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Private Notes
A biography of Huell Howser
For 15 years, the series California's Gold has offered a one-of-a-kind tour of the Golden State, spiriting viewers off to major attractions, as well as destinations off the beaten path. Each journey offers a chance to meet fellow Californians - to share in their lives and see this state in a new light. How did a reporter from Tennessee become the Golden State's best-loved chronicler? Looking back at fifteen wonderful years of California's Gold, Huell recounts the history and evolution of the program and relives series highlights.
Meet the man behind the camera: Luis "Louie" Fuerte. Host Val Zavala offers probing questions in between reminders of how donations can continue to support content on KCET. Also includes three California's Gold episodes: Big Things in the Desert; L.A. Adventures; and Golden Gate Bridge.
Huell interviews women entrepreneurs and business owners around Los Angeles after the LA riots in 1992.
There are literally countless success stories in our state’s public education system and in this one-hour special, Huell visits four schools where all the elements for success – parents, teachers, students, administrators and the community – have come together to really make a difference. From one-room school houses to inner-city high schools, we get a chance to see California’s future gold in the making.
It's a tradition as old as our State, yet it has taken on many forms over the last 145 years-the inauguration of our State's Governor. Huell spends time with California's 36th governor, Pete Wilson, as he works on his inaugural speech and discusses the importance of the events surrounding his swearing in. Huell also gets a chance to visit with several past Governors and their families, to get a sense of the rich tradition of inaugural celebrations from years past.
It's like stepping back in time. A glimpse of what life was like in California during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. And this look back is made even more fascinating because it is from the Japanese-American perspective through the medium of home movies! In this special one-hour edition of "California's Gold," host Huell Howser visits with Karen Ishizuka, the senior curator of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles for a first-hand look at these remarkable movies. Karen is responsible for gathering these movies together from all over California -- seldom seen movies that document in a simple, yet profound way the everyday lives of Japanese Americans. Also included in this program is a poignant 40-minute film entitled: "Something Strong Within," made entirely of home movies shot inside the internment camps that Japanese Americans were forced into during World War II. What these movies from the camps reveal in their elegant, un-narrated silence, is a proud people struggling to main
In this one hour special, Huell visits the private home of Frank Sinatra in Rancho Mirage. Rarely open to the public, Huell gets a personal tour of Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs private house. Huell’s guide is Frankie Randall, a life-long friend of the Sinatras. He played this song: “Can’t Believe That It’s All Over”. The tour includes the gardens, the train room, the caboose and other areas that have never been seen by the public. Huell also visits Desert Memorial Park Cemetery in Cathedral City, where the Sinatra Family rests.
Huell pays tribute to the 152nd anniversary of the discovery of gold in California. He travels to historic Sutter’s Mill in Sacramento from Southern California’s historic Placerita. He speaks with California State Librarian, Jerry Reynold, at the Natural History Museum about the history and discovery of gold. Also, shown is the video “California’s Golden Beginning”, which featured former California Governor Earl Warren. A reenactment of the discovery of gold is performed at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California.
In 1937 an amazing 3 day event took place to celebrate the opening of a new road from Lone Pine to Death Valley. Starting with a gourd full of water taken from the highest lake in the U.S. on the side of Mt. Whitney, the gourd is taken to the lowest lake in the US – Bad Water in Death Valley. Using all modes of important California transportation (Native American runner, Pony Express, miner & burro, 20 mule team, stagecoach, train, car, and plane) with many famous participants, the water is finally poured in, thus consummating the wedding.
Join Huell 60 years later as they recreate this amazing event, with many descendants, a few people who were there the first time, tons of vintage photos, and films on this incredible piece of California’s Gold.
In this holiday special, Huell visits two Los Angeles-area families who faithfully create elaborate nacimientos, or nativity scenes, which are a focal point of many Mexican American homes during the Christmas season. Huell learns about the tradition and how it began in California. Nacimientos translates to “birth of baby Jesus.”
A one-hour special about Quartzsite, Arizona, “America’s Largest Parking Lot” and home to gem shows, swap meets, and snowbirds. Follow Huell as he learns about the history of Quartzsite directly from its residents, and discovers what makes this unique location such a fun example of California’s Gold.
Quartzsite Chamber
1490 Main Event Ln.
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
(928) 927-5600
Tyson’s Well
Stage Station Museum
161 W. Main St.
(928) 927-5229
Huell discovers what it was like to visit Yosemite in the 19th & early 20th centuries. Huell meets up with Park Ranger Jeff Lair, who takes Huell on a tour to learn about the pioneers of Yosemite, the history center, and the historic Wawona Hotel (previously known as Hotel Wawona).
