We Threw America Its Weirdest Birthday Party at a Philly Dive Bar | REDISCOVERING AMERICA 250 Ep. 2

[00:00:00][music] [music] >> Hansel!

[00:00:13]>> [music] >> Hansel!

[00:00:16]Hansel!

[00:00:18]>> You may be wondering how I ended up celebrating our nation's 250th birthday [music] on a horse outside of Philly dive bar.

[00:00:25]Well, after we rediscovered Philadelphia's most historical people and places last episode, we wanted to learn what modern-day figures and traditions make the city so unique. So, paid a visit to the Fletcher Street Riding Club to meet some real-life urban cowboys.

[00:00:44]>> [music] >> We're here at the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club [music] with a couple urban cowboys, Darrin and Gorilla.

[00:00:56]>> And how did you come to get involved [music] with it?

[00:00:58]>> Me, personally? They come riding down the block. I jump on my bike, follow them to the stable.

[00:01:03]Never left here since then.

[00:01:04]>> No kidding.

[00:01:06]>> [laughter] >> So, if you follow a group of guys around long enough, they'll finally [music] accept you?

[00:01:11]>> There you go.

[00:01:12]>> Yeah.

[00:01:13]Yeah, just keep showing up. Yeah, she's not supposed to be here. She just keeps following us around.

[00:01:18]Yeah.

[00:01:18]>> That's okay.

[00:01:19]>> [laughter] >> She was supposed to be in one scene, and then she never left.

[00:01:22]>> Don't want her.

[00:01:24]>> No.

[00:01:27]>> Ain't nothing better [music] than a city horse.

[00:01:30]>> Wha- Why is that?

[00:01:31]>> We call it bomb-proof. They used to cars, dirt bikes, motorcycles, loud, everything. There's nothing you can do here to [music] any of these horses that that would frighten them, unless you get aggressive towards them.

[00:01:42]>> Are you nervous?

[00:01:43]>> Um I'm I'm [music] George Washington.

[00:01:45]You think I'm nervous to get on a horse?

[00:01:48]>> If you had to put us in order of who is going to do the best on [music] the horse, who's going to be the most scared?

[00:01:53]>> Oh, I'm so sorry.

[00:01:55]>> Yeah.

[00:01:55]>> [laughter] >> Might be you.

[00:01:59]Which one's going to be the most scared?

[00:02:00]>> Oh my god, [laughter] I'm so sorry, sweet angel.

[00:02:03]>> I'm the most experienced. We were in Tucson. They had me on a quarter horse with a fractured pelvis, bucking like a jackhammer, had me bouncing like a slot.

[00:02:14]>> I kind of want to see you next to this dog. [music] >> Oh.

[00:02:17]>> [laughter] >> For reference?

[00:02:19]>> This dog's up to your shoulder.

[00:02:20]>> Yeah, little guy.

[00:02:22]>> [music] >> All right, gorilla, do you need any help?

[00:02:27]>> Uh, if you guys want to help right now, but actually [music] my daily chore, every day.

[00:02:32]>> Is that straw or hay?

[00:02:34]>> This is hay. [music] >> That's hay.

[00:02:35]>> This is hay. This >> What's the difference?

[00:02:36]>> Um >> Uh, gorilla, I'll let you take this one.

[00:02:39][music] >> Hay is the food.

[00:02:41]Straw is the bedding for horses.

[00:02:42]>> Okay, there we go.

[00:02:43]>> Oh, okay.

[00:02:44]>> Cows only eat straw.

[00:02:45]>> So, this is >> This cow?

[00:02:47]>> No.

[00:02:48]>> Cows.

[00:02:48]>> Cows.

[00:02:49]>> Cows.

[00:02:50]>> No, I'm Prince William.

[00:02:52]From the NBC soap opera.

[00:02:54]>> [laughter] >> Okay, [music] so the first thing you have to do when you take care of your horse is always you got to muck its [music] stall.

[00:03:02]Essentially, it's always got to have a clean place it's got to go.

[00:03:05]Unfortunately, they [ __ ] where they [music] sleep, you know? So, you got to make sure it's clean.

[00:03:10]>> I've done that before.

[00:03:10]>> Yeah.

[00:03:11]>> This happens to us all.

[00:03:13]Um, especially after [music] a late night.

[00:03:14]>> So, what I normally do I get it all loose.

[00:03:19]>> You're doing all the hard work. [music] >> Yeah.

[00:03:21]>> You guys got to give it a shot.

[00:03:22]>> Yep.

[00:03:23]>> All right.

[00:03:23]>> Kate?

[00:03:24]>> Oh my god.

[00:03:26]And then, this is what I'm putting in there?

[00:03:27]>> Yeah, shoot it in.

[00:03:28]>> POP [music] IT IN.

[00:03:31]>> [laughter] >> BEN FRANKLIN was the wealthiest man in the colonies, now he's mucking barn.

[00:03:36]>> Unbelievable.

