Moorten Botanical Garden

OF THIS PLACE.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PALM SPRINGS HISTORY, IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS LITTLE PLACE THAT'S KIND OF TUCKED AWAY, QUIETLY TUCKED AWAY, RIGHT HERE ON THE SIDE OF SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, JUST ABOUT A MILE FROM DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS.

THIS PLACE IS DEFINITELY OLD PALM SPRINGS.

AND HERE IT IS, "MOORTEN BOTANICAL GARDEN, VISITORS WELCOME."

THEY ALSO DO WEDDINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE FOR A WEDDING.

WE'RE HERE TO LOOK AT THE PLACE.

HERE TO GREET US IS CLARK WHO, CLARK, I'VE ALREADY SAID OUT FRONT THAT I'M BOTHERING YOU OVER HERE ALL THE TIME.

I STOP BY TO SEE YOU ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, DON'T I?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THIS PLACE IS OLD PALM SPRINGS.

IF THERE WAS EVER A PLACE THAT'S FULL OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORY, IT'S THIS PLACE.

>> THIS PLACE, YEAH.

THIS PLACE HAS BEEN HERE, THIS IS OUR 65th YEAR IN PALM SPRINGS.

IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY MY MOTHER AND FATHER.

MY MOTHER BEING A BOTANIST, MY FATHER WAS A LANDSCAPER, A NURSERYMAN, AND A COLLECTOR OF ROCKS, MINERALS, CRYSTALS, PLANTS, THINGS OF NATURE.

>> AND HOW DID IT GET INTO THIS WHOLE CACTUS THING?

BECAUSE EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK HERE ARE THESE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING CACTUS.

>> WELL, WE SPECIALIZE IN CACTI, SUCCULENTS, DESERT PLANTS, TREES, SHRUBS.

AND OF COURSE, CACTI BEING THE TRUE SURVIVORS OF THE DESERT FASCINATED BOTH MY MOTHER AND FATHER AND SO, WE JUST KEPT ADDING TO THE COLLECTION.

>> BUT IT'S NOT A NURSERY AS SUCH, I MEAN YOU CAN BUY, AND LET'S WALK RIGHT OVER HERE.

I MEAN, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE FOR SALE.

SO, YOU CAN BUY A CACTUS.

WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S "CACTI," NOT "CACTUS."

>> WELL, YEAH.

YOU CAN BUY A CACTI, OR SUCCULENTS, OR DESERT TREES, OR SHRUBS.

THAT'S WHAT WE SPECIALIZE IN.

>> BUT IN ADDITION TO HAVING ALL OF THI NOW, ARE ALL THESE FOR SALE?

I'VE NEVER REALLY ASKED YOU ABOUT THAT.

>> NO, THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE GROUND ARE PART OF THE COLLECTION.

THE THINGS THAT ARE IN POTS AND CONTAINERS ARE FOR SALE.

>> SEE, THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

THIS OVER THE YEARS HAS BECOME THIS AMAZING PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME NOT JUST TO BUY CACTUS BUT TO JUST WANDER AND SEE CACTUS AND KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT CACTUS ARE ALL ABOUT.

>> GET AN APPRECIATION FOR THE BEAUTY AND FORM THAT CACTI AND SUCCULENTS GIVE TO US.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN HERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, DO THEY KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT CACTUS OR ARE THEY KIND OF GETTING THEIR INITIATION HERE?

>> YEAH, WELL, A NUMBER OF THEM, OF COURSE, ARE QUITE INTERESTED, BUT I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY HAVE NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE'S THIS MUCH VARIETY.

SO, YEAH, THEY ARE REALLY, TRULY AMAZED WHEN THEY COME IN AND SEE THIS MUCH.

>> ALRIGHT, LET'S TAKE THE TOUR BECAUSE WE GOT TO GET DOWN HERE INTO THE CACTI BECAUSE IF YOU THINK THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL HERE, WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT'S AHEAD OF US, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE MAZE, A WHOLE PATHWAY BACK HERE.

>> YEAH, IT'S LAID OUT IN GEOGRAPHIC HABITATS.

AND JUST CACTI FROM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN BAJA, CALIFORNIA.

THE BOOJUM TREE, THAT'S RIGHT THERE.

THE ELEPHANT TREE.

>> YEAH, I LOVE THIS ONE.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WITH THE TREE, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT THESE CACTUS HANGING OUT OF THE TREE.

>> THESE ARE CACTI THAT GROW LIKE VINES.

AND THEY GROW UP THROUGH THE TREE AND THEN THEY EVENTUALLY WILL HANG DOWN.

AND THEY'LL EVENTUALLY TOUCH THE GROUND AND START GROWING BACK UP AGAIN.

>> THIS IS JUST AMAZING BACK HERE.

I NEVER GET TIRED OF COMING BACK HERE.

