Catalina lost a true friend this week.
Huell Howser, host of the popular, long-running KCET TV show “California’s Gold,” died on Monday, Jan. 7, at the age of 67.
With his friendly, native Tennessee southern drawl and enthusiastic delivery of “home grown” stories about real people throughout the state of California, he built one of the largest fan bases that included every level of society.
Catalina lost a true friend this week.
Huell Howser, host of the popular, long-running KCET TV show “California’s Gold,” died on Monday, Jan. 7, at the age of 67.
With his friendly, native Tennessee southern drawl and enthusiastic delivery of “home grown” stories about real people throughout the state of California, he built one of the largest fan bases that included every level of society.
Over the years it seemed that Howser had an extra special soft spot for Catalina Island, its history and its people.
He filmed a total of 10 episodes of California’s Gold on Catalina, telling many stories about the Island’s treasured past and some of its colorful people of today.
There was no story too small for Howser, whose easy-going personality was reflected in his interview style that belied his dedication to telling stories about ordinary people that lifted them and his viewers above the mundane treadmill of everyday life and showed them all how special they were in their own right.
“That’s amazing!” was one of the regular trademark sayings of man who was lovingly spoofed in an episode of “The Simpsons.”
During a speaking engagement held in Seal Beach about 20 yeas ago, Howser explained his personal mission of promoting positive stories. He said he thought there was more than enough coverage in the media about the negative aspects of modern life and not enough focus on the positive and maybe somewhat quaint things that are too often taken for granted.
Like many things he covered, when it came to Catalina, Howser was not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
“After the fire in 2007, he called over here and asked if it would help if he had some of his Catalina episodes from “California’s Gold re-run to help promote tourism (which is the lifeblood of the Island’s economy),” said Wayne Griffin, president and CEO of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau. “He wound up having a special Catalina week aired. He was just a friendly guy and we are going to miss him,” Griffin said.
Griffin said that Howser also served as grand marshal of the Flying Fish Festival one year. He said he also developed many friendships with people he worked with on projects for his show about the Island, including Stacy Otte from the Catalina Island Museum, Michele Bestudik and Jim Watson, a regular columnist for the Catalina Islander and an award-winning videographer and filmmaker in his own right.
“I met him once when he popped into LoLo (Saldaña’s) barber shop and said ‘Hi.’ I also interviewed him for an Islander story about one of his episodes,” Watson said. “He was actually the one person who suggested I send my film (“Wings Across the Channel”) in to KCET. I sent him a copy and he said he would put it on the air. As a fellow filmmaker, I was always really impressed with how he was able to take a simple idea in a very complicated age and turn it into a wonderful, popular show. He was a welcomed sight and he did some wonderful programs over here and he found out a lot of things that even people who lived here a long time did not know.”
Former Avalon City Councilman and Mayor Ralph Morrow, who pioneered cable TV for the Island, said he met Howser a number of times over the years.
“He was just a great, regular kind of guy,” Morrow said. “He could be found relaxing at a local restaurant or bar, having a glass of wine and he was easy to talk with.
“In his TV show he showed a lot of things that even people who have lived here a long time did not know. For example, there is a rock out in the water at Two Harbors he covered in an episode. It’s sitting out there in the bay with a little bit of grass on it. He found the owner of who had tried to build something on it. He knew a lot about our Island.”
The following is a list of Huell Hower’s “California’s Gold” episodes that feature Catalina Island.
“California’s Golden Parks” #139—”Wrigley Botanical Gardens”
Huell boats to Catalina Island and visits the The Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens.
“California’s Gold” #403—”Islands”
Join Huell, sit tight and watch the electrifying Annual Catalina Ski Race, a competition that has been ongoing for over 40 years, where “hot doggers” race in excess of 60 mph from Long Beach to Catalina Island and back.
“California’s Gold” #504—”Wings Over California”
Huell soars above our state as we look at the Pigeon Courier Service at Avalon on Catalina Island, once the most expeditious means of communication with the small island.
“California’s Gold” #709—”Camels And Bison”
Huell goes in search of two animals found in our state today which aren’t supposed to be here, but are the descendants of 14, which were brought over from the mainland for a silent movie shot in 1924.
“Visiting …With Huell Howser” #736—“S.S. Catalina”
For years this proud boat took people from Los Angeles to Catalina, but now it sits half submerged in the waters off the Mexican coast.
“California’s Gold” #1009—“Flying Fish”
One of the strangest and most popular Catalina attractions has been the Flying Fish Boat Trip, which has been transporting visitors on nighttime journeys to watch Catalina’s flying fish since the turn of the century.
“California’s Gold” #6004—“Catalina Cubs”
Chicago millionaire William Wrigley brought excitement to the Catalina Island every year, when his Chicago Cubs baseball team came for spring training each season through the late 1940s.
“California’s Gold” #9003—“Catalina Arabian Ranch”
Nestled in a small valley nearly 12 miles outside of Avalon on Catalina Island is El Rancho Escondido, “the hidden ranch.” Huell spends the day. “California’s Gold” #12005—“Catalina Casino”
Huell gets special tour of a California icon: the Catalina Casino.
“California’s Gold” #15003—“S.S. Catalina Update”
Huell traces the history of the S.S. Catalina, which carried 24 million passengers to-and-from Catalina Island from 1924 to 1975. Considered by many to be the West Coast’s most storied vessel.
The legendary ship ultimately failed.