[00:03:38]>> I'm going to get a yeast infection in my hooves.

[00:03:40]>> [laughter] >> All right, KB.

[00:03:44]Give it a whirl.

[00:03:45]>> Nah. You got this now.

[00:03:48]>> [laughter] >> Who's going to run it up?

[00:03:50]>> Oh, yeah, that's the fun part. Who's going to run it up the ramp and dump?

[00:03:54]So, you got to run it and dump it.

[00:03:57]>> The thing about George Washington is like, you know, he was our first president. He was the general of the Continental Army, but he was never afraid to get his hands dirty.

[00:04:07]Or his hat dirty.

[00:04:10]Or just dirty in general. No, no, no.

[00:04:12]And that's what made him different than a king.

[00:04:15]You think King George would have been shoveling [ __ ] >> No [ __ ] chance.

[00:04:19]>> King George would have been mucking barns?

[00:04:21]>> chance.

[00:04:22]>> Absolutely not.

[00:04:23]Guy has never mucked a barn in his life.

[00:04:26]>> Speed, speed up.

[00:04:27]>> Let's go.

[00:04:28]>> LET'S GO.

[00:04:32]>> OH, GOD.

[00:04:33]OH, [ __ ] HOLD UP.

[00:04:37]False alarm.

[00:04:38]I got to get a little more mo- momentum.

[00:04:41]>> Yeah. Once you hit Once you hit >> Okay. Woo!

[00:04:44]>> [cheering] >> Faster, Ronnie.

[00:04:49]>> [laughter] [cheering] [applause] >> Flip it, flip it.

[00:04:56]There you go.

[00:04:58]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:04:59]>> There we go. There we go.

[00:05:01]>> You like that, King George?

[00:05:03]>> Completely empty.

[00:05:03]>> So, the next part of taking care of your horse is before you can ride, you have to groom them. It's for getting out like mats, the winter coat. It's going to be difficult to be a good rider if you don't have a bond with the horse.

[00:05:13]Grooming is a huge part of that. It's the touch. They know that you're taking care of them, and you do [music] this often enough, they come to trust you, they come to recognize you. Do you guys want to take a turn?

[00:05:24]>> Absolutely.

[00:05:24]>> Yeah.

[00:05:25]>> So, Kate, grooming is taking care of body hair.

[00:05:28]>> Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Oh!

[00:05:30]>> Sorry. Sorry.

[00:05:31]>> [laughter] >> I'm not Oh, that was cool and calm.

[00:05:33]Sorry.

[00:05:34]>> I don't mind it.

[00:05:35]>> Katie, don't go behind it.

[00:05:36]>> No, don't go behind it.

[00:05:37]>> Do not go behind a horse.

[00:05:39]My mom got stepped on by a horse when she was like 10.

[00:05:43]>> Uh, she looks like she hates us.

[00:05:44]>> Okay, so next thing we have to do is pick their hoof. All right. So, typically these [music] are full of dirt, so you use the hoof pick to like scrape it all out. This is called the frog. [music] You always want to leave this here, but you want to make sure this is completely [music] clear of all the debris.

[00:06:00]>> Who wants to try picking up a horse's leg?

[00:06:02]>> Also, keep in mind if they're three they have three legs.

[00:06:05]>> Horses actually have five legs.

[00:06:08]>> [laughter] >> They're huge.

[00:06:11]>> They're huge.

[00:06:14]>> There, she's got to have some >> in the restaurant.

[00:06:16]>> One, two, three. Correct.

[00:06:20]>> Oh.

[00:06:20]>> Okay.

[00:06:21]>> I'm trying to I'm trying to let her lean on me.

[00:06:24]>> Lean on it. Yep, lean on >> There we go, Donny.

[00:06:26]>> Hold it. Hold it.

[00:06:27]>> There you go.

[00:06:28]>> Ah, there you go.

[00:06:29]There you go.

[00:06:31]>> You're more comfortable with it in your hand, right?

[00:06:32]>> Yeah.

[00:06:33]>> Yep, yep.

[00:06:34]>> Ooh.

[00:06:35]>> Ooh.

[00:06:35]>> Ooh.

[00:06:35]>> Yeah.

[00:06:36]>> Something good.

[00:06:36]>> Something >> Yeah.

[00:06:37]>> You love that.

[00:06:40]>> Is that a Mountain Dew, my man?

[00:06:41]>> Yes, sir.

[00:06:42]>> My man.

[00:06:42]>> Something I do with Mountain Dew.

[00:06:43]>> Uh-huh.

[00:06:44]>> Let's go.

[00:06:44]>> Yeah.

[00:06:45]>> You want to come ride in on me?

[00:06:46]>> I do my thing, right?

[00:06:47]>> We got some Mountain Dew for you.

[00:06:49]>> So, we're not going in there?

[00:06:50]>> Oh, here your Mountain Dew. You don't tell him that.

[00:06:51]>> Everybody.

[00:06:54]>> Cheers.

