Curious Nebraska

A roadside museum, a million marbles, and one man's lifelong passion. Curious Nebraska producer Andy Hermann plays for keeps in this report on Lee's Legendary Marbles and Collectibles. Guests, in order of appearance: Lee Ann Klemz, daughter, Lee Batterton; Michael Legband, manager, Lee's Legendary Marbles and Collectables; Chris Haussler, glassworker, Pixybug Designs. Additional audio: "Nebraska's Marble Museum" (2008) from KETV Omaha; "GONE MARBLIN' - A Cross Country Marble Hunt and Road Adventure" (2024) from Refresh Quest.

Why are three-sided glass bottles from nearly a century ago going for up to $100 on auction sites and antique shops? In this report for Curious Nebraska, producer Andy Hermann cracks open the story of Ankle Deep soda pop from David City. Guests, in order of appearance: Renee Kosch, co-owner, Renee's Same As It Ever Was; Nicole Kosch, co-owner, Renee's Same As It Ever Was; Jim Reisdorff, historian, Butler County Nebraska Historical Society; Nathan Hoff, antique glass bottle hunter. Special thanks to the "Nebraska bottle collectors" Facebook Group and The Token Store.

You've probably seen them in taverns across Nebraska... those small cards with pull tabs for instant winnings. In this report for Curious Nebraska, producer Andy Hermann set out to find how they came to be called pickle cards. Guests, in order of appearance: Evan Schrodek, new Nebraskan and pickle card enthusiast; Brian Rockey, Director, Nebraska Lottery and Charitable Gaming Division; Arlis Steiner, accounting and finance, Technik Mfg.; Doug Obal, sales and marketing, Technik Mfg.; John Adams, former regulator, Nebraska Department of Revenue & former general counsel, International Gamco.

Nebraska is home to the only roller skating museum in the country... but the capital city doesn't have a rink! In this report for Curious Nebraska, producer Andy Hermann rolls through the National Museum of Roller Skating and asks how the sport disappeared from Lincoln. Guests, in order of appearance: Max McKillip, Archivist, National Museum of Roller Skating; Brent Benson, Operations Director, USA Roller Sports; Bob Hartsock, former manager, Skate Zone; Ember Hartsock, former manager, Skate Zone; Cassie Stout, former owner, Good Life Skate Center. Music: "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll Pt. 2" by Vaughan Mason and Crew. Additional audio: National Museum of Roller Skating's Self-Guided Tour; starting gun and speed roller skating sounds from Nebraska Nightly on Nebraska Public Radio (August 10, 1994). Special thanks to Alexis Scargill, Media Archivist, Nebraska Public Media.

From freezing a bullet in midair to shaping the future of photography, one Nebraska native changed how the world sees motion. Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann shines a strobe light on Harold "Doc" Edgerton for Curious Nebraska. Guests, in order of appearance: Eric Edgerton, grandchild of Doc Edgerton; Sylvia Edgerton, grandchild of Doc Edgerton; Tina Larson, Executive Director of the Plainsman Museum; Mary Molliconi, Executive Director of the Edgerton Explorit Center. Additional audio: "Quicker 'n a Wink" (1940); "Late Night with David Letterman" (February 19, 1985); "Edgerton and his Incredible Seeing Machines" (1983).

Evelyn Sharp, a young woman from Nebraska, made her dream of flying a reality during the Great Depression. Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann stays on the ground to file this report for Curious Nebraska. Guests, in order of appearance: Steffan Baker, Valley County Historical Society; Diane Ruth Armour Bartels, author, Sharpie: The Life Story of Evelyn Sharp - Nebraska's Aviatrix.

Why is there so much sandstone in Lincoln and why was a cave dug out of it in the 1860s? Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann goes underground to file this report about Robber's Cave. Guests, in order of appearance: Joel Green, author, Robber’s Cave: Truths, Legends, Recollections; Cara Burberry, president, Nebraska Geological Society. Music: "Ghosts of Robber’s Cave" by Dorothy’s Dishes.

Football is big in Nebraska. But did you know a version of America's favorite sport was created here? Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann is eligible to pass, run, and kick... to score the story about Six-Man Football and its inventor Stephen Epler. Guests, in order of appearance: Nate Neuhaus, Assistant Director, Nebraska School Activities Association; Charlotte Gezi, daughter of Six-Man Football inventor Stephen Epler; Richard Walter, former coach, master’s degree on Six-Man Football; Roger Crouse, Mayor, Chester, Nebraska. Additional audio: excerpts and music from 2024 NSAA D6 Football Championship (November 22, 2024) on News Channel Nebraska, with announcer Brandon Aksamit and color analyst Andy Classen.

Kool-Aid was invented in Nebraska? Oh yeah, it was! Edwin Perkins came up with it in Hastings, but its Nebraska roots go even deeper than that. Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann busts through walls to get the story. Guests, in order of appearance: Linda Buck, Site Manager, Museum of the High Plains; Ryan Cramer, Curator, Cambridge Museum; Teresa Kreutzer-Hodson, Director, Hastings Museum; Dick Shoemaker, nephew of Kitty & Edwin Perkins; Chuck Shoemaker, nephew of Kitty & Edwin Perkins. Additional audio: excerpt from Nebraska Nightly on NET Radio (May 21, 1998), anchored by Nancy Finken. Special thanks to Alexis Scargill, Media Archivist, Nebraska Public Media.

