So we're Kazoobie Kazoos.
So we're Kazoobie Kazoos.

We are a place that spreads joy around the world. [kazoos buzzing]
We are a place that spreads joy around the world. [kazoos buzzing]

A kazoo is a mirliton instrument
A kazoo is a mirliton instrument

so it works off of vibration.
so it works off of vibration.

It needs a little resonator in there,
It needs a little resonator in there,

so you've got to make a lot of noise.
so you've got to make a lot of noise.

You can sing, talk or laugh,
You can sing, talk or laugh,

because you want that little resonator
because you want that little resonator

to shake around and give you that vibration.
to shake around and give you that vibration.

>> So if you go 'ooooo...'
>> So if you go 'ooooo...'

That is how you get your sound.
That is how you get your sound.

We make about a million kazoos a year,
We make about a million kazoos a year,

and then we ship them all over the world.
and then we ship them all over the world.

[kazoo buzzing and tooting]
[kazoo buzzing and tooting]

>> I got in the kazoo business. I just lucked out.
>> I got in the kazoo business. I just lucked out.

My background was in theater.
My background was in theater.

I grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina,
I grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina,

got connected with a guy who was the king of kazoo,
got connected with a guy who was the king of kazoo,

Rick Hubbard.
Rick Hubbard.

I was Rick's production manager
I was Rick's production manager

and Rick had this custom motorcoach
and Rick had this custom motorcoach

that we traveled around the country in.
that we traveled around the country in.

He had everything from a whole stage full of bubble machines
He had everything from a whole stage full of bubble machines

to confetti cannons, to lights and lasers.
to confetti cannons, to lights and lasers.

It was really a rock show for kids and for adults,
It was really a rock show for kids and for adults,

but all through music and all through using the kazoo
but all through music and all through using the kazoo

to really bring people in, have a good time
to really bring people in, have a good time

and celebrate together.
and celebrate together.

I got tired of living out of a suitcase
I got tired of living out of a suitcase

and living on the road wasn't as glamorous
and living on the road wasn't as glamorous

as I thought it was going to be,
as I thought it was going to be,

so I made an offer to take over the e-commerce business.
so I made an offer to take over the e-commerce business.

I was 19 years old at the time,
I was 19 years old at the time,

so the partners that I worked for
so the partners that I worked for

they flew me to Detroit, so we bought all the assets,
they flew me to Detroit, so we bought all the assets,

moved it to Hilton Head Island,
moved it to Hilton Head Island,

and we just celebrated 20 years in the kazoo business.
and we just celebrated 20 years in the kazoo business.

♪ [upbeat instrumental music] ♪
♪ [upbeat instrumental music] ♪

So the history of the kazoo is a bit unsure.
So the history of the kazoo is a bit unsure.

>> Since we don't know how the kazoo was invented,
>> Since we don't know how the kazoo was invented,

we've had people come up with their own ideas.
we've had people come up with their own ideas.

>> We truly think that it's probably been around
>> We truly think that it's probably been around

for a really long time.
for a really long time.

>> In 1850, Ancient Aliens introduced them
>> In 1850, Ancient Aliens introduced them

to speak to humans through music.
to speak to humans through music.

>> Most likely it kind of originated from ancient times
>> Most likely it kind of originated from ancient times

where tribes and things like that
where tribes and things like that

would take things like gourds and bone, hollow them out.
would take things like gourds and bone, hollow them out.

>> The kazoo was developed as a homing call for Aaron's donkeys.
>> The kazoo was developed as a homing call for Aaron's donkeys.

>> Use things like leather, or even the egg sack of a spider
>> Use things like leather, or even the egg sack of a spider

>> As a medieval torture device.
>> As a medieval torture device.

For that mirliton, that resonator,
For that mirliton, that resonator,

that vibration part.
that vibration part.

>> To seduce women and men, so seductive,
>> To seduce women and men, so seductive,

almost like Kenny G. on the sax.
almost like Kenny G. on the sax.

>> One theory about how the kazoo got its name
>> One theory about how the kazoo got its name

was that George Smith had bought the rights to the kazoo,
was that George Smith had bought the rights to the kazoo,

taken it to his factory in New York.
taken it to his factory in New York.

It was called the 'down south submarine' at that point,
It was called the 'down south submarine' at that point,

and they had filed a patent for the down south submarine.
and they had filed a patent for the down south submarine.

And the patent office came back and said
And the patent office came back and said

"ah, submarine's already taken,
"ah, submarine's already taken,

you got to come up with some other name."
you got to come up with some other name."

And so sitting around the factory, someone said,
And so sitting around the factory, someone said,

"How about kazoo? That's what it sounds like,
"How about kazoo? That's what it sounds like,

let's call it a kazoo."
let's call it a kazoo."