[00:06:58]What do you love about Mountain Dew?

[00:06:59]>> It tastes good, especially when it's really [music] cool. You can taste the flavor in it. I always I always get one in the refrigerator before dinner.

[00:07:05]>> It probably helps give you a little extra pep in your step when you're like riding horses all day.

[00:07:11]>> I drink at least three or four of these a day.

[00:07:13]>> All right.

[00:07:15]Mountain Dew is all about getting outside, and I feel like horseback riding is the best excuse to be outside.

[00:07:21]What you guys are providing for the community is great.

[00:07:23]>> I know we took a ride yesterday, went out went out in the neighborhood, rode a couple kids out in the neighborhood. We stopped. They got waters, and I got the Mountain Dew soda.

[00:07:31]>> Mountain Dew was established in 1948 in the Tennessee [music] foothills, but obviously America was established in 1776.

[00:07:39]What does America mean to you?

[00:07:41]>> Oh, it's great. I love [music] America.

[00:07:42]You get to You're free. You get to have a choice of what you want to be in life, you know?

[00:07:47]You ain't got to do this, do that, by somebody [music] else's rules and stuff.

[00:07:51]America's great.

[00:07:52]>> Do the dew, Rowdy.

[00:07:53]>> Do >> Dews. Now that we had done the dew and learned the basics of horsemanship, it was time to meet the man solely responsible for keeping the Philly tradition of urban cowboys alive, Eldog, the founder of the Fletcher Street Riding Club.

[00:08:08]We're here with Eldog, who's the OG of this riding club.

[00:08:12]>> Yeah, they they they build me up too big.

[00:08:15]>> Idris Elba portrayed you in a movie, Concrete Cowboy.

[00:08:19]>> Yeah.

[00:08:19]>> That's 2018's [music] sexiest man alive. You're way more handsome.

[00:08:22]>> Did you help with the casting of that?

[00:08:24]>> No.

[00:08:24]>> Okay. [laughter] >> But it was all about what I do.

[00:08:28]>> How long have you been doing this?

[00:08:29]>> Since I was about eight.

[00:08:31]>> And you're 50 now?

[00:08:34]>> Yeah, I'll I'll go along with 50.

[00:08:36]>> [laughter] >> I'm 87 right there.

[00:08:39]>> Do you still hop in the saddle a little?

[00:08:40]>> That's a long story. I had a horse but we got one over there had one eye.

[00:08:45]And me and that horse used to go out riding every day for about 3 4 hours. Up on 32nd and Allegheny, there was a Roy Rogers there.

[00:08:56]>> Mhm.

[00:08:56]>> We ride through go go through the drive-thru get >> Drive-thru.

[00:08:59]>> [laughter] >> Get get your piece of chicken [music] or something, a hamburger.

[00:09:04]>> Do saddles have cup holders?

[00:09:05]>> No.

[00:09:06]>> Okay.

[00:09:07]>> And one day he wanted to [music] run and I wouldn't let it. I said, "No, I don't want you to run." Man, he threw me about four from here to that guy right there.

[00:09:15]And I landed on my head.

[00:09:17]>> No.

[00:09:17]>> So you can see I can hardly [music] turn my neck.

[00:09:20]>> That'll do it.

[00:09:21]>> I was a celebrity downtown in the hospital cuz everybody wanted to know they wanted to meet the [music] cowboy that got booked off in Fairmount Park.

[00:09:28][laughter] >> I think we're going to get on the on the horse now. Do you have any tips for us?

[00:09:33]>> They can hear your heartbeat about four >> [music] >> four feet away and they know if you're afraid let's relax.

[00:09:40]>> I took an Adderall.

[00:09:41]>> [laughter] >> No, but you get on a horse you just relax and let's go ahead and let's get up on them. I they might show you the right way and they might not.

[00:09:50]>> Oh, I would prefer the right way.

[00:09:52]>> Yeah, yeah.

[00:09:53]>> [laughter] >> They put too much trust in these horses.

[00:09:56]I don't.

[00:09:57]>> Oh, okay.

[00:09:59]So, we have America's 250th birthday coming up. Uh, what does America mean to you?

[00:10:06]>> To me it's like this. I can have this. What's the Bicentennial? 1976 horses came from all over the United States >> [music] >> in wagon trains to meet down South Philly. I rode in that.

[00:10:21]>> Really?

[00:10:22]>> Now, [music] I'm here with the 250th.

[00:10:27]The man damn I'm just got >> No, [laughter] sorry. Sorry to sorry to ask.

[00:10:34]>> I said that's going way back.

[00:10:37]Hey, maybe I I'll be here for the 300.

[00:10:40]>> Yeah.

[00:10:40]>> The man upstairs got something for me to do. So, >> Definitely. [music] >> I think he's going to have me around maybe close to it anyway. That's my goal.

[00:10:49]>> Yeah.

[00:10:50]>> As long as America keep going.

