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Huell Howser

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Huell Howser
Howser at theNisei WeekGrand Parade inLos Angeles,California, 2007
Born
Huell Burnley Howser

(1945-10-18)October 18, 1945
Gallatin, Tennessee,U.S.
DiedJanuary 7, 2013(2013-01-07)(aged 67)
Palm Springs, California,U.S.
Resting placeAshes scattered off the coast ofLos Angeles County, California
Alma materUniversity of Tennessee
Occupation(s)Television personality, actor, producer, writer, singer, voice artist
Years active1985–2012
Signature

Huell Burnley Howser(October 18, 1945 – January 7, 2013) was an American television personality, actor, producer, writer, singer, and voice artist, best known for hosting, producing, and writingCalifornia's Goldand his human interest showVisiting... with Huell Howser,produced byKCETinLos AngelesforCaliforniaPBSstations. The archive of his video chronicles offers an enhanced understanding of the history, culture, and people of California. He also voiced the Backson inWinnie the Pooh(2011).

Early life

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Howser was born inGallatin, Tennessee,on October 18, 1945, to Harold Chamberlain and Jewell Havens (Burnley) Howser.[1]Howser's first name is aportmanteauof his parents' given names, Harold and Jewell, as Howser explained in theCalifornia's Goldepisode "Smartsville."

Howser graduated from theUniversity School of Nashvillein 1963, then studiedhistoryandpolitical scienceat theUniversity of Tennessee,where he served as student body president.[2]

Career

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After serving in theU.S. Marine Corps Reserveand on the staff of U.S. SenatorHoward Baker,Howser began his television career atWSMV-TVinNashville, Tennessee,where he produced shows focused onhuman interest stories,such asHappy Features[3]andThe Happy World of Huell Howser.[4]Howser was also a television personality working for the University of Tennessee.[5]

After working inNew York Cityas the host ofWCBS-TV'sReal Lifeshow,[6]Howser moved toLos Angeles,California,in 1981 to work as a reporter forKCBS-TV.During 1982 and 1983, he served as weekend host and correspondent forEntertainment Tonight.In 1983, he joinedKCET(then aPBSaffiliate) as host and producer ofVideolog,a series of brief human-interest segments running less than 10 minutes each, that aired in between the station's shorter programs to fill up air time. "Videolog" eventually became one of the more popular programs on KCET, and in 1990, the show was expanded to half hour-long episodes.[7]Included in Videolog waslintartist Slater Barron[8]among other topics relevant to Los Angeles and adjacent communities.

California's Gold

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In 1991, after spending his vacation driving across the Golden State and visiting with all 13 PBS stations in California,California's Goldpremiered in April of that year.[9]California's Goldhighlights small towns, landmarks, events, or places of interest throughout California that are not well known to the general public. Howser conducted informal, often impromptu, interviews with locals involved with the sites he visited. He also producedCalifornia's Communities,California's Golden Fairs,Downtown,California's Water,California's Green,California's Golden Coast,California's Golden Parks,Road Trip,Visiting... with Huell Howser,California Missions,Palm Springs,Our Neighborhoods,The Bench,and various specials.

Visiting... with Huell Howser

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Visiting... with Huell Howserwas a weekly PBS series hosted by Howser that originally aired from 1991 until his retirement in 2012 that focused on "the diverse people, places, and events that make southern California such a unique community." As of 2020,KCET, and other Southern California PBS continue to rerun this popular series. Episodes can be viewed on demand on the Chapman University and PBS affiliates' websites.[10][11][12][13]

Other work

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Howser riding in a tandemINDYCARrace car at the 2009Long Beach Grand Prix

Articles written by Howser appeared inWestways,the magazine of theAutomobile Club of Southern California.[14]

In 1997, he featured prominently as himself alongsideTracey Ullmanin character asRuby Romainein theTracey Takes On...episode "Hollywood."[citation needed]

Howser spearheaded an unsuccessful effort to stop the demolition of buildings designed byPaul Williamsat theLong Beach Naval Shipyard.[15]

He appeared inWho Killed the Electric Car?(2006) in his capacity as a reporter, witnessing the demolition and shredding of aHonda EV Plus.[16]

In 2011, Howser voiced the Backson in thepost-credits sceneofWalt Disney Animation Studios' feature filmWinnie the Pooh.[17]

Personal life

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Howser lived in the historicEl Royaleapartments inLos Angeles,California,in an apartment which had previously been home to character actorWilliam Frawley.[18]Howser also had homes inPalm SpringsandTwentynine Palms.[19]

On June 29, 2015, Howser's Twentynine Palms home became available for rentals and weddings.[20]

Howser mentioned that he was aMethodistduring his episode covering the Nevada County Fair onCalifornia's Golden Fairs.