AND AS MANY TIMES AS I'VE BEEN BACK HERE, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN BACK HERE A TIME THAT I DIDN'T GET STUCK AT LEAST ONCE.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH, THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY.

THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY.

>> DO YOU HAVE TO GET A DISCLAIMER BEFORE PEOPLE WANDER BACK HERE?

>> I NORMALLY TELL EVERYBODY, "PLEASE DON'T HUG OR PET THE PLANTS."

SO, YOU KNOW.

>> BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HUG BACK, DO THEY?

>> NOT WELL.

>> WOW, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, NOW WHAT ARE WE, OKAY, THIS IS COLORADO DESERT REGION HERE.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, THIS IS MORE OF THE CALIFORNIA DESERTS.

AND WE HAVE LIKE THE HEDGEHOGS, THE BARRELS, OPUNTIAS, JUST PLANTS FROM, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTHERN PARTS, TRUE SOUTHWESTERN DESERT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> HOW OLD IS THIS GARDEN?

HAVE SOME OF THESE CACTUS BEEN HERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING?

>> WE HAVE PLANTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

WE'VE BEEN NEARLY 50 YEARS IN THIS LOCATION.

AND, YEAH, SOME OF THE PLANTS WERE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PLANTINGS THAT WE PUT IN.

>> NOW DID YOUR DAD TRAVEL THE DESERTS LOOKING FOR CACTUS?

>> OUR WHOLE FAMILY DID.

I, EVEN AS A TODDLER, WENT THROUGH ALL OVER THE DESERTS AND JUNGLES OF MEXICO.

>> WOW.

>> AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, THERE'S NOT REALLY A BAD SHOT HERE, IS IT?

>> NO, IT'S TRULY A SANCTUARY.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF BIRDS.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

>> AND IT'S REALLY A PEACEFUL GREAT PLACE.

>> SEE, I HOPE THE CAMERA CAN JUST PICK UP THE BEAUTY OF LOOKING THROUGH THERE WITH THE SUNLIGHT AND THE PALM TREES AND THE CACTUS.

IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT IN THE DESERT THESE DAYS.

WE ALMOST HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT THE TRUE NATURAL DESERT LOOKED LIKE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S REALLY TRUE.

AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE LITTLE PLACES LIKE THIS WHERE WE CAN TRULY GET A FEEL OF WHAT THE DESERT REALLY IS LIKE.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL RIGHT HERE.

JUST LOOKING THROUGH HERE, AS FAR BACK AS YOU CAN SEE.

NOW THOSE ARE THOSE WONDERFUL BI >> THOSE ARE BIG CENTURY PLANTS OR AGAVES.

>> AND LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE BECAUS OH, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TOO, FILLED WITH DOVES.

>> YEAH, THE DOVES LIKE TO LIVE RIGHT IN HERE.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY, OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE SEEDS AND THINGS IN THERE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE "LAVA FLOW" WITH A LOT OF PLANTS FROM MEXICO IN THERE.

>> AND HERE ARE THESE CENTURY PLANTS, WHICH I JUST MARVEL AT THESE THINGS.

THEY ARE SO BIG AND SO BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S SO THICK BACK UP IN HERE.

DO YOU WATER THESE THINGS?

>> YES, ACTUALLY, WE WATER THIS GARDEN QUITE FREQUENTLY.

AS, YOU KNOW AS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO PALM SPRINGS, WE CAN GET VERY LITTLE RAINFALL AND THIS IS A VERY MATURE GARDEN, IT'S DENSELY PLANTED.

SO, YEAH, WE WATER IT PRETTY REGULARLY.

>> WELL, CACTUS LIKE WATER, DON'T THEY?

>> ACTUALLY, THEY LIKE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER.

THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO STAND IN WATER.

>> WOW, HERE, SEE NOW, WE'RE LOOKING BACK THE OTHER WAY.

HERE'S ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SHOT JUST RIGHT HERE.

IT JUST, IT'S VERY TRANQUIL AND IT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE, OH MY, SEE?

[LAUGHTER] >> SEE?

I GOT ONE, I KNEW I'D GET IT.

THESE THINGS JUST REACH RIGHT OUT AND GRAB YOU.

NOW, WE'RE HEADING FOR ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR OF MOORTEN BOTANICAL GARDENS.

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW THIS, I'D NEVER EVEN HEARD THIS WORD BEFORE.

>> WELL, THAT WAS A WORD THAT WE COINED.

IT'S LIKE A TERRARIUM FOR CACTUS.

SO, WE CALLED IT A "CACTARIUM."

>> AND IT'S THE "WORLD'S FIRST CACTARIUM."

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S BACKED U [LAUGHTER] >> Y THE KIND O >> IT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

>> IT SOUNDS GOOD.

>> LET'S GO IN THE CACTARIUM.

NOW IT GETS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF WEIRD THINGS IN HERE.