[00:10:52]>> By the way, because it's America's 250th birthday party, we're throwing a birthday party tonight at [music] Ray's Happy Birthday Bar in South Philadelphia. If you guys want to ride on down on your horses by all [music] means.

[00:11:05]>> Uh, you have to give us the the address and I'm quite sure that it it I mean they love being on on camera.

[00:11:13]>> Yeah, [laughter] I'll give everybody all the info. We would love the pig to come. We would love Peter to be there.

[00:11:18]>> Oh, no, we're not bringing him.

[00:11:24]>> [music] >> George Washington had over a dozen horses.

[00:11:30]One was called Nelson.

[00:11:32]One was called Shinkling, I think. Woo.

[00:11:38]>> [music] >> Okay, that looks cool as hell. God looks so cool.

[00:11:41]>> KB looks like a a 10-year-old in that outfit.

[00:11:45]>> He's really leaning. A share footage on.

[00:11:48]What does that mean?

[00:11:49]>> America has never been one thing. It's a collision [music] of people, places, accents, arguments, songs, recipes, beliefs, [music] and grudges that can make us difficult.

[00:12:00]It can also make us extraordinary. The country is not powerful because everyone is the same. It is powerful because [music] at our best, we keep finding ways to build something together out of all that difference.

[00:12:22]Now it was time for us to go from hooves to horns as we traveled from North Philly to South Philly to learn about another century-old tradition, Mummery.

[00:12:31]If you're a boisterous bang geek who loves playing dress-up, Mummery is for you.

[00:12:36]>> Is this the Mummers Hall?

[00:12:37]>> Oh, yeah, it looks like it is. Woodland String [music] Band. Yeah.

[00:12:41]>> This is us. This is us. Let's go in.

[00:12:52]>> [music] >> Come on.

[00:12:55]What are you guys DOING HERE? YOU'RE LATE.

[00:12:57]>> Late for what?

[00:12:57]>> You're late.

[00:12:58]>> For what? Didn't you hear Mike the other day?

[00:13:00]>> Everybody's got to be here at 8:15. And that's it. And And what are you wearing?

[00:13:05]>> I'm George Washington.

[00:13:06]>> And then the the trash bag, Ken. That's the trash bag we were missing. Get tuned up. Get your instrument. Let's go. We're playing here.

[00:13:17]>> We're a Mummers String Band founded back in 1926. We're a band that tries to hold on to the tradition of Philadelphia Mummery. And we survive to compete on New Year's Day. We put on a 40-minute and 30-second show.

[00:13:28]>> 4 minutes, not >> 4 minutes, I'm sorry. 4 minutes 30 seconds.

[00:13:31]>> We don't have that stamina for a show.

[00:13:32]>> A four 4-minute 30-second show.

[00:13:34]>> But we'll put costumes to it. We'll put props and scenery to it.

[00:13:38]>> Costs us about $125,000 >> to try to win a grand prize of nothing.

[00:13:45]>> Oh.

[00:13:46]>> Bragging rights.

[00:13:46]>> Bragging rights. You get a trophy.

[00:13:48]>> Okay. And who was your competition?

[00:13:50]>> There are 13 [music] other bands in the division.

[00:13:53]>> Is it like a sports rivalry? Do you [ __ ] hate these [music] guys?

[00:13:56]>> For 4 minutes and 30 seconds.

[00:13:57]>> I'm still like very confused what Mummers are.

[00:14:01]>> Like high school marching bands meets like a Mardi Gras celebration.

[00:14:05]>> We came out of the Wren Boys in Northern Europe and they have Mummers over there and they wore straw masks and they banged on, you know, pots and pans to chase away the evil spirits of the year before and welcome in the New Year. They came here into Philly. They started using guns. They would shoot off guns and we became the Philadelphia Mummers and New Year's Shooters Association.

[00:14:23]But then the Philadelphia police said, "Hey, what goes up must come down. No more guns." And then they took all these different sects in the city and molded us into one parade and brought us into Center City back in 1900 and started the first official Mummers parade. But >> parade?

[00:14:39]>> I still don't know where the term Mummers comes from. I'll find out.

[00:14:41]>> It comes from a French word.

[00:14:42]>> It does, okay. Make it up.

[00:14:44]>> No, no. It I It actually does. It's like momueur. It means masquer or something.

[00:14:49]>> Oh, see. Look, you did your research.

[00:14:50]>> syphilis. That's a French word, too.

[00:14:52]>> [laughter] >> I'm sure it is.

[00:14:54]>> Learned that from Ben Franklin. Not that one.

[00:14:56]>> It hurts. It is It is itchy.

[00:15:00]>> Not all bands are. Most are, but we are still one of the all-male fraternal organizations.

[00:15:05]>> Did she even pee here?

[00:15:07]>> Uh well, >> Does anyone else's penis itch right now?

[00:15:11]>> [laughter] >> Or is it just the syphilis?

[00:15:14]>> No, we are we are >> She's talking like a guy.

[00:15:15]>> We are still a fraternal organization.