Volcano House

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In 2003, Howser purchased the 1,800-square-foot (170 m2) Volcano House, situated on a volcaniccinder conejust outsideBarstowinNewberry Springs,along with 60 acres (24 ha) of desert and a man-made lake.[21]In 2010, Howser put the unusual residence on the market for $650,000.[22]

In June 2012,The Panther,a student-run newspaper forChapman University,announced that Howser had donated the Volcano House to the school.[23]On September 3, 2015, Chapman University sold the Volcano House for $750,000.[24]

Retirement and death

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On November 27, 2012,The Sacramento Beereported that Howser was retiring from making new shows, amid speculation in the television community that he was seriously ill.[25]

On January 7, 2013, Howser died at hisPalm Springshome, at the age of 67. He had been battling cancer for several years and his death certificate listed metastaticprostate canceras the cause. Howser's body was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea off the coast of Los Angeles County.[26]

On January 15, 2013, a memorial was held for Howser, who said before his death that he did not want a funeral as he did not want attention.[27]

Legacy

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Howser's image on a Broguiere'sMontebelloDairy bottle[28]

Howser donated his videotaped collection ofCalifornia's Goldepisodes, as well as those of his other series, toChapman Universityin 2011. He also donated his personal papers, and a large collection of books onCaliforniahistory to the university.[29]The school established the Huell Howser Archives, which, when completed, will offer the public free access to the entire digitized collection of his life's work. The archives can be accessed at Chapman University as well as on the internet. He also gave his extensive art collection, which consists mostly of "found-object" art collected during his travels, to the university, and endowed the California's Gold Scholarship Fund. Upon his death he bequeathed his remaining two homes to the university, the proceeds from the sale of which will be added to the scholarship fund.[30]

Testimonials to Howser's unique contribution to the celebration of California history and culture were acknowledged in numerous media sources upon word of his death.Gustavo Arellano,then-editor of theOC Weekly,called Howser "the greatest Californian sinceHiram Johnson,"[31]noting that for Howser, "California was the ultimate temple of the American dream."[32]This reflects the high regard in which many Californians hold Howser's unabashedly enthusiastic promotion of their state's heritage.

In 2015, a Golden Palm Star on thePalm Springs, California,Walk of Starswas dedicated to him.[33]

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Howser's enthusiastic style as host of his various travel shows led to him being impersonated and lampooned by comedians and radio personalities, such asAdam Carolla,[34]Dana Gould,Ralph Garman,andJames Adomian.[35]

Matt Groeninghas stated he is a fan of Howser[36]and featured him in two episodes ofThe Simpsons:"There's Something About Marrying,"in which a character named Howell Huser (voiced byDan Castellaneta) falls off a turnip truck, and "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?,"in which the real Howser presents a program similar toMarc Summers'Unwrappedtelevision program titledUnder the Wrapper.Howser received a voice credit for the episode. TheSimpsonsepisode "A Test Before Trying"commemorated his death with a quick cartoon memorial shot at the end of the episode, stating:" In Memory of Huell Howser, Friend of the Simpsons and a friend of California. "

Filmography

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Year Title Role
1998 Tracey Takes On... Himself Episode "Hollywood"
2006 Who Killed the Electric Car? Reporter
2009 The Simpsons Himself Voice
Episode "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?"
2011 Winnie the Pooh The Backson Voice; final role

References

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  1. ^Braxton, Greg (January 7, 2013)."Huell Howser dies at 67; TV host profiled California people and places".Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^Khatchatourian, Maane (December 2, 2014)."Huell Howser Documentary: 12 Things We Learned".KCET.
  3. ^Dorman, Lee (2009).Images of America: Nashville Broadcasting.Arcadia Publishing. p. 113.ISBN978-0-7385-6829-4.
  4. ^William-Ross, Lindsay (15 January 2013)."Vintage Video: 1973's 'The Happy World of Huell Howser'".LAist.LAist. Archived fromthe originalon 12 October 2016.Retrieved9 April2013.Episode aired February 23, 1973
  5. ^FILMS, VFL (27 April 2015)."THE TENNESSEE VAULTS: ALOHA, TENNESSEE".Retrieved18 June2018– via Vimeo.
  6. ^Hevesi, Dennis (11 January 2013)."Huell Howser, Folksy Public TV Host, Is Dead at 67".The New York Times.Retrieved11 January2013.
  7. ^Trinidad, Elson (10 September 2014)."October 1983 - Huell Howser's 'Videolog' Debuts".kcet.org.Retrieved26 November2018.
  8. ^Sources:
  9. ^Trinidad, Elson (10 September 2014)."October 1983 - Huell Howser's 'Videolog' Debuts".kcet.org.Retrieved26 November2018.
  10. ^"Visiting... with Huell Howser".IMDb.
  11. ^"Visiting with Huell Howser".KOCE-TV.
  12. ^"Visiting with Huell Howser".KCET.
  13. ^"Visiting – Huell Howser".Chapman University.10 November 2017.
  14. ^Road Trip with Huell Howser articlesArchived2005-03-17 at theWayback MachineinWestways Magazine(outside Southern California: enter zip code 90210 to access articles)
  15. ^Williams, Amy (July 7, 1998)."Long Beach Naval Station Falls: Court throws-out celebrity appeal".DailyRepublican.The Daily Republican.RetrievedJanuary 10,2013.
  16. ^Chris Paine(2006). "Who Killed the Electric Car?".Plinyminor /Sony Pictures Classics.
  17. ^"DisneyWinnie the Pooh".Disney Movies.Retrieved5 October2014.
  18. ^Purdum, Todd S. (14 August 2001)."An Everyman in Search of the Extraordinary (That is to Say, the Everyday)".The New York Times.
  19. ^Sources:
  20. ^Barrgan, Bianca (29 June 2015)."Huell Howser's Desert Dream Home is Now Available for Rentals and Weddings".Curbed Los Angeles.Retrieved22 October2016.
  21. ^McNatt, C. (November 9, 2013). "Out of this world".Orange County Register.pp. Home & Garden 1, 3.
  22. ^"The Volcano House – 50451 Silver Valley Rd., Newberry Springs, CA 92365 – Listing # 09-401249".2010-04-01. Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2016.Retrieved2011-12-20.
  23. ^Oliver, Elizabeth (May 7, 2012)."The Panther – Huell Howser donates volcano house to Chapman".ThePantherOnline.The Panther.Retrieved2012-07-14.
  24. ^Kudler, Adrian Glick (September 3, 2015)."Huell Howser's Volcano-Top Saucer House in the Mojave Desert is For Sale and It's Mindblowingly Amazing".Curbed.
  25. ^Sources:
  26. ^Sources:
  27. ^Mackie, Drew (January 15, 2013)."Los Angeles Bids Farewell to Huell Howser at Griffith Observatory".KCET.org.KCET.Retrieved2014-10-21.
  28. ^"Learn More – Broguiere's Farm Fresh Dairy".
  29. ^ Day, Patrick Kevin (January 7, 2013)."Huell Howser: Highlights from 'California's Gold' online".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 10,2013.
  30. ^Sources:
  31. ^Arellano, Gustavo (January 7, 2013),Remembering Huell Howser, Fan of OC Weekly, Lover of OC, Antagonist of OC Republicans,OCWeekly, archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2014,retrievedJanuary 10,2013
  32. ^"Remembering Huell, California's great adventurer".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2013.NOTE: quotation is from embedded video at 3m 40s.
  33. ^"Huell Howser honored on Palm Springs Walk of Stars".KESQ-TV.October 19, 2015.RetrievedApril 16,2022.
  34. ^"April 2, 2008 - Mark Walberg and Artie Lange call into the studio; Dana Gould is in the studio".Adam Carolla.April 2, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2011.Retrieved2008-05-08.
  35. ^"California's Lost Gold with HUELL HOWSER: Ep. 1 Whittier Backyard Farms"onYouTube
  36. ^Lloyd, Robert (26 July 2009)."The wonder and awe that make up Huell Howser".Los Angeles Times.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toHuell Howser.
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