STRANGE THINGS LIKE THIS, WHICH IS WHAT?

>> THAT IS A PLANT FROM SOUTHWESTERN AFRICA.

THAT IS A WELWITSCHIA, WELWITSCHIA MIRABILIS.

IT IS A, ACTUALLY, A SUCCULENT PLANT THAT IS RELATED TO A PINE TREE.

IT'S A CONE EARING PLANT.

AND THESE ARE ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD.

>> THAT'S 70 YEARS OLD?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT THERE ARE SOME IN HABITAT THAT ARE OVER 2,000 EARS LD.

>> WOW, LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE ROOM IN HERE.

EVERYWHERE YOU GO, WHAT IS THIS?

>> THAT IS A COTYLEDON, THAT'S FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

INTERESTING PLANTS.

DECIDUOUS, WILL DROP ITS LEAVES LATER.

>> AND LOOK HERE ARE THE HANGING CACTUS.

THESE ARE VERY STRANGE.

>> THAT'S PRETTY INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?

ACTUALLY >> I BET YOU GET A LOT OF COMMENT ON IT.

>> THAT IS THE MOST COMMENTED, ASKED QUESTION.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT GROWS OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE POT.

AND I ACTUALLY PLANTED IT THAT WAY FOR A CONVERSATION PIECE.

>> WELL, IT WORKED.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

OH.

>> THOSE ARE VERY, VERY THORNY UNDER THERE.

THERE'S LONG, LONG THORNS.

>> SEE?

THOSE THORNS ARE HIDDEN.

>> THEY ARE HIDDEN.

YEAH.

NOW, THIS IS A SUCCULENT PLANT FROM MADAGASCAR.

>> WOW.

>> IT'S A DIDIEREACEAE.

>> LOOK AT THESE.

>> ANOTHER NICE PLANT, THERE'S A VERY INTERESTING PLANT.

>> RIGHT HERE?

>> THIS IS ALOE SUZANNAE.

ALOE SUZANNAE IS A NATIVE OF MADAGASCAR THAT IN THE WILD IS NEARLY EXTINCT.

THERE'S ONLY FOUR OR FIVE PLANTS LEFT IN HABITAT.

>> WOW.

>> BUT IT ACTUALLY GROWS WELL IN CULTIVATION FROM SEED.

SO PROBABLY THERE'S A POLLINATOR THAT'S NO LONGER THERE.

WHY THE PLANT IS DYING OUT >> NOW THIS IS NOT FOR SALE.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THIS, EVERYTHING IN HERE IS PART OF THE COLLECTION.

>> SO, THIS IS, THIS IS JUST FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LOOK.

>> AND LOOK, YEAH, AND >> LOOK AT THESE.

THE WAY THEY'RE GROWING OUT OVER.

>> YEAH.

>> AND LOOK AT THESE.

THESE ARE, AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A, WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THAT'S A CYPHOSTEMMA, WHICH IS A, ANOTHER AFRICAN SUCCULENT PLANT WITH A SWOLLEN STEM.

YOU NOTICE A NUMBER OF SUCCULENTS IN HERE HAVE SWOLLEN STEMS.

THOSE ARE WHAT ARE CALLED "CAUDICIFORMS," SOME OF MY FAVORITE KIND OF PLANTS.

>> BOY, YOU'VE GOT ALL THE TERMINOLOGY DOWN.

IS IT HARD TO LEARN ABOUT CACTUS?

>> NO, NO, IT'S NOT HARD AT ALL.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE AN INTEREST IN SOMETHING AND YOU JUST KEEP REPEATING IT, PRETTY SOON YOU LEARN IT, YOU KNOW.

>> LOOK AT THESE.

>> I MEAN, TEACHERS LEARN THE NAMES OF ALL THEIR STUDENTS, I HAPPEN TO LEARN THE NAMES OF ALL MY PLANTS.

>> WHAT ARE THESE?

>> THIS IS ANOTHER PLANT.

THIS IS ADENIUM SWAZICUM.

THESE ARE ANOTHER SOUTH AFRICAN PLAN >> WOW.

>> HAT ARE DECIDUOUS RIGHT NOW.

THESE WILL FULLY LEAF OUT A LITTLE LATER IN THE YEAR AND THEY GET MAGNIFICENT BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

>> WOW.

DON'T YOU GET TIRED OF ANSWERING?

BECAUSE I BET YOU GET THE SAME QUESTIONS DAY AFTER >> I NEVER GET TIRED OF IT.

PLANTS ARE ALWAYS SO FASCINATING AND SO INTERESTING.

AND IT'S JUST FUN.

IT'S FUN TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH PEOPLE.

>> AND HERE, HANGING UP IN THIS PORTRAIT RIGHT HER >> THAT'S A PORTRAIT OF MY PARENTS.

>> YEAH.