[00:15:17]>> What's the process to become a Mummer?

[00:15:19]>> If If can't play an instrument, are there certain mummer groups that you can join where they just like dance or they just drink?

[00:15:25]>> Yeah, well you can join here if you don't play an instrument.

[00:15:28]>> So you would take just four unskilled schleppy middle-aged adults?

[00:15:32]>> Sure. To a certain degree, yeah.

[00:15:34]>> We already have costumes, too.

[00:15:36]>> Oh, we got better costumes for you.

[00:15:39]>> Wow.

[00:15:39]>> [music] >> This is awesome.

[00:15:41]>> Yeah, there's a lot to choose from.

[00:15:42]>> And I get to pick one?

[00:15:43]>> Pick the one you like.

[00:15:45]>> I feel like I'm on Say Yes to the Dress.

[00:15:46]This is [laughter] incredible and you guys are my Randy.

[00:15:49]I like this one. I have blue eyes.

[00:15:51]>> It'll match your eyes.

[00:15:52]>> Has the musical notes. I do B flat.

[00:15:55]>> [laughter] >> Can I pick whichever costume I want?

[00:15:58]>> I think I got the right one for you.

[00:16:00]>> Something fitting for a general.

[00:16:02]>> Gold?

[00:16:02]>> It's crazy cuz all these costumes just scream New Orleans to me but they're very fitting.

[00:16:07]>> What our theme was this year? Called it a taste of bourbon.

[00:16:10]>> Ah.

[00:16:10]>> As in Bourbon Street.

[00:16:12]>> Well, GW loved his bourbon.

[00:16:14]>> So that that was typical Mardi That was all Mardi Gras that suit.

[00:16:18]>> Sure, why not?

[00:16:21]>> Dude, I'm excited to change because I've been in gray sweats every time I piss just dribbles.

[00:16:27]>> You hungry? Look at this.

[00:16:29]This has you >> and fries? And a hot dog?

[00:16:32]>> to be a chef.

[00:16:33]>> I'll be a chef.

[00:16:35]>> And your pot.

[00:16:35]>> Is that a pot with a lobster? This is beautiful. This is perfect. This is very me. Thank you, boys.

[00:16:41]>> You know, sometimes you save the best for last.

[00:16:44]>> What's your favorite color?

[00:16:45]>> Um clear.

[00:16:46]>> Clear?

[00:16:47]>> That sounds like maroon to me.

[00:16:48]>> It sounds like burgundy.

[00:16:50]>> I can do that.

[00:16:51]>> actually the latest one of all of them.

[00:16:54]>> Oh. And you get you get a belt that goes with it.

[00:16:57]>> And then there's a small hat that you can get to wear with it, too.

[00:17:00]>> I can get lost in this.

[00:17:02]>> And there's the hat, too.

[00:17:03]>> Weird, when I'm in costume [music] I feel like I'm no longer being perceived and I finally feel alive.

[00:17:11]>> You're going to be really feel alive for about 10 minutes.

[00:17:14]>> Cool.

[00:17:15]>> Then you'll start sweating and you'll say, "Take it off."

[00:17:17]>> All right, well let's get changed.

[00:17:19]>> you dressed.

[00:17:20]>> [music] [music] >> WHAT?

[00:17:33]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> THEY CALL THIS SLIPPERS AND THE PRANK THE SPRAYING THE golden slippers is a New Year's tradition is an initiation to all the new members, little children, [music] family members, guys coming off the street for the first time participating in a band or any Mummers musician. It's all about Philadelphia and it and it just [music] welcomes everybody into the hobby.

[00:19:13]>> [music] [music] [cheering] [music] >> I'm here at a perfect bar to celebrate America's 250th birthday, Ray's Happy Birthday Bar. LuAnn Capozzoli, one of the owners. LuAnn, how did this bar get its name?

[00:20:05]>> So, my grandfather bought the bar in 1938, and he ran it until he passed away. When my father took it over, because [music] my grandfather would greet everyone with a happy birthday, my dad renamed the bar Ray's Happy Birthday Bar.

[00:20:21]>> I know your dad was a really beloved person around this neighborhood, and he passed away this year. And >> [music] >> he was kind of a character himself.

[00:20:29]Loved telling jokes, loved was a musician himself.

[00:20:32]>> [music] >> So, do you think he would like this party?

[00:20:34]>> He would absolutely love this party.

[00:20:36]When my grandfather did the happy birthday, my dad, his thing was the joke. People would come in, he would tell them a joke. He just wanted to make people laugh, and he carried that on.

[00:20:45]>> [music] >> Loved music. His band would play here the first Saturday of every month. So, he would love this. He would love this.

[00:20:52]>> Well, I hope we make him proud tonight at Ray's Happy Birthday Bar in South Philly. Happy 250th, America.

[00:20:58]Let's go do a birthday shot.

[00:21:01]>> [music] >> I did learn to have my own accoutrement, if you will, [music] Pop Rocks. You going to try one? Anybody?

