Did you wire the lights in series or parallel?

In series..

"In series.."

That would be incorrect.

You are corrrect klem1. I knew it felt like a trick question lol.. What can I try?

Can there be any doupt that you wired them wrong? Most people can't comprehend scamitics while looking at them,to try painting one with words would be foolish. I commend your efforts in trying to diy but electrical is not something to mess around with. What you are doing is pretty basic but can result in serious problems if done incorrect. Bite the bullet and call an electrician,make a trip to the library or otherwise educate yourself on electrical wireing.

I'm not doing this on my own, although a friend tried to do the wiring first. He couldn't do it right, so I called a handyman, who is also stumped!!

Check the switch.

I meant to say change the switch. If two people have looked at the wiring and found nothing

Explain how it's wired (how everything is connected). Pictures help.

Otherwise we're all just guessing.