Eureka! “California’s Gold” now can be found at Crowell Public Library.
The library purchased 74 DVDs of “California‘s Gold” and other Huell Howser shows thanks to a $4,000 donation from the San Marino Historical Society.
“We thought that these shows would be the perfect way to inspire interest in the local history and stories here in Southern California,” Crowell Library Reference Librarian Rex Mayreis said. “Huell certainly did have a knack for introducing all kinds of people to the local culture and history that surrounds us, but we seldom look below the surface. And he always did it in such an entertaining way.”
“The money came from profits that we generated from the sale of the Centennial Book,” said Judith Carter, San Marino Historical Society immediate past president. “We gave $4,000 to library and $4,000 to the Friends of the Michael White Adobe for their project.”
She said the only stipulation that the historical society gave was that the items purchased had to have a connection with California history.
“They were free to buy any materials that they selected,” Carter said. “We didn’t give them a list of things.”
Howser was a beloved television personality who passed away on Jan. 7, 2013. The Tennessee native moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to become a reporter at KCBS and Howser soon fell in love with the state of California. Howser began working for KCET in 1987 and produced “Videolog,” which documented local people. The series became so popular that Howser soon began traveling throughout the state.
The “California’s Gold” series had a total of 443 episodes over 18 seasons. It also led to additional series about California, including “Roadtrip with Huell Howser,” “Visiting with Huell Howser,” “California’s Garden Parks,” “California’s Green,” “California’s Water” and “Downtown.”
Both Mayreis and Carter said they believe the Howser DVDs will be very popular.
“A lot of people miss him very much,” Mayreis said, adding that the library and historical society are providing people with the opportunity to enjoy Howser’s work.
The library selected the “California’s Gold” episodes on Southern California history and culture, focusing on such destinations as Anaheim, Whittier, Old Pasadena, Mt. Wilson, Clocker’s Corner at Santa Anita Race Track and Joshua Tree. There’s even a series concentrating on California’s Spanish missions.
The latter is a hint of another yet-to-be-announced purchase Crowell Public Library made with the historical society donation.
The recently purchased DVDs are available now to anyone who has a Crowell Public Library card.