[00:21:08]>> Certainly. Yes.

[00:21:10]>> See, the motto is it's not crack, it's pop. Oh, cheers.

[00:21:13]>> Cheers.

[00:21:13]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:21:14]>> Oh, you.

[00:21:15]>> I'm good. I already had three.

[00:21:17]>> She don't know.

[00:21:17]>> Oh, holy [ __ ] You guys are Philly Boba Fett?

[00:21:22]>> So, people call you the Jello Man, correct? How did you earn that moniker?

[00:21:26]>> Believe it or not, I went [music] to trade school originally to learn how to lay bricks, and I did that for a while.

[00:21:30]It became very boring quickly, [music] and I decided I wanted to go to like music festivals and events and figure out have more fun, and [music] then I I decided I was going to sell something. I started selling bootleg t-shirts first.

[00:21:40]And then I saw a girl selling Jello shots, and I jacked that [music] idea real quick.

[00:21:43]>> Who needs a Jello Woman when you have a Jello Man, am I right?

[00:21:46]>> Correct.

[00:21:47]>> Whatever, dude.

[00:21:48]>> Yeah, it's all about hustling first. And then I just decided to get a bow one day and a one-wheel hoverboard, and I decided to just ride [music] around and shoot shots around at Eagles games.

[00:21:55]>> I heard you also take people for rides on your cart.

[00:21:58]>> Yeah, anyone want to ride on on the >> He's an innovator.

[00:22:00]>> Is that like a a romantic thing, or is it >> It could be romantic, but not always.

[00:22:05]This time it might not be, but >> What what the [ __ ] not? Can I go in the street with this or not?

[00:22:08]>> Oh, yeah, yes, yes. I just talked to the city and >> [laughter] >> we're good.

[00:22:13]>> So, grab her here.

[00:22:14]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:22:16]>> Don't go in the traffic.

[00:22:18]>> Uh-oh. Uh-oh, KYLE.

[00:22:20]>> [laughter] >> NOT THE RIGHT TEMPO.

[00:22:24]>> I DO THIS [ __ ] ALL THE TIME.

[00:22:24]>> YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.

[00:22:25]>> HOLD ON. YO, hold on tight. Ready?

[00:22:27]Wheelie.

[00:22:28]>> Yeah, Jello Man, he wants to goddamn die.

[00:22:31]>> [laughter] >> I got to grip my [ __ ] >> Yo, I GOT TO GRIP MY BIG [ __ ] >> LEGS ARE LOCKED with the Jello.

[00:22:40]Oh, snatch.

[00:22:43]Who's next?

[00:22:44]Freedom to me is learning a trade, being able to to do your trade anywhere, and make money anywhere you want, but giving you a basis of how to make your own money with your own hands, and then eventually be able to lay Jello, and sell Jello, and travel the country, [music] and ride a one-wheel and do whatever you want without a boss. You should ride on my back, dude.

[00:23:06]>> What?

[00:23:07]>> Take him away, Jell-O man.

[00:23:09]>> Bye, Donnie.

[00:23:11]>> All hail the general.

[00:23:13]Where are we going, Jell-O man? Woo!

[00:23:16]Yeah, keep on spinning me till I blow chunks.

[00:23:19]Oh.

[00:23:21]Wow.

[00:23:23]>> Oh, it's Ben Franklin is here.

[00:23:25]>> Oh my god. Perfect timing.

[00:23:27]>> I know that Toyota.

[00:23:30]>> Good to see you again, Ben.

[00:23:32]>> How do you do, young sir?

[00:23:34]>> A magazine recently said I was the 12th richest man who ever lived.

[00:23:38]>> Did you go to school?

[00:23:39]>> For a tradescraft in either Boston or Philadelphia, I'll still pay for it. In your time, you wouldn't understand anything about that. People Some people actually work for a living.

[00:23:48]>> And your advice on acquiring a mistress?

[00:23:50]>> Um go older. A gray cat looks dark black in the dark.

[00:23:56]Something like that.

[00:23:58]>> Old women are more appreciative, he said.

[00:24:00]>> But, that's if you're going to choose a mistress. Your best bet is a wife.

[00:24:04]>> Is it made from a >> I thought we were going out drinking. I didn't If you're um filming me, you have to pay me more.

[00:24:08]>> If you answer this question, you get free drinks the rest of the night. What is the French word for syphilis?

[00:24:12]>> Uh no, I That's Syphilis is the French word for syphilis.

[00:24:16]>> Syphilis?

[00:24:18]>> It's all about the pronunciation.

[00:24:20]>> [music] >> As the birthday party began to fill up, we decided to ask some folks what America means to them.

[00:24:34]>> Values, uh something to aspire towards.

[00:24:37]All right, we may not always hit it, but there's always a light ahead of us that we're attaining trying [music] to attain.

