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Finding aid for California's Gold memorial archive
2013.011.r.c
2013.011.r.c
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Table of contents
Title:
California's Gold memorial archive
Identifier/Call Number: 2013.011.r.c
Contributing Institution:
Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.0 Linear feet
(1 document box, 1 large box, 3 framed awards, and 10 foamcore panels)
Date (inclusive): 2013-2014
This collection is composed of memorial materials relating to the memory of television personality, Huell Howser and the popularity
of his television program,
California's Gold. This collection includes foam poster boards from various fans, businesses and restaurants in remembrance of Huell Howser
as well as formal memorial material from various organizations and individuals. There are awards from the California Library
Association and the California State Senate, as well as a tree dedication certificate from Santa Barbara Beautiful. The collection
also includes a mosaic piece that a fan created in rememberance of Huell Howser.
Huell Burnley Howser (1945-2013) was an American broadcast journalist best known for
California's Gold, his travel show based in Los Angeles at KCET and aired on California public broadcast stations.
Born in Gallatin, Tennessee, Howser received a BA in history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and served in the
United States Marine Corps Reserve. He served for five years as an aircraft mechanic. In 1971, Howser began working at WSM-TV
in Nashville, Tennessee where he developed his interviewing style. He served as their Feature Reporter and Director of Special
Projects and appeared live nightly on the six o’clock news. His assignments included the country music scene in Nashville,
politics, human interest stories, and general news. Howser also produced television series focused on human interest stories
such as
Happy Features and
The Happy World of Huell Howser.
Howser also worked in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 1981 to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV. He served as a weekend
host and correspondent for the show,
Entertainment Tonight from 1981 to 1983. In 1985 he joined the public broadcast system affiliate KCET as a producer for the show
Videolog. At KCET, Howser created
California's Gold in 1991 and
Visiting...with Huell Howser in 1993. Along with cameraman, Luis Fuerte, Howser sought untapped, "unmined" stories throughout the state.
By 2000, Howser's shows aired six nights a week and were watched by nearly one million viewers a week on KCET alone. In addition
to local stations, his programs could be viewed on PBS stations in Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Tennesse, countless public access
channels, and even the Armed Forces radio and Television Service. By 2012, Howser had produced nearly 1,500 programs chronicling
the people and places of California. He announced his retirement on November 28, 2012. Howser passed away on January 7, 2013
at the age of 67 at his Palm Springs home.
[identify item and box], California's Gold Memorial Collections (2013.011.r.c), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections
and Archives, Chapman University, CA.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
This collection is composed of gifts created and donated by various parties from 2013-2014, including Robert DaGasta, City
of Los Angeles council member Tom Labonge, Bud Stuart, Leann Dickson, and Santa Barbara Beautiful.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Conditions Governing Access note
This collection is open for research.
This collection is arranged by date.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Howser, Huell, (Burnley), 1945-2013
Public television--California.
Television personalities--United States.
Television programs -- United States.