY SAYS, "WOW.

YOU'RE A REALLY GOOD WHISTLER."

Huell: BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY CAN WHISTLE, CAN THEY?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY CAN WHISTLE-- Huell: WELL, I MEAN, EVERYBODY CAN GO-- [WHISTLES] >> MOST PEOPLE CAN DO THAT.

SOME PEOPLE WISH THEY COULD DO THAT LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.

Huell: REALLY?

>> OH, YEAH.

THERE'S-- Huell: SO SOME PEOPLE CAN'T WHISTLE AT ALL.

>> EXACTLY, ALTHOUGH I ASSUME IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PRACTICING.

Huell: MM-HMM.

SO IT'S ALL..

PRACTICE.

>> IT IS ALL ABOUT THE .. THAT'S WHAT I ATTRIBUTE MY ENTIRE CAREER TO IS 30 YEARS OF PRACTICE.

Huell: NOW, ARE YOU A WHISTLE OUT-- [WHISTLES] OR A WHISTLE IN?

AND SEE, I CAN'T EVEN WHISTLE IN.

WELL, WAIT A MINUTE-- [WHISTLES] I CAN.

[WHISTLES] BUT NOT VERY WELL.

>> WELL, I'M A-- Huell: THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF WHISTLERS.

>> WELL, THERE'S MOR.. 2 TYPES OF WHISTLING, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, I AM AN OUTIE, AND THEN, OCCASIONALLY, I'LL RELY ON A--[WHISTLES IN] LITTLE NOTE TO COME IN, BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT MY-- Huell: IS THAT AN INNIE OR AN OUTIE?

>> THAT WAS AN INN.. AN INNIE, JUST LIKE YOURS.

[WHISTLES IN] Huell: THAT'S A RICHER--NO, IT'S NOT.

>> YEAH.

IT'S A MORE AI.. NOT REALLY A TUNE I CAN RELY ON.

I HAVEN'T REALLY PRACTICED THAT FOR 30 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN PRACTICING WHISTLING OUT.

Huell: THE OUTIE.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: AND WHAT ARE OTHER KINDS BESIDES INNIES AND OUTIES?

>> WELL, ONCE I WENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL WHISTLING CONVENTION, I FOUND THAT THERE'S A WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD OF WHISTLERS OUT THERE THAT I HAD NO CLUE.

SO THERE ARE ACTUALLY PEOPLE--ONE OF OUR PAST WINNERS, GEERT CHATROU, HE ACTUALLY WHISTLES OUT OF HIS THROAT.

HE'S A WORLD CHAMPION.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HE DOES IT.

Huell: BREATHING OUT OF HIS THROAT?

HE'S GOT TO USE HIS LIPS.

>> HE DOES USE HIS LIPS TO HELP TO FORM THE NOTES A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE ACTUAL NOTES COME FROM HIS THROAT.

YES.

THERE'S ALSO PALATAL WHISTLING, WHICH MEANS YOU PUT YOUR TONGUE TO THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH AND THAT YOU SOMEHOW--[EXHALES] GET A TUNE OUT IN THAT WAY.

Huell: AND I THOUGHT OF ONE-- AND I CAN'T DO THIS, EITHER, WHERE YOU PUT YOUR FINGERS IN AND GO-- >> NO, I CAN'T DO TH.. Huell: YOU CAN'T DO THAT AT ALL?

>> NO.

THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE.

THAT'S STILL--YOU KNOW, THE PHILOSOPHY IS STILL AIR HITTING SURFACE, BUT IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACH.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

THERE'S, OF COURSE, 2 FINGERS.

THERE'S THE ONE FINGER.

THERE'S EVEN HAND WHISTLING.

IN JAPAN LAST YEAR, WHEN I WENT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WHISTLING CONVENTION IN JAPAN, THERE WAS A HAND WHISTLER THERE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE ACTS I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

I MEAN, HE DID THE MOST COMPLEX, CLASSICAL TUNE YOU CAN IMAGINE OUT OF HIS HANDS.

THE JAPANESE GUY WAS INCREDIBLE.

Huell: THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER THING.

>> IT'S A WHOLE ANOTHE.. FORM.

Huell: 'CAUSE YOU'RE USING YOUR HANDS.

YOU'RE NOT USING YOUR MOUTH.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE L.. GOOD WHISTLING QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

THE MOST POPULAR WHISTLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO SAY IT'S THE OLD ANDY GRIFFITH.

