Fairmont couple helps bring together stories from southern Minnesota

By Mickey Tibbits

FAIRMONT — A steady stream of amateur actors, Bible thumpers, aging belly dancers, campaigning politicians and inquiring historians as well as local residents hard to pigeonhole walk through the Odd Fellows building on First Street in Fairmont.

Jeff Rouse and his wife, Denise, not only produce the televised cable shows in the building that is continuously being renovated, but they make the facilities available to belly dancers, a book club and Bible study group, film buffs, concert goers, seniors and, of course, the Odd Fellows.

“We think we can make a difference in southern Minnesota — how people look at us, and how we look at ourselves,” Rouse said. “Our goal is to promote the towns in the area and emphasize a great way of life in a positive mode and in an entertaining manner.”

The money-making part of all this is “Our Story,” which consists of 15 different cable television shows aired in 35 southern Minnesota communities including Mankato, Waseca and Blue Earth. Local businesses sponsor the various shows.

“‘Our Story’ includes interviews, news, music, games, skits and funny nonsense,” said Rouse, trying to summarize everything.

The shows
The latest and most popular production, “As the Corn Grows” is a southern Minnesota soap opera. (Click here for related story.)

Other productions include:

“Name That Town,” using a quiz-style setting with panelists guessing the correct local town described in a question. Similarly, “Where’s That Business?” hosted by Tom Dodge is another game show where contestants prove how well they know local businesses.

“Moments in Time,” with only two history segments to date, consists of a woman portraying Professor J. von Tron, who travels in a time machine. After waking up from her crash landing, she asks “Where am I?” In one episode she landed in Mankato in 1914.

Bill Busse, a Fairmont music guru, interviews local entertainers on “This Song’s For You.” “The musicians he interviews should be household names but usually aren’t,” Rouse said.

“They usually play a song or two on each episode.”

Mike “Alert” Foster of Fairmont is the comedic “Almost Breaking News” reporter who either shows up too soon or too late to cover every event.

Rouse picks up a different hitchhiking jogger in every segment of “In the Passenger Seat” and interviews the politician or candidate while the two are seated in his car.

“I get e-mails from people telling me I’m not watching the road,” Rouse said.

The standard ending to this political show is Rouse announcing to the guest, “I’m going to let you off where you were running. But before I do, we have one more corner to turn. Should I turn left or should I turn right?” Rouse said Republicans usually respond. “You have to turn a little bit right,” and Democrats say, “You don’t have to take a hard turn, but you have to veer to the left.”

Rouse has open invitations to Barack Obama, John McCain, Jessie Ventura, Norm Coleman and Al Franken. To date not one of these politicians has responded, although Rouse just finished interviewing Franni Franken, Al’s wife on “In the Passenger Seat.” According to Rouse, “Al wouldn’t come into my car.”

Dave Smith presents unique editorials, including one on ramen noodles, in “A New View.”

“Designing Accents,” hosted by interior designer Douglas Wollman, originally from Mankato, gives decorating tips, advising viewers how to use odds and ends. Another show, “By Design,” is moderated by a local real estate agent.

Along the same line, “Our Humble Abode,” features Heidi Villeneuve-Schlomann interviewing locals.

Betsy Palmer and Will Hutchins were interviewed by Rouse in a “State of the Arts” episode.

“Spirited Away” features religious segments.

“Minnesota Outdoors” describes an organization that takes seniors fishing.

The facilities
In addition to being the set for “Our Story,” the Fairmont building takes on a variety of roles. The auditorium with its large stage and rows of wooden chairs has a loft decorated like a detective agency, complete with a Phillip Marlowe 1940s theme. The multi-purpose room is used for rehearsals and meetings while concerts, dinner theater and film nights are held in the Screening Room.

A Hollywood theme using black-and -white photos of famous actors and vintage cameras line the lobby wall. The entrance is decorated with dressed mannequins and glitz and glamour props.

Framed vintage ads of famous people puffing or holding cigarettes fill the Smoking Room, or Hall of Shame.

Women who attend Chick Flicks on the first Monday of the month can relax in a ladies lounge complete with a “Psycho” shower curtain and an undressed mannequin standing in the shower.

A Western-themed hallway displays cowboy murals, barbed wire and other memorabilia.

There are offices, flamingo gardens and an outdoor concert area. Billie Kruse painted celebrity murals on several of the walls.

“All of these things, ‘Our Story’ and the different rooms here, just take on a life of their own,” Rouse said.