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

HUELL HOWSER WE HAVE COME OVER HERE TO THE SOUTHWEST SECTION OF OUR CITY, TO SOUTH CENTRAL L.A., WE'RE RIGHT ON BRIGHTON AVENUE WHICH RUNS OFF OF VERNON.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I GOT A LETTER FROM THIS LADY RIGHT HERE, AND YOUR NAME AGAIN IS?

ESTHER DI BARRE.

HUELL ESTHER DI BARRE, WHICH IS--WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND ON THAT?

ESTHER IT'S A FRENCH NAME, MY HUSBAND WAS FRENCH.

I HAVEN'T GOT ANY FRENCH BLOOD.

MY HUSBAND WAS FRENCH.

HUELL ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU WROTE ME THIS LETTER, AND WHAT DID YOU TELL ME IN THE LETTER?

ESTHER WELL, I TOLD YOU FOR ONE THING, THAT I HAD LIVED IN SOUTH CENTRAL L.A. FOR 56 YEARS IN THE SAME HOUSE.

HUELL SO, THIS IS THE HOUSE.

ESTHER THIS IS THE HOUSE.

HUELL THAT YOU HAVE LIVED IN FOR-- ESTHER I MOVED HERE IN 1940, AND WE LOOKED ALL OVER L.A. AND L.A. COUNTY FOR A HOUSE AND WHEN WE WALKED IN THIS DOOR WE KNEW IT WAS OUR HOUSE AND WE WERE GOING TO LIVE IN IT FOREVER.

EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MOVED A LONG TIME AGO, EXCEPT US, AND I EXPECT TO STAY HERE UNTIL THE DAY THEY CARRY ME TO FOREST LAWN.

HUELL WELL, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY TIME SOON, I HOPE.

ESTHER WELL, I DON'T KNOW, I'M 88.

HUELL WELL, THE HOUSE IS HOLDING UP GREAT.

ESTHER THE HOUSE IS HOLDING UP, AND I HOPE I WILL HOLD UP AS WELL.

HUELL IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, LITTLE HOUSE.

ESTHER IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, I LOVE IT.

I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST HOUSE ON BRIGHTON AVENUE.

WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE THERE WERE THREE LADIES LIVING ON NORMANDIE AVENUE WHOSE HOUSES WERE BUILT AT THE SAME TIME.

I CALLED THEM ELDERLY LADIES, BUT THEY WERE YOUNGER THAN I AM RIGHT NOW.

THEY TOLD US SO MUCH OF THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA.

WHEN THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING SOUTH OF VERNON AVENUE EXCEPT BEAN FIELDS CLEAR OUT, ALMOST TO THE BEACH.

HUELL NOW, ALL OF YOUR ORIGINAL FRIENDS LEFT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ESTHER ABOUT 1960, EVERYBODY LEFT EXCEPT MY HUSBAND, AND ME, AND MY KIDS.

HUELL AND YOU STAYED.

ESTHER I STAYED, BECAUSE I HAVE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, AND SO I WANTED TO MEET THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO MOVE IN HERE.

I HAVE HAD AN ADVENTURE THAT WOULD FILL UP TEN BOOKS.

HUELL AND YOU LOVE IT HERE.

ESTHER I LOVE IT.

HUELL NICE NEIGHBORS?

ESTHER NICE NEIGHBORS, EXCEPT SOME OF MY FRIENDS IN THE OTHER PART OF THE CITY DON'T LIKE IT, AND SOME PEOPLE WON'T COME TO VISIT ME.

BUT THEY CAN STAY HOME.

I'LL EAT MY OWN STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, OR WHATEVER I MAKE.

HUELL YOU MEAN THEY'RE AFRAID TO COME HERE.

ESTHER WELL, SOME PEOPLE ARE, AND I THINK-- HUELL I THINK THE WORD, SOUTH CENTRAL SCARES THEM.

ESTHER YEAH, JUST BECAUSE THE MEDIA GIVES US A BAD RAP OVER HERE, BUT IT ISN'T TT BAD, YOU KNOW.

IT ISN'T THAT BAD.

HUELL WELL, THE HOUSE IS GOOD.

YOU'RE HOLDING UP GOOD, AND WE'RE REALLY HERE, NOT ONLY TO SEE YOUR HOUSE, BUT TO SEE SOMETHING BEHIND YOUR HOUSE.

ESTHER RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

COME TAKE A LOOK.

HUELL WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT AWAY RIGHT NOW, ARE WE?

ESTHER OKAY, NOT RIGHT.

HUELL NOW, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT BACK IN THE BACK BESIDES THE TREE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW US?

ESTHER OH, I HAVE FLOWERS FOR ONE THING.

HUELL UH HUH.

ESTHER THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE THIS HOUSE, IS BECAUSE OF THE FLOWERS.

THE LADY WHO HAD LIVED HERE BEFORE WAS A GARDENER AND SHE PLANTED BEAUTIFUL TREES AND FLOWERS AND EVERYTHING.

SO, I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT BECAUSE OF THAT.

HUELL LOOK AT THIS BACKYARD.

THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL BACK HERE, AND I'VE SEEN PICTURES IN YOUR HOUSE OF WHAT'S BLOOMING RIGHT HERE IN THE SPRINGTIME.

ESTHER IT'S GORGEOUS.

YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK IN MARCH AND SEE THE AZALEAS.

NOW, I PUT THESE IN TINY LITTLE CANS, YOU KNOW, THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS THEY'VE BEEN BLOOMING, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BLOOM RIGHT NOW.

HUELL WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

THESE ARE THE AZALEAS THAT WE'VE SEEN THE PICTURE OF.

I SEE A LITTLE HUMMING BIRD RIGHT OVER HERE.

ESTHER OH, YEAH.

ISN'T THAT CUTE.

THAT IS A PLANT FROM HAWAII, INCIDENTALLY, THAT'S A HAWAIIAN GINGER PLANT, AND IT SMELLS MARVELOUS.

HUELL OH, WOW.

ESTHER YEAH, IF YOU JUST SMELL IT.

HUELL LOOK AT THAT LITTLE HUMMING BIRD.

ESTHER ISN'T THAT CUTE, WELL, NOW THAT CAME JUST BECAUSE OF YOU.

I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

HUELL YOU'RE KIDDING?

ESTHER I AM NOT KIDDING YOU, I THINK HE CAME JUST TO SEE YOU.

HUELL HE JUST FLEW AWAY.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SEE THOUGH, LOUIE, LOOK UP HERE AT THIS TREE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TREE.

ESTHER OKAY, THAT TREE IS SORT OF LIKE A FAMILY TO ME.

NOW, WHEN WE MOVED INTO THIS PLACE IN 1940, THE TREE WAS FULL-BLOWN GROWN.

BUT NOT LIKE IT IS NOW.

IT HAS GROWN A LOT.

IN FACT, I THINK IT'S SORT OF LIKE JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, IT JUST KEEPS ON GROWING.

AND, THE PROBLEM IS, WE CAN'T REACH ALL THE FRUIT.

HUELL UH HUH.

ESTHER NOW, RIGHT NOW I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A THOUSAND OF THESE ON THE TREE.

HUELL PERSIMMONS?

ESTHER PERSIMMONS.

NOW, USUALLY WE HAVE A THOUSAND, I HAVEN'T COUNTED THEM YET THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A THOUSAND.

ONE YEAR WE HAD TWO THOUSAND ON HERE.

HUELL TWO THOUSAND?

ESTHER TWO THOUSAND, UH HUH, BECAUSE I COUNTED THEM.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THEM.

I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD AN EXTRA REFRIGERATOR AND I PUT THE PERSIMMONS IN HER REFRIGERATOR AND THEY LASTED ME UNTIL FEBRUARY.

HUELL REALLY?

ESTHER REALLY, UH HUH.

I GIVE THESE ALL AWAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SELL THEM.

ONE REASON I DON'T SELL THEM IS BECAUSE I WOULD ONLY GET 25 CENTS APIECE FOR THEM, AND IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

I LIKE TO GIVE THEM TO MY FRIENDS.

HUELL NOW, THIS IS YOUR SON AND YOUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

YOU ALL COME ON UP HERE.

LET'S GO OUT HERE, BECAUSE ISN'T THIS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR WORK HERE?

ESTHER WHEREVER YOU WANT, BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU THINK LITTLE BUNCH.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM GROW THIS LOW.

I THINK AN ANGEL MUST BE WATCHING OUT FOR ME, BECAUSE THIS YEAR I CAN REACH THEM.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO REACH THEM BEFORE, I ALWAYS HAD TO CLIMB THE LADDER.

NOW I'M TOO OLD TO CLIMB THE LADDER, SO THE PERSIMMONS GROW DOWN TO ME, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

HUELL YOU KNOW, THE LIMB MAY BE JUST SO HEAVY WITH THEM-- ESTHER I HAVE LOST LIMBS.

I LOST A LIMB RIGHT THERE.

NOW, LAST FRIDAY WE HAD A BIG WIND AND I THOUGHT FOR SURE THIS TOP ONE WAS COMING TO COME TUMBLING DOWN.

HUELL BOY, YOU HAVE GOT A TREE FULL OF PERSIMMONS.

NOW, ARE THEY GOING TO FALL AND HIT US ON THE HEAD?

ESTHER OH, I WOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO BET.

NOW, THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT UP, THERE WERE TWO THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY SQUASHED ON THE GROUND.

HUELL THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING YOU.

ESTHER I WAS TEMPTED TO LEAVE IT THERE AND LET YOU LOOK AT IT.

BUT I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT GET YOUR SHOES ALL MESSY, SO I PICKED THEM UP, YOU KNOW.

HUELL ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO IN HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS IMPLEMENT THAT YOU'VE GOT IN HERE FOR US.

ESTHER WHAT DO YOU MEAN IMPLEMENT?

HUELL COME ON.

WELL, YOU SHOWED ME EARLIER THAT YOU HAD SOMETHING THAT YOU PICK THEM WITH.

ESTHER OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, WELL, MY SON USUALLY DOES THAT, YEAH.

