Happy Wanderers

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: >> HI, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND THIS ADVENTURE SHOULD PROVE TO BE A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS TAKE A LOOK BACK AT L.A.'S TV PAST.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS EVER TO AIR ON LOCAL TELEVISION, HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

HERE TO HELP US GO BACK IN TIME AND RELIVE THOSE GOOD OL' DAYS ARE?

>> GEORGE BOWDEN.

HUELL>> GEORGE.

>> ALLEN COATS.

>> AND ALLEN.

NOW, YA'LL WERE THE DIRECTORS AND THE CAMERA PEOPLE FOR A TELEVISION SERIES CALLED?

>> "THE HAPPY WANDERERS."

HUELL>> "THE HAPPY WANDERERS," WHICH AIRED ON LOCAL TV BACK IN?

>> WELL, IT WAS IN TWO WAVES.

THE FIRST WAS IN THE 60s FROM 1963 UNTIL THE LATE 60s, AND IT CAME BACK IN THE 70s.

HUELL>> SO IT AIRED BASICALLY IN THE 60s AND 70s ON VARIOUS TELEVISION STATIONS.

>> I THINK THEY HIT ALMOST EVERY ONE IN TOWN.

HUELL>> IT STARTED ON, I THINK, ON KCOP, KTTV?

>> KNBC.

HUELL>> KNBC.

>> KTLA.

HUELL>> KTLA.

SO IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT IT WAS A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM.

I'VE SEEN THE RATINGS, AND FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS EVER ON TV?

>> IN FACT, THERE WAS A POINT WHERE IT BEAT OUT WALTER CRONKITE IN THE RATINGS AT NIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WAS IT WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST SHOWS THAT WAS IN COLOR; WHEN COLOR TV WAS JUST COMING ALONG, "THE HAPPY WANDERERS" ANTICIPATED THAT AND IT WAS IN COLOR, AND PEOPLE WERE TUNING IN FOR THAT.

HUELL>> WELL, NOW, A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS ARE GONNA REMEMBER THIS SERIES AND A LOT OF THEM WILL NOT REMEMBER AT ALL BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T BORN OR DIDN'T LIVE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT THE TIME.

BUT THIS SHOULD PROVE INTERESTING FOR BOTH GROUPS OF PEOPLE; BOTH THOSE OF YOU WHO WATCHED IT AND WERE FANS OF THE PROGRAM, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO NEVER SAW IT BECAUSE, REALLY, EVERY TIME I GET REAL PROUD OF THE FACT OF WHAT WE'RE DOIN' WITH OUR "VISITING" SERIES OR WHAT RALPH STORY DID WITH HIS SERIES IN LOS ANGELES, WHICH WAS CALLED... "RALPH STORY'S L.A.," GOSH, I'M SORRY.

BUT ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE REALLY PRECEDED BY YOURS.

>> "HAPPY WANDERERS" IS THE ONE PEOPLE REMEMBER.

HUELL>> NOW, WHAT WAS THE PREMISE OF THE PROGRAM?

>> THE PREMISE OF THE PROGRAM, WE GOT A NEW CAR EVERY WEEK, FROM FORD OR CHEVY, DEPENDING ON WHO THE SPONSOR WAS AT THE TIME AND PACKED UP OUR EQUIPMENT AND A BOX OF FILM AND WENT TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN WESTERN AMERICA.

WE SHOT FROM CANADA TO MEXICO, FROM MISSOURI TO OREGON, AND SLIM USUALLY KNEW WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GO.

HE KNEW PEOPLE EVERYWHERE AND HE WOULD CHOOSE THE LOCATIONS.

SOMETIMES WE WOULD SHOOT THREE OR FOUR SHOWS ON THE SAME TRIP, COME BACK AND EDIT THEM INTO SEPARATE PROGRAMS.

HUELL>> NOW YOU MENTION SLIM, THE HOST OF THE PROGRAM?

>> YES.

HUELL>> TELL US ABOUT SLIM?

>> SLIM WAS A WONDERFUL, BIG MAN WITH A CHARACTER LAUGH.

HE WAS A PERSONALITY.

PEOPLE LOVED SLIM AND HENRIETTA BECAUSE THEY WERE MOM AND POP.

THEY WERE SO FRIENDLY AND REAL, LIKE YOUR RELATIVES.

AND YOU WANTED TO GO WHERE THEY WENT EVERY WEEK.