Huell: YOU THINK SO?

>> YEAH.

[BOTH WHISTLING "THE FISHIN' HOLE"] Huell: BUT THAT'S A SPECIFIC SONG.

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: WHAT ABOUT-- [WOLF WHISTLES] >> OK. THAT ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY NUMBER ONE.

Huell: AND THAT'S CALLED... >> THAT'S CALLED THE WOLF WHISTLE.

Huell: THE WOLF WHISTLE!

>> MADE POPULAR BY NEW .. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING?

>> WELL, I'M KIDDING, BUT YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY TRUE.

Huell: AND IT WAS MAINLY MEN WHISTLING AT WOMEN WALKING BY?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND AS-- Huell: HENCE THE NAME THE WOLF WHISTLE.

[CHUCKLES] >> YEAH, EXACTLY.

Huell: BUT NOW, WOMEN ARE WOLF WHISTLING AT MEN.

>> WELL, IT'S TRUE.

THERE'S EQUALITY FOR ALL WHISTLERS EVERYWHERE.

AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO CREATE, BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICE, IF YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE INTERNATIONAL WHISTLING CONVENTION, OR YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF WHISTLERS OUT THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THERE'S MORE MALE WHISTLERS THAN THERE ARE FEMALE WHISTLERS.

Huell: WHY IS THAT?

>> I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THERE USED TO BE A CULTURE IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN OTHER CULTURES THAT IT WASN'T LADYLIKE OR APPROPRIATE FOR WOMEN TO WHISTLE.

AND SO, OVER THE YEARS, I THINK PEOPLE FORGOT WHY WOMEN WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE.

Huell: IT WASN'T LADYLIKE TO WHISTLE?

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPP.. AFTER THE 1800s, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS WHISTLING ORCHESTRAS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WERE INVOLVING WOMEN AND WHISTLING, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU TRANSITION INTO--IF YOU REMEMBER BACK TO THE 1940s, IT KIND OF HAD TRANSITIONED INTO MEN WHISTLING WITH THE BIG BAND, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE WOMEN WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

AND THAT CULTURE HAS JUST CONTINUED.

AND SO, EVEN AT THE WHISTLING CONVENTION, YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE'S 10 WOMEN TO 40 MEN.

Huell: THIS IS AMAZING HISTORY.

YOUR MOTHER WITH THE BRAS AND YOU WITH THE WHISTLING--IT JUST GOES TO PROVE HOW FASCINATING ALMOST ANY SUBJECT IS IF YOU REALLY STOP AND STUDY IT AND LEARN IT.

>> OH, YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT I FOUND MOST INCREDIBLE WAS, AFTER I WENT TO THE FIRST CONVENTION--MY FRIEND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN "READER'S DIGEST," SO I RAN OFF TO NORTH CAROLINA TO GIVE IT A TRY, AND I WON SECOND PLACE.

I WON FIRST RUNNER-UP.

I CALLED IT.

AND-- Huell: IN YOUR FIRST CONTEST?

>> IN MY FIRST TRY.

AND ..

ABSOLUTELY EXCITING.

AND WHEN I GOT BACK, I FOUND SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT SUDDENLY I WAS AN AMAZING WHISTLER, RIGHT?

BECAUSE I HAD A TROPHY, AND BECAUSE I HAD A MEDAL, PEOPLE LOOKED AT ME DIFFERENT.

PEOPLE TREATED ME DIFFERENT.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT I WOULD CALL MY WHISTLING CAREER.

Huell: YOUR EMPOWERMENT.

>> YEAH.

AND IT REALLY CAME FROM HAVING SOME RECOGNITION FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHICH TOTALLY SURPRISED ME.

Huell: THERE'S A WHOLE WORLD OF WHISTLERS.

>> THERE'S A WHOLE WORLD.

THERE'S A WHOLE CULTURE.

THE WHISTLING CONVENTION TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR OR EVERY OTHER YEAR IN NORTH CAROLINA-- Huell: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> OH, IT'S AMAZING.

YOU HAVE EVERY PART OF THE SPECTRUM THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE, FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHISTLING.

THE WAY THAT THE COMPETITION ACTUALLY WORKS IS THAT WE START OFF WITH A PRELIMINARY ROUND, AND EACH PERSON, IF YOU'RE GOING FOR THE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP, AS I'M COMPETING FOR, YOU COMPETE IN THE POPULAR CATEGORY, AND THEN AGAIN, YOU COMPETE IN THE CLASSICAL CATEGORY.