HUELL NOW, WHERE IS THAT?

ESTHER YOU WANT TO BRING IT?

HE IS THE PICKER, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN WE MOVED IN THIS HOUSE.

AND THE TREE WAS NOT SO BIG AND HE WOULD TAKE THESE PERSIMMONS OVER TO NORMANDIE AVENUE SCHOOL AND GIVE THEM TO HIS TEACHERS.

INSTEAD OF GIVING THE TEACHER AN APPLE, HE'D GIVE THEM A PERSIMMON.

HUELL SO, YOU ARE AN EXPERT AT PICKING PERSIMMONS?

WELL, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I COULD PASS GRAMMAR SCHOOL WAS TO TAKE PERSIMMONS TO MY TEACHERS.

HUELL AND, YOU STARTED WHEN YOU WERE FOUR?

YEAH, YEAH.

HUELL SO, THIS IS KIND OF A RITUAL FOR YOU TO KIND OF HARVEST THE PERSIMMONS.

YEAH, IT IS.

OF COURSE MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND SISTERS AND BROTHERS AND-- THEY ALL HAVE HELPED OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

I'M THE ONE WHO DOES THE MOST, THOUGH, I THINK.

HUELL SO, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SHORTAGE OF PERSIMMONS IN THIS FAMILY.

ESTHER NO, WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE ME GIFTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M AN OLD LADY.

I DON'T NEED NOTHING, ANYMORE.

I'VE BEEN KEEPING HOUSE FOR 62 YEARS.

SO, IF PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE ME A GIFT, THEY DO SOMETHING FOR ME.

NOW, WHAT HE GIVES ME FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT IS TO PICK THE PERSIMMONS.

WHENEVER HE SAYS, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, I SAY, IF YOU WILL PICK THE PERSIMMONS OFF THE TREE, THAT WILL BE MY GIFT.

HUELL NOW COME ON OVER HERE AND GET TO WORK ON HER CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

NOW, AS THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THIS?

I JUST EAT THEM.

ESTHER SHE LIKES THEM FROZEN.

SHE FREEZES HERS.

SHE PUTS THEM IN THE FREEZER, HUELL, AND THEY COME OUT LIKE THIS DELECTABLE SORBET.

HUELL OH, REALLY?

THEY'RE MARVELOUS.

HUELL YOU FREEZE THE PERSIMMONS?

ESTHER I FREEZE THEM.

I DO EVERYTHING TO THEM.

WELL, TO MAKE THE CAKES, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CAKES PRETTY SOON.

MAYBE I'LL SHOW YOU THEN HOW I SQUEEZE THE THINGS TO GET THE PULP OUT.

NOW, THE RITZY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE LIQUIDIZERS.

BUT I'M OLD FASHIONED.

THAT'S ONE THING I HAVE TO TELL YOU.

I HAVE TO SQUEEZE MINE THE OLD FASHIONED WAY.

IN FACT, LOOK AT THESE THINGS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THESE THINGS ARE?

THESE THINGS THERE.

HUELL WHAT?

ESTHER THEY'RE CLOTHESLINES.

I HANG UP MY CLOTHES ON THE CLOTHESLINE.

HUELL WELL, YOU ARE OLD FASHIONED.

ESTHER I AM TREMENDOUSLY OLD FASHIONED, AND I LOVE IT.

I SEE ON TV THEY HAVE ALL THESE THINGS YOU PUT IN YOUR WATER, AND THEY SAY, IT SMELLS JUST LIKE THEY WERE DRIED IN THE SUNSHINE.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF BALONEY, I DRY MINE IN THE SUN TO BEGIN WITH.

HUELL ALL RIGHT, COME ON, YOU KEEP WAITING I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WAITING ON.

SHOW US HOW THIS WORKS.

WELL, WE HAVE ADVANCED IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF TECHNOLOGY DOING THIS.

WE USE TO PICK THEM AND THEN SOMEBODY HAD TO CATCH THEM DOWN ON THE GROUND.

BUT NOW, WE HAVE THIS LITTLE PICKER AND WE JUST GO UP THERE AND SORT OF HOOK IT LIKE THAT.

HUELL OH, MA'AM?

ESTHER THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER CAME OVER ONE YEAR AND SHOWED US THIS THING, THIS PICKER THING.

BEFORE THAT WE HAD TO CLIMB A LADDER AND GET THEM.

HUELL OH, I SEE, SO, YOU PICK THEM, YOU JUST GET THEM OFF THE-- MA'AM?

ESTHER IF THEY FALL ON THE GROUND AND GET A TRACK IN THEM, THEY WILL NEVER GET RIPE, THEY'RE GONE.

HUELL REALLY?

ESTHER REALLY.

HUELL NOW, ARE THESE RIPE?

ESTHER NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

IF YOU TASTED ONE OF THESE YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR MOUTH PUCKERED UP FOR A WEEK.

YOU BETTER TAKE THOSE DOWN BEFORE THEY FALL DOWN.

I'M ALWAYS BOSSING HIM ON THE PERSIMMONS, BECAUSE I'M THE BOSS OF THE PERSIMMONS, YOU KNOW.