HUELL>> NOW, WE HAVE OLD FILM CLIPS, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA CUT TO AN OPENING OF A "HAPPY WANDERERS" PROGRAM SO THAT OUR VIEWERS CAN MEET SLIM AND HENRIETTA AS THEY OPEN UP ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS.

♪ VALERIE, VALERA, ♪ ♪ VALERA, ♪ ♪ VALE-RA-HA-HA-HA-HA... ♪ ♪ (NARRATOR) IT'S TIME TO JOIN THOSE CARE-FREE SOULS, YOUR HAPPY WANDERERS.

♪ I AM A HAPPY WANDERER ♪ ♪ ALONG THE MOUNTAIN TRACK... ♪ (NARRATOR) IT'S TIME TO BEGIN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY, A TRIP DESIGNED TO TAKE YOU FROM THE DESERT TO THE SEA, TO FORESTED VALLEYS AND TOWERING MOUNTAINS.

SO LEAVE YOUR CARES BEHIND AND JOIN US, AS WE TRAVEL ACROSS WESTERN AMERICA ON THE TRAIL OF THE HAPPY WANDERERS.

>> HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, HERE WE GO AGAIN, HAPPY WANDERERS.

[LAUGHTER] WELL, HAPPY WANDERERS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU ON A GREAT ADVENTURE.

WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY THAT REALLY STARTED CALIFORNIA ON THE GREAT TRAIL.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU TO WHERE MARSHALL DISCOVERED GOLD, THE MOTHER LODE COUNTRY.

>> IT'S SUCH BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

AND THIS IS WHERE MANY PEOPLE CAME TO SEEK THEIR FAME AND FORTUNE.

SOME MADE IT, SOME DIDN'T.

SOME EVEN DIED.

BUT, SLIM, I'M GOING DOWN TO SUTTER'S CREEK AND I'VE GOT MY GOLD PAN, AND I'M GONNA SEE IF THEY LEFT A LITTLE OF THAT GOLD DOWN THERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GET ANY GOLD.

>> BELIEVE THAT.

HUELL>> HE DEFINITELY HAD... A PERSONALITY AND A LAUGH, DIDN'T HE?

>> YES, HE DID.

THAT WAS HIS SIGNATURE, HIS CHARACTER SIGNATURE WAS HIS LAUGH.

AND HE HAD A JACKASS FIGURE, SOMEONE SENT HIM-- A FAN-- ON THE DESK IF HE DID AN INTRODUCTION IN THE STUDIO, AND THAT WAS HIS CHARACTERISTIC.

>> SPEAKING OF GIANTS, I'M KIND OF A GIANT IN THE INDUSTRY MYSELF... [LAUGHTER] ...THIS LITTLE JACKASS, PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHAT THIS IS, WHAT IT SIGNIFIES.

WELL, SOMEBODY SENT IT TO ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I DESERVED AN EMMY.

I KNEW BETTER MYSELF.

BUT THEY SAID IT LOOKS LIKE ME, PARTICULARLY WHEN I'M LAUGHING.

[LAUGHTER] GOOD THING HE DON'T MAKE ANY SOUNDS.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE HE WAS A GOOD OL' BOY, AND HE WROTE ME A REAL NICE LETTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE PAID FOR IT-- AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE LIKE IT SINCE.

HUELL>> WHAT WAS HIS BACKGROUND?

>> SLIM WAS A NEWSPAPER MAN.

HE WROTE THE AUTO COLUMN FOR A LOCAL LOS ANGELES PAPER.

SO THAT'S WHY HE KNEW ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS.

HE HAD BEEN IN THE AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS AND IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS.

HUELL>> SO HE JUST BASICALLY LIKED TO GET OUT AND TRAVEL AROUND?

>> SLIM WAS ABOUT THE MOST GREGARIOUS GUY YOU WOULD EVER MEET.

I NEVER SAW A MAN WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS HE DID; BUT HE JUST LOVED TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD AND MEET PEOPLE, AND HE MADE US WANT TO DO IT TOO.

HUELL>> NOW, WAS THIS BASICALLY A TRAVEL LOG?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROGRAM?

>> I WOULD SAY A TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY SERIES, AND IT'S SIMILAR TO YOURS IN THAT THEY WENT TO MANY OF THE SAME PLACES THAT YOU GO TO.