THEN, THERE'S A LIST OF FINALISTS, AND THEN AGAIN, YOU DO A POPULAR, AND THEN, A CLASSICAL, TOO.

Huell: YOU COVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM.

>> YOU HAVE TO DO ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

Huell: AND YOU KNOW, I WAS..

THINKING ABOUT THIS, TOO.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT WHISTLING IS THAT IT IS IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE OR RACE OR GENDER OR ANYTHING.

ANYBODY, IF THEY PRACTICE AT IT OR USE ANY TIME LEARNING HOW TO DO IT, ANYBODY CAN WHISTLE.

>> WELL, WHISTLING IS THE WORLD'S MOST PORTABLE INSTRUMENT, UNLESS YOU WANT TO TAP YOUR FINGERS, WHICH IS NOT QUITE AS MELODIC.

SO TO ME, THAT'S, YOU KNOW--I'M NOT A GREAT DISCIPLINARIAN.

I DON'T HAVE THIS REAL STRONG, YOU KNOW, "LET'S PRACTICE EVERY DAY" THING.

Huell: YOU DON'T PLAY AN INSTRUMENT OTHER THAN YOUR LIPS.

>> EXACTLY.

[WHISTLES] >> 'CAUSE VIOLIN DID.. BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICE FACTOR.

BUT BY THE END OF 30 YEARS, I'D BEEN PRACTICING WHISTLING FOR 30 YEARS.

I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT.

Huell: THERE'S A QUESTION.

HOW MUCH DO YOU WHISTLE PRA--HOW MUCH DO YOU PRACTICE EVERY DAY WHISTLING?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU CONSIDER PRACTICE.

IF I'M WORKING ON A GIG, OR I'M WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, AN ART GROUP OR A PERFORMANCE GROUP-- Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, A GIG?

>> PEOPLE HIRE ME FOR .. PARTIES, I-- Huell: TO WHISTLE AT PRIVATE PARTIES?

>> YES.

I WHISTLE AT PRIVATE PARTIES.

I HOST KARAOKE.

I'M ACTUALLY AN ORDAINED MINISTER, SO I EVEN WHISTLE AT WEDDINGS.

I'VE DONE THE, YOU KNOW, WHISTLING DOWN THE AISLE.

Huell: YOU ARE YOUR MOTHER'S DAUGHTER, AREN'T YOU?

>> YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

Huell: HA!

THAT IS AMAZING!

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

IT'S-- IT'S BECOME SUCH AN INCREDIBLE PART OF MY LIFE.

AND AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, I ACTUALLY GOT A CALL 2 MONTHS AFTER THE COMPETITION.

A MAN NAMED MICKEY FINN CALLED ME UP AND SAID, "HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TOUR WITH US ON NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES FOR 6 WEEKS BEING A WHISTLER IN OUR BAND?"

YEAH.

I WAS THIS-- Huell: SO THIS HAS OPENED UP A WHOLE WORLD FOR YOU.

>> OH, IT'S JUST--IT'S NEVER-ENDING.

IT IS SO EXCITING.

AND THIS IS--AND IT'S BECOME SUCH A WONDERFUL PART OF MY LIFE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO ME UNTIL I STARTED UNDERSCORING IT AND REALLY PARTICIPATING WITH IT.

AND NOW--THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR WEEK AFTER--I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I FOUND THAT I COULDN'T WHISTLE IN THE SAME WAY.

THIS WAS ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER MY FIRST CONVENTION, RIGHT NOW THAT I'M REALLY FOCUSING-- Huell: UH-OH.

YOU THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED?

>> WELL, I JUST--IT WAS SOMETHING I ATE OR--WHATEVER IT WAS, BUT MY INSTRUMENT IS A LITTLE TEMPERAMENTAL.

AND SO, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, I HAD SOME GIGS I HAD TO DO.

MY WHISTLING WASN'T AT PAR.

AND THAT WAS WHEN I REALLY REALIZED, LIKE, THIS IS A GIFT TO ME.

I DON'T MEAN A GIFT COMING OUT--IT'S A GIFT IN MY LIFE.

I LOVE THE EXPRESSION OF WHISTLING.

IT'S SOMETHING--YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M AT THE SUPERMARKET, I CAN BLAST OUT MY WHISTLE AS MUCH AS I WANT.

I CAN'T REALLY DO AN ARIA.

