Chautauqua

VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.

>> Huell: WELL HELLO EVERYBODY I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND HERE WE ARE ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING MORNING, SATURDAY MORNING AND THIS IS GOING TO BE AN HONEST TO GOODNESS ADVENTURE FOR ALL OF US.

I KNOW IT IS FOR ME, BECAUSE AMY, WE ARE AT A PLACE I HAVE LIVED IN L.A. FOR OVER 20 YEARS, I NEVER KNEW THIS PLACE EXISTED.

TELL EVERYONE WHERE WE ARE?

>> OKAY, WE ARE IN TEMESCAL IN THE TOWN OF PACIFIC PALISADES.

AND WE'RE BORDERED AGAINST 8,000 EXERCISE OF AT TO PANGA STATE PARK.

>> Huell: CLOSE TO THE CITY, BECAUSE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THAT PLANE FLYING OVER, YOU BROUGHT US HERE TO SHOW US THIS NATURAL AREA, YOU WOULD NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE -- HOW FAR ARE WE FROM SUNSET?

>> LESS THAN A MILE.

>> Huell: WE COULD BE IN ANOTHER WORLD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF THIS PARK.

YOU CAN GET HERE EASILY, LEAVE YOUR CAR AND WITHIN MINUTES YOU'RE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL NATURAL AREA.

>> Huell: LOOK WE'VE GOT SOME HIKERS COMING UP THE HIT RIGHT NOW.

GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> Huell: ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN PARADISE.

>> Huell: DO YOU COME HERE A LOT.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.

>> Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING, YOU LIVE IN THE CITY?

>> YEAH.

>> Huell: THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DISCOVERING THE PLACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD NOT SAY IT'S A SECRET BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN BEFORE.

>> Huell: YOU BROUGHT HEM TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THIS PLACE?

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S TEN MINUTES FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY.

>> WE PICKED A GOOD TIME OF YEAR TOO.

IT'S REALLY GREEN.

>> Huell: AND YOU'RE PICKING UP THINGS.

A LITTLE TICKLER, HAVE A NICE DAY.

>> Huell: EVERYBODY SAYS THE SAME THING.

YOU BROUGHT US TO THIS FIRE PIT THEIR WHERE YOU HAVE KIDS COMING TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE, LITTLE NATURE WALKS AND WE'RE HERE TO LEARN OURSELVES.

>> OKAY.

>> Huell: BRING US UP TO SPEED ON THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA.

>> THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS CANYON, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MREETING AND GATHERING PLACE.

WE'RE AN OFF SHOOT OF TOPANGA CANYON AND THEY THINK TOPANGA WAS THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN COUNTRY OF SUMOSH.

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT TOME TOMESCAL CON IIAN WAS THEIR THE CAME TO MEET.

TEMSCOL MEANS FRESH.

AND THAT'S BEEN ALL SORTS OF ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDINGS GOING BACK ALMOST TEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

HERE IN THIS PART OF THE CANYON AROUND 1500 YEARS AGO, WAS WHEN THE GAGRBRILINO, PEOPL CAME ALONG.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LOS ANGELES TODAY WHO ARE DISESCENDANTS OF THOSE TRIBES.

>> AND THE A CORN WAS THE STAPLE OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE.

THIS IS A CALIFORNIA WALNUT WHICH WAS USED FOR DIE AND FOOD.

AND WE'VE GOT ELDER BERRY FOR BASKED BASKETS AND ARROWS.

SO ALL THEY NEEDED WAS RIGHT HERE.

AND WE'RE A MILE AWAY FROM THE OCEAN.

SO IT WAS VERY LOVE LOW, JUST LIKE THE PALISADES TODAY IT WAS LOVE LOW.

>> Huell: I THINK WE HOORKD UP WITH THE RIGHT PERSON.

YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN PEOPLE WALK THROUGH HERE, -- THESE ARE THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS?

>> YES, YOU SEE THAT CHAPRAL HILLSIDE AND AS YOUR EYE COMES DOWN, YOU CAN SEE THE BIGGER TREES.

>> Huell: AND YOU HEAR THE BIRDS AND IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL PLACE.

>> IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARKS IN THE SANTA MONICAS.

THIS CAMPFIRE WE BRING A LOT OF INNER CITY KID WHO COME TO CAMP.