I WOULD SAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SHOWS IS THAT YOUR SHOW IS BASICALLY A TALK SHOW THAT GOES TO LOCATIONS, AND "THE HAPPY WANDERERS" WAS LIKE A LITTLE MOVIE, A COLOR MOVIE EVERY WEEK, THAT MAYBE WENT TO A HALF DOZEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

HUELL>> NOW, WE HAVE SOME PROPS HERE THAT YOU BROUGHT ALONG WHICH ARE JUST WONDERFUL, TALKIN' ABOUT THE WAY TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED.

IT WAS ALL, OF COURSE, SHOT ON FILM?

>> YES, IT WAS SHOT ON 16 MILLIMETER FILM, ABOUT 25-MINUTE RUNNING TIME.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE OLD SHOWS, "LAND OF THE LEATHER NECKS."

THAT WAS OUT IN THE DESERT.

HUELL>> SO YOU REALLY SAVED ALL OF THESE?

>> YES, ALL OF THE SHOWS ARE SAVED, THE ORIGINALS, THE CLIPS, SO WE CAN GO BACK AND GET STOCK FOOTAGE FOR OTHER SHOWS.

173, WHAT DID WE DO?

>> 173 ALL TOGETHER AND ABOUT ANOTHER 49 OF THEM IN THE 70s THAT WERE UPDATED TO SOUND ON FILM.

HUELL>> AND WE HAVE A CAMERA.

YOU BROUGHT ONE OF THE... >> HUELL, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED THESE DAYS IS HOW EASY IT IS TO GO OUT WITH A VIDEO CAMERA AND CAPTURE SOUND AND PICTURE.

WELL, THAT'S ONLY SINCE THE MID-70s.

YOU USED TO HAVE TO SHOOT SILENT FILM.

>> THIS IS THE CAMERA WE SHOT WITH.

THE BELLIN & HOWELL FILMO 70, IT WAS CALLED, 16 MILLIMETER.

HUELL>> WITH THREE LENSES?

>> THREE LENSES.

YOU TURN THE EYEPIECE TO MATCH THE LENS; THERE WAS WIDE ANGLE, MEDIUM RANGE AND TELEPHOTO.

HUELL>> BUT NO SOUND?

>> NO SOUND.

>> WE DID SOME SOUND.

BUT USUALLY AT THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING OF THE SHOW.

AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE A TRIPOD.

HUELL>> YEAH, WE GOT THE OLD WOODEN TRIPOD HERE.

>> WE HAVE A BOLEX WITH A BIG MAGAZINE ON TOP OF IT AND A TAPE RECORDER, A QUARTER-INCH MACHINE.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO SET UP PRETTY MUCH LIKE WE ARE HERE, WHICH WOULD LOCK US DOWN; WE COULDN'T MOVE AROUND LIKE YOU COULD WITH THE SILENT CAMERA.

(NARRATOR) WHEN YOU MAKE THIS TRIP, STOP AND TALK TO THIS GENTLEMAN, TUMBLEWEED HARRIS.

HE'S FULL OF TALES OF THE GOOD OL' DAYS WHEN THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MINING TOWNS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

HE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE TOWN JAIL AND ITS DRAMATIC STORY, STORIES OF DESPERATE MEN WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING TO GET THEIR HANDS ON GOLD.

(NARRATOR) HE'LL TELL YOU THE STORY OF SHORTY HARRIS, THE PROSPECTOR WHO FIRST DISCOVERED GOLD IN THESE PARTS ON AUGUST 9, 1904.

HE STRUCK A BOULDER OF QUARTZ WITH HIS PICK AND UNCOVERED THE GOLD THAT EVENTUALLY GAVE BIRTH TO A TOWN, BRINGING HUNGRY MINERS HERE.

WITHIN TWO YEARS OF HIS DISCOVERY, THERE WERE RAILROAD TRACKS RUNNING THROUGH TOWN; STORES HAD BEEN BUILT; THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE ON THE STREETS, AND IT HAD BECOME THE QUEEN OF SOUTHERN NEVADA.

TODAY, ONLY THE SKELETON OF A TOWN REMAINS.

IT NOW LIES IN RUINS.

BUT IF HER PAST GLORY IS GONE, THE OLD TOWN STILL HAS A GREAT STORY TO TELL.

FOR ONCE UPON A TIME, SHE WAS THE QUEEN.

AND THERE WASN'T A MINER ALIVE WHO COULD RESIST THE CHANCE TO COME AND TRY HIS LUCK.

HUELL>> NOW, SLIM AND HENRIETTA NEVER PRESENTED THEMSELVES AS EXPERTS ON ANY OF THESE PLACES, DID THEY?