YOU SEE NOW THIS THING SHOULDN'T BE THERE.

HUELL OH, LOOK, LOOK IT'S GOT A LITTLE CUT IN IT.

ESTHER THAT'S WHY I DON'T LIKE TO SELL THESE, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO SELL ANYTHING THAT ISN'T PERFECT, YOU KNOW.

HUELL NOW, THESE ARE HARD.

ESTHER I KNOW.

BUT I'LL SHOW YOU SOME SOFT ONES IN A FEW MINUTES.

THEY HAVE TO BE REAL SOFT AND PRACTICALLY TRANSPARENT IN COLOR BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO EAT.

HUELL BECAUSE, THESE LOOK RIPE TO SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T KNOW.

ESTHER OKAY, SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME DOWN FROM DOWN THE STREET AND THEY SAY, WILL YOU GIVE ME A PERSIMMON?

AND I SAY, THEY'RE NOT RIPE.

THEY SAY, THEY HAVE TO BE RIPE, THEY'RE ORANGE.

THEY JUST ARGUE WITH ME.

BUT I KNOW I SHOULD PROBABLY BE TEMPTED TO JUST GIVE THEM A TASTE.

BUT I SAY, WAIT UNTIL THEY GET RIPE AND THEN I'LL GIVE YOU SOME.

THESE ARE EXPENSIVE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THESE THINGS COST AT THE FARMERS MARKET OVER IN HOLLYWOOD?

HUELL NO.

ESTHER THREE DOLLARS APIECE.

HUELL NO?

ESTHER THEY HARDLY EVER--NOW IF YOU GO INTO THE STORE, I BET YOU'LL NEVER SEE ONE LIKE THIS, EVER.

THAT'S WHY THIS TREE IS SO UNUSUAL.

HUELL WELL, THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD.

LOOK OVER HERE, LOUIE, WE'VE GOT THE ROSES OVER HERE AND--WHAT ARE THESE CALLED RIGHT HERE?

ESTHER OH, THOSE ARE BOUGAINVILLEAS.

HUELL BOUGAINVILLEAS.

ESTHER I HAVE THOSE ALL OVER THE YARD BECAUSE I WANT MY YARD TO LOOK LIKE HAWAII, YOU SEE.

HUELL LET'S WALK BACK IN THE BACKYARD, COME ON OVER HERE.

ESTHER I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS THING.

HUELL LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS BACKYARD.

THIS IS JUST LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE, RIGHT HERE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

ESTHER THAT'S WHY WHEN WE CAME--WE HAD LOOKED AT HOUSES ALL OVER L.A.

IN 1940, THAT WAS THE END OF THE DEPRESSION, SORT OF.

AND HOUSES WERE CHEAP THEN.

WE DIDN'T THINK SO, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T MAKING MUCH MONEY, BUT ANYWAY, WHEN WE WALKED IN THE FRONT DOOR, EVERYTHING WAS JUST GORGEOUS.

NEW HARDWOOD FLOORS.

NEW PAINT JOB, NEW EVERYTHING.

WE FELL IN LOVE.

THEN WHEN WE WALKED OUT THE BACK DOOR AND SAW THE PATIO, I JUST LOVED THE PLACE.

THEY HAD LOTS OF TREES HERE.

I REMEMBER THE AD IN THE L.A. TIMES FOR THIS HOUSE, IT SAID, FRUIT TREES GALORE.

AND THAT WAS REALLY THE TRUTH.

NOW, WE HAD TO CUT ALMOST ALL OF THE THEM DOWN BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET IN THE YARD.

WE HAD FIG TREES AND GUAVA TREES AND ORANGE TREES AND EVERYTHING.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAD LIVED HERE, REALLY, REALLY, LOVED THIS PLACE AND PLANTED ALL THESE TREES.

NOW, I THINK THAT TREE IS PRETTY NEARLY AS OLD AS I AM.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY I ENJOY SO MUCH.

I HAVE AN IDEA THAT, THAT TREE IS 80 YEARS OLD.

HUELL YOU THINK SO?

ESTHER I THINK SO.

HUELL NOW, HOW MUCH LONGER CAN IT LAST?

ESTHER I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HOPE IT WILL LAST LONGER THAN I DO.

BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS THING DIE.

HUELL YEAH.

WELL, I'M SURE IT'S BEAUTIFUL BACK HERE IN THE SPRINGTIME, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE ANY PRETTIER THAN THIS RIGHT NOW.

ESTHER OKAY, WELL, IT'S PRETTIER WHEN THESE THINGS ARE BLOOMING.

THE PROBLEM WITH OUR YARD IS THAT NOT THE WHOLE YARD BLOOMS AT ONE TIME.

IT TAKES TURNS.

NOW, YOU SEE I HAVE BOUGAINVILLEAS OVER THERE.

I HAVE ABOUT TEN COLORS OF BOUGAINVILLEAS IN MY YARD, BUT THEY DON'T BLOOM AT ONE TIME.

BECAUSE ONE TIME I WENT TO HAWAII AND SAW ALL OF THIS BOUGAINVILLEAS AND THEN I CAME HOME AND PLANTED ALL THOSE COLORS IN MY OWN GARDEN.

SO, WHEN I'M BACK HERE, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, CRITICIZE ME FOR LIVING IN CENTRAL L.A., BUT THIS IS THE PLACE I WOULD ENJOY MORE THAN ANY PLACE ELSE.

THEY CAN HAVE THEIR BEVERLY HILLS AND THEIR MALIBU AND ALL THAT STUFF.

I WILL TAKE MY LITTLE HOUSE IN SOUTH CENTRAL.

BECAUSE WHEN I'M BACK HERE, I FEEL LIKE I'M OUT IN THE WOODS SOME PLACE.

NOW, WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS LIVING AND MY CHILDREN WERE GROWING UP, YOU CAN ASK MY SON, RIGHT THERE.

HE REMEMBERS THAT EVERY SUMMER WE ATE OUR MEALS AT DINNER EVERY NIGHT OUT HERE ON THE PATIO.

WITH THE GARDEN AND THE BIRDS SINGING YOU WOULD NEVER THINK WE WERE RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF L.A., YOU KNOW, I LOVE IT HERE.

HUELL YEAH, WELL, YOU HAVE CREATED YOUR OWN LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE RIGHT HERE IN THE YOUR BACKYARD.

ESTHER RIGHT, RIGHT, I HAVE.

HUELL AND YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A CORNER ON THE PERSIMMON MARKET.

ESTHER I DO, I DO.

HUELL IS THIS UNUSUAL WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW PERSIMMONS.

ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY THAT THIS IS UNUSUAL TO SEE A TREE THIS HEAVY WITH THEM?

ESTHER I THINK THEY WILL, BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANY TREE LIKE THIS BEFORE.

THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THIS BIG OF PERSIMMONS.

NOW, AT TIMES, I HAVE WEIGHED THESE.

SOME OF THESE HAVE WEIGHED ALMOST TWO POUNDS, AND I THOUGHT, WOW, I BETTER PUT THIS IN THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER WITH IT, YOU KNOW?

HUELL WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE OUGHT TO PICK A COUPLE MORE OF THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK THE LIMB.

ESTHER ALL RIGHT, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME TO A FRIEND, OR SOMETHING?

HUELL WELL, SURE, IS THERE A WAY TO GET THEM OFF?

ESTHER WELL, THIS IS THE WAY YOU DO IT.

TAKE THE WHOLE THING.

HUELL WHAT DO YOU MEAN TAKE THE WHOLE THING?

ESTHER WELL, TAKE THE WHOLE STEM.

HUELL YOU MEAN THE WHOLE LIMB?

ESTHER WELL, OF COURSE, TAKE A LIMB.

HUELL OH, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

ESTHER WHY NOT?

HUELL YOU JUST TWIST THESE AND-- ESTHER WELL, YOU CAN TWIST THEM IF YOU WANT TO, BUT YOU SEE EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET A WHOLE LIMB, YOU KNOW?

HAVE YOU GOT THE SNIPPERS THERE, HANDY?

HUELL CAN YOU JUST TURN-- ESTHER YOU CAN TAKE THEM OFF IF YOU WANT TO.

HUELL LOOK AT ALL OF THESE.

BOY, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT.

ESTHER I TOOK SOME TO MY CHURCH THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, I TAKE CARE OF THE FLOWERS AND THE DECORATIONS.

SO, I TOOK SOME OF THESE AND HUNG A GREAT BIG LIMB UP RIGHT OUTSIDE MY CHURCH THE OTHER DAY.

HUELL WITH THE PERSIMMONS ON THEM?

ESTHER YEAH, OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

HUELL WELL, HERE COMES YOUR SON, I KNOW HE'S THE EXPERT.

NOW, SHE SAYS IF THEY'RE HOOKED TO THE BRANCH THEY GET RIPE BETTER, SO... ESTHER YEAH, YOU SEE, THESE ARE NOT QUITE RIPE.

THEY'RE ALMOST, THEY'RE THE COLOR OF BEING RIPE.

HUELL BOY, LOOK AT THIS.

ESTHER LOOK, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THESE LIMBS UP HERE, LOOK AT THIS ONE.

IT HAS ABOUT A DOZEN ON ONE LITTLE LIMB.

HUELL LOOK AT THIS.

ESTHER I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN ANY, EVEN WITH THIS TREE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MANY AT ONE TIME.

HUELL WELL, IT'S A GOOD YEAR FOR THEM OBVIOUSLY.

LOOK, THEY'RE ALL THROUGH HERE.

THERE MUST BE 50 PERSIMMONS-- ESTHER OKAY, TAKE ANOTHER BUNCH.

HUELL --RIGHT HERE.

ESTHER I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING ABOUT THIS TREE THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT BELIEVE, IN ALL OF THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE, I HAVE NEVER FERTILIZED THIS TREE.

HUELL REALLY?

ESTHER SOME PEOPLE THINK, OH, NOTHING IS GOING GROW.

NOW, I HEARD MY PREACHER TALKING ABOUT FERTILIZING, YOU HAVE TO FERTILIZE, AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT SAY, LOOK AT MY PERSIMMONS, THEY WEIGH A POUND APIECE AND I HAVE NEVER FERTILIZED THEM IN MY LIFE.

HUELL WELL, YOU'VE GOT A GREEN THUMB.

ESTHER OH, PIFFLES, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A GREEN THUMB.

THAT'S WHY I TELL MY FRIENDS AT THE CHURCH, IT'S HARD WORK.

GREEN THUMB IS HARD WORK AND KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

HUELL WELL, I KNOW THAT YOU WORK A LOT IN YOUR GARDEN, BUT I THINK THESE PERSIMMONS JUST KIND OF APPEAR, DON'T THEY?

ESTHER THEY DO.

THEY'RE JUST SORT OF LIKE MAGIC, REALLY.

HUELL YEAH.

ESTHER JUST LIKE MAGIC.

UH HUH.

HUELL ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GO INSIDE, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT--AND I'M TAKING THESE WITH ME, IF THAT'S OKAY.

ESTHER WELL, I WANT YOU TO TAKE SOME MORE WITH YOU.

HUELL WELL, WE'LL COME BACK AND GET THEM.

ESTHER ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN GIVE THEM SO SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS.

MAYBE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS WILL WANT PERSIMMONS.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY HATE PERSIMMONS.

IF THEY SAY THEY HATE THEM IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE TASTED A GREEN ONE, ONE TIME AND IT HAD PUCKERED UP THEIR MOUTH.

SO, THEY THINK-- HUELL IT REALLY PUCKERS UP YOUR MOUTH?

ESTHER OH, IT IS HORRIBLE, JUST HORRIBLE.

HUELL YOU THINK WE OUGHT TO PUCKER ONE UP NOW, JUST TO SEE?

ESTHER WELL, I'LL LET YOU DO IT, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.

HUELL COME ON, LET'S WALK ON IN.

BUT LET'S GET ONE MORE SHOT OVER HERE, LOUIE, OF YOU STANDING HERE WITH THIS BOUGAINVILLEAS, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

ESTHER YOU MEAN, THE PURPLE ONE?

HUELL YEAH, RIGHT HERE.

ESTHER OKAY.

HUELL THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

YOU'VE GOT THE ROSES OVER HERE AND TWO DIFFERENT COLORS OF BOUGAINVILLEAS OVER HERE.

ESTHER UH HUH.

HUELL AND YOUR LITTLE GARAGE, THAT'S PROBABLY BEEN HERE FOR 56 YEARS, TOO.

ESTHER WELL, IT'S BEEN HERE LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN HERE.

HUELL YEAH.

AND YOUR HUSBAND PASSED AWAY-- ESTHER HE PASSED AWAY ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO.

BUT WHEN HE WAS HERE, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ALL OF THE ENTERTAINMENT WE HAVE DONE OUT HERE IN THIS GARDEN.

MY HUSBAND HAD LIGHTS IN ALL OF THESE TREES, I MEAN, COLORED LIGHTS.

WE HAD A FOUNTAIN OUT HERE, A FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE, EVERYTHING.

AND WE HAVE HAD, MAYBE A HUNDRED PEOPLE OVER HERE FOR LUAUS, HAWAIIAN LUAUS WITH ALL THE MOO MOOS AND EVERYTHING.

WE'VE HAD A MARVELOUS TIME IN THIS HOUSE.

YOU CAN SEE WHY I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE AND GO OUT TO SOME DINKY LITTLE APARTMENT SOMEPLACE.

HUELL NOW, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, DID YOUR FAMILY TRY TO GET YOU TO LEAVE AND MOVE AWAY?

ESTHER NO, EVERYBODY HAD BETTER SENSE THAN THAT.

HUELL YEAH.

ESTHER THEY WOULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH ASKING SUCH A THING.

BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER WANT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE.

HUELL YEAH, SO WE CAN PRETTY WELL COUNT ON YOU BEING HERE.

ESTHER WELL, UNTIL I, YOU KNOW, I MAY HAVE TO DIE SOMETIME, BUT I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE.

THAT'S ONE REASON I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS HOUSE.

HUELL YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AT THIS GARDEN IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

ESTHER UH HUH, IT REALLY IS.

HUELL ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO INSIDE BECAUSE SHE'S GOT MORE PERSIMMONS IN HERE.

COME ON, YOUR WIFE IS INSIDE?

YEAH.

HUELL THE PERSIMMON ADVENTURE CONTINUES INSIDE.

NOW, WE ARE INSIDE YOUR SERVICE PORCH, AND LOOK AT ALL OF THESE PERSIMMONS.

ESTHER RIGHT, JUST LOOK AT THEM AREN'T THEY PRETTY?

HUELL NOW, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM IN HERE?

ESTHER OKAY, I LEAVE THEM HERE UNTIL THEY GET RIPE, YOU SEE, THE SUN SHINES IN THE MORNING HERE.

ALMOST EVERY MORNING, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I GET UP, I TOUCH EVERY PERSIMMON TO SEE IF THEY'RE SOFT YET.