>> WHO ARE THE FOUNDERS AND THE REAL BACKBONE BEHIND THIS WHOLE GARDEN.

>> HOW MUCH ACREAGE HAVE YOU GOT HERE?

>> WELL, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO ACRES HERE.

>> BECAUSE IT'S DECEIVING.

>> IT IS.

>> YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THIS PLACE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE PURPOSE WE TRY AND DO, IS TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU CAN UTILIZE SPACE.

>> NOW, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES, THIS BIG OLD TREE.

WAS THIS HERE WHEN YOU ALL CAME?

>> NO, WE MOVED THAT TREE IN.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY UP IN PALM CANYON.

>> WHY IS IT GROWING LIKE THAT?

>> AND IT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND BURNED AND WEAKENED IN THE CENTER AND FELL OVER.

AND THEN IT HAD STARTED TO GROW BACK, BUT IT WAS IN THE WAY OF A RIGHT F AY, SO WE MOVED IT OUT OF HERE AND MOVED IT IN.

PROPPED IT UP.

AND ACTUALLY, IT WENT IN BEFORE THE BIG ROCKS TO BUILD THE WATERFALL.

>> WOW.

THESE ROCKS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

IS THIS ALL NATURAL ROCK?

>> WELL, THESE ALL ROCKS WERE MOVED IN HERE.

ORIGINALLY, THE LITTLE ROCK HERE WAS HERE, BUT WE MOVED IT BECAUSE THIS ONE WAS PART OF THE SINATRA LANDSCAPE.

>> WHAT?

>> THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY PUT IN YEARS AGO BUT WHEN THEY MADE AN ADDITION TO ONE OF THE BUNGALOWS, OR OFFICES, OR STUDIOS, IT HAD TO MOVE, SO WE MOVED IT IN HERE.

>> SO, THIS CAME FROM SINATRA'S HOUSE?

>> THAT CAME FROM SINATRA'S HOUSE.

SO WE SAY, "THAT'S A SINATRA ROCK."

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

LOOK OVER HERE.

THIS IS AS OLD CALIFORNIA AS IT GETS.

>> YEAH, THIS IS A MEDITERRANEAN STYLE HOME THAT WAS BUILT IN THE LATE '20s.

>> AND YOUR MOM STILL LIVES HERE.

>> THIS IS MY MOTHER'S RESIDENCE.

SHE'S STILL HERE.

>> YOU WERE BROUGHT UP HERE?

>> OH, YEAH.

I GREW UP RIGHT HERE.

>> SO NO WONDER YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT CACTUS.

YOU WERE KIND OF FORCE ED CACTUS.

>> YEAH, THESE WERE MY SIBLINGS.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL LITTLE AREA RIGHT HERE.

AND OF COURSE, WHEN YOU COME OVER HERE YOU CAN SIT DOWN IN THE, WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS BENCH?

>> THAT'S A LOVESEAT THAT'S CUT OUT OF A CEDAR BARREL.

GENERALLY, OUR BRIDES AND GROOMS WHEN THEY, AFTER THEIR WEDDING, THEY GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN IN THE NATURAL LOVESEAT.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE WHEN YOU COME HERE.

YOU HAVE REALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF EVERY BIT OF SPACE HERE.

YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING RIGHT DOWN HERE, LOOKING THROUGH THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, IT'S A PHOTOGRAPHER'S DREAM.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT REALLY IS DOWN THROUGH THE GOLDEN >> OH, LOOK OVER HERE, CAMERON.

HERE'S ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL ONE HERE WITH A BARREL CACTUS AND THEN JUST LOOKING RIGHT ON OUT.

>> YEAH, ISN'T IT TERRIFIC?

>> DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF >> NEVER.

NEVER.

YOU KNOW, EVERY MORNING I WALK THROUGH HERE AND I SAY, "WOW, WHAT A GARDEN.

WOW, THIS IS GREAT."

>> AND WHAT A JOY FOR YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HAVE SPENT IT DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS IN LIFE, IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING YOU REALLY LIKE.

AND I CERTAINLY DO THAT.

>> WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL SEE YOU IN ABOUT A WEEK.

>> TERRIFIC.

>> YOU KNOW HOW I' >> I'M SURE YOU'LL BE BACK.

>> I'M ALWAYS COMING BY TALKING.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT PLACES TO VISIT WHEN YOU COME TO PALM SPRINGS.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CACTUS AND DON'T REALLY APPRECIATE THEM BEFORE YOU GET HERE, I GUARANTEE YOU AFTER TOURING THIS PLACE, YOU WILL APPRECIATE THEM.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN MOORTEN'S BOTANICAL GARDEN.

TWO OTHER THINGS BEFORE WE LEAVE MOORTEN'S.

FIRST THING I NOTICED, AND I WANT TO POINT THIS OUT TO EVERYBODY, EVEN THE PROS GET STUCK FROM TIME TO TIME.