They've always kind of been used for both
They've always kind of been used for both

music and mainstream music, professional music,
music and mainstream music, professional music,

and they've also been kind of a novelty toy at the same time.
and they've also been kind of a novelty toy at the same time.

So even from the turn of the century,
So even from the turn of the century,

we would get little kazoos
we would get little kazoos

looking like little fish for kids,
looking like little fish for kids,

all the way up to a kind of more modern day
all the way up to a kind of more modern day

where they were adapting them into fast food, happy meal toys,
where they were adapting them into fast food, happy meal toys,

things like that.
things like that.

[kazoo buzzing]
[kazoo buzzing]

>> It is a fun business, and most of the people
>> It is a fun business, and most of the people

who come and want to give us their money to buy kazoos
who come and want to give us their money to buy kazoos

are really fun, cool people.
are really fun, cool people.

>> What would not make me come to Kazoobie Kazoos?
>> What would not make me come to Kazoobie Kazoos?

I'm going to get the very loud horn.
I'm going to get the very loud horn.

I'm going to toot it the whole way back to Maryland.
I'm going to toot it the whole way back to Maryland.

>> He's going to be walking back to Maryland
>> He's going to be walking back to Maryland

if he blows that loudest kazoo.
if he blows that loudest kazoo.

♪ [kazoos buzzing a tune] ♪
♪ [kazoos buzzing a tune] ♪

The Kazoo love is out there.
The Kazoo love is out there.

[Laughing] There's lots of it.
[Laughing] There's lots of it.

>> The demand is good. We do a little over a million
>> The demand is good. We do a little over a million

of our basic plastic kazoo, and then several 100,000
of our basic plastic kazoo, and then several 100,000

of other noisemakers, accessories, and adaptations
of other noisemakers, accessories, and adaptations

that we've manufactured over the years,
that we've manufactured over the years,

and we are a global company.
and we are a global company.

We have customers in 30 countries now.
We have customers in 30 countries now.

>> So our kazoos are made of polypropylene, polyethylene,
>> So our kazoos are made of polypropylene, polyethylene,

which is heavy duty durable medical grade plastic.
which is heavy duty durable medical grade plastic.

The melting of the plastic happens down in Tampa, Florida.
The melting of the plastic happens down in Tampa, Florida.

It's in St. Pete. That's where they have our mold.
It's in St. Pete. That's where they have our mold.

It is our patent but they're melting it there,
It is our patent but they're melting it there,

so they're still made in the United States.
so they're still made in the United States.

They send all the parts and pieces to us here
They send all the parts and pieces to us here

and we hand assemble every kazoo here in Beaufort.
and we hand assemble every kazoo here in Beaufort.

[kazoo-making machine snapping]
[kazoo-making machine snapping]

The museum really starts
The museum really starts

from what we could find on the beginning of the kazoo history,
from what we could find on the beginning of the kazoo history,

which starts in the late 1800s.
which starts in the late 1800s.

So we've kind of collected kazoos
So we've kind of collected kazoos

that have spanned over the last probably 140 years,
that have spanned over the last probably 140 years,

>> We just completed a major renovation of the museum,
>> We just completed a major renovation of the museum,

so it's been here a little over a decade.
so it's been here a little over a decade.

We're really proud of the museum because the kazoo
We're really proud of the museum because the kazoo

is a part of American heritage, American legacy,
is a part of American heritage, American legacy,

and we think it's our responsibility
and we think it's our responsibility

to help promote that.
to help promote that.

So we've got kazoos from the first patent
So we've got kazoos from the first patent

to kind of handmade kazoos
to kind of handmade kazoos

and just showing you different styles
and just showing you different styles

and how they've evolved over the decades.
and how they've evolved over the decades.

♪ [kazoo buzzing a tune] ♪
♪ [kazoo buzzing a tune] ♪

I think i'm good at it,
I think i'm good at it,

but I think alot of us are good at the kazoo.
but I think alot of us are good at the kazoo.

It's an instrument you can pick up quickly and
It's an instrument you can pick up quickly and

you know, it's you making the noise,
you know, it's you making the noise,

So the more passion you have behind that instrument,
So the more passion you have behind that instrument,

the more passionate your kazoo sounds.
the more passionate your kazoo sounds.

>> For me, it's about being able to make something,
>> For me, it's about being able to make something,

creating some joy in the world,
creating some joy in the world,

and then I've got this really great team of people
and then I've got this really great team of people

that come in every day, work really hard
that come in every day, work really hard

and really proud of the product that we produce.
and really proud of the product that we produce.

So I don't intend on getting out of the kazoo business
So I don't intend on getting out of the kazoo business

anytime soon, as long as people
anytime soon, as long as people

are still willing to buy our products.
are still willing to buy our products.