It's an undisputed fact that the Reuben sandwich was first put together in Nebraska. But what's the story? And who gets credit for its invention?? Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann digs into the story. Guests, in order of appearance: Sarah Baker Hansen, food writer, Flatwater Free Press; Mary Bernstein, youngest daughter, Bernard Schimmel; Connie Shapiro, middle daughter Bernard Schimmel; Judy Weil, oldest daughter, Bernard Schimmel; Ed Kully, great-great nephew, Reuben Kulakofsky; Jay Kulakofsky, great-great-great nephew, Reuben Kulakofsky; Janie Kulakofsky, great-great niece-in-law, Reuben Kulakofsky. Music: "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" by The Hombres. Additional audio: "Quiz Show" (1994).

It should be pretty easy to pronounce Norfolk, Nebraska, right?? Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann dives into why saying the town's name isn't as simple as it seems. Guests, in order of appearance: Jeffrey Steffen, general manager, WJAG radio; Sheryl Schmeckpeper, author, "Norfolk, Nebraska: The First 150 Years"; Libby McKay, executive director, Elkhorn Valley Museum. Music: "No Not Much" by The Smoke Ring. Additional audio: "Johnny Goes Home (1982)", NBC special.

Check your toolbox after this story to make sure you have the innovative hand tool that was invented in DeWitt a century ago. The VISE-GRIP, or locking plier calls Nebraska home. Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann has the gripping story. Guests, in order of appearance: Kirby Taylor, Program Chair, Precision Machining and Automation Technology, Southeast Community College; Marcia Bergmeyer, granddaughter of William S. Petersen; Joyce Holtmeier, granddaughter of William S. Petersen; Larry Wattjes, former mechanical maintenance engineer, Petersen Manufacturing; Lois Wattjes, Vice President, DeWitt Historical Society.

Is the legend true? Is Kearney the Midway City... the exact center of the United States? Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann looks into this claim that Kearney has held since the late-1880s. Guests, in order of appearance: David Bristow, editor, Nebraska History Magazine; John Arnold, travel counselor, Kearney Welcome Center; John Bauer, professor of geography, University of Nebraska at Kearney. Music: "Kearney City Anthem!" by The Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities & Towns. Additional audio: "President Clinton's Univ. of Nebraska Speech - A Foreign Policy for the Global Age (2000)", Courtesy; William J. Clinton Presidential Library,

Glur's Tavern is not only the oldest tavern in Nebraska, it's the oldest continuously operating tavern west of the Missouri River. It contains lots of history... history that connects from the Old West to the present day. Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann has the story of the tavern with connections to the Old West. Guests, in order of appearance: Cathy Hoops, granddaughter of Louis Glur; Cheri Schrader, executive director, Platte County Historical Society; Todd Trofholz, former owner, Glur's Tavern.

Ranch is now the most popular salad dressing in the country. But it's more than a dressing... it's a condiment... it's almost a lifestyle. And it was invented by a Nebraska native! Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann gets the story and visits with Nebraskans keeping the tradition alive. Guests, in order of appearance: Holly Mastelotto, granddaughter of Steve Henson, founder of Hidden Valley Ranch (Sparks, Nev.); Angie Dowd, owner, Driesbach’s Salad Dressings and The Chocolate Bar (Grand Island, Neb.); Marcia Harner, creator, the Country Neighbor restaurant's Country Sweet Onion and Ranch Sweet Onion dressings (Burwell, Neb.); Todd Baker, 2nd generation owner/operator, Baker’s Candies (Greenwood, Neb.). Music: "Dip It In The Ranch" by Parry Gripp.

What do you do when snow falls on your driveway? If you ask Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann, he shovels it. But over time, he tends to pick up words and phrases from the different places he's lived over the years. Does this mean he'll be scooping the snow next time it falls? Guests, in order of appearance: Cicely Wardyn (Lincoln, Neb.); Barb Bierman-Batie, freelance writer and photographer (Lexington, Neb.); Matthew Gordon, professor of English, University of Missouri (Columbia, Mo.).

When you think of agriculture in Nebraska... you think of corn, cows, and... sheep... right? Nebraska Public Media producer Andy Hermann takes inspiration by trying getting warm in this cold season. He visits three wool working facilities in the state and learns about much more than hats and sweaters. Guests, in order of appearance: Andrew Wells, Brown Sheep Company (Mitchell, NE); Kelsey Quandt, The Fiber Mill (Stromsburg, NE); Megan Landes-Murphy, Kestrel Ridge Pellet Company (Lawrence, NE); Robert Wells, Brown Sheep Company (Mitchell, NE).

Nebraska Public Media debuts Curious Nebraska... producer Andy Hermann's quest to figure out what makes Nebraska Nebraska. This episode is about red beer and why Huskers love it. Guests, in order of appearance: Travis Langford, owner of The Grapevine Bar in Lincoln; Brianna Stai, assistant manager at Tank's Bar and Guitars in Lincoln; Andrew Rasmussen PhD, affiliate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.