[00:24:44]>> We got a lot of Mountain Dew. We got a lot of music. We got a lot of great folks and great vibes. People that we've just met over the past 3 days, but they already feel like close friends. I think that's what Philly's all about. Look, my hero from Philly is Ben Franklin, and that's the guy who gave back. He tried to make the world around him better, and I think that's Philadelphia at its best. Well, do I have a treat for you? We got two Ben Franklins in that bar.

[00:25:06]>> of them.

[00:25:07]>> Yes. One of them is very, very sassy, and the other one has a little Which Ben would have loved, by the way.

[00:25:13]>> Freedom to me being able to be fully yourself with nobody messing [music] with it.

[00:25:18]>> I most of our founding fathers, if they came here today, they would be like, "Hey, you were supposed to update the Constitution." And Ben would say, "I can get free porn?"

[00:25:26]>> He was a bit of a dirty dog, but he was a man of ideals. If you were to sum it up in just 30 seconds, what does America mean to you?

[00:25:34]>> 150 years before I was born, there was a man named Copernicus who discovered that the Earth revolves around the Sun, but he didn't tell anyone for fear of the repercussions. But when I came around and my contemporaries, and we discovered new um wonders of the world, new um insights into the into the the unknown, we were applauded. And if science is no longer a threat to religion, then it is not through divine providence that some men, some families should rule over the rest of us.

[00:26:08]So, when science and religion and governance can coexist for the first time, [music] as they have here, that is called enlightenment.

[00:26:20]And that is what [music] this country represents.

[00:26:22]>> We spent all day together.

[00:26:24]>> They're new. We're just a dick.

[00:26:25]>> I know. Well, it was raining.

[00:26:26]>> [ __ ] is that?

[00:26:27]>> I know. I had He comes out in the spa. I I had You didn't give me beer.

[00:26:31]>> That's true.

[00:26:32]>> Beer brings me alive.

[00:26:33]Enlightenment.

[00:26:42]>> I feel bad cuz we've been putting a lot of people on the spot and asking them what America means to them.

[00:26:47]>> Yeah.

[00:26:47]>> Did you have an answer to that question?

[00:26:49]>> Donny?

[00:26:50]>> I'm wearing a garbage bag, and it's my job. That's beautiful. Where else can I do that?

[00:26:55]>> In America, there's a lane for everyone if you stay committed [music] and you don't give up.

[00:27:05]>> [laughter] >> We were just having a sentimental moment.

[00:27:11]>> I just had to piss so [ __ ] bad.

[00:27:14]>> What means most to me about America is anyone can make what they want out of it.

[00:27:19]>> At one time, Mountain Dew >> [cheering] >> was just a man in his backyard in Tennessee saying, "You know what? I think we can make a better soda." America already had sodas.

[00:27:29]They probably had four or five. He was like, "You know what? I think we can make a different soda and I think I can make a living doing it." And not only did he make a living doing it, he made a brand that's as American as apple pie.

[00:27:41]That's as American as Betsy Ross. That's as American as Mitchell who went to go get a cheesesteak, dressed as Ben Franklin.

[00:27:49]>> him a thousand dollars to come here and he just left to go get a cheesesteak.

[00:27:52]>> No, I'm done with that.

[00:27:53]>> I'm also >> I'm really done with that.

[00:27:55]>> You're still on the clock.

[00:27:56]>> No, I'm really not though.

[00:27:57]>> It is self-evident that we have this liberty, that we were born with this and that anyone who tries to take it away, tries to take away [music] our liberties are are deserving of a fight.

[00:28:19]>> Part of my take posted this tattoo when the Eagles won their first Super Bowl and look what we found tonight at America's 250th [music] birthday.

[00:28:31]>> And a hoon for you.

[00:28:33]>> Am I going to get I'm going to get fired from my job.

[00:28:37]>> [music] >> Hey, hey, hey, hey, how are you? Hey, how are you?

[00:28:44]You You know me. I'm a George Washington. I get a lot of credit for uh America being a country, uh >> [music] >> which is deserved, but I wouldn't have won the war without the French. And we wouldn't have had the French on our side if it wasn't for a fat, tubby man by the name of Ben Franklin, who is uh standing over to the right of me.

[00:29:11]And that fat, tubby man is also the one who organized this party, and he would like to say a few words.

[00:29:17]So, if you'd like to hop on the mic, everybody give it up for BEN FRANKLIN.

[00:29:21]WOO!

[00:29:22]INVENTOR OF THE BIFOCALS and uh electrocuted himself with a kite.

[00:29:28]>> Um when I was told that we were tasked with doing an America's 250th birthday celebration in Philadelphia, my first thought was, "Oh my god, we have to do something at Ray's Happy Birthday Bar. It's too perfect.

[00:29:40]>> [cheering] >> Too perfect."

[00:29:42]I [applause] live in Chicago now, but I vaguely remember being here in my 20s several times and just feeling so much love here and loving this place.