>> IN FACT, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

SLIM WAS A STUDENT.

HE WENT TO LEARN, TO LEARN FROM PEOPLE.

AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD GO OUT AND THE CREW WOULD SAY, "WELL, THERE'S NO STORY HERE, SLIM."

HE WOULD SAY, "WE'LL FIND ONE."

AND HE WOULD GO UP AND START TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND A STORY WOULD EMERGE.

HUELL>> WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THE MAN ON TV, HE DIDN'T FIT ANY OF THE STEREOTYPES OF WHAT A TV HOST WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK OR SOUND LIKE?

>> HENRIETTA AND SLIM WERE THE UNLIKELIEST OF CELEBRITIES.

IT'S ALMOST AS IF THIS FELL UPON THEM.

HENRIETTA EVEN LESS SO THAN SLIM; SHE SORT OF WENT ALONG WITH THIS.

THAT WAS THEIR CHARM.

THEY WERE NOT HOLLYWOOD; THEY WEREN'T HOLLYWOOD PARTY PEOPLE.

THEY WEREN'T ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY WERE THE MOST DOWN-TO-EARTH, NICEST PEOPLE I EVER MET IN MY LIFE; AND THAT'S THE CHARM THAT CAME ACROSS AND PEOPLE SENSED.

HUELL>> YOU THINK THE VIEWERS PICKED UP ON THAT?

>> YOU BET THEY DID.

HUELL>> YOU THINK THEY DID?

>> ABSOLUTELY; THAT WAS MOM AND POP.

HUELL>> WHAT WERE THEY LIKE TO WORK WITH?

>> SLIM WAS THE NICEST FELLA, JUST A SWEET FELLA; AND HENRIETTA WAS A DOLL.

HUELL>> WELL, WE HAVE SLIM'S SON, IF HE COULD COME OVER FOR A MINUTE.

>> THIS IS LARRY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK THIS IS SLIM, BECAUSE HE IS THE SPITTING IMAGE OF SLIM.

HUELL>> HOWDY, LARRY.

>> HI, HUELL.

HUELL>> HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

HUELL>> YOU KNOW, AFTER WATCHING THESE FILMS OF YOUR DAD, YOU'RE THE SPITTIN' IMAGE?

>> I KNOW; I WISH I LOOKED MORE LIKE MY MOTHER.

[LAUGHTER] HUELL>> SEE, HE'S GOT THE LAUGH.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

HUELL>> NOW, DO YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE COMIN' UP TO YOU AND TELLIN' YOU THAT YOU REMIND THEM OF SLIM?

>> MANY OF HIS DEAR FRIENDS THAT HAVE KNOWN HIM OVER THE YEARS COME UP TO ME ALL THE TIME AND SAY, "YOU LOOK A GREAT DEAL LIKE YOUR DAD."

THAT'S THE BARNARD BIG NOSE, THE DOUBLE CHIN, THAT WAS... [LAUGHTER] HUELL>> AND THE LAUGH.

>> AND THE LAUGH.

HUELL>> I CAN SEE YOU IN A RESTAURANT LAUGHIN', AND MAYBE SOME PEOPLE COMIN' OVER AND LOOKIN' AT YOU AND SAYIN', "ARE YOU SLIM BARNARD?"

>> WE BOTH USED TO EAT TOGETHER.

AND DAD WAS VERY GOOD AT TELLING STORIES.

WE USED TO... WE USED TO HAVE THE WHOLE RESTAURANT LAUGHING.

HUELL>> NOW, HOW WERE YOU CONNECTED WITH THE SHOW ITSELF?

DID YOU ACTUALLY GO OUT AND HELP YOUR MOM AND DAD?

>> NO.

I WENT ON HIS FIRST... OH, MAYBE 3 SHOWS.

BUT I WAS WORKING AND I HAD A YOUNG FAMILY AND I HAD TO KEEP GOING.

BUT SEE, DAD DID THESE THINGS FOR THE NEWSPAPER, THESE STORIES WITH A CAR FROM THE NEWSPAPER FOR 35 YEARS BEFORE HE WENT ON TELEVISION.

HUELL>> OH, REALLY?

>> YEAH.

HUELL>> SO HE WAS A NEWSPAPER MAN WHO WROTE THESE TRAVEL COLUMNS?

>> HE WROTE ABOUT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AND PLACES TO GO.

HE ACTUALLY WORKED 7 DAYS A WEEK.

BECAUSE THE WEEKEND, HE WOULD PACK UP THE FAMILY AND WE WOULD GO OUT SOMEPLACE.

DAD'S PICTURE APPEARED EVERY SUNDAY IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR 35 YEARS.

AND NO ONE STOPPED HIM.

THE MINUTE HE WENT ON TELEVISION, PEOPLE WERE STOPPING HIM ALL THE TIME.

HE WAS THE KIND OF GUY THAT-- THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND HE WOULD TELL THEM.

HE WOULD STOP...

HE SPENT TIME WITH PEOPLE.

HE LOVED PEOPLE, HE REALLY DID.

HUELL>> WELL, HE FOUND HIS MEDIUM, DIDN'T HE?

>> HE TRULY DID.

IF HE HAD LIVED LONGER, HE PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER HUELL HOWSER.

HUELL>> WELL, I CONSIDER THAT...

I MEAN, THIS MAN, I'VE WATCHED HIS WORK.

HE WAS TRULY A MASTER AT WHAT HE DID.

>> HUELL, DAD NEVER HAD A SCRIPT.

YOU KNOW-- HOW WELL YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

YOU'RE GREAT WINGERS.

HUELL>> YEAH, YEAH; WELL, YOU CALL IT "WINGING IT," YOU AS THE WRITERS AND CAMERA PEOPLE-- >> WE DON'T LIKE THAT SO MUCH.

HUELL>> YOU DON'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.

HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH HIM WHEN YOU'D GO OUT, BECAUSE HE WOULD WING IT A LOT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WHEN WE DID THE OPENS AND CLOSES, SLIM DID LIKE TO DO IT OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD.

SO WHEN I STARTED DIRECTING, I WANTED HIM TO USE A CUE CARD; HE WOULDN'T DO IT.

SO WE COMPROMISED AND WE PUT JUST SOME NOTES, JUST THE LAST SENTENCE OR TWO TO LEAD INTO THE SHOW BECAUSE SLIM WAS SLIM.

>> HAPPY WANDERERS, HENRIETTA AND I ENJOY SHARING WITH YOU THESE WONDERFUL TRIPS THAT WE TAKE AROUND THE WEST.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST HISTORIC MISSIONS.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1797, COMPLETED IN 1808.

THERE'S ONE BELL HERE IN THE MISSION THAT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1812.

THAT'S A HUNDRED YEARS, NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE THIS OLD GHOST TOWN THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU TO, THE GHOST TOWN OF BOLDY.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE BOLDY, BUT PLEASE DO GO THERE BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER BECAUSE THE OTHER MONTHS IT'S JUST AFTER SNOW, AND IT WILL BE CLOSED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE ALTITUDE IS 10,000 FEET.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

HONEY, THAT'S RIGHT.

BOLDY IS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE.

THEY HAVE AN OLD JAIL THERE... [LAUGHTER] ...I THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE HENRIETTA WOULD LEAVE ME THERE.

BUT THEN I THINK I'LL CIRCUMVENT THIS JAIL.

BUT ANYWAY, HONEY, LET'S GET GOING.

WE'RE READY TO HEAD OUT.

HUELL>> I ALSO-- ONE OF THE REAL TREASURES OF REDISCOVERING "THE HAPPY WANDERERS," WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE ARCHIVES OF ALL THE OLD FOOTAGE, YOU REALLY HAVE CAPTURED THE WEST, AND SPECIFICALLY, CALIFORNIA, IN SOMEWHAT OF A TIME CAPSULE BACK IN THE 1960s AND 70s.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK THE SHAME OF THIS ALL IS THAT THIS LIBRARY SITS IN LARRY'S GARAGE IN ORANGE COUNTY.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

IT SITS THERE TAKING UP ROOM.

I KNOW LARRY WANTS TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S TOO GOOD TO THROW AWAY.

YET, REALLY IS THERE A MARKET FOR THAT?

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY MORE.

THESE THINGS ARE A TIME CAPSULE, BUT NOT FOR CURRENT TV.

HUELL>> WELL, WE'RE HERE ACTUALLY, LET'S WALK OUT HERE BECAUSE THE REASON WE CAME TO THIS SPOT, THIS IS THE OLD MOVIE TOWN, WESTERN TOWN OF CORRIGANVILLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HUELL>> YOU ACTUALLY DID ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS-- >> TWO OF THEM.

HUELL>> --RIGHT HERE, IN CORRIGANVILLE, BACK WHEN IT WAS IN ITS HEYDAY.

>> WHEN THIS WAS A WESTERN TOWN.

THEY DID 3,500 MOVIES HERE OVER THE YEARS.

THE BUTTERFIELD STAGE, SO THE STAGECOACH SCENES THAT YOU SEE HERE WERE SHOT RIGHT ALONG THESE HILLS UP HERE.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST SHOWS, MAYBE THE CHRISTMAS SHOW OF THE FIRST SEASON BEFORE ALLEN AND I WERE WITH THEM, WAS A SHOW CALLED "CORRIGANVILLE."

AND SLIM WAS OUT HERE WITH RAY CRASH CORRIGAN.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE CLIPS OF THAT.

HUELL>> SO REALLY, THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW "THE HAPPY WANDERERS" CAPTURED SOMETHING AT THE TIME THAT IS NOW HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT'S ALL GONE NOW?

>> THIS IS PART OF A CIRCLE TRIP.

WE ALSO WENT TO FILLMORE AND DID THE COMPLETE CIRCLE BACK THROUGH SANTA SUZANNA PASS.

SO CORRIGANVILLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIVE-MINUTE SECTION AT THE END OF THE SHOW.

WE DID 6 DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS USUALLY IN EACH SHOW.

HUELL>> AND A LOT OF THESE SHOWS WERE SHOT IN PLACES THAT AT THE TIME WERE RATHER UNDEVELOPED, THAT HAVE CHANGED A LOT?

>> CALIFORNIA HAS CHANGED.

EVERYTHING CHANGES OVERNIGHT, SO MANY OF THE SHOWS ARE NOT ACCURATE.

THEY WENT TO PLACES THAT DON'T EXIST ANYMORE AND THINGS THAT ARE GONE.

(NARRATOR) CRASH CORRIGAN EVENTUALLY SOLD HIS FANTASY LAND TO BOB HOPE.

AND THERE'S TALK THAT ONE DAY THIS WILL BE HOUSES AND SUBDIVISIONS...

EXCEPT IN THE MINDS OF MANY LITTLE PEOPLE, NOW GROWN, WHO ONCE SAT IN A DARK THEATER AND WATCHED, AND WILL LIVE HERE FOREVER.

HUELL>> AND NOW, WE'RE ALL IN FOR A REAL TREAT... BECAUSE WE HAVE MANAGED TO TALK THIS LADY INTO COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT, BACK TO THE TELEVISION BUSINESS.

THIS IS HENRIETTA BARNARD.

AND YOU WERE THE CO-STAR OF THE SHOW WITH YOUR HUSBAND, SLIM?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HUELL>> NOW, TELL US WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE FOR YOU BECAUSE HE HAD YOU... BUMPIN' AND RIDIN' ALL OVER THE WEST?

>> YES.

AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN AT THE TOP OF MOUNT WHITNEY ON HORSEBACK WITH HIM.

HUELL>> REALLY?

>> YES.

HUELL>> DID YOU LIKE ALL OF THAT TRAVELING?

>> YES, I LOVED IT, YES.

I LIKED TO BE WITH SLIM IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND I ENJOY TRAVELING.

I AM BORN IN NOVEMBER, WHICH IS SAGITTARIAN, WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL.

HUELL>> NOW, WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEAS, YOU OR SLIM?

OR DID YOU EACH HAVE INPUT?

>> NO, THIS WAS SLIM'S IDEA.

AND SLIM'S... HIS MOTOR LOGS THAT HE DID, FROM THE SUNDAY PAPER, FULL-PAGE, MOTOR-LOG TRAVELS WITH A NEW CAR AND THINGS EVERY WEEK.

SO THAT WE WENT ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

HUELL>> WELL, HE WAS SO OUTGOING?

>> YES, HE WAS.

HE LOVED PEOPLE.

HUELL>> WELL, I LOOK AT THESE OLD TAPES AND I CAN'T TELL WHETHER IT WAS HIS BEING SO OUTGOING OR MAYBE YOU BEING A LITTLE SHY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

YOU HARDLY EVER GOT A WORD IN EDGEWISE?

>> I KNOW.

YES, SOMETIMES HE USED TO GET A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THAT.

HUELL>> HE WOULDN'T LET YOU TALK ENOUGH?

>> WOULD YOU FOLKS PLEASE KEEP THESE LETTERS COMING?

I GOT ONE I HAVE TO READ TO YOU.