LOOK AT, LOOK AT CLARK'S ARM.

>> OH, JUST A LITTLE BLOOD.

>> YEAH, SO YOU GET STUCK TOO.

>> OH, CONSTANTLY.

OH, YEAH, BUT THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY, SURE.

>> YOU PROBABLY, YOUR BODY IS PROBABL >> YEAH, ACTUALLY I DON'T EVEN NOTICE UNTIL SOMEONE POINTS IT OUT TO ME.

SO YEAH, NO PROBLEM.

>> I DON'T FEEL SO BAD NOW.

THE OTHER POINT IS THIS, WHEN YOU VISIT MOORTEN'S BOTANICAL GARDENS, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT FOR THIS FEROCIOUS GUARD DOG.

>> OH, YEAH, YEAH.

>> YOU GOT HERE.

>> SHE'S MY WATCHDOG.

SHE'LL SIT HERE IN THE CHAIR AND WATCH EVERYBODY.

[LAUGHTER] >> SHE IS JUST GREAT.

AND SHE'S A PART OF THE, SHE'S BECOME A PART OF THE LEGEND OF THIS PLACE AS WELL.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

SHE REALLY HAS.

YEAH, PEOPLE COME BACK NOW JUST TO SEE THE DOG.

>> YEAH, AND SHE'S ALWAYS SITTING ON A LITTLE CHAIR LIKE THIS.

>> SHE LOVES TO GET UP IN A CHAIR AND SIT AND LOOK AT, LOOK AROUND.

ACTUALLY, SHE WATCHES PEOPLE TO SEE IF THEY'LL GIVE HER SOME ATTENTION.

>> AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE GETTING ATTENTION.

SO, WHEN YOU VISIT THE GARDEN, YOU'LL NOT ONLY SEE BEAUTIFUL CACTUS BUT YOU'LL GET TO MEET HALEY AND ALSO PROBABLY GET TO MEET A LOT OF NICE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.

>> YOU KNO >> THIS PLACE HAS A GOOD FEELING TO IT.

>> THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS GARDEN IS EVERYBODY THAT COMES HERE REALLY WANTS TO BE HERE.

SO, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY.

SO, IT'S ALWAYS A HAPPY PLACE.

IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE TO BE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE HAPPY.

>> YEAH, IT KIND OF RUBS OFF ON YOU, DOESN'T IT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS IS DEFINITELY A HAPPY PLACE, MOORTEN'S BOTANICAL GARDENS.

PART OF OLD PALM SPRINGS THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL.

MOORTEN BOTANICAL GARDEN IS NOT ONLY A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO VISIT, BUT A HISTORICAL PLACE AS WELL.

IN FACT, PALM SPRINGS IS FULL OF HISTORY.

AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HISTORY, YOU CAN VISIT THE VILLAGE GREEN RIGHT ON PALM CANYON DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

IT WAS THERE I MET UP WITH MY FRIENDS, FRANK BOGART, WHO'S A FORMER MAYOR OF PALM SPRINGS AND KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED, AND SALLY MCMANUS, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PALM SPRINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, FOR A FIRST HAND PALM SPRINGS HISTORY LESSON.

OKAY, WE HAVE COME INSIDE THE MUSEUM AND A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE MUSEUM IT IS, SALLY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE WORKED HARD ON THIS.

>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE.

>> AND SINCE WE'RE ON TELEVISION, THIS IS A VISUAL MEDIUM.

>> OKAY.

>> WE WANT TO GO DIRECTLY TO YOUR OLD PICTURES BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SOME WONDERFUL PICTURES STARTING WITH INDIAN PICTURES, FRANK, TELL US ABOUT THESE THINGS.

>> WELL, THIS IS A PICTURE AT THE OLD BATHHOUSE WITH ALL THE LOCAL INDIANS I GOT THE NAMES OF ALL THOSE INDIANS.

THEY'RE ALL DEAD LONG AGO.

AND THIS ONE IS PEDRO CHINO.

HE WAS 113 WHEN HE DIED AND WAS THE MEDICINE MAN OF THE TOWN FOR MANY YEARS.

WHEN HE DIED, INDIANS FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIA CAME TO HIS FUNERAL.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 300.

HE WAS VERY FAMOUS AS A HEALER AND ALL KIND OF FINE MEDICINE WORK THAT HE DID.

>> NOW, YOU TOOK THIS PICTURE.

>> YUP.

>> SO, YOU TOOK A LOT OF THESE PICTURES.

WERE YOU THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PALM SPRINGS?

>> THERE WOULD HERE WAS A GUY HERE NAMED STEVE WILLARD, YOU'RE GOING TO MEET LATER, HE TOOK NOTHING BUT SCENERY AND HE SAID, "YOU NEVER TAKE ANY PEOPLE "IN THEM BECAUSE IT GOES OUT OF DATE."

I TOOK NOTHING BUT PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE WERE THE ONLY TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS IN TOWN.

>> SO, YOU REALLY RECORDED A LOT OF THE EARLY PALM SPRINGS.

THESE WERE ALL INDIANS WHO WERE LIVING RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA.

>> YEAH, ON THE RESERVATION.

THIS IS THE OLD ROUND HOUSE WHERE THEY HAD ALL THEIR MEETINGS AND THAT'S THE LAST CHIEF.

>> WOW.

>> PATENCIO.

>> NINETEEN FORTY.

>> WHEN HE DIED, THEY BURNT THAT HOUSE UP AND QUIT ALL OF THEIR CEREMONIES.

>> THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL LOOKING FAMILY PORTRAIT HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> LOOK AT THE PRIDE IN THE FACES.

>> THIS LITTLE GAL HERE IS STILL ALIVE.

HER NAME IS MRS. MARTINEZ AND SHE MUST BE AROUND 90, BUT SHE'S STILL VERY ACTIVE AND PRETTY GOOD.

>> THESE ARE ALL WONDERFUL INDIAN PICTURES.

AND THEN WE GET INTO THE WHITE SETTLERS WHO CAME HERE.

AND THAT STARTED WHEN, SALLY?

>> EIGHTEEN EIGHTY OUR, JUDGE JOHN GUTHRIE MCCALLUM CAME HERE THAT YEAR WITH HIS FAMILY.

HIS SON HAD TUBERCULOSIS AND HE CAME HERE TO HOPEFULLY CURE HIS SON.

>> SO, THEY CAME HERE FOR HEALTH REASONS.

>> IN THE VERY BEGINNING FOR RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, YES.

>> BUT NOW THIS GUY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE'S HERE FOR HEALTH REASONS.

>> THAT'S SMEATON CHASE.

HE WAS, HE EXPLORED THE WHOLE DESERT AND WROTE SEVERAL BOOKS ON THE DESERT ALL THE WAY TO BLYTHE AND BACK AND EVERYTHING.

WENT ALL OVER THE DESERT RIDING THAT LITTLE HORSE.

>> SO THERE WERE A LOT OF CHARACTERS OUT HERE IN THE EARLY DAYS.

>> WE HAD LOTS OF THEM.

>> NOW, WHO IS THIS?

>> THAT'S PETER THE HERMIT.

HE LIVED UP IN PALM CANYON.

AND HE USED TO WEAR THIS LONG BATHROBE.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, HE'S NOT WEARING ANYTHING UP HERE.

>> HE DIDN'T WEAR ANYTHING UNTIL PEOPLE WERE COMING.

IF HE SAW ANYBODY COMING, HE PUT ON HIS MONK'S OUTFIT.

[LAUGHTER] AND HE USED TO SELL CANS AND HE WAS THE FIRST HEALTH GUY LIKE, REMEMBER THAT OTHER HEALTH GUY THAT WAS YEARS AGO, FORGOT HIS NAME, BUT HE WROTE LITTLE CARDS.

HIS CARDS HAD HOW TO BE HEALTHY ON THE BACK OF THEM.

>> WOW.

>> IN SPANISH TOO.

>> NOW, THIS IS AMAZING.

LOOK AT THIS, LOUIS.

THIS IS PALM CANYON DRIVE BACK IN 1929.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING HERE.

>> WELL, WE HAD THE DESERT INN IN EL MARADOR AND A FEW STORES DOWNTOWN.

>> AND THAT'S TH IS THIS HIGHWAY 111 COMING IN OFF WHAT'S NOW THE FREEWAY?

>> YEAH, THAT'S IT.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

>> IT WAS JUST OILED SANDS.

AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE SAND WOULD BLOW AND THEY COULDN'T GET OUT.

>> THERE IS, THERE'S PALM CANYON DRIVE.

LOOK AT THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

>> NOT MUCH.

>> THAT WAS THE TIME TO BUY REAL ESTATE.

WASN'T IT?

>> IT SURE WAS.

>> NOW, WHAT ARE WE SEEING OVER HERE, SALLY?

>> OKAY, THIS WAS PALMS SPRING'S FIRST HOTEL.

IT WAS CALLED "THE PALM SPRINGS HOTEL" OWNED BY DR. WELWOOD MURRAY.

AND IT WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE INDIAN BATHHOUSE AND THIS WAS 1888.

AND THAT OU COULD SEE THE LONG DRESSES ON THE PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THIS IS EARLY VOTING AT THE DESERT INN.

THIS IS NELLIE COFFMAN AND THIS IS HOW THEY VOTED IN PALM SPRINGS.

>> UNDER THE PALM TREE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE WERE ONLY 21 VOTERS AT THAT TIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE 1928 TELEPHONE BOOK WAS ONLY TWO PAGES.