AND OTHER THAN THE SUN, THERE IS NO STREET LIGHTS SO THEY GET THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE AND HALF HOUR DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN L.A. >> Huell: NOW THIS IS BEAUTIFUL RIGHT HERE, LOOK AT THIS.

>> THEY'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES.

AGAIN REALLY A STAPLE OF BOTH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE STAPLE FOOD OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS WHO LIVED HERE.

AND YOU DON'T SEE OAK TREES LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

>> Huell: THIS IS MAGICAL UP HERE.

>> OH YEAH.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AREAS IN THE CANYON, I BRING THE KIDS HERE A LOT.

>> Huell: AND THE LONGER I'M HERE, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS HIDDEN AND UNDER USED PLACE, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY USED PARK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE.

>> IT IS, IT'S A VERY POPULAR RESOURCE, ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY LIKE THIS, YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES PICNICING, BIKING, GOING AWAY IN THE BACK OR NICE STROLL, IT'S VERY HEAVILY USED WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING WHEN YOU ACQUIRE LAND LIKE THIS, TO KNOW THAT IT MEANS SOMETHING TO LOS ANGELES AS A GETAWAY.

>> Huell: WE'RE DOING THINGS COMPLETELY BACK YARDS HERE?

>> YES, WE'RE STARTING AT THE BACK.

>> Huell: RATHER THAN HIKING INTO THE PARK, WE STARTED IN THE PARK AND WE'RE HIKING BACK TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARK BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER LAYER OF HISTORY IN TEMSCAL CANYON -- >> THERE IS.

>> Huell: THIS IS KIND OF OBSCURE.

>> IT IS, THOSE OF US WHO KNOW ABOUT IT, THINK IT'S A GREAT STORY BUT WANT MORE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> Huell: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS UNCOVER RIGHT DOWN THIS TRAIL ANOTHER VERY INTERESTING CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF TEMSCAL CANYON.

OKAY, WE'VE RUN ACROSS ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY OUT HERE.

>> WE HAVE.

>> Huell: WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE?

>> THESE ARE OUR JUNIOR RANGERS FROM DOWN IN SOUTH CENTRAL AND PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY IS SERVE PICKING UP TRASH.

>> Huell: SO YOU HAD A VERY SPECIAL DAY.

>> YES SHS WE WERE PICKING UP TRASH.

>> Huell: SO HOW LONG OF A HIKE?

>> ABOUT 20 MILES.

>> Huell: SO WE'VE BEEN PICKING UP LITER.

>> YES, IT'S PART OF JUNIOR PROGRAM.

>> Huell: HOW HARD IS IT TO GET PEOPLE EXCITING ABOUT PICKING UP TRASH ON A SATURDAY MORNING.

>> MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> Huell: YOU LIKE IT?

>> IT'S FUN.

>> Huell: JUST LIKE GETTING OUT IN NATURE.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP THE PARK HERE.

>> Huell: WOW, WELL SAID.

>> WELL SAID IS RIGHT.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF KIDS.

WE WORK WITH THEM ALL YEAR LONG.

WE TAKE THEM ON CAMPING TRIPS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR MANY EVENTS.

>> Huell: IS EVERYTHING HAVE BEEN A -- HAVING A GOOD TIME.

THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE THE REAL THING.

LET'S GET A GROUP PICTURE OF EVERYBODY HERE.

EVERYBODY LOOK AT THE CAMERA, THIS GROUP IS CALLED?

>> AGUSTA HOPKINS PARK JUNIOR RANGERS.

>> Huell: LOOK AT THE CAMERA AND GIVE US A BIG WAVE.

THEY'VE HAD A NICE SATURDAY MORNING IN TEMESCAL.

WHAT A GREAT GROUP OF KIDS.

AND A LOT OF POSITIVE ENERGY EVERYONE IN THIS PARK.

>> THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS WORKING IN THIS CON I DON'TCANYON.

>> Huell: AND NOW WE'RE BACK AT THE ENTRANCE.

AND HERE'S THE CHAPTER OF HISTORY THAT WE'VE BEEN LEADING UP TO ALL MORNING AND HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THIS HISTORY ARE BETTY LOU YOUNG AND HER SON RANDY THEY'RE BOTH HISTORIANS AND WHEN WE STAND HERE AND LOOK AT THE TWO BUILDINGS, RIGHT HERE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARK, THESE ARE NOT JUST ANY OL' BUILDINGS?

