''California's Gold'' was a

public television Public broadcasting (or public service broadcasting) is radio, television, and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service with a commitment to avoiding political and commercial influence. Public broadcasters receive f ...

human interest program that explores the natural, cultural, and historical features of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. The series ran for 24 seasons beginning in 1991, and was produced and hosted by

Huell Howser 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 writing ''California's Gold'' and his human interest sh ...

in collaboration with KCET, Los Angeles. The series ceased production when Howser retired in November 2012, shortly before his death on January 7, 2013, 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

The minimal production allowed locations and people to remain the focal point of the program. Howser's archives are now housed at

Chapman University Chapman University is a private research university in Orange, California, United States. Encompassing eleven colleges, the university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". The school maintains its foundi ...

in Orange, California, and can be streamed online. The decision to donate them grew out of his experiences making an episode of the show.

Episodes

''California's Gold'' is divided into 24 seasons of varying lengths (plus specials), comprising 443 episodes. In May 2016, KCET showed a "lost" episode on the Charles F. Lummis House, now considered to be the final episode. 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.

Related shows

Several related shows were also produced by Huell Howser Productions in collaboration with

KCET KCET (channel 28) is a secondary PBS member television station in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is owned by the Public Media Group of Southern California alongside the market's primary PBS member, Huntington Beach–licensed KOC ...

. These were: * ''California's Green'', a show about environmentally friendly measures in

* ''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 * ''Downtown'', a show about

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

' downtown * ''Visiting...'': a show about sights in the Los Angeles area * ''Palm Springs''

References

External links

Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University

California's Gold

Video Podcast Feed – California's Gold
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California's Gold episodes available free on iTunes
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California Gold History
1990s American television series 2012 American television series endings