Anybody watch Huell Howser on TV?

Wyatt Burp · #1 10-12-2009, 07:47 PM

He's local to California and does various shows on PBS. Anyone watch him or heard of him?

feralmerril · #2 10-12-2009, 07:58 PM

I used to watch him. He`s kind of un ah, exspessive.

cowboy117 · #3 10-12-2009, 08:05 PM

He does a program called California Gold.Very good and informative.I watch him a lot.

MKT · #4 10-12-2009, 08:10 PM

Does PBS air "California Gold" outside of California? I'd never heard of Huell until coming to CA. He gets a bit windy at times but definitely shows off parts of the State that are little known except to those residents or the well traveled. I have been to a couple different places, simply from seeing an episode or two, others I found on my own, only to have HUell do a piece on them later. Then I got to see some neat stuff I missed.

dlstewart01 · #5 10-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Huell Howser was born in my home town, Gallatin, Tn. in 1945. He attended the University of Tennessee. He worked for WSM TV in Nashville doing human interest stories.

Howser became the subject of controversy in the summer of 1979 when he did a story about how the former Tennessee Governor's Mansion was slated for demolition to make way for a Popeye's Fried Chicken outlet. He ignored management's orders to not mention the story on-air. His defiance led to a thirty-day suspension, but before the suspension was over, Howser had secured new employment. He has often since stated that he might still be "looking for more pet pigs around Nashville.

He worked in New York for a while before moving to California.

opoefc · #6 10-13-2009, 12:01 AM

Huel Howser has a TV persona style all his own ( "You say, that's the old road?") You either love him or hate him. I like the scenery of his show, but try to put it on mute when he's expounding. Huel is a close neighbor of my oldest son and has a nice home in Joshua Tree area in the high desert north of Palm Springs. Huel is an ex-Marine and also a prominent member of the Gay scene in Palm Springs.

MKT · #7 10-13-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

"You say, that's the old road?"

I saw that episode, it was about the Old Road, in the notch at Newhall. I look for that notch everytime I pass through there everytime I shoot a match at the Wayside Honor Camp (I mean Pritchess Honor Camp now).

Wyatt Burp · #8 10-13-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKT

I saw that episode, it was about the Old Road, in the notch at Newhall. I look for that notch everytime I pass through there everytime I shoot a match at the Wayside Honor Camp (I mean Pritchess Honor Camp now).

That's not the same as The Ridge Route is it? The Ridge Route was the original road before Highway 5.

feralmerril · #9 10-13-2009, 11:15 AM

I didnt see the show you guys are talking about, but it sounds like houser was talking about beals cut that is southeast of newhall.
Beales Cut

rondo · #10 10-13-2009, 11:25 AM

We get it here in southern Oregon sometimes. I lived in Cali for over 40 years and had always enjoyed watching Huell. Met him once in Huntington Beach. He was filming something about old fashioned bathing suits on the beach, but I don't think that ever made it to the TV.

Me and my wife used to go to many of the places Huell showed us. The ridge route was one of them.

feralmerril · #11 10-13-2009, 11:40 AM

Many years ago when I lived in california I rode the old ridge route by motorcycle. At the time it was dangerous as it was unmaintained and some of it had collasped away. Only a dirt bike could make it through. There are old fondations on top. I heard old time truckdrivers used to stand on the running boards steering so they could jump. My ex-wife owned the towing company that is at the top of the grapevine. I think she still does. (In a way I think I bought a big pice of it for her)

Ridge Route - Home

cowboy117 · #12 10-13-2009, 11:48 AM

Great link,Feralmerril!Thanks.

Wyatt Burp · #13 10-13-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feralmerril

Many years ago when I lived in california I rode the old ridge route by motorcycle. At the time it was dangerous as it was unmaintained and some of it had collasped away. Only a dirt bike could make it through. There are old fondations on top. I heard old time truckdrivers used to stand on the running boards steering so they could jump. My ex-wife owned the towing company that is at the top of the grapevine. I think she still does. (In a way I think I bought a big pice of it for her)

Ridge Route - Home

I keep checking if it's repaired yet. I think you can only travel 7 miles of it.

feralmerril · #14 10-13-2009, 04:05 PM

Its been about 30 years since I rode it the full length. The southern end came out west of castaic lake. The northern end comes out right near quail lake by that white mansion with pillars in front and usualy a 55 t-brid that permantly decorates the driveway. Some old general had that place many years ago, now someone who works in the movie industry does. About 15 years ago I was going to drive to a weather station high above. I assumed it had to be a public trail to it. I was stopped by a cute girl on a white horse, she looked just like charlene tillton on dallas and acted like it. She reared her horse up square on the trail in front of my truck and informed me it was "her daddys property". My daughter lived with her mother a few miles away, I told my daughter about it, daughter knew the girl and said they lived in that white mansion. In those days I lived at lancaster.

MKT · #15 10-13-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyatt Burp

That's not the same as The Ridge Route is it? The Ridge Route was the original road before Highway 5.

I believe it was.

Thanks for those great links Ferril.