>> NO, THIS IS WHERE THE WHOLE INSTITUTIONAL SET UP FOR THE COMMUNITY WAS PUT TOGETHER IN 1922, SO WE'RE AT THE HEART OF COMMUNITY.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S OPEN AND COUNT REE, THIS IS THE HEART OF OUR TOWN.

>> Huell: THIS IS WHERE PACIFIC PALISADES WAS FOUNDED.

>> JANUARY OF 1922, A WHOLE GROUP OF METHODISTS GOT TOGETHER AND HAD A CAMP IMMEDIATEING AND DECIDED THIS WAS HOME.

THIS IS WHERE THEY FOUNDED THE PALISADES.

>> Huell: DID THEY SEE THIS AS A TOWN THEY WERE FOUNDING?

>> IT WAS 2000 ACRES OF NOTHING, IT WAS OPEN LAND AND FIELDS.

AND THEY WANTED TO BRING THEIR IDEA OF THE PERFECT COMMUNITY AND THEY WANTED TO FOUND A WHAá,-- CHAUTAUQUA AND THEY THOUGHT, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

IT'S NEAR THE OCEAN, NOBODY HERE AND THEY LOVED IT.

SO WHAT THEY DID, IS PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THEY GOT MONEY TOGETHER TO PURCHASE THE LAND.

AND THIS WAS LIKE THEIR HEAVEN.

>> Huell: NOW THEIR IDEA WAS TO COME OUT HERE -- A CHAUTAUQUA WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

FOR WHOEZ WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT CHAUTAUQUA WAS, WHAT DID THEY HAVE IN MIND TO DO?

>> SURE, THIS WAS CALLED AN INDEPENDENT CHAUTAUQUA AND IT WAS RELATED TO THE MOTHER CHAUTAUQUA IN NEW YORK ON LAKE CHAUTAUQUA WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1874.

AND ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE WAS TO TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, BECAUSE EDUCATION WAS SO POOR IN THOSE DAYS, THAT WOMEN LET ALONE MEN HAD VERY LITTLE EDUCATION.

>> Huell: THAT'S WHERE THE METHODISTS CAME TO IT.

>> YES, FROM THE BEGINNING THEY FOUNDED THE INSTITUTION IN NEW YORK.

SO IT WAS SUCH A SUCCESS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAME.

SO OVER 300 OF THESE INDEPENDENT CHAUTAUQUAS SPRANG UP ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THIS WAS THE LAST AND THE GREATEST.

BECAUSE THIS COULD BE YEAR-ROUND AND REALITYED TO A WHOLE COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS, BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND EVERYTHING.

>> Huell: THOSE ARE VERY HEATED WORDS, THE LAST AND GREATEST.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Huell: SO THIS WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE GREATEST CHAUTAUQUA?

>> WELL YES.

BECAUSE IT DID NOT ENTIRELY ACHIEVE ITS FULL PURPOSE BECAUSE THE DEPRESSION CAME ON.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS, THEY HAD THE BEST IN EVERYTHING, BEST MUSIC, EDUCATION, PROFESSORS FROM UCLA AND USC.

THEY HAD OPERA SINGERS.

IT WAS THE BEST.

>> Huell: ALL OF IT RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT HERE, THE BUILDINGS ARE GONE, THE TAPER KNACKLE THE EVENTS WHERE THEY HAD THE EVENTS ARE GONE, BUT WE STILL HAVE THIS.

>> Huell: TELL US, RANDY, WHAT WE'RE SEEING, THESE ARE TWO OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS?

>> CORRECT.

THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL MEAT MARKET, THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD BUY YOUR GROCERIES IN TOWN.

AND IT WAS THE WHERE EVERYBODY DID SHOPPING.

WHERE AS THIS BUILDING THAT'S ATTACHED WAS THE A á ORIGINAL CAFE.

AND IF YOU WERE A CAMPER HERE, YOU WOULD BE IN YOUR TENT UP THE CANYON AND COME DOWN HERE AND GET YOUR MEAL.

>> Huell: NOW DO MOST PEOPLE KNOW THE HISTORY OF THESE BUILDINGS?

>> THEY DON'T.

>> Huell: 'CAUSE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PASS BY HERE?

>> EXACTLY AND HERE FOR THE NATURAL BEAUTY BUT ALSO THIS RICH CULTURAL HISTORY THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT.

>> Huell: IT'S A WONDER THAT EVEN THOSE TWO BUILDINGS HAVE SURVIVED.