[00:29:52]Um and I wanted to talk about Lou, who ran this bar. I feel like he embodies the spirit of what America should be. Um he cared deeply about his community. He was an artist who played a mean sax, and he wanted people to feel welcome here. And I hope that everybody here feels [music] that tonight. That's what I wanted, an amalgamation of all the people we've met along the way over the last few days, [music] and I feel like this bar is a great window into Philadelphia and America and what is special about it.

[00:30:27]So, happy birthday, America. All right.

[00:30:31]>> [cheering] >> And [applause] here's a cheers to Lou and his family and Rose.

[00:30:35]>> [cheering] >> YES, CHEERS.

[00:30:37]>> [screaming] >> THANK YOU.

[00:30:39]YEAH.

[00:30:39]YAY!

[00:30:50]>> WELL, LOOK WHO DECIDED TO SHOW UP AT America's 250th birthday party.

[00:30:54]>> Wow, what >> My guys, Gorilla and Daren. How you [music] guys doing?

[00:30:57]>> Yeah, we doing great. This is what, you know, came to party with the guys.

[00:31:01]>> Did you guys ride your horses here?

[00:31:03]>> Uh, we drove them.

[00:31:04]>> You drove them here?

[00:31:04]>> There's the horses right there?

[00:31:05]>> Yeah.

[00:31:06]>> Dude, this is incredible. So, they pulled up >> [music] >> in like a a Suburban with a trailer in the back that's got horses in it.

[00:31:12]>> You see that?

[00:31:13]Oh, [ __ ] Look, you see how they look?

[00:31:15]That's concrete cowboys. See how they pulled up, fools?

[00:31:17]>> I mean, that's what [music] America's 250th is all about. It's about bringing people together.

[00:31:22]>> people together.

[00:31:23]>> And I'm so happy you guys came.

[00:31:24]>> No, this means the world.

[00:31:26]Um >> [music] >> You got to show the love. You got to spread it back. You guys came and showed us respect.

[00:31:31]Return the favor.

[00:31:32]>> What does Philly [music] mean to America?

[00:31:34]>> Philly?

[00:31:35]>> birthplace of America.

[00:31:36]>> Everything comes from Philly.

[00:31:37]>> of America.

[00:31:38]>> If you want to know about America, you got to come to Philly.

[00:31:40]>> America is built on what?

[00:31:42]>> It doesn't really sound that bad.

[00:31:43]Respect.

[00:31:43]>> CASH.

[00:31:44]>> OH, [ __ ] >> [laughter] >> OH, OKAY.

[00:31:46]>> DO YOU SEE THAT BEHIND YOU? The man from the $100 bill, Benjamin [music] Franklin we invited. How do you do, my friend, Ben?

[00:31:52]>> How you doing?

[00:31:53]>> Nice to see you.

[00:31:53]>> I'm Gorilla.

[00:31:54]>> Would you agree that America, especially America's 250th [music] birthday party, is all about bringing people together?

[00:32:00]>> Absolutely.

[00:32:01]>> Well, participation. [music] The more people that participate, the better our country will be.

[00:32:07]We, in my time, all fell short.

[00:32:31]>> GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS FAMOUS FOR riding a white horse. So, I [music] feel like it's only right if I hop on board. I've only had two Mountain Dews tonight.

[00:32:38]This is Nelson, my steed.

[00:32:40]As I learned this morning, these horses are bomb proof, so don't worry about loud noises. They're fine.

[00:32:47]I would love a jello shot because [music] this guy is apparently driving.

[00:32:53]It's blue, like my coat. Wait. Cheers.

[00:32:56]>> I got you.

[00:32:56]>> Oh, okay. I was going to take that one, too.

[00:33:02]Huzzah!

[00:33:05]Huzzah!

[00:33:07]Huzzah!

[00:33:10]I [music] get a lot of credit for America, but America doesn't happen if all of you guys don't believe in the concept of America. So, I would like to thank you.

[00:33:20]I would like to thank you for believing in the dream of America.

[00:33:24]And every day that dream evolves.

[00:33:26]America is not done.

[00:33:28]America will evolve, it will change, but America will exist, it will persist. And you can ask my friend Ben Franklin about that.

[00:33:39]That Ben Franklin is off the clock. This Ben Franklin is still on duty, so if you have any questions about American history, she'd be happy to answer them.

[00:33:47]>> birthday to you.

[00:33:51]Happy birthday to you.

[00:33:57]Happy birthday to America.

[00:34:03]Happy birthday to you.

[00:34:09]>> [cheering] >> Huzzah!

[00:34:13]>> Happy birthday, America. 250 years is a long time.

[00:34:17]The point of this anniversary, though, is not just to congratulate [music] ourselves for making it this far. It is to ask what we have learned, what we have failed to learn, and what kind of country we still [music] intend to become.

[00:34:31]That's the harder birthday candle to blow out.

[00:34:35]>> [music] >> Ben boy!

[00:34:42]Bye, Ben!

[00:34:43]Ben, I'm fine.

[00:34:46]>> [music]