I CAN'T REALLY SING TO THE MUSIC OF THE RADIO AT THE MARKET.

BUT I CAN WHISTLE AS MUCH AS I WANT, AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, AN OLDER MAN OR WOMAN WILL COME UP AND PAT ME ON THE SHOULDER AND JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY IT.

Huell: WELL, IT'S SUCH A POSITIVE THING TO HEAR SOMEONE WHISTLE.

>> YES.

Huell: SO YOU KIND OF ARE THE JOHNNY APPLESEED OF WHISTLING.

>> I LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU.

[LAUGHS] Huell: YOU WHISTLE UP AND DOWN THE STREET, IN THE GROCERY STORE, IN YOUR CAR, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON YOUR CUSTOMERS HERE AT THE HAIR SALON.

I MEAN, YOU'RE ALWAYS WHISTLING.

>> I'M ALWAYS WHISTLING.

Huell: NOW, IT'S EARLY.

IT'S BARELY 10:00 IN THE MORNING.

>> YES.

Huell: ARE YOUR PIPES--DOES IT TAKE A WHILE TO GET THE WHISTLING UP TO SPEED?

'CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO SOME SERIOUS WHISTLING FOR US.

THIS ISN'T TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING, IS IT?

>> NO.

I'M ALWAYS READY.

[LAUGHS] Huell: YOU'RE ALWAYS READY.

>> I'M ALWAYS READY TO WHISTLE.

[PLAYING] [WHISTLING "WALKING IN THE RAIN"] [NEW SONG BEGINS] [WHISTLING "SUMMERTIME"] [SONG ENDS] Huell: I LOVE IT.

YOU CAN'T SMILE WHEN YOU'RE WHISTLING.

>> THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING.

IMPOSSIBLE.

Huell: I NOTICED THAT STANDING HERE LISTENING TO YOU.

>> YES.

Huell: YOU HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

YOU CAN'T SMILE.

>> IT TRIPS ME UP EVERY TIME.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST ROADBLOCK TO WHISTLING, IS YOU CANNOT SMILE AND WHISTLE, UNLESS YOU'RE A PALATAL WHISTLER, RIGHT?

Huell: AND YOU DO A WHOLE CHOREOGRAPHY THING WITH YOUR HANDS.

YOU REALLY GET INTO THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> OH, IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL MUSICAL EXPRESSION, TO ME, AND, YOU KNOW, THE FINGER THING IS SORT OF UNCONSCIOUS.

BUT I HAVE A MISSION THAT IS TO MAKE WHISTLING A PART OF ARTISTRY THAT IT ALREADY IS, BUT PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE IT YET.

AND SO, THAT IS REALLY WHAT I'M UP TO, IS THAT WOMEN CAN WHISTLE, THAT PEOPLE CAN WHISTLE, AND WHISTLING IS A BEAUTIFUL MUSICAL ART FORM THAT HAS JUST BEEN UNDERGROUND FOR TOO LONG.

Huell: WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY WE HAVE HAD HERE WITH YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Huell: WOW.

>> IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

Huell: I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT WHISTLING.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO KNOW.

AND NOW, ALL OUT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, PEOPLE CAN START WHISTLING.

IF WE LISTEN, WE CAN HEAR THEM WHISTLING--SOME BETTER THAN OTHERS--RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN DO.

>> YEAH.

Huell: IT'S HERE FOR ALL OF US TO ENJOY.

>> ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?

Huell: CAN WE END UP WITH SOME KIND OF--WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT THAT WE CAN WHISTLE TO?

>> OH, YEAH.

UM-- Huell: THAT PEOPLE AT HOME CAN WHISTLE TO?

>> OH, WELL, GOSH.

YOU ..

THINK THAT "UNDER THE BOARDWALK" IS PROBABLY A CLASSIC.

Huell: THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

LET'S DO "UNDER THE BOARDWALK."

[PLAYING] >> AHEM.

[WHISTLING "UNDER THE BOARDWALK"] >> COME ON, HUELL.

[BOTH WHISTLING] [WHISTLING] [WHISTLING "I'M YOURS"] [WHISTLING CONTINUES] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] [SONG ENDS] [HUELL WHISTLES] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

THIS IS WHISTLING HUELL, REMINDING YOU THAT IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO ON THIS WHISTLING ADVENTURE AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, IT'S AVAILABLE ON DVD.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL... AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.

[WOLF WHISTLES] >> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...