>> NOW, WHO IS THIS GOOD OOKING MAN RIDING A HORSE UP HERE, FRANK?

>> THAT WAS ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

THAT WAS TAKEN IN 1934.

A GUY NAMED DICK WILLINGTON TOOK IT.

AND HE SOLD THOUSANDS OF THOSE BECAUSE IT'S GOOD ACTION ON THE HORSE.

THREE FEET OFF OF THE GROUND ON ONLY ONE FOOT, JUST MAKING A TURN.

>> AND THERE'S A STORY HERE?

>> THIS IS THE OLD BATHHOUSE ON THE INDIAN RESERVATION AND I WAS TAKING PICTURES FOR "LOOK" MAGAZINE AND I GOT THESE THREE GIRLS, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES ON.

AND THIS ONE HERE, FAINTED BECAUSE SHE'D BEEN IN TOO LONG.

AND I HAD TO GIVE HER MOUTH O OUTH RESUSCITATION.

IT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING.

[LAUGHTER] >> HE'S FULL OF THESE KIND OF STORIES.

>> HE REALLY IS.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE LOCAL FLAVOR.

ALRIGHT, THERE YOU ARE AS MAYOR MEETING PRESIDENT KENNEDY AT THE AIRPORT.

>> YES.

HE CAME HERE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES ALL BY HIMSELF.

HE NEVER BROUGHT ANY JACKIE WENT WITH HIM.

GREAT GUY.

>> AND WHAT DID YOU TALK TO KENNEDY ABOUT WHEN HE WOULD PULL INTO TOWN?

>> WELL, MOST EVERYTHING.

I LOVE THE GUY.

HE WAS A REAL MANLY MAN, YOU KNOW, AND WE TALKED ABOUT WOMEN MOSTLY.

>> OH, GOSH.

THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE SERIE >> THAT IS.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW, WE'VE GO HAT'S THIS?

>> THAT'S RUDOLPH VALENTINO.

YOU GOT TO BE PRETTY OLD TO REMEMBER RUDOLPH, BUT HE WAS THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE UNITED STATES AT ABOUT 1915 TO 20, ALONG IN THERE.

THIS, HE WAS WORKING ON A PICTURE UP IN THE CANYON.

THIS PICTURE HE WAS, HE WASN'T MUCH OF A RIDER, HE'S GETTING ON A HORSE, IT LOOKS LIKE HE LOST HIS HEAD.

>> HE WAS TRYING TO MOUNT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU TOOK THAT PICTURE?

>> NO.

>> WELL, THAT WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME.

>> YEAH.

AND THIS IS HIM IN HERE, TOO.

>> THIS IS VALENTINO?

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN DID THEY START MAKING MOVIES OUT HERE?

>> OH, IN THE 30s, THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOUNDSTAGES IN NONE OF THE STUDIOS, THEY'D ALL GO ON LOCATION.

AND THIS WAS GOOD FOR ARABIAN PICTURES, DESERT PICTURES, AUSTRALIAN PICTURES, IT MATCHED EVERYTHING.

SO WE HAD AT LEAST 10 A YEAR THAT WOULD COME HERE BECAUSE WE HAD HOTELS, PEOPLE COULD STAY AND THEY COULD GET A LOT OF COUNTRY TO TAKE PICTURES IN.

>> BECAUSE HERE'S LUCILLE BALL.

SHE WAS HERE A LOT?

DID YOU TAKE HER PICTURES?

>> YEAH.

I TOOK THAT ONE, YEAH.

>> YOU TOOK THIS ONE OF LUCILLE BALL?

>> YEAH.

>> NOW, WHAT WAS IT THAT BROUGHT THESE MOVIE STARS TO PALM SPRINGS?

WHY DID THEY LIKE IT OUT HERE SO MUCH?

>> WELL, IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE CLOSE TO LOS ANGELES THAT HAD A GOOD CLIMATE.

WHEN IT WAS RAINING AND FOGGY IN LOS ANGELES, THEY'D COME TO PALM SPRINGS TO GET A SUNTAN AND TO RELAX AND SWIM AND PLAY TENNIS.

>> SALLY, WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE AND LOOK AT THESE PICTURES, ARE THEY, DID THEY GO RIGHT FOR THE STARS?

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE?

>> YES, THEY REALLY DO.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE PALM SPRINGS HAS A HISTORY, BUT IT DOES, BUT THEY SEEM TO GRAVITATE TOWARD THE CELEBRITIES.

AND WE DO A LOT OF RESEARCH BECAUSE WE A HUGE PHOTO COLLECTION, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.

AND THEY MOST OF THE MOVIE STARS, CELEBRITY PICTURES ARE WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

>> WOW, WHEN THE CELEBRITIES WERE OUT HERE, THEY PROBABLY WANTED TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED, DIDN'T THEY?

I MEAN THIS WAS PART OF THEIR PRESS.

>> THEY DID, AND WHEN THE RACQUET CLUB STARTED, IT WAS ALL PICTURE PEOPLE.

CHARLIE FARRELL AND RALPH BELLAMY HAD IT AND ALL FRIENDS WOULD COME DOWN, DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS, AND ALL THE LITTLE STARLETS WOULD COME DOWN AND WALK AROUND THE POOL HOPING TO BE SEEN.

>> HOPING TO BE DISCOVERED OUT HERE.

>> LIKE MARILYN MONROE.

>> SHE WAS DISCOVERED IN PALM SPRINGS?

>> YEAH.

>> REALLY?

WELL, SOME OF THESE I DON'T RECOGNIZE, BUT THERE'S JACK BENNY AND HIS WIFE.

>> JACK LIVED HERE AND HE PUT ON HIS RADIO SHOW HERE AT THE PLAZA THEATER.

AND ALL WINTER, HE'D HAVE THE SHOW THERE.

>> NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, HERE'S MARILYN MONROE.

WAS THIS MADE HERE IN PALM SPRINGS?

>> YUP.

>> WILLIAM POWELL NEXT TO HER.

>> WOW.

>> MR. AND MRS. ROBERT STACK, KIRK DOUGLAS AND DINAH SHORE.

>> KIRK LIVED HERE LONGER THAN ANY MOVIE STAR.

HE STILL LIVES HERE AND HE'S ONE OF OUR TOP CITIZENS HERE.

>> HERE'S A PICTURE OF SOMETHING CALLED "THE DOLLHOUSE."

>> RIGHT, THE DOLLHOUSE.

>> WELL, TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, THE DOLLHOUSE WAS A PLACE UP ON NORTH PALM CANYON AND SORRENTINO'S RESTAURANT IS OVER IT AS BUILT OVER IT.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FUN PLACES.

EVERYONE THAT COMES IN THAT USED TO COME BACK, COME HERE IN THE OLD DAYS, ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, TALKS ABOUT THE DOLLHOUSE.

>> DID YOU HANG OUT AT THE DOLLHOUSE?

>> EVERY NIGHT PRACTICALLY.

>> REALLY?

>> THEY HAD A TRIO THERE, THE GUADALAJARA TRIO, THAT PLAYED THE BEST MEXICAN MUSIC, THREE GUITARS, AND THEY HAD STEAKS THAT WERE THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

AND THOSE POTATOES THEY HAVE THAT EVERYBODY LOVED THEM.

>> AND THAT WAS TORN DOWN WHEN?

>> OH, IT'S STILL THERE.

>> THE DOLLHOUSE IS STILL THERE?

>> YEAH.

>> SORRENTINO'S IS BUILT OVER THE DOLLHOUSE.

>> OH, OKAY.

IT'S NOT THE DOLLHOUSE.

>> IT'S NOT THE DOLLHOUSE ANYMORE.

>> NOW, THIS WAS LOOKING OVER HERE, TOO, BECAUSE THE CHI CHI WAS A FAMOUS PLACE HERE TOO, WASN'T IT?

>> IT WAS A BIG RESTAURANT AND THEY, THE GUY THAT OWNED IT PUT ON SHOWS THERE.

HE HAD THE TOP PEOPLE OF ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY'D TRY OUT HERE ON THEIR WAY TO VEGAS.

SO, WE GOT R THERE'S NAMES, SALLY CAN GIVE YOU 100 NAMES >> SALLY, WHO WAS AT THE CHI CHI?

>> GINNY SIMMS, PAUL GILBERT, BING CROSBY, LILY ST. CYR, THE STRIPPER, SALLY RAND, LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

>> SAMMY DAVIS.

>> SAMMY DAVIS.

>> LENA HORNE.

>> REALLY?

>> YOU NAME, YOU NAME THEM, THEY WERE THERE.

EVERYONE.

>> THEY HAD EVERYBODY.

>> IT WAS PRIOR TO VEGAS, LAS VEGAS.

THEY WOULD APPEAR HERE.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS A FULL ORCHESTRA, BILL ALEXANDER AND HIS ORCHESTRA AN >> DID SINATRA EVE >> OH, YEAH.

>> YEAH, HE WAS THERE A LOT.

HE HEN HE FIRST STARTED DOWN HERE, HE HAD A HOUSE HERE IN ALEJO AND HE WASN'T FAMOUS.

HE WAS JUST ANOTHER SINGER AND HE'D BE THERE QUITE OFTEN.

>> SO, ARE YOU GETTIN' THE IDEA?

FROM SINATRA TO CACTUS, PALM SPRINGS HAS IT ALL.

IT'S NOT ONLY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT, BUT A PLACE THAT IS FULL OF FASCINATING HISTORY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, REPORTING POOLSIDE FROM SUNNY, HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS.