"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE WE ARE RIGHT OUT--ACTUALLY WE'RE ALMOST STANDING OUT IN THE STREET HERE ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD ON THE 5500 BLOCK OF HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, AND WE HAVE COME HERE IN SEARCH OF THE HISTORY OF A CERTAIN BUILDING HERE.

THERE'S THE BUILDING RIGHT OVER THERE.

IT'S KIND OF A NEAT-LOOKING BUILDING WITH A BLUE ROOF AND AN ORANGE BALL ON THE TOP OF IT OF SOME SORT.

AND HERE TO HELP US KIND OF DIG THROUGH THE PAST AND DECIDE WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT ARE 2 REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MODERN COMMITTEE OF THE LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY.

INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO US.

MY NAME IS DANIEL PAUL.

I'M THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE MODERN COMMITTEE.

HELLO.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, DANIEL.

CHRIS NICHOLS.

I USED TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE MODERN COMMITTEE.

Huell: WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU GOT THROWN OUT, OR WHAT?

MY, UH, TERM LIMITS.

Huell: OH, OK. MUSICAL CHAIRS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MEET YOU IN JUST A MINUTE.

YOU CAN JUST STAND THERE FOR A SECOND.

FELLAS, WHY ARE WE HERE?

WHY ARE WE STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS BUILDING HERE?

WELL, I JUST SORT OF DROVE BY THE PLACE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SAW THAT THIS WAS GOING ON AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THIS, UH, SORT OF RUIN OF TIKI-CHINESE ROADSIDE FUNK WAS ON--HERE ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

SAY THAT AGAIN.

THIS WHAT?

TIKI-CHINESE ROADSIDE FUNKY, UH, BLUE-ROOF, ORANGE-BALL KIND OF THING.

STOPPED AND MET THIS GAL WORKING ON IT, AND SHE, UH, ASKED ME TO HELP HER FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF IT.

SO WE'VE KIND OF GONE ON A LITTLE HUNT TO, UH, SEE WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

Huell: AND WHAT--WHAT HAVE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE?

WELL, A COUPLE THINGS.

I MEAN, IN OUR SEARCH, UH, WE BASICALLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A BUILDING MADE IN THE EARLY 1960s.

Huell: UH-HUH.

IT'S MADE IN A STYLE WHICH COULD BEST PROBABLY BE DESCRIBED AS PACIFIC RIM, BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASTERN, AND IT'S, UH, A LITTLE BIT SOUTH PACIFIC.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE SHAPE OF A HUT, YET THERE'S A ROOF ON IT WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, ALMOST PAGODA-LIKE.

Huell: AND THERE--WHAT'S THAT BALL UP THERE?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT'S A CHERRY ON TOP.

Huell: WHAT?

CHERRY ON TOP.

NO, BUT, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE--WHAT DO-- DO YOU THINK THAT WAS PUT UP THERE ORIGINALLY?

IT'S JUST A COBBLED TOGETHER EXOTIC FANTASY SHACK.

BUT DURING THAT TIME, I MEAN, THAT WAS VERY, VERY MUCH IN VOGUE.

YOU KNOW, DURING THE LATE FIFTIES AND THE EARLY 1960s, THERE WAS THIS WHOLE TIKI CRAZE AND THIS, YOU KNOW, POLYNESIAN RETRO CRAZE, AND THIS WAS KIND OF JUST AN ASPECT OF THAT.

Huell: AND WHAT WAS IT BUILT AS?

INITIALLY, IT WAS BUILT, UH-- IN OUR RESEARCH, WE CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS LIKELY BUILT AS A CHINESE OR POLYNESIAN RESTAURANT... Huell: AH.

WHICH FITS PERFECTLY WITH THE ARCHITECTURE, SO... Huell: OK, NOW, IS THIS GUY HERE TO VERIFY THAT?

WHY IS HE HERE?

HE'S AN OLD-TIME NEIGHBORHOOD GUY.

Huell: YOU'RE AN OLD-TIME NEIGHBORHOOD GUY.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

MY NAME'S JIM HELBRODER.

Huell: OK, COME ON AND STAND OUT HERE.

FELLAS, YOU LISTEN TO WHAT HE'S SAYIN', 'CAUSE YOU HADN'T HEARD ALL THESE STORIES, HAVE YOU?

NO, NOT YET.

Huell: COME ON IN HERE AND LISTEN.

NOW, WHY ARE YOU AN EXPERT ON THIS BUILDING?

WELL, THAT--WELL, THAT BUILDING'S BEEN HERE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, SINCE '63.

Huell: UH-HUH.

AND IT'S--IT WAS AN ORIENTAL RESTAURANT IN '63.

THEN THEY MADE IT--IT BECAME A--AN ITALIAN-TYPE RESTAURANT.

THEN IT BECAME AN ARMENIAN MARKET.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

YEAH.

Huell: SO IT'S HAD A LOT OF REINCARNATIONS.

OH, YES.

A LOT OF THEM.

Huell: HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR?

WELL, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TOO POPULAR.

THE RESTAURANTS KEEP GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.

WELL, THE THING WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BIG BUILDING HERE, A U-SHAPED BUILDING, 3-STORY BUILDING THAT SURROUNDED THIS THING.

Huell: OH, SO THIS VACANT LOT HERE-- THAT ONE AND THAT VACANT LOT RIGHT OVER THERE.

Huell: SO THEY'VE TORN ALL THE BUILDINGS DOWN THAT WENT AROUND IT.

THE EARTHQUAKE DID THAT.

Huell: OH.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS INVISIBLE FOR SO--IT WAS INVISIBLE FOR SO MANY YEARS IN THE SHADOW OF THAT BIG APARTMENT BUILDING.

Huell: I SEE.

SO IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE TOOK THIS BUILDING DOWN THAT THIS LITTLE THING KIND OF CAME INTO ITS OWN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH.

YEAH, YOU COULD SAY THAT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T REALLY SEE IT DRIV-- I MEAN, DRIVING DOWN THE STREET.

Huell: NOW, HAS THAT ORANGE BALL ALWAYS BEEN UP THERE?

ALWAYS BEEN UP THERE.

Huell: AND IT'S ALWAYS HAD THE BLUE TILE.

YEP.

YES.

Huell: AND THERE'S A SIGN OUT FRONT NOW THAT SAYS, "PIZZA, SUBMARINES," AND "ICE CREAM."

YEP.

THAT'S WHEN THE GUY HAD THE PIZZA PLACE IN THERE.

Huell: WELL, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PIZZA PLACE?

AW, HE WENT SOUTH.

HE GOT-- HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TRAFFIC COMIN' IN THERE.

Huell: COME ON.

WE'RE ALL GONNA WALK OVER HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE NEW STORY HERE ABOUT THIS BUILDING, AND HERE IT IS.

THIS KIND OF GIVES US THE TIP-OFF RIGHT HERE.

IT'S NOW CALLED THE PANORAMA.

IT'S NO LONGER A RESTAURANT.

IT'S A PANORAMA, SO LET'S COME ON IN.

WATCH YOUR STEP RIGHT HERE.

THERE'S A GATE HERE.

COME HERE.

YOU'RE THE NEW MA-- YOU'RE THE NEW OWNER.

WELCOME TO THE PANORAMA.

Huell: NOW, YOUR NAME IS... MY NAME IS SARA VELAS.

I'M THE PROPRIETOR.

Huell: OK. NOW, HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS THIS BUILDING?

LET'S SEE.

MAYBE--IT'S BEEN ALMOST ONE YEAR... Huell: UH-HUH.

AND I WAS DRIVING.

I'D BEEN DRIVING UP AND DOWN HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD FOR, UM--QUITE OFTEN FOR MY WORK, AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC ADDRESS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I WAS DRIVING REALLY SLOW, AND I WAS LOOKING FOR, UM, AN ADDRESS.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I LOOK TO MY LEFT, AND I SAW THIS ROUND BUILDING, AND IT WAS SO-- YOU KNOW, IT JUST WAS SO ODD.

I PULLED OVER TO, YOU KNOW, CHECK IT OUT, TAKE A PICTURE, WHATEVER.

JUST REALLY LOOK-- GET A GOOD LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE IT LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE A PANORAMA ROTUNDA, WHICH IS-- Huell: WAS IT DESERTED AT THE TIME?

YES, IT WAS DESERTED.

PEOPLE HAD JUST MOVED OUT OF IT.

THEY--2 PEOPLE THAT WAS RENTING IT, THEY RENTED IT FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT THEY WERE LIVING IN THERE AND DOING DOPE AND THAT.

