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California's Gold

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California's Gold
Also known asCalifornia's Gold with Huell Howser
GenreHuman interest
Created byHuell Howser
Written byHuell Howser
Presented byHuell Howser
Opening theme"California, Here I Come"
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons24
No. of episodes443
Production
ProducersHuell Howser, Phil Noyes, Harry Pallenberg
EditorsDavid Swofford, Mary Danly
Camera setupSingle camera
Running time30–60 minutes
Production companiesKCET
Huell Howser Productions
Original release
NetworkCalifornia Public Television
Release1991 (1991) –
2012 (2012)

California's Gold is a public television human interest program that explores the natural, cultural, and historical features of California. The series ran for 24 seasons[1] beginning in 1991, and was produced and hosted by Huell Howser in collaboration with KCET, Los Angeles. The series ceased production when Howser retired in November 2012, shortly before his death on January 7, 2013,[2] although episodes continue to be shown on KCET and are featured on the page at the station's website about his shows.

The series theme song is "California, Here I Come". Typically, it is performed by local musicians who may be from a given episode's locale. However some episodes include an old-time recording of the California state song "I Love You, California".

Production

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The minimal production allowed locations and people to remain the focal point of the program. Howser's archives are now housed at Chapman University in Orange, California, and can be streamed online.[3] The decision to donate them grew out his experiences making an episode of the show.[4]

Episodes

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California's Gold is divided into 24 seasons of varying lengths (plus specials), comprising 443 episodes.[5]

In May 2016, KCET showed a "lost" episode on the Charles F. Lummis House, now considered to be the final episode.[6] In March 2018, documentary filmmaker John McDonald released an unofficial episode of the series. "California's Gold: The Ghost Mountain Experiment" documents the life of California hermit Marshal South and family, and incorporates previously unreleased footage produced by Howser.[7]

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Several related shows were also produced by Huell Howser Productions in collaboration with KCET. These were California's Green, a show about environmentally friendly measures being undertaken in California; California's Golden Coast; California's Golden Parks; California's Water; California's Missions; Road Trip, a show about sights along California's highways and byways;[8] Downtown, a show about Los Angeles' downtown; Visiting..., a show about sights in the Los Angeles area;[9] and Palm Springs.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Huell Howser Show List" (PDF). Chapman University – Huell Howser Archives. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 28 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University".
  4. ^ "'Lost' Episode of Huell Howser's 'California's Gold' to Air Monday: LAist". Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  5. ^ "California's Gold with Huell Howser". KCET. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  6. ^ "'Lost' Episode of Huell Howser's 'California's Gold' to Air Monday: LAist". Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  7. ^ "A Lost, Final Huell Howser Episode Has Been Discovered". 22 February 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Road Trip". KCET. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "Visiting with Huell Howser". KCET. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "Palm Springs with Huell Howser". KCET. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
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