00:00:32:Everyone thinks Harlem|was the capital of jazz in the 1930s. 00:00:36:That all of New York flooded uptown|at night to party till dawn. 00:00:41:Nice story, but unfortunately,|it's just not true. 00:00:45:It was all happening in the little town|of Passaic, New Jersey. 00:00:50:Passaic was the capital of jazz|in the '20s and '30s... 00:00:53:... because of its own native son... 00:00:55:... Thomas "Fats" Waller... 00:00:57:... one of the greatest entertainers|of all time. 00:01:00:Chapter 1, the birth of Fats Waller. 00:01:03:It all began right here,|a hundred years ago... 00:01:07:... in Passaic, New Jersey. 00:01:10:Right here, on this block. 00:01:12:It was a different neighborhood then,|but look here... 00:01:14:... he was born at 261 Main Street. 00:01:16:When he was young, he used to follow|his father around the streets... 00:01:19:... because his father|was a street minister. 00:01:21:He started playing piano, as I understand,|out in the streets here in Passaic... 00:01:25:... on a harmonium. 00:01:27:Poor boy put on pounds|faster than the price of aluminum. 00:01:30:One-forty-seven. 00:01:34:Thomas, you're gonna break|Dr. Benton 's scale. 00:01:36:You're getting worse. 00:01:38:Maybe that's why he would have to play|a very huge instrument. 00:01:42:So he would spend nights here,|at the great organ. 00:01:44:Fats used the church|as his training ground. 00:01:47:And soon, all of Passaic|would know his name. 00:01:51:Fats lived his life all in excess. 00:01:54:Loads of music, loads of food|and loads of women. 00:01:59:Who would expect a simple influenza virus|would get him in his bed? 00:02:03:A sleeping-train bed, though. 00:02:05:But still, the train had been stopped|in the freezing cold winter... 00:02:10:... in the train station in Kansas City. 00:02:13:Fats, are you okay? Fats? You okay? 00:02:18:Is there a doctor on the train? 00:02:25:Fats was the star|that made the whole town shine. 00:02:39:Hey, Jerry, hand me Number 9. 00:02:44:I will give you 00:02:47:- Okay. All right.|- Number 9 00:02:51:Handing you number 00:02:52:- Would you shut up?|- Number 9 00:02:56:Could you just paint|and be quiet, please? 00:02:58:Knock it off. 00:03:01:It's terrible. 00:03:10:- What the duck, Jerry?|- What? 00:03:13:I asked you to give me Number 9,|the nose. 00:03:16:Yeah, that's what I did. 00:03:17:No, you didn't. This is Number 6.|This is the eye. 00:03:20:All right, well, how am I supposed to tell|the difference between a six and a nine? 00:03:24:Because we did both the eyes already,|you doofus. 00:03:26:Come on, get organized. 00:03:28:I told you, put the finished ones|in a separate pile. 00:03:30:Look, what's the difference, man? 00:03:32:A nostril and an upside-down eye|are the same anyway. It looks fine. 00:03:35:Oh, is that supposed to be funny?|Are you trying to say Fats had big nostrils? 00:03:39:- Jerry.|- Hi, officer, how's it going? 00:03:42:Look what happened. Last night,|some hoodlums came and did... 00:03:45:- Oh, really?|...all this stuff here, this... 00:03:47:- Here we go again.|- It's disgusting. 00:03:50:- I hate graffiti.|- Yeah, they even left the ladder. 00:03:53:That's, like, evidence.|We should confiscate it. 00:03:55:- Catch them.|- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure. 00:03:58:You're getting on my nerves. 00:04:00:You keep this up,|you'll be spending the night in jail. 00:04:03:- Okay.|- Moron. 00:04:05:If... If they come back for the ladder,|we'll catch them. 00:04:08:Hey, fellas, is that supposed to be|Biggie Smalls or something? 00:04:12:No, man, that's that dead old blues guy,|Louis Armstrong. 00:04:15:No, my ignorant little buddies,|this is Fats Waller. 00:04:19:- Really?|- Famous jazz musician. 00:04:21:He was born in my building|about a hundred years ago. 00:04:29:- Ice cream, anyone?|- Oh, yeah. 00:04:31:That's what I'm talking about. 00:04:35:Mr. Fletcher, you know,|really, seriously... 00:04:37:...if you don't like the painting,|you can... You can tell me. 00:04:40:I know that there's something wrong|with the nose, I don't know if you noticed. 00:04:44:What about the authorities, Mike? 00:04:46:The city already has issues|with the building as it is. 00:04:49:Mr. Fletcher, you don't have|to worry about the police. 00:04:52:- I worked my magic on them.|- Yeah, he did confuse them. 00:04:55:Okay, they think some gangsters did it. 00:04:57:- And you confused them?|- Yeah, with my finesse. 00:04:59:Yeah, I feel great. You sure|this is gonna bring us more customers? 00:05:03:I hope so. I mean, anyway, don't you think|it's time the people around here... 00:05:06:...started to learn a bit little about, you|know, the history of their neighborhood? 00:05:10:I mean, people don't even know|who Fats is. 00:05:12:- It's a little embarrassing.|- Hey. Hey. That's not true. 00:05:15:- We know who Fats Waller is.|- Is that right? 00:05:18:Bet you can't sing a jazz song. 00:05:20:- Oh, challenge.|- Uh-oh. Uh-oh. 00:05:25:That's not jazz. 00:05:26:Fuzzy, oh, oh 00:05:28:Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear|Fuzzy jazzy had no hair 00:05:32:Fuzzy wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he? 00:05:34:Yes, he was, he was Fuzzy|Had a fuzzy face 00:05:38:Check this out and let me say|One thing to you 00:05:43:Watch me play my fuzzy bass 00:05:49:Standup bass. 00:05:54:I'm sorry, Mr. Fletcher. 00:05:55:It's all right, Jerry. I got it. 00:05:57:Actually, you gotta go back to work. 00:05:59:Duty calls. You gotta|go back to the microwave. 00:06:01:I think I saw one of your creations|just roll by. 00:06:03:- Turn the microwave on high.|- You think it's a joke? 00:06:05:Let me tell you, you're gonna|be responsible for my brain tumor. 00:06:08:- All of you guys are.|- Where the hell is Jerry? 00:06:11:Man, what's her problem? 00:06:12:She said she wanted a sporty car,|now she's freaking out. 00:06:14:You did that? 00:06:19:- I don't want this.|- Don't forget your salad bowl. 00:06:22:I told you she wouldn't be|into them big pipes. 00:06:25:Polish or not, she's still a girl. 00:06:27:Come on, Wilson.|She couldn't get the doors open. 00:06:29:Well, she could have went through|the window. 00:06:32:These damn helmets. 00:06:35:I don't think they're helping|with the microwaves at all. 00:06:37:Oh, you'll thank me. 00:06:39:- All right, I'll see you in the morning.|- All right, thanks. 00:06:58:Good night, Mike.|Don't forget to turn out the lights. 00:07:00:Good night, Mr. Fletcher. 00:07:17:A rent party was the place to be|in the '20s and '30s. 00:07:20:They were jumping. 00:07:21:If you didn't have enough money|to cover your rent... 00:07:23:...you'd invite a few musicians,|charge for drinks, and you'd get it on. 00:07:28:Everybody would throw|just a little bit in the pot. 00:07:30:A dollar, whatever they could spare. 00:07:32:Jerry doesn't believe you've ever been|to a rent party, Mr. Fletcher. 00:07:35:What are you talking about?|I never said that. 00:07:37:Oh, man, I used to go to all of them. 00:07:39:That's where I'd meet|all the girls on Saturday night. 00:07:41:I can't imagine you with a girl,|Mr. Fletcher. 00:07:44:Oh, nice, that's great. That's perfect. 00:07:47:Yeah, what about you, Jerry? 00:07:49:I don't see much action|coming out of your trailer at night. 00:07:52:When I was your age,|my balls were flapping so hard... 00:07:56:... I had to scrape them off the ground|and beg them to come home with me. 00:07:59:- Come on, balls.|- Yeah, come on. 00:08:01:Come on. That's hilarious. 00:08:04:What about you, Mike? 00:08:05:When was the last time you heard|some action coming out of his room? 00:08:07:Why are you all worried about me for? 00:08:08:I heard some action sometime. 00:08:10:Now, it's more like a trumpet solo. 00:08:16:Trumpet solo. 00:08:17:Could you close your mouth|when you chew? Thanks. 00:08:19:How come you never got married,|Mr. Fletcher? 00:08:21:Well, the common story is... 00:08:25:...the girl that you was gonna ask,|you waited too long to ask... 00:08:28:...and she went on|and married somebody else. 00:08:31:And then you can't find anybody|that compared to her. 00:08:34:So, what happens? You get old. 00:08:47:Obviously we're looking|at a real improvement in quality of life. 00:08:49:These brand-new condominiums|are gonna bring us... 00:08:51:...the fresh blood|that we need for our community... 00:08:54:...and transform this slum forever. 00:08:57:"Slum"? Hey, this is not a slum. 00:09:00:Hey, sure, the place needs a few repairs,|but I'm taking care of it. 00:09:04:Look, look,|business is about to pick up. 00:09:07:I can feel it. 00:09:08:I'm sorry, Mr. Fletcher,|but the building is condemned. 00:09:11:It violates structural,|fire and plumbing standards. 00:09:15:I don't see wheelchair access. 00:09:18:Your video store is a tenement. 00:09:21:You have 60 days from this notice|of demolition... 00:09:24:...to bring it up to code,|otherwise we will have to demolish it. 00:09:27:- But we will relocate you...|- Yes. 00:09:29:...to a property|of proportionate fair-market value. 00:09:32:Projects aren't so bad, you know. 00:09:34:Move to the projects? 00:09:38:How am I gonna tell Mike? 00:09:40:Look, I just wanna improve the life|of the people of Passaic, that's all. 00:09:47:You know, you don't have to pay me|this month, Mr. Fletcher. I'm okay. 00:09:51:Don't worry about the money, Mike.|I'll pay you soon. 00:09:55:In fact, I... I need for you|to take over for me. 00:09:59:- You're retiring?|- Oh, no, no, no. 00:10:02:This year's the 60th anniversary|of Fats' death. 00:10:05:And there's a ceremony|that's being organized in commemoration. 00:10:08:We gonna all get together|in that abandoned train where he died... 00:10:11:...and we're gonna play his records|until morning. 00:10:14:- Oh, wow.|- Yeah. 00:10:16:I wanna come. Can I come with you? 00:10:18:No. 00:10:19:I just told you,|I need you to take over for me. 00:10:21:Oh, right, right...
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