>> YES, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO STILL HAVE THEM AND HAVE THE HISTORIC PHOTOS SO WE CAN RECREATE WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> Huell: HERE'S THE ENTRANCE HERE, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE HIKERS AND CARS AND THEY HAVE TO COME RIGHT BY THE OLD STORE.

>> WHAT'S KIND OF NEAT IS THE PRESERVATION OF THIS CANYON WAS A COMMUNITY THING.

IT'S WHERE EVERYBODY GOT TOGETHER AND THEY RECOGNIZED THE VALUE AND HISTORY, IT WAS A COMMUNITY THAT ROSE AND UP AND SAID YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DEVELOP THIS.

AND THANK HEAVENS, WE THE STATE TO RESOURCE THE PLAN.

AND IT'S REALLY ADD MEASURABLE IT'S REALLY BEEN FUN.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK TO SEE THIS REBORN-AGAIN, LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE, IT'S FUN TO SEE THEM COME AGAIN.

>> >> Huell: WEREN'T YOU TALKING TO THE ORIGINAL PLACE.

>> IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME AND GATHER AND LEARN AND REJUVENATE FROM NATURE AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE STAY HERE AND HEAR FROM SPEAKERS, AND LEARN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE CHAUTAUQUA IS STILL WITH US.

>> Huell: WAS IT A BIG DEAL WHEN IT OPENED UP IN 1922?

>> A BIG DEAL.

THERE WERE NO ROADS HERE AND 3000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.

THIS IS THE STIX, THIS WAS 20 MILES FROM L.A. AND 2000 PEOPLE CAME HERE TO SEE MADAM DO OPERA IN THE MIDDLE OF NO PLACE.

>> Huell: WHERE WOULD SHE HAVE PERFORMED?

>> THERE WERE FOUR AMPITHEATER IN THE WHOLE THING.

AND EVERYBODY IN TOWN, ALL THE KIDS AND ALL THE PARENTS, ALL HAD A SKILL, THEY EITHER ACTOR WERE SINGERS OR THEY PLAYED AN INSTRUMENT.

IT'S LIKE MICKEY ROONEY AND JUDY GUARDIAN, PUTTING ON A PERFORMANCE, THEY WOULD ALL PERFORM.

AND IT WAS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>> Huell: BUT THEY HAD TO STAY OUT HERE.

THESE WERE NOT CAMPERS OUT HERE, THESE WERE CITY PEOPLE?

>> WELL YES, THEY HAD MANY MANY CAMPERS ALL WAY TO THE COAST.

>> Huell: DID THEY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CAMPING OR JUST ROUGH IT AND NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO IT.

NO THEY WERE TENT BASIS AND THEY CAN RENT THE TENTS AND SET UP CAMPING.

AND THERE WERE COOKING FACILITIES SO EVERYTHING WAS MADE AS SIMPLE AS COULD BE.

>> Huell: AND HOW LONG WOULD THEY STAY AT A TIME?

>> USUALLY FOR A WEEK BUT SOME WOULD STAY FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER.

IN THE OLD PICTURES YOU SEE HUNDREDS OF CARS PARKED OUT HERE.

>> Huell: THERE IS A PICTURE LOOKING RIGHT DOWN THIS ROAD SHOWING ALL THE XARZ PARKED BACK IN THE 20s AND 30s,.

YES.

SO THEY WOULD COME OUT BY THE THOUSANDS.

>> Huell: IT'S ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT THE CHAUTAUQUA WITH A GROUP OF HISTORIANS AND WITH THE RANGER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HISTORY LESSON.

WE HAVE NOW COME INSIDE THIS BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED -- THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL DINING HALL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Huell: AND HOW IS IT USED NOW?

>> IT'S STILL A DINING HALL FOR THE CAMP.

>> Huell: REALLY.

>> YES.

>> Huell: WE'VE COME IN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO WAS HERE WHEN THE CHAUTAUQUA WAS FOUNDED.

YOU AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

YOUR FATHER DR. SCOTT FOUNDED THE CHAUTAUQUA IN 1922, YOU WERE HERE AS A CHILD.

>> YES.

>> Huell: TELL US WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE OUT HERE FROM THE CITY COMING ALL THE WAY TO THE COUNTRY TO THIS PLACE?

>> I WAS TEN GOING ON ELEVEN.