AND THEY HAD ALL THIS Xed UP.

THEY WERE DOING COMPUTER WORK, WHATEVER IN THE-- I GUESS THE OWNER--BOOM.

FINALLY HAD TO MOVE OUT.

Huell: WOW.

SO YOU CAME IN, AND IT LOOKED LIKE A WHAT?

A PANORAMA ROOM.

WELL, IT LOOKS--IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A TRADITIONAL PANORAMA ROTUNDA, WHICH IS AN ENTERTAINMENT ART FORM FROM THE 19th CENTURY.

IT WAS VERY POPULAR ON THE EAST COAST HERE IN THE U.S. AND IN EUROPE.

SO PEOPLE WOULD-- Huell: THAT'S WHAT PANORAMA MEANS.

YES.

IT'S A PANORAMA.

Huell: WELL, CAN WE GO INSIDE AND LOOK AT THE PANORAMA?

COME ON.

LET'S GET IN HERE FIRST AND SEE WHAT WE GOT GOIN' ON IN HERE.

WE'RE GOIN' IN THE-- NEED TO SIGN THE GUEST BOOK.

Huell: OH, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE'LL SIGN THE GUEST BOOK A LITTLE BIT LATER.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT GETTING IN TO SEE THE PANORAMA.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT JUST KIND OF-- IT'S A ROUND BUILDING.

YEAH.

WHO--HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE A ROUND BUILDING?

Huell: NOW, THIS WASN'T ORIGINAL RIGHT HERE.

YOU PUT THIS IN.

NO.

WE ADDED THIS... Huell: SO WHEN YOU GOT THE BUILDING, IT WAS JUST AN OPEN, ROUND...

RIGHT.

IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND GUTTED.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING.

THERE WAS A WALL IN THE CENTER WHICH WE HAD TO TAKE OUT, BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING LEFT.

Huell: AND YOU PUT THIS ROUND WALL IN.

AND THE PANORAMA IS INSIDE THIS WALL?

YES.

Huell: WELL, LET'S GO IN AND SEE THE PANORAMA.

OK, WE'RE OPENING THE MAGIC DOOR.

AH.

NOW, WHAT IS THE DEAL ON THIS ROOM?

THIS IS THE PANORAMA.

YES.

Huell: COME ON IN.

I GUESS WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE DOOR, DON'T WE?

YEAH, TO SEE THE WHOLE SHOT.

Huell: OH, THIS FINISHES THE WHOLE THING OFF.

[NARRATING] AND THEN IT WAS TIME TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE PANORAMA.

WHAT WAS THE PANORAMA?

AND TRUST ME, IT WAS A GREAT STORY.

IN FACT, THE WHOLE DAY WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS WONDERFUL.

THE PANORAMA PAINTING WAS INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL, AND SARA WAS A GOOD SOUL.

I HAD A GREAT DAY AT THE PANORAMA BACK IN 2001.

BUT THEN A FEW YEARS LATER, I GOT THE BAD NEWS, THE NEWS THAT THE WONDERFUL ROUND BUILDING WAS GONNA BE LEVELED, A NEW BUILDING PUT IN ITS PLACE, AND THE PANORAMA WOULD HAVE TO MOVE, FIND A NEW HOME.

I WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER.

THINGS LOOKED BAD.

WOULD THE PANORAMA AND THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO RAN IT EVER BE ABLE TO FIND A NEW HOME?

ESPECIALLY ONE AS PERFECT AS THE FUNKY OLD ROUND BUILDING ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD THEY'D BEEN IN FOR 3 YEARS.

SO IN 2004, THE OLD PANORAMA ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD WAS TORN DOWN.

IT WAS LEVELED.

THINGS WERE LOOKING BLEAK.

BUT LEAVE IT TO THE PANORAMA PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T GIVE UP.

THEY DON'T GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT.

LOOK AT THIS.

THE PANORAMA HAS REEMERGED.

SARA HAS REEMERGED.

SARA, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.

YES.

HERE WE ARE 1122 WEST 24th STREET, AND IT'S THE HOME OF THE VELASLAVASAY PANORAMA AT THE UNION THEATRE.

Huell: OK, NOW--SO THIS USED TO BE AN OLD MOVIE THEATER.

YES, IT WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1910s TO BE A SILENT FILM VENUE.

IT'S GONE THROUGH SOME CURIOUS MANIFESTATIONS AND OWNERS, UM, FOR A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF TIME BETWEEN, I THINK, MID-, LATE-SIXTIES TO MID-1980s.

Huell: UH-HUH.

IT WAS OWNED BY A TILE-LAYERS UNION, SO IT WAS A TILE LAYERS LOCAL 18, AND THEY USED IT FOR THEIR HEADQUARTERS.

THEY KIND OF DIVIDED THE THEATER UP INTO A COUPLE OF OFFICE SPACES AND USED IT FOR THEIR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND WOULD ALSO HOLD UNION MEETINGS.

Huell: WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

HOW DID YOU GET HOLD OF IT?

WELL, IT WAS INTERESTING.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, ABOUT 5 YEARS--5 OR 6 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE FORCED TO FIND A NEW LOCATION, THERE WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL PERSON NAMED JULIE SULIMAN FROM THE C.R.A.

THAT WAS HELPING US LOOK FOR A SPOT, AND SHE SUGGESTED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, PARTLY BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND IT'S ALSO A VERY, UH, PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY AREA.

Huell: WELL, IT WAS CLOSE TO USC, AND ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS.

SO YOU FOUND IT.

YEAH, SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS GREAT, AND THE BUILDING WAS WONDERFUL, AND SO WE MOVED IN AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE 2005.

Huell: AND, BOY, I TELL YOU WHAT REALLY CATCHES YOUR EYE FIRST THING, THE OLD ORANGE BALL THAT YOU BROUGHT FROM THE OLD PANORAMA ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD.

YEAH, THAT CAME RIGHT FROM THE TSWUUN-TSWUUN ROTUNDA.

WE HAD REMOVED IT WITH OUR FRIEND CHRISTOPHER WONDER, A MAGICIAN, AND WE WANTED TO PUT-- Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU HAD A MAGICIAN REMOVE IT?

YEAH, HE--IT WAS PART OF OUR-- Huell: THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE STORY.

YEAH, CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE OLD BUILDING, AND SO WE PUT IT BACK ON THE MARQUEE AND, UM, JUST MADE OURSELVES AT HOME IN THIS SPOT.

Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL OLD BUILDING RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS SO--I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, 'CAUSE I LOVED THE OTHER BUILDING SO MUCH ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, BUT I THINK YOU'VE DONE WELL AT FIRST, THE FIRST GLANCE.

NOW, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S INSIDE, BUT FROM THE OUTSIDE, THINGS LOOK GOOD.

LET'S GO INSIDE.

THE OLD-- WELL, THE NEW PANORAMA.

HA HA!

OK, WE'RE INSIDE THE LOBBY, AND YOU CAN SURE TELL THAT THE TILE-LAYERS UNION WAS HEADQUARTERED HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

LOTS OF TILE HAS BEEN LAID HERE IN THE LOBBY.

WE COME RIGHT OVER HERE TO THE OLD TICKET BOOTH.

I NEED 2 TICKETS, PLEASE.

YOUR NAME IS... MY NAME IS JADE FINLINSON.

Huell: OK, NOW, DO PEOPLE COME IN OFF THE STREET JUST LIKE WE DID TODAY?

YES, THEY DO.

THEY--A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY'LL WALK BY, AND THEY'VE BEEN WALKING BY FOR YEARS AND SEE THE DOOR OPEN, WILL COME RIGHT IN AND WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND, GO BACK AND SEE THE GARDEN.

THEY'RE PRETTY AMAZED JUST TO EVEN BE ABLE TO COME INSIDE, SO... Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE AMAZED TO BE HERE.

CAN I HAVE 2 TICKETS, PLEASE?

THERE YOU GO.

Huell: ONE FOR ME, AND ONE FOR SARA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, YOU'RE WELCOME.

Huell: AND WE GO DOWN THE DARK-- AND THERE'S A REASON WHY IT'S DARK.

LOOK AT THIS.

WE'RE GOING INTO THE BLACK HOLE RIGHT HERE.

WE'RE GOING DOWN THE DARK HALLWAY.

WE'RE COMING UP THE WINDING STAIRS, AND WE'RE COMING UP SLOWLY BECAUSE IT IS PITCH-BLACK DARK HERE EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHT ON THE CAMERA.

NOW WE'RE IN THE PANORAMA.

NOW, WE EXPLAINED IN 2003 IN OUR PROGRAM WHAT THE PANORAMA WAS.

WE HAVEN'T EXPLAINED IT FOR OUR VIEWERS WATCHING THIS PROGRAM.

THIS IS HOW THE THEATER--THIS PLACE GOT ITS NAME.

WHAT IS A PANORAMA?

AND THIS IS VERY INTERESTING HISTORICALLY.

IN THE 19th CENTURY, PEOPLE WOULD VISIT PANORAMAS, WHICH WERE GENERALLY 360 DEGREES PAINTINGS THAT IMMERSED YOU IN A LANDSCAPE TO TAKE YOU TO A DISTANT PLACE THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO VISIT ON YOUR OWN.

Huell: NOW WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

LIKE THE CIRCUS WOULD COME TO TOWN?

I MEAN, THERE WOULD BE A TENT WHERE THE--WITH A 360 PAINTING SET UP INSIDE?

MANY OF THESE WOULD TRAVEL AROUND, LIKE TRAVELING THEATER SHOWS, SO THEY WOULD--YEAH, ROLL INTO TOWN WITH THEIR 360-DEGREES PANORAMA OR THEIR MOVING PANORAMA, AND THEN THE WHOLE TOWN WOULD COME ON IN AND SEE THESE PAINTINGS.

Huell: WOULD THEY JUST SIT AND WATCH IT?

YEAH, JUST SORT OF OBSERVE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND FEEL THE IMMERSION, ESPECIALLY IN 360 DEGREES.

IT FILLS YOUR-- YOUR WHOLE VISION, SO YOU COULD REALLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO TO CAIRO.

Huell: LOT OF PROJECTION.

LOT OF PROJECTION.

OK, WE'RE NOT IN CAIRO.

WE'RE IN... WE'RE IN THE ARCTIC.

THIS IS OUR "EFFULGENCE OF THE NORTH" PANORAMA, WHICH SHOWS ICEBERGS AND THE AURORA BOREALIS.

Huell: WHO DID THIS?

DID YOU DO THIS?

A GROUP OF US WORKED ON IT.

I CREATED THE 2-DIMENSIONAL PAINTING ELEMENTS, AND A SCULPTOR NAMED ASAMI MORITA DID MOST OF THE 3-DIMENSIONAL TERRAIN, AND THEN THERE'S A SUBTLE SOUND AND LIGHT CYCLE WHICH WAS CREATED BY A GERMAN ARTIST NAMED MORITZ FEHR.

Huell: NOW DO PEOPLE JUST COME UP HERE AND WANDER AROUND IN THE DARK AND LOOK AT THIS?

OR DO THEY STAND STILL?

DO THEY--WHAT DO THEY DO?

WHEN PEOPLE FIRST COME INTO THE PANORAMA, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A MOMENT FOR YOUR EYES TO ADJUST TO THE LIGHT.

BUT IF YOU SIT AND JUST KIND OF LET THE EXPERIENCE UNFOLD... Huell: IT COMES TO YOU.

EXACTLY.

SO IT TAKES A MOMENT TO SORT OF SLOW DOWN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FEEL THE AREA AROUND YOU, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT... Huell: LISTEN TO THAT NOISE.

THERE IS A NOISE HERE, ISN'T THERE?

YEAH, IT HELPS FEEL, UH, THE SPACE AND BE VERY TRANSPORTING.

Huell: YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ALONE IN HERE.

YEAH, I GENERALLY THINK IT'S NICER TO BE UP HERE WHEN THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, PRETTY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT GETS YOU A FEELING OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE TO TRAVEL TO THE ARCTIC AND ESCAPE THE, YOU KNOW, PALM TREES AND DESERT LANDSCAPE OF LOS ANGELES.

Huell: WOW.

LISTEN TO THIS.

[WIND BLOWING, GUSTING, OCEAN WAVES BREAKING] OK. WE HAVE LEFT THE PANORAMA, AND NOW, SARA, YOU AND I HAVE COME TO THE--LET ME GUESS.

FROM FIRST GLANCE, THIS LOOKS LIKE THE OLD THEATER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS WAS BUILT TO BE A SILENT-FILM THEATER, SO PEOPLE WOULD HAVE COME TO SEE SILENT FILMS HERE, AND THEN-- Huell: THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THOSE SEATS.

YEAH, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THOSE SEATS, SO... Huell: ALL OF THIS SURVIVED THE YEARS THAT THE TILE-LAYERS UNION WAS HEADQUARTERED HERE?

YES, WHEN THEY WERE HERE, THEY USED THIS AREA FOR THEIR UNION MEETINGS.

Huell: FOR THEIR MEETINGS, SO THEY KEPT THE SEATS.

LOOK AT-- BOY, THAT WALL--IF THAT WALL COULD TALK, THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY UP THERE.

WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN, WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT WAS BEHIND SOME OF THE LAYERS OF PLASTER, SO WE SCRAPED IT OFF, AND THIS IS WHAT WAS THERE, SO... Huell: THESE ARE REMNANTS OF OLD DESIGNS UP ON THE WALLS.

YEAH, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE EVEN FOR BEING A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER, IT HAD SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL STENCIL WORK ON THE WALLS.

Huell: WOW.

WELL, WE'RE IN HERE.

NOW, YOU USE THIS ROOM FOR WHAT NOW?

FOR MEETINGS?

FOR WHAT?

WE'VE HAD SOME PERFORMANCES, SOME ILLUSTRATED LECTURES, AND WE ALSO USE IT TO DISPLAY A MOVING PANORAMA.

Huell: ANOTHER PANORAMA, AND HERE SHE IS RIGHT OVER HERE.

THIS IS--I'VE NEVER SEEN A PANORAMA LIKE THIS BEFORE.

YOUR NAME IS?

GUAT.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND YOU ARE THE LADY WITH THE CRANK, RIGHT?

YEAH.

Huell: NOW, DID YOU PAINT THIS?

I PAINT--PARTLY PAINT IT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, BUT YOU DEFINITELY DO ALL THE CRANKING.

OH, SOMETIMES WE HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE CRANKING FOR-- Huell: COME HERE, SARA, AND TALK ABOUT THIS.

CAN YOU START CRANKING?

I'VE NEVER SEEN A CRANKING PANORAMA BEFORE.

YEAH, SO THIS IS WHAT WAS KNOWN AS A MOVING PANORAMA, AND IN THE 19th CENTURY, RATHER THAN HAVING, UM, A 360 DEGREES PANORAMA, THERE WOULD BE A REALLY LONG PAINTED SCROLL.

OURS IS 270 FEET LONG.

Huell: OH, GOOD HEAVENS.

THIS IS ALMOST LIKE A PIANO ROLL ON AN OLD PIANO MACHINE.

YEAH, EXACTLY, WITH AN IMAGE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

SO THIS STORY ACTUALLY COMES FROM A SCRIPT WHICH WAS LOANED TO US BY A MUSEUM IN MAINE, AND IT WAS WRITTEN IN 1853.

IT TELLS THE STORY OF GOING FROM SOMEWHERE ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES, DOWN AROUND SOUTH AMERICA TO GET TO-- Huell: THAT'S A MEAN FISH.

YEAH, THAT'S THE MONSTER OF THE DEEP, SO IF-- Huell: YOU'RE WEARING YOURSELF OUT.

WAIT A MINUTE.

LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GONNA HAVE TO CRANK 200 FEET.

LOOK AT THIS.

AND WOULD THERE BE SOMEBODY--COME OVER HERE, SARA.

I CAN'T CRANK AND TALK AT THE SAME TIME.

WOULD THERE BE SOMEONE KIND OF NARRATING WHAT PEOPLE WERE SEEING?

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'D BE A NARRATOR DESCRIBING THE JOURNEY, TELLING YOU ABOUT THE TEMPESTUOUS WATERS AND THE PERILS THAT WOULD BE FOUND BY ANYBODY GOING ON THIS JOURNEY AROUND CAPE HORN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY GO ON THIS JOURNEY, AND THE AIM IS TO GET TO CALIFORNIA DURING THE GOLD RUSH ERA.

Huell: YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LONG JOURNEY.

I DON'T THINK I'M EVER GONNA GET TO CALIFORNIA AT THIS RATE.

THIS TAKES--HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CRANK THIS THING OUT?

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH, IT CAN BE DONE IN 15 MINUTES.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE!

15 MINUTES?!

DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF SHAPE YOU'RE IN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU COULD DO IT, HUELL.

Huell: MY GOSH.

BUT I THINK IT'S NICER TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME AND, YOU KNOW, STOP AND... Huell: I DO, TOO.

LET'S SLOW IT DOWN.

YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK?

I THINK I LIKE THE STATIC PANORAMA UPSTAIRS BETTER.

THIS ONE'S A LITTLE-- A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORK.

Huell: BUT WE'RE CRANKING, AND EVERY CRANK SHOWS US ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY.

THIS IS AMAZING, A MOVING PANORAMA.

SO IF YOU STOPPED HERE, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THERE'S ALBATROSS AND PENGUINS, BECAUSE RIGHT HERE WE'RE RIGHT AT CAPE HORN, WHICH WAS BASICALLY THE MOST PERILOUS PART OF THE JOURNEY.

Huell: WHEW.

I'M WORN OUT.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT?

I'M DOING YOUR WORK FOR YOU.

YEAH.

Huell: WE'RE COMING OUT INTO THE SUNLIGHT, AND A WELCOME BIT OF SUNLIGHT IT IS.

IT WAS DARK IN THERE, SARA, BUT, BOY, IT'S BEAU--LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS SPECTACULAR.

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THIS?

WELL, WE HAVE A GARDEN HERE FOR OUR VISITORS TO ENJOY, SO IT'S A NICE CONTRAST FROM THE ARCTIC EXPERIENCE INSIDE.

Huell: AND THE CRANK.

EXACTLY.

Huell: NOW, DID YOU PLANT ALL OF THIS?

WE'VE BEEN RESTORING THE GARDEN SINCE WE CAME HERE IN 2005, SO... Huell: YOU MEAN THIS WAS-- SOME OF THIS WAS HERE ALREADY?

A FEW THINGS WERE HERE ALREADY, AND SO WE'VE JUST BEEN TAKING CARE OF THEM AND ADDING A FEW THINGS ALONG THE WAY.

Huell: WOW.

I HEAR MUSIC.

[CHINESE FOLK MUSIC PLAYING] WHAT'S THE DEAL?

OH, LOOK AT THIS.

THIS WHOLE AREA OVER HERE.

LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

I WANT TO FOLLOW THE MUSIC.

WATCH YOUR STEP, CAMERON.

OH, WOW.

THIS GARDEN JUST GOES ON AND ON.

AND LOOK OVER HERE.

LOOK AT THIS.

Huell: THIS MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS OUT HERE.

IT'S VERY NICE FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY, AND, UM, YEAH, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE SUE CHANG HERE PERFORMING.

Huell: NOW, YOU HAVE THIS LITTLE GAZEBO, WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU ALL SET UP OUT HERE?

IT'S A BIT OF AN HOMAGE TO OUR OLD TSWUUN-TSWUUN ROTUNDA, BECAUSE IT HAS A POINTED ROOF SOMEWHAT LIKE OUR OLD SPOT.

Huell: AH, THE ONE ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD.

EXACTLY.

Huell: AND DO YOU HAVE MUSICIANS COME OUT HERE FROM TIME TO TIME TO PERFORM?

YES, WE HAVE EVENTS IN THE THEATER AND ALSO OUT HERE INVOLVING MUSIC, AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO COLLABORATE FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE KWUN OPERA SOCIETY.

Huell: I GUESS THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

WHAT DOES GO ON--I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO STAND.

LET'S STAND OVER HERE.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT DOES GO ON OVER HERE?

WELL, WE'RE OPEN EVERY WEEKEND FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT THE PANORAMA AND GARDEN, SO PEOPLE CAN JUST COME AND ENJOY OR READ THEIR BOOK OR WHATEVER, HAVE A CONVERSATION.

Huell: WHAT'S THE PRICE OF ADMISSION?

WE JUST GO BY SUGGESTED DONATION, SO REALLY ANYBODY'S WELCOME TO COME.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE $4.00 OR $5.00, THAT'S GREAT, BUT... Huell: AND THEY CAN STAY FOR 5 MINUTES OR 5 HOURS OR ALL DAY LONG AND JUST CONTEMPLATE THE GARDEN, CONTEMPLATE THE PANORAMAS, CRANK THE PANORAMA, DO A LITTLE BIT OF ANYTHING.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

Huell: AND THEN YOU HAVE ORGANIZED PROGRAMS AS WELL.

YES, WE HAVE PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SO WE DO THOSE GENERALLY ON THE WEEKEND, IN THE EVENINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, SEND OUT MAILINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THAT.

Huell: ARE THERE MEMBERS?

DO YOU JOIN UP?

YEAH, WE DO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH HELPS SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM, SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR MEMBERSHIP CARD AND HEAR ABOUT, UM, SPECIAL MEMBERS EVENTS AS WELL.

Huell: DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE?

YES.

WE HAVE--OUR WEBSITE IS PANORAMAONVIEW.ORG.

Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS-- LOOK AT ALL THIS.

WHAT IS ALL THIS RIGHT HERE?

THESE ARE SOME SCHOLAR'S ROCKS THAT, UM, WE HAVE ON LOAN FROM THE STONE KING.

SO, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, ROCKS THAT ELICIT FEELINGS OF LANDSCAPE OR CONTEMPLATION, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TOUCH THEM.

THEY'RE VERY NICE TO TOUCH.

Huell: WOW.

THERE IS SO MUCH-- LOOK AT THIS BACK HERE.

WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE SHELL WALL GOING OVER HERE.

OVER HERE IS OUR ALABASTER ISLE OF PENGLAI, SO IT'S AN ISLAND FEATURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, DRAWS SOME REFERENCE TO A MYTHOLOGY THAT IS KNOWN FROM JAPAN AND CHINA, WHERE THERE WAS AN IMMORTAL ISLAND WHERE EVERYTHING WAS WHITE.

Huell: WOW.

AND HERE--OH, LOOK.

HERE'S OUR CRANK LADY OVER HERE SITTING NEXT TO--YOUR NAME IS?

CHRISTINA.

Huell: NOW, ARE YOU ALL JUST SITTING HERE... YEAH, JUST, UM, ENJOYING THE ATMOSPHERE, YOU KNOW.

[LAUGHS] Huell: WOW.

THIS IS--YOU KNOW, YOU COULD LOSE YOURSELF HERE.

YOU COULD LOSE TRACK OF TIME.

OH, YES, VERY EASILY.

[LAUGHS] Huell: OK, SO YOU'RE COMING OVER HERE TO INTERN, SHE'S COMING OVER HERE TO CRANK, AND EVERYBODY ELSE JUST COMES OVER HERE TO ENJOY.

LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS OVER HERE, THE TREES.

EVERYTHING IS JUST--THE GATE BACK HERE WITH THE ASIAN THEME TO IT.

IT IS JUST ALL SO WONDERFUL.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL OUT-OF-THE-WAY, KIND OF OBSCURE WONDERFUL PLACES THAT PLAYS BACK ON THE HISTORY OF THE PANORAMA FROM HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO TO WHAT L.A. IS ALL ABOUT TODAY.

YOU'VE GOT IT ALL RIGHT HERE.

YES, WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE VISITORS, SO PLEASE COME OVER AGAIN.

Huell: WELL, I HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE THEY TORE DOWN THE OLD PLACE ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, BUT I THINK THIS TOPS IT.

I THINK IN MANY WAYS ONE DOOR CLOSED, AND THIS OTHER ONE OPENED FOR YOU.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE.

WE FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE RELOCATED HERE AT THE UNION THEATRE.

Huell: WOW.

WELL, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERYBODY COME OVER HERE.

YOU'RE OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS.

COME IN HERE.

ENJOY THE PAINTINGS.

ENJOY THE PANORAMAS.

ENJOY THE THEATER.

ENJOY THE SPECIAL EVENTS.

JUST SIT AND ENJOY THE TRANQUILITY OF THE GARDENS.

AND WE'RE GONNA CLOSE RIGHT NOW BY ENJOYING THE TRANQUILITY AND THE WONDER OF THIS MUSIC OUT HERE IN THE GAZEBO, WHICH SETS THE MOOD FOR WHAT THE PANORAMA IS ALL ABOUT.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AT THE PANORAMA.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] [FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HUSTLING, BUSTLING, BUSY L.A. THAT'S TRUE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, RIGHT OUTSIDE, YOU GOT CAR ALARMS AND SIRENS, BUT IN HERE, IT'S A BIT OF A SANCTUARY.

Huell: IT'S PEACE.

YES.

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.