BY GOSH, SEND THEM IN.

IT SAYS, "DEAR SLIM, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, GET SMART... AND LET THE HAPPY WANDERERS' SEX SYMBOL, HENRIETTA, TALK MORE.

AFTER ALL, SHE HAS REAL CHARM.

COMPARED TO HER, YOU LOOK LIKE THE LAST PRUNE IN THE BOX."

[LAUGHTER] >> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT, SLIM.

>> WELL, HE WOULD GET SO ENTHUSED.

JUST LIKE YOU'RE SO WONDERFUL ON YOUR SHOWS, YOU GET ENTHUSED ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE AT.

HUELL>> WELL, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LAUGH LIKE HE DOES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HUELL>> I SAY "WOW" A LOT, BUT HE HAD A REAL LAUGH TO HIM.

THAT WASN'T PUT ON?

>> YES; HE WAS BORN WITH THAT LAUGH.

IN FACT ONE OF THE MAGAZINES SAID: IS THAT LAUGH FOR REAL?

BUT IT DEFINITELY WAS FOR REAL.

(NARRATOR) THIS MASSIVE ROCK IS ANOTHER VALLEY LANDMARK, CALLED "THE EYE IN THE ROCK."

AND THE FORMATION SEEMS TO WATCH OUR PASSAGE AROUND ITS BASE.

MR. KNEE TELLS US THE ECHOES ARE GOOD HERE, SO SLIM TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND TRIES THEM OUT.

>> HELLO... [ECHOING HELLO'S] [LAUGHTER] [ECHOING LAUGHS] HUELL>> NOW, HOW WERE YOU AFFECTED BY ALL OF THIS SENSE OF CELEBRITY AFTER YOU GOT ON THE AIR?

>> OH, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A CELEBRITY.

HUELL>> BUT YOU PROBABLY HAD PEOPLE STOPPING YOU?

>> BUT BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS WITH SLIM AND WE DID THINGS TOGETHER ALL OF OUR MARRIED LIFE, SO IT WAS EASY, YOU KNOW.

HUELL>> WELL, NOW, WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR EVERYBODY TO BE REUNITED, BECAUSE YA'LL HADN'T REALLY SEEN EACH OTHER?

>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT 20 YEARS.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THESE BOYS... "MEN"; THEY WERE BOYS WHEN THEY STARTED.

>> WE WERE ONCE.

>> ALWAYS "THE BOYS," THAT'S WHAT SHE CALLED US.

HUELL>> HAVE YA'LL KEPT UP?

>> ONCE IN AWHILE, WE TALK ON THE PHONE, CHRISTMAS CARD HERE AND THERE.

BUT I HADN'T SEEN HENRIETTA FOR 20 YEARS.

WE JUST SAW LARRY AND HENRIETTA THE OTHER DAY FOR LUNCH.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL REUNION.

I'M THRILLED TO SEE HER.

HUELL>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'RE GONNA PUT AN ADDRESS UP ON THE SCREEN, NOT YOUR HOME ADDRESS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE INUNDATED WITH MAIL, BUT WE'RE GONNA PUT AN ADDRESS UP ON THE SCREEN WHERE FANS OF YOURS AND YOUR HUSBAND'S AND "THE HAPPY WANDERERS" TELEVISION PROGRAM CAN WRITE YOU A NOTE AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AND ALL OF THAT.

>> THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL OUR FRIENDS.

HUELL>> YEAH.

DID YOU GET A LOT OF REGULAR MAIL?

WHEN YOU SAY, "THEY WERE YOUR FRIENDS"?

>> OH, YES.

SLIM INSISTED THAT WE TRY TO ANSWER.

BUT WHEN WE GOT SACKS OF IT...

IT WAS A LITTLE... HUELL>> WHAT DID PEOPLE WRITE YOU ABOUT?

>> SOME WRITE YOU AND CRITICIZE YOU.

MOST OF THEM WRITE YOU AND TELL YOU HOW THEY ENJOY IT OR THAT THEY'VE BEEN THERE AND LOVED IT AND SO FORTH.

HUELL>> NOW, WHAT WOULD THEY CRITICIZE YOU ABOUT?

>> WELL, THERE WERE A FEW THAT CRITICIZED HIS LAUGH.

HUELL>> HE COULDN'T HELP TO LAUGH?

>> ONE MAN SAID, "YOU LAUGH LIKE A JACKASS."

SO SLIM GOT A LITTLE STATUE THAT HE HAD ON THE DESK OF A JACKASS.