THE FIRST SUMMER WE SPENT HERE, THE FAMILY -- THERE WERE SIX CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, SO WE OCCUPIED TWO TENTS.

AND THAT WENT ON FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER.

AND LITTLE BY LITTLE THEY BUILT OTHER THINGS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS BIG FAMILY.

>> Huell: WAS IT LIKE YOU WERE ROUGHING IT WHEN YOU WERE OUT HERE?

>> WELL, IT WAS JUST A GREAT HOLIDAY.

IT WAS WELL ORGANIZED.

I MEAN WE CHILDREN WERE LET LOSE.

WE HAD DAILY VACATION EVENTS.

WE HAD ARTS AND CRAFTS, HIKING AND EXERCISE.

AND WE STARTED AN ORCHESTRA AND I PLAYED THE VIOLIN.

WE HAD A LOT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE CHILDREN.

AND THE CHAUTAUQUA WERE THE SERIOUS CONCERTS.

WE HAD CHEWMAN HIKES AND OTHERS PLAYED THE GRAND PIANO.

>> Huell: HOW DID YOU GET THESE PEOPLE TO COME OUT HERE TO PERFORM?

>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE HAD LARGE TIBETS SANG IN THE QUARTET.

WE HAD THE JOHN SMALLMAN ACAPPELLA CHOIR WHICH WAS A TRAVELING GROUP FROM A CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON SIXTH STREET IN LOS ANGELES.

>> Huell: ALL OF THIS WAS YOUR FATHER'S VISION.

WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

WHAT WERE HIS DREAMS?

>> THE METHODISTS PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PACIFIC PALISADES, THEY HAD SUMMER CAMP MEETINGS AND THOSE WERE JUST RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS.

THEY HAD THE PROGRAMS FOR THE CHILDREN, BUT WE HEARD BILLY SUNDAY PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN BIG AWEDUDITORIUM.

WE HAD ONE IN HUNTINGTON BEACH AND THEY DISCOVERED OIL SO THE METHODISTS HAD TO FIND A NEW LOCATION.

>> Huell: THEY GOT MOVED OUT BY THE OIL.

>> YES, THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA METHODIST CHOSE MY DAD AS SOMEBODY TO SCOUT THE EAST WHERE THE CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAMS WERE IN BLOOM.

AND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS DOING VERY VERY WELL.

WE WENT TO -- HE WENT TO LAKE CHAUTAUQUA THERE WAS A CHAUTAUQUA MOUNTAIN VINEYARD AND WHEN HE CAME BACK, HIS JOB WAS TO FIND A LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN DEVELOP TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE OTHER THINGS HE HAD SEEN IN THE CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAMS.

AND THIS CANYON PRESENTED ITSELF FOR THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHAUTAUQUA BECAUSE WE HAVE ACRES AND ACRES IN HERE.

AND ABOVE WHERE WE ARE NOU, THERE WAS A HUGE AUDITORIUM.

WE HAD LIBRARY, WE HAD A TENT CITY.

MANY PEOPLE STAYED IN TENTS.

WE ALSO HAD LITTLE COTTAGES AND IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH AN UPPER CANYON, YOU'LL SEE MANY OF THEM STILL.

>> Huell: SO THIS WAS A WHOLE COMMUNITY?

>> YES, YES, IT WAS.

AND THEY ALSO, THE FACILITIES WERE LOANED OUT OR RENTED OUT TO DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN AND PRESSBYTERIANS CAME FOR A WHILE.

AND THEY HAD ALL THIS EVANGELIST PROGRAMS.

SO I GREW UP SITTING IN THE BACK SEATS LISTENING TO THOSE.

>> Huell: IT ALL MADE SENSE BECAUSE RELIGIOUS AND NATURE WERE CLOSELY TIED TOGETHER.

>> RIGHT.

WE HAD A LOT OF DRAMA AK HE HAVE ACTIVITIES.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE WE CARVED WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE HAD A STAGE JUST CUT INTO THE BANK ACTUALLY.

AND I CAN REMEMBER BEING IN PLAYS WHERE -- RUNNING FIERCELY ACROSS THE STAGE HOLLERING SOMETHING.

>> Huell: SO THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON, ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO.

>> YES, WE HAD ANOTHER PLACE CALLED THE GLENN.

AND THAT WAS USED FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS, AND WE EVEN HAD SOME OLD STILL MOVIES AND PLAYS WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES BEING INVOLVED.

