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Huell Howser Takes Over Presidents Day on KCET With Eight Hours of Rarely Seen Episodes

Huell Howser with Poppies
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​Huell Howser returns with a special Presidents Day Marathon on February 20, starting at 8:00 a.m. Highlighting the best of "California's Gold" and "Visiting with Huell Howser," the marathon will follow Huell up and down the California coast visiting popular locations such as Venice Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, Upper Newport Bay, Catalina Casino, the Coastal Cactus Garden, and many more. 

Huell Howser.

But that's not all! A new block of programming will feature two back-to-back episodes every weekday that will highlight the best of Huell through the years, featuring some of the most rarely seen episodes from both "California's Gold" and "Visiting with Huell Howser." This programming block will air every Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., starting after the Presidents Day Marathon on February 20.

To celebrate the new block of programming, KCET will air a special pledge-programming event titled “Huell’s California Adventures” on Saturday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. featuring longtime Huell cameraman, Luis Fuerte. Fuerte’s new book, "Louie, Take a Look at This!: My Time with Huell Howser," will chronicle Luis and Huell's adventures throughout California. Louis began working at KCET in May of 1972, working his way up from an engineer to become Huell's cameraman in the late 80s, all the way until his retirement, forming a close bond with the host. As a thank you for supporting KCET, viewers who donate during the pledge special will receive an advance copy of Luis memoir, set to be released in April, and a DVD set of his favorite episodes.

And don't forget to check out our new and improved online destination for all things Huell! The new website includes a schedule of programs, more episodes, clips, articles, and news about the legendary host. 

See below for the broadcast information for the Presidents Day Marathon:

8:00 a.m.  

California’s Gold With Huell Howser “Kelp”

One of California's biggest and most beautiful forests is one we never get to see- the incredible kelp forests off our coast. Travel with Huell from Monterey to San Diego to see how kelp grows, how it is harvested and how it finds its way into the common foods we eat.

8:30 a.m.  

Visiting With Huell Howser “Coastal Cactus Garden” 

Tucked away behind the Hamlet at Moonstone Gardens Restaurant in Cambria, is an expansive cactus garden. Join Huell as he strolls through this Central Coast gem filled with indigenous and exotic plants.

9:00 a.m.

Visiting With Huell Howser ​ “Venice Beach”

Huell finds out why Venice Beach is such an popular attraction for both tourists and locals alike. He watches paddle tennis, volleyball and meets the “tree man.” 

Venice | Photo: Larry Underhill.
Venice | Photo: Larry Underhill

California’s Gold With Huell Howser “Oil Islands”

There's a 42-acre offshore oilfield with 175-foot-high drilling towers and 1,100 wells that penetrate underground Long Beach, Calif. Aside from being one of the most unique and beautiful oil drilling sites in America, it's also revolutionary with its location in plain view within a major city. Huell visits four architectural gems and learns about their rich oil history.

10:00 a.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser  “Upper Newport Bay” 

Huell visits the Upper Newport Bay to see what is being done in to keep this area green for everyone to enjoy

10:30 a.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser “Abalone”

The Japanese were the first to harvest abalone commercially in California and were diving for them as early as the turn of the century. Huell visits the site of one of the early Japanese abalone canneries. 

11:00 a.m.

California’s Golden Parks “Carpinteria State Beach” 

Carpinteria State Beach is just twelve miles south of Santa Barbara and is a great family destination that offers a mile of beach for swimming, surfing, fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. Huell learns about all of this, plus how Carpinteria got its name and the role that naturally-occurring tar played in its history. 

11:30 a.m.

California’s Gold with Huell Howser “Catalina Casino” 

Huell gets special tour of a California icon: the Catalina Casino. It has been the focal point of Santa Catalina since it opened over eighty years ago on May 29, 1929. 

California's Gold #12005 - CATALINA CASINO

12:00 p.m.

California’s Golden Coast “Guadalupe Dunes”  

Huell tours the the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes preserve with a representative of the Dunes Center, an agency, which along with other state, county and federal organizations, works to balance public use and resource protection of the largest, most biodiverse, coastal dune-lagoon ecosystem on earth. 

12:30 p.m.

Visiting With Huell Howser  “Maritime Museum”  

Huell takes a look at this wonderful museum in San Pedro, filled with Southern California maritime history.

1:00 p.m.  

California’s Gold With Huell Howser “Tall Ship Californian”  

Huell sails aboard the state’s official tall ship, the Californian, to see just how hard it was for our early settlers to get here. He also enjoys some sea shanties. 

1:30 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser  “San Onofre Beach”  

Huell meets and reminisces with several members of the San Onofre Surfing Club and gets an inside look at California surfing history and beach culture. He meets the old timers and the newcomers who call San Onofre home. 

2:00 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser  “Hidden Alcatraz” 

Join Huell as he goes under Alcatraz and discovers the labyrinth of tunnels and caves that honeycomb "The Rock". The remnants of our state's rich history are finally uncovered in this very special tour. 

California's Golden Parks #158 - ALCATRAZ GARDENS

2:30 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser  “Point Sur Lighthouse” 

Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean from the spectacular Big Sur Coast, the Point Sur Lightstation stands as a silent sentinel to a bygone era. Huell explores Point Sur, a National Historic Landmark, which is the only complete turn-of-the-century lightstation open the public in California.

3:00 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser “Santa Cruz Island”  

Discover the colorful history of the Beach Boardwalk, the last remaining oceanside amusement park in the West Coast; meet the pioneers of surfing and the inventor of the wet suit, and enjoy salt water taffy and other sweet treats at Marini's, a family-run business for over four generations.

3:30 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser “Devil’s Jaw” 

Embark on a journey to the most dangerous spot on the California coast and find out why it is called "Devil's Jaw"; and visit the jewel of the California missions: La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, now a state historic park.

7:00 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser "San Miguel Island"

Huell visits San Miguel Island, with a group of history buffs who recreate the 1542 landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo - the 1st European explorer of the California Coast.

7:30 p.m.

California’s Gold With Huell Howser "Lost Sierra"

Huell travels to Downieville, nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where gold miners organized the first ski races in the country and meets the staff of the state's oldest weekly newspaper.

Top banner photo courtesy of Cameron Tucker.

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