HUELL OH, UH HUH.

ESTHER WHEN THEY GET SOFT, I PUT THEM IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

THEN WHEN I GET TOO MANY IN THE REFRIGERATOR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, I SOMETIMES PUT THEM MY FREEZER.

SO, I HAVE PERSIMMONS ALL YEAR.

HUELL SO, YOU'VE GOT THEM EVERYWHERE AROUND HERE.

ESTHER I'VE GOT THEM EVERYWHERE.

AND OF COURSE, I GIVE THEM AWAY.

I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS.

I HAVE ABOUT 50 FRIENDS THAT ARE EXPECTING TO GET PERSIMMONS EVERY YEAR.

HUELL SO, WHAT DO YOU DO, JUST BOX THEM UP?

ESTHER I PUT THEM IN A BOX.

YOU SEE, I GET THESE FLAT BOXES AT THE STORE.

HUELL UH HUH.

ESTHER AND THEY USUALLY HOLD ABOUT A DOZEN PERSIMMONS.

HUELL I GOT YOU.

SO, YOU'VE STILL GOT TO RIPEN SOME MORE UP.

ESTHER OH, YES, I USUALLY-- HUELL OH, NOW WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS ONE IS REALLY SOFT.

ESTHER WELL, THIS ONE IS NOT VERY GOOD BECAUSE, YOU SEE, IT HAS A BAD SPOT ON IT.

IT MAY NOT RIPEN PROPERLY.

ONE OF THE BAD THINGS, SOME OF THEM DON'T RIPEN EVENLY.

HUELL WELL, YOU HAD IT IN THE BOX TO GIVE TO SOMEBODY.

ESTHER WELL, I WASN'T GOING GIVE IT TO THEM.

I TELL YOU, IF THEY'RE NO GOOD, THEN I EAT THEM MYSELF.

HUELL WHAT DO YOU DO, JUST PILE THEM UP.

ESTHER I PILE THESE UP, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, YOU HAVE TO WATCH, IF YOU PILE THEM UP ON SOME THAT ARE SOFT THEN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

NOW, LOOK AT THIS ONE, I BET THAT WEIGHS MORE THAN A POUND, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A POUND AND A HALF.

HUELL YEAH.

ESTHER YOU SEE, ACCORDING TO THAT IF I BOUGHT THAT AT FARMERS MARKET, I 'D PAY FIVE BUCKS FOR THAT.

HUELL AND WE'RE PREPARING SOMETHING OVER HERE.

LOOK AT THIS, LOUIE.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT OVER HERE?

ESTHER WELL, THESE ARE GOODIES THAT YOU MAKE OUT OF PERSIMMONS.

HUELL PERSIMMON COOKIES?

ESTHER YES, YES.

IN ORDER TO MAKE THE COOKIES, YOU HAVE TO LET YOUR PERSIMMONS GET REAL, REAL, SOFT, AND THEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RITZY AND RICH THEY HAVE THE LIQUIDIZERS AND THEY LIQUIDIZE THEM.

SO, I'LL SHOW YOU A LITTLE THING.

OPEN UP THE REFRIGERATOR.

IN THE FREEZER?

ESTHER YEAH, THE FREEZER.

HUELL OH, LOOK.

YOU'VE GOT THEM IN THE-- ESTHER I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY IN THERE YET.

BUT I'LL HAVE TO SHOW YOU WHAT I DO WITH THEM.

IF I WANT TO MAKE THINGS OUT OF THEM, I STRAIN THESE THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, I STRAIN THEM WHEN THEY GET REAL SOFT.

AND THEN THERE ARE ONE AND A HALF CUPS IN THIS.

NOW, THAT'S JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE A CAKE.

HUELL NOW, LET'S TAKE IT OFF THE TOP SO WE CAN SEE IT.

ESTHER OH, OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET IT OFF.

HUELL WELL, IT'S HARD TO GET IT OFF.

ESTHER THERE ISN'T MUCH TO SEE.

HUELL WELL, SURE THERE'S SOMETHING TO SEE.

ESTHER OKAY.

HUELL FROZEN PERSIMMONS.

ESTHER THAT'S FROZEN PERSIMMON PULP.

AND WHEN I TAKE A NOTION TO MAKE A CAKE, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, ANY MONTH, I JUST TAKE THIS AND TAKE IT OUT AND DEFROST IT AND THEN I MAKE MY PERSIMMON CAKE.

I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER.

HUELL AH.

ESTHER I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE SECRET.

YOU SEE THIS CAKE YOU'RE GOING TO EAT TODAY?

HUELL OH, PERSIMMON CAKE.

ESTHER THAT IS FROM LAST, THIS IS PERSIMMON CAKE, AND THIS IS MADE FROM THE LAST YEAR'S CROP.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL SAVE FOR A WHOLE YEAR, A YEAR OR TWO, OR HOWEVER LONG.

YOU SEE, I HAD SOME OF THAT FROM LAST YEAR.

SO, I FINISHED IT UP WITH THIS, YOU SEE.

HUELL AND WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THEM IN THE INDIVIDUAL LITTLE BOXES FOR?

ESTHER WELL, I JUST DO THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT SOME OF THE PEOPLE MIGHT LIKE THEM.

AND THAT'S THE EASY WAY TO CARRY THEM, YOU SEE.

HUELL, MOTHER PUTS-- THESE ARE COFFEE FILTERS AND SHE JUST PUTS THEM IN FOR A LITTLE DECORATIVE EFFECT.

THIS IS WHAT SHE WOULD GIVE AS A LITTLE GIFT IF SOMEONE CAME TO HER HOUSE.

HUELL JUST AS A GIFT?

YES, YES.

ESTHER OF COURSE I GIVE THEM MORE THAN ONE, YOU KNOW.

HUELL THAT'S AMAZING.

ESTHER I TAKE THEM TO MY CHURCH AND DECORATE AND EVERYBODY WHO WANTS A PERSIMMON GETS IT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH THESE PERSIMMONS.

THAT'S WHY IT'S MORE FUN THAN SELLING THEM, YOU KNOW.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY I WOULD GET, IT WOULDN'T BE THIS MUCH FUN.

HUELL YEAH, WELL, THIS LOOKS GOOD.

ESTHER OKAY, I HOPE THEY COME OUT RIGHT.

HUELL THE COOKIES, AND THE CAKE MADE OUT OF PERSIMMONS.

AND THIS IS THE CIDER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH IT, AND THIS IS THE FROZEN PERSIMMON THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE MAKING CAKES AND COOKIES WITH NEXT YEAR.

ESTHER RIGHT, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

NOW, I HAVE A LOT OF MEETINGS AT MY HOUSE, MY HUSBAND USE TO BE INVOLVED IN A MILLION ACTIVITIES, YOU KNOW, ONE WAS MISSIONARIES FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

SO, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE MEET AT MY HOUSE, STILL, ONCE A YEAR.

WHENEVER THEY COME I MAKE PERSIMMON CAKE FOR THEM, AND NO MATTER WHAT MONTH THEY COME, I HAVE PERSIMMON CAKE FOR THEM.

HUELL WELL, YOU'RE KIND OF KNOWN AS "THE PERSIMMON LADY," AREN'T YOU?

ESTHER I AM A THE PERSIMMON LADY.

HUELL AND THE PERSIMMON LADY HAD BIG PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.

FIRST, WE WALKED A BLOCK AND A HALF DOWN THE STREET TO MEET HER NEIGHBOR, SUSIE DUNN, WHO HAS ALSO LIVED ON THIS STREET FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND HAS HER OWN BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

THEN, ESTHER, SUSIE, SUSIE'S DAUGHTER, AND I WALKED BACK TO ESTHER'S BACKYARD FOR AN HONEST TO GOODNESS PERSIMMON EXTRAVAGANZA.

A PICNIC COMPLETE WITH PERSIMMON COOKIES, PERSIMMON CAKE, CIDER, AND SQUASHED UP PERSIMMONS ON A PLATE.

NOW, YOU'RE BACK WITH-- ESTHER THIS IS ONE RIPE PERSIMMON.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY RIPE.

NOW EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET A BITE IF YOU WANT IT.

HUELL YOU'RE SURE THAT'S RIPE?

ESTHER THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIPE.

HUELL LOOK AT THIS, IT LOOKS KIND OF GOOEY.

ESTHER WELL, IT IS GOOEY, BUT IT TASTES GOOD.

COME ON, TAKE A LITTLE BITE, TAKE A LITTLE BITE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO KILL YOU.

HUELL WELL, IT WAS AN AFTERNOON TO REMEMBER.

OUT AT ESTHER'S GARDEN, EATING PERSIMMONS OFF HER BELOVED PERSIMMON TREE.

AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK ESTHER DI BARRE FOR SHARING HER HOUSE, HER GARDEN, AND MOST ESPECIALLY, HER TASTY RIPE PERSIMMONS WITH ALL OF US.

ESTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, CRITICIZE ME FOR LIVING IN CENTRAL L.A., BUT THIS IS THE PLACE I WOULD ENJOY MORE THAN ANY PLACE ELSE.

THEY CAN HAVE THEIR BEVERLY HILLS, AND THEIR MALIBU AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

I WILL TAKE MY LITTLE HOUSE IN SOUTH CENTRAL.

HUELL WELL, YOU HAVE CREATED YOUR OWN LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE RIGHT HERE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

ESTHER RIGHT, RIGHT, I HAVE.

ESTHER I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSIMMONS TO TAKE HOME, YOU KNOW.

SOME OF THEM WON'T BE RIPE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THEM FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO TAKE A RAW ONE.

HUELL NO.

YOU'D RUIN YOUR TASTE.

MOM, THAT WAS SUCH A PRETTY BRANCH THERE-- ESTHER WHAT'S THAT?

THOSE THREE ARE SUCH A PRETTY BRANCH, THAT CLUSTER.

ESTHER AREN'T THEY PRETTY?

I HAVE NEVER HAD BRANCHES LIKE THIS.

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

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDEXT