Season 10 2002

Located at historic fire Station #30 on South Central Avenue in Los Angeles, the African American Firefighter Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, conserving and sharing the heritage of African American Firefighters.

Looming 1339 feet above Riverside is Mt. Rubidoux . The very first Easter Sunrise service was held at the top of Mt Rubidoux in 1909 and has continued to be a local tradition ever since. Join Huell and a group of hardy souls for this early morning adventure.

Huell takes a last look at Otsuka Farms before they close their doors, in this update from Visiting #612.

Alumni from the Webb School Class of 1961 revisit an archaeological dig in Barstow, and Huell tags along to learn more about the memorable experiences at their alma mater, particularly those with their inspirational teacher Dr. Raymond Alf. Huell then travels to the campus of the Webb Schools in Claremont to see Dr. Alf’s legacy firsthand.

You've seen his work all across the Southland. Meet Dennis O’Conner master mosaic artist, who has created some of the largest and most amazing mosaics in America.

Join Huell as he spends a day at Descanso Gardens in La Canada to enjoy a good old-fashioned rally put on by the Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association. Everything form show box size monkey grinders to huge organs that once traveled through Europe, it's a treat for the eyes and ears.

Sea Shadow is the Navy's "Stealth Ship." It's a futuristic vessel built to test new naval technologies especially signature control--better known as stealth. Follow Huell to Navy Pier in San Diego for an extraordinary tour.

Each year, civil engineering students around the country compete in what might appear to be an unachievable challenge. Join Huell in Newport Dunes at the 2002 Pacific Southwest Regional Concrete Canoe Races sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to see if 17 universities will sink or swim.

Falconry is an ancient sport that has a small, but enthusiastic following in California. Huell learns about the sport, as well as an array of beautiful raptors from a master falconer and studio animal trainer.

Huell vivits the Museum of Neon Art to learn about the history of Neon, then climbs aboard a doubble-decker bus for a twilight tour of L.A.'s great Neon signs. Tours run all summer.

Huell goes to Griffith Park to enjoy a day of riding the rails with the Los Angeles Live Steamers. Founded in 1956 by train enthusiasts for the purpose of educating people in railroad history, the club operates 71/2" gauge model trains for the general public from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm every Sunday. You'll get a real kick out of these little beauties.

Join Huell as he visits Fairplex Pomona to see their Garden Railroad. The Fairplex Garden Railroad is considered the oldest and the largest garden railroad of its kind in North America. The railroad depicts various eras in California history from the mid 1800’s to the present. "G" gauge passenger and freight trains tour the countryside in miniature scale on over 5,000 feet of track.

In 1942, the good folks at Bodger Seeds in Lompoc decided they could do something really spectacular to support the war effort. Planting a 12-acre American flag of flowers was their way of saying thanks to all the Americans who were fighting the good fight. The company replanted "flags" in 1942, '43, '45 and 1952. Huell revisits the site fifty years later as Bodger Seeds recreates history with a new flower flag.

This is an update to the California's Gold episode 1010 Lompoc Mural.

Since its doors opened in 1926 its been the site for L.A.'s "Famous and Felonious." Bugsy Siegle, Charles Manson, Robert Mitchum and Sirhan Sirhan have all spent time behind bars here. Join us as we get a tour of this now empty Hall of Justice.

Fairplex Pomona's historical train exhibit It is the only place in the world to see both the largest steam engine and the largest diesel locomotive ever to ride the rails. The Union Pacific's 594-ton "Big Boy" shares the spotlight with the Union Pacific Centennial DD40X diesel powered locomotive, which measures nearly 100 feet in length. The exhibit is open free of charge to the general public the second weekend of each month.

In 1988, Huell attended a touching reunion between Charlie Franks, an 80-year-old elephant trainer, and Nita, the elephant he had raised from a baby of five years. When Charlie retired in the early 1970s after traveling the world with his beloved performing elephant, he donated her to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and hadn’t seen her for 15 years.

Charlie has since passed away, but Huell returns to the San Diego Wild Animal Park to say hello to Nita.

Lucky Baldwin was one of the great characters of Southern California history during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. He was a pioneer and real estate tycoon who owned the land that would become Arcadia, Monrovia and Baldwin Hills. With his vast wealth, one of the luxuries he indulged in was a grand railcar for traveling. Huell gets a special tour of this lavish car that housed a full staff, sleeping quarters, dining area, kitchen and music room.