AND ALSO THERE ARE PICTURES OF MY DAD TALKING TO A GROUP THEY HAD JUST LINED THE BANK WITH BENCHS, SO THAT'S STILL HERE.

THE BENCHS ARE NOT, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE AREA, LENDS ITSELF TO IT.

>> Huell: DO YOU THINK IT WORKED OUT THE WAY YOUR DAD HOPED IT WOULD?

>> I'M SURE IT DID.

IT STARTED OFF THAT WAY AND I THINK EVERYONE WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BUT THIS AREA, THANK HAEFRNZ I KNOW -- HEAVENS I KNOW MY FATHER WOULD BE PLEASED, IT'S UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE MOUNTAIN CONSERVE ANT SEE, IT CANNOT BE DEVELOPED ON AS MANY DEVELOPERS HAVE TRIED.

AND USED FOR HIGH RISK TAKING CARE OF PRIMARY YOUNGSTERS.

THEY'VE GOT THE FACILITIES FOR HIKING AND DOING ALL THE CLOSE TO NATURE THINGS, BASEBALL, SWIMMING POOL, I THINK THE PRESSBYTERIANS PUT IN A SWIMMING POOL.

AND EVERY WEEK END HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TAKING OFF FROM THIS AREA, HIKING ALL THROUGH THESE HILLS.

OKAY, WE'RE ENDING UP BACK INSIDE FROM THIS WONDERFUL KIOSK.

THIS REALLY KIND OF LET'S THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE.

>> WELL IT DOES HAVE A NUMBER OF PICTURES, EVEN A FEW WHEN I WAS 10 AND A HALF OR 11 YEARS OLD.

>> Huell: IS THAT YOU IN THE BACK OF THE HORSE.

>> YES, THAT'S MY FATHER AND THE WHOLE SCOTT FAMILY.

WARN, WARREN, AND MARY BY MY FATHER.

THIS IS INTERESTING THE ONE WHERE MY DAD IS ON HORSEBACK, THAT'S PRACTICALLY ON THAT SPOT.

>> Huell: THAT'S YOU ON SPOT.

YOU WERE NOT EIGHT YEARS OLD.

>> I WAS 25.

>> Huell: YOU LOOK LIKE A MOVIE STARS.

>> THAT WAS A SHORT PERIOD OF MY LIFE.

>> Huell: THIS IS INTERESTING, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ALL THIS.

>> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT HERE, HUELL.

AND THE MEMORIAL TO MY FATHER IS THE -- SEEMS TO BE LIKE THE PERFECT SPOT FOR IT.

THIS WAS THE HEART OF THE CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAM.

THIS IS WHERE THINGS HAPPENED.

>> Huell: AND IT'S STILL WHERE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> YES.

>> Huell: THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE DRIVE IN AND PARK AND GET READY TO ENJOY THE DAY IN THE PARK.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

>> Huell: HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY.

>> VERY VERY PLEASED, I'M SURE.

>> Huell: THANK YOU FOR SHARING THESE STORIES.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Huell: AND THANK YOU.

AMY, HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S THE PLAQUE AND HERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND WHO UNDERSTAND NOW AND WHO HAVE HEARD SOME OF THIS STORY.

THIS PLAQUE TO REV.

CHARLES H. SCOTT FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE PACIFIC PALISADES ASSOCIATION, THE MAN WHO STARTED ALL OF THIS BACK IN 1922, WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE OLD BUILDINGS LEFT.

THE CANYON IS STILL HERE AND THE MEMORIES IS STILL HERE AND THIS PLACE IS STILL SERVING THE PUBLIC IN A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WAY, JUST LIKE IT WAS.

>> HE LEFT US A GREAT LEGACY AND WE'RE PROUD TO CONTINUE IN THE PRACTICE DECISION.

>> Huell: AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FATHER'S STORY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Huell: WITH ALL OF US, IT'S A TRUE CALIFORNIA STORY THAT IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL TODAY HERE IN TEMSCAL CANYON.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK TO SEE THIS REBORN-AGAIN, IT'S FUN TO SEE THEM COME.

>> Huell: WRONT YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT, AMY, HOLDING ON TO THE SAME PURPOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME AND GATHER AND REJUVENATE.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE STAY HERE AND HEAR SPEAKERS WE'VE GOT KIDS COME AND LEARN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE CHAUTAUQUA IS STIM -- STILL WITH US HERE IN THE CANYON.

VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.