John Ratzenberger's Made in America — Season 1
About this season
John Ratzenberger's Made in America is an American documentary television series hosted by John Ratzenberger. The series premiered January 6, 2004, on the Travel Channel. Ratzenberger visits various American manufacturers, taking the show's viewers along on the tours and showing how various everyday items are made. The show has visited a variety of factories, including Crayola, Airstream, Yankee Candle, Samuel Adams Brewery, Ruger, Delta Faucet Company, and Rodgers Instruments.
Episodes (20)
1. Gibson Guitars
Aired 6 January 2004
First stop is Nashville, Tennessee, home to the guitar company, Gibson. John chats with country music stars Steve Earle, Dan Seals and Joe Diffie, who all swear by Gibson. Seals and Diffie -- whom John meets with at The Gibson Bluegrass Showcase -- even perform an original song that Seals wrote in honor of their guitars. Later, John heads to the Gibson rough mill, where he sees a Les Paul Supreme (named after the legendary guitarist) being constructed. At the mill, John is given a tour by manager Tom Montgomery, and watches sander Matt Branch, neck-setter Jimmy Wright, waxer Brenda Reid, airbrush artist Rebecca Green, buffer Rich Coleman and tuner Jay Thompson in action. Next stop is Oaks, Pennsylvania, where flag outfit Annin & Co. is located. John chats with V.P. of Manufacturing Carter Beard and flagmaker Gerry Miller, assists with the carrying of a giant flag, makes a bungled effort to sew a star pattern, and provides instructions on how to handle a flag the patriotic way. Finally,
2. Harley Davidson
Aired 6 January 2004
3. Monopoly
Aired 13 January 2004
4. Airstream
Aired 13 January 2004
5. Campbell's Soup
Aired 20 January 2004
6. Barbasol
Aired 20 January 2004
7. Craftsman Tools
Aired 27 January 2004
8. Zippo
Aired 3 February 2004
9. Corvette
Aired 10 February 2004
10. Sikorsky Helicopters
Aired 17 February 2004
11. U.S. Mint
Aired 16 March 2004
12. Carousel Magic
Aired 23 March 2004
13. Purity Dairies
Aired 6 April 2004
14. Titleist
Aired 13 April 2004
15. Fleer Trading Cards
Aired 20 April 2004
16. Brooks Brothers
Aired 27 April 2004
17. Remo Drums
Aired 4 May 2004
18. Barre Granite
Aired 1 June 2004
19. Longaberger Basket Co.
Aired 8 June 2004
20. Steinway
Aired 15 June 2004
First stop is Steinway & Sons, the piano company operating out of Astoria, Queens, New York. Company president Frank Mazurco demonstrates why Steinway is the preferred piano of professional pianists, boy wonder pianist Josh Bouchette mops up the floor with John, and Director of Manufacturing and Engineering Andy Horbachevsky discusses why it's a challenge to continue this business in NYC. Later, Andy takes John into the factory room to see how a Steinway is handbuilt. Next stop is Middlebury, Vermont, home to Maple Landmark Woodcraft, a family-owned-and-operated handmade toy company best known for their NameTrains. Founder Mike Rainville, his wife, Jill, sons, Adam and Andrew, mother, Pat, sister, Barbara, grandmother, Harriet, and other employees all declare their pride for crafting educational toys for children of all ages. After a tour of the factory, Mike presents John with a laser-engraved train whistle containing the ""Made in America"" name. Finally, John gives a history lesson on