Lucky Baldwin was one of the great characters of Southern California history during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. He was a pioneer and real estate tycoon who owned the land that would become Arcadia, Monrovia and Baldwin Hills. Huell visits the Queen Anne Cottage at the Los Angeles Arboretum, which was built on his former property in 1885, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Spend a day with Huell as he visits with Tony Dominguez at his studio "Arte Calidad." Tony has taken the ancient art of papier mache and pushed it to the extreme. From very simple pinata’s to fifteen foot puppets that have moving arms and legs, it’s a wonderful adventure.

Huell attends a celebration of possibly the world’s oldest wind instrument--the Didgeridoo. The Joshua Tree Didgeridoo Festival brings together devotees and beginner alike who make, play and listen to the musical instrument of the North Australian Aborigine.

Tucked away behind the Hamlet at Moonstone Gardens Restaurant in Cambria, is an expansive cactus garden. Join Huell as he strolls through this Central Coast gem filled with indigenous and exotic plants.

Huell visits the historic town of Los Alamos located off the 101 halfway between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. It is home to two architectural gems--a Victorian mansion and the Union Hotel, both dating back to the late 1800s.

Huell travels to the Central Coast to visit an abalone farm. For years, Californian’s could pluck these mollusks off the rocks at low tide. Over fishing and pollution has forced people to come up with other ways to supply our needs, The Abalone Farm Inc. in Cayucos has been growing and selling abalone since 1968. Huell also goes to a local café to sample some farm raised abalone.

Huell visits four rustic barns in Ventura with a photographer who holds the distinction of documenting all of the quickly-disappearing barns in Ventura on film.

From 1901 to 1998, the Vail and Vickers families had been cattle ranching on Santa Rosa Island. When you ranch on an island, you have to come up with a creative way to get your cattle to the mainland for market. The families had a custom built boat made named the Vaquero. Huell travel to Santa Barbara to visit with the families and builders of the Vaquero and learn about it's fascinating history.

Huell joins elementary students in climbing aboard the Mervyn’s Moving Mission, a 72-foot tractor- trailer containing an exhibit of the history of California missions and indigenous traditions that visits local elementary schools in the L.A. district; Sponsored by Mervyns and the Gene Autry Museum.

In 1997, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art launched its classroom on wheels education initiative entitled Maya Mobile, a 48-foot truck with an interior designed as an ancient Mayan ruin. Huell accompanies L.A. sixth graders from a local elementary school on this educational journey.

Huell travels100 feet below L.A.’s Southland community for a sneak peak at the new East Central Interceptor Sewer, where the Los Angeles Department of Public Works is constructing the new sewage system to accommodate the ever-booming community of L.A.

“Outpost” was once the largest neon sign in the world and stood above Runyon Canyon near Hollywood during the 1920s. The neon sign was a rival at that time to the Hollywoodland sign, and amazingly has been brought out of the past by Huell. Discover this California landmark, as it currently lies covered by weeds and dirt above the modern day Runyon Canyon Hills

Ever had goat meat while listing to Jazz? Well follow Huell as he ventures up Glendale Blvd. and into a Haitian restaurant where every Saturday between three and six p.m., owner Tigeorges Lagueree prepares a goat delight for all those goat lovers in L.A.

John Gaughan is a magician who designs and builds spectacular illusions for big-name magic acts and stage effects for rock musicians. He has also devoted many years to collecting and restoring vintage magic devices dating back to the 18th Century. His workshop has been in the same place for 35 years and two of his employees have been with him for 25 years.

A visit to the Wild Mushroom Fair at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden sponsored by the Los Angeles Mycological Society.

Huell visits The Munch Box in Chatsworth, a popular burger stand that has been around since 1956 and is now officially a historic-cultural landmark.

Spring is here and Huell meets the new arrivals at the Bouncing Hoofs Ranch in Mojave. This farm is home to a variety of goats and Huell learns all about their hair, their milk and, of course, the babies.

Join Huell as he meets up with The Orange County Model Sailing Club as they cruise their radio-controlled schooners around the lake at Mason Regional Park in Irvine.

From its opening in 1974 to its closing in 1995, the Ambassador Auditorium located in Pasadena hosted an impressive roster of performers. Among them were Luciano Pavarotti, Vladimir Horowitz and Ella Fitzgerald, and it was also the home base of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra. Huell profiles this world-class venue at a time when its future is unclear.