HUELL>> SO HE MADE FUN OF HIMSELF, TOO?

>> HE DID.

HUELL>> NEVER TOOK HIMSELF TOO SERIOUSLY?

>> NO, HE COULD ALWAYS LAUGH.

HUELL>> WELL, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS, A LOVELY ONE.

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT, BELIEVE ME.

HUELL>> DO YOU LOOK AT THE OLD TAPES FROM TIME TO TIME?

>> YES, AND I HAVE SHOWED A COUPLE OF THEM AT THE LEISURE PLACE THAT I'M LIVING, RETIREMENT PLACE.

HUELL>> DO YOU HAVE FAVORITES?

DO YOU REMEMBER A SPECIFIC?

>> YES, I DO HAVE FAVORITES.

>> FOR EXAMPLE?

>> LAKE POWELL IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

HUELL>> WHY?

>> WELL, I JUST... WE WERE THERE EARLY, ACTUALLY.

AND I LOVED THE RAINBOW BRIDGE AND THE SCENERY.

THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL.

AND ALSO, MONUMENT VALLEY IS ANOTHER ONE.

I LOVE THE INDIAN COUNTRY.

I THINK THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

AND SO... THOSE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITES.

I HAD AN AWFUL LOT OF OTHER FAVORITES, TOO.

HUELL>> WELL, YOU HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AS PART OF YOUR JOB TO TRAVEL AND SEE THESE THINGS.

YOU WERE PAID TO HAVE THESE WONDERFUL VACATIONS.

>> YES, YES.

>> NOT FOR AWHILE.

HUELL>> SIR?

>> SHE WASN'T PAID FOR AWHILE.

HUELL>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> DAD WAS PUTTING HER ON FOR NOTHING.

[LAUGHTER] HUELL>> YOU WERE NEVER ON THE PAYROLL?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NOT AT THE BEGINNING, NO, NOT FOR A LONG TIME.

HUELL>> HOW DID YOU FINALLY GET ON THE PAYROLL?

>> WE TOLD HIM HOW CHEAP HE WAS AND HE BETTER START PAYING MOM.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

HUELL>> OH, GOSH.

WE'RE ENDING UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPOSE HERE ON "THE HAPPY WANDERERS."

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVE KIND OF REUNITED THE OLD GANG.

>> IT'S BEEN AN EXPERIENCE TO SEE YOU, HUELL.

YOUR PROGRAMS ARE MARVELOUS AND YOU HAVE QUITE A FOLLOWING, BELIEVE ME.

HUELL>> THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

THIS HAS BEEN JUST WONDERFUL.

SLIM ISN'T HERE WITH US, BUT HIS SPIRIT CERTAINLY IS.

AND THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS LIVE ON THROUGH THE FILM AND TAPE THAT IS STILL HERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S STACKED IN YOUR GARAGE.

>> YEAH, TRUE!

HUELL>> BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO REMEMBER THIS PROGRAM FONDLY, AND IT WAS CERTAINLY A VERYONDERFUL AND POSITIVE PART OF EARLY TELEVISION HISTORY HERE IN L.A., "THE HAPPY WANDERERS."

>> SLIM, WHY DON'T YOU TELL THE FOLKS OUR MOTTO OF THIS SHOW?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, OVER THERE ON THE WALL, WE HAVE OUR MOTTO.

THE MOTTO IS, "IT'S NOT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, IT'S HOW MUCH YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE THAT BRINGS HAPPINESS."

AND WE FEEL THAT IN OUR HAPPY WANDERERS SHOW, IF WE CAN BRING YOU A LITTLE ENJOYMENT, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE FUN, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE TO YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

AND BOY, I'LL TELL YOU, WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF ENJOYMENT... [LAUGHTER] ...BRINGING IT TO YOU.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ I WAVE MY HAT TO ALL I MEET ♪ ♪ AND THEY WAVE BACK TO ME ♪ ♪ AND BLACKBIRDS CALL ♪ ♪ SO LOUD AND SWEET ♪ ♪ FROM EVERY GREENWOOD TREE ♪ ♪ VALERIE, VALERA, ♪ ♪ VALE-RA-HA-HA-HA... ♪ ♪ ♪ VALERIE, ♪ ♪ VALERA... ♪ ♪ CAPTIONED BY THE LLOYD E. RIGLER & LAWRENCE E. DEUTSCH CAPTIONING CENTER AT KCET.

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: