06/21/2009 | 28m 38s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell visits The Apple Pan in West L.A. and Clifton’s Cafeteria in Downtown L.A. These two Los Angeles restaurants have not only survived, but have become iconic without having to cut corners or compromise their standards.
Aired: 06/21/09
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"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: HUELL>> WELL, HERE WE ARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF LOS ANGELES.
WE'RE HERE ON PICO BOULEVARD, OUT BY THE WESTSIDE PAVILION.
IT'S ABOUT NOON, AND WE ARE HERE TO START AN EPISODE OF VISITING THAT WE ARE CALLING "SURVIVORS."
WE'RE GONNA SALUTE TWO THINGS IN LOS ANGELES THAT HAVE MANAGED TO SURVIVE.
AND THIS FIRST PLACE WE'RE GOING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO... ACTUALLY WE CAME HERE AND DID A PROGRAM ON IT 4 YEARS AGO.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO RIGHT NOW IS TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ORIGINAL PROGRAM, THAT ORIGINAL SEGMENT ON THIS PLACE AND THEN COME BACK FOR AN UPDATE ON THIS EPISODE OF VISITING WE CALL "SURVIVORS."
IT'S MODERN, IT'S SHINY.
IT'S UPSCALE AND IT'S OH, SO CHI-CHI.
WELCOME TO THE WEST SIDE OF LOS ANGELES, SPECIFICALLY THE WESTSIDE PAVILION ON OLYMPIC BOULEVARD, A HUGE SHOPPING CENTER WITH ALL THE RIGHT STORES AND ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
AND RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, LOOKING OVERWHELMED BY IT ALL, IS ANOTHER PLACE FILLED WITH ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE, A WOODEN STRUCTURE, A RESTAURANT CALLED "THE APPLE PAN."
IT'S BEEN A PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1947, LONG BEFORE THIS UPSCALE STUFF WAS AROUND.
NOW, WE ARRIVED JUST IN TIME FOR LUNCH AND THE PLACE WAS PACKED, LOTS OF ACTIVITY.
ALL 26 RED STOOLS WERE TAKEN.
AND WE QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS.
THESE ARE "REGULARS" WHO COME TO SCARF UP THE TASTY BURGERS AND THE HOMEMADE APPLE PIE... AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SOAK UP THE FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.
>> IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE TO GO.
THE FOOD IS WONDERFUL.
THE PEOPLE ARE NICE THAT WORK HERE.
I LIKE IT HERE.
HUELL>> WHEN YOU WALKED IN THE FIRST TIME, 22 YEARS AGO, WAS THERE SOMETHING IN HERE THAT JUST KIND OF GRABBED AT YOU WHEN YOU WALKED IN?
>> IT WAS THE DOWN-HOME ATMOSPHERE, THE VERY ECLECTIC CROWD.
HUELL>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> JUST A VARIETY OF TYPES OF PEOPLE; BUSINESSMEN IN SUITS, HIPPIES IN DUNGAREES AND VERY INTERESTING-LOOKING WOMEN.
>> I CAN'T BE CAUGHT EATING HERE, NO.
HUELL>> WE TIMED IT PERFECTLY.
HERE COMES THE BURGER RIGHT.
WHY CAN'T YOU BE CAUGHT EATING HERE?
>> BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT MY NUTRITIONIST WOULD ORDER.
HUELL>> NOW, HERE'S A COUPLE FROM?
>> GERMANY.
HAMBURG.
HUELL>> WHY ARE YOU HERE?
>> BECAUSE WE READ IN A BOOK THAT IT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR HAMBURGERS IN THE WORLD.
HUELL>> SO YOU READ A TOUR BOOK OF L.A., AND IT SAID TO COME TO "THE APPLE PAN"?
>> YES; IT SAID COME TO "THE APPLE PAN," AND YOU CAN EAT THE BEST HAMBURGER AND THE GREATEST APPLE PIE IN THE WORLD.
HUELL>> NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT; YOU'VE HAD BOTH?
>> GREAT, REALLY LOVE IT, YES.
HUELL>> NOW, WHAT IS THE STORY HERE BEHIND THE KETCHUP IN THE PLATE?
>> WELL, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I'VE DEVELOPED MY OWN ROUTINE WHERE IN LIEU OF KETCHUP, I ALWAYS ASK THEM FOR HICKORY SAUCE.
HUELL>> SO THIS ISN'T KETCHUP?
>> NO, THIS IS THEIR SECRET HICKORY SAUCE THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED, AND THEY USE WITH THEIR HICKORY BURGERS.
>> AND YOU PUT THE FRENCH FRIES IN THE HICKORY SAUCE?
>> A TOUCH OF CLASS; CAN'T BEAT IT.
HUELL>> WAIT A MINUTE.
LOOK AT THIS?
>> IT'S A GASTRONOMIC DELIGHT.
HUELL>> YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A BIB.
>> I THINK I WILL; I THINK I WILL.
HUELL>> DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY?
>> SOMETIMES THEY COME TWICE A DAY.
HUELL>> TWICE A DAY!
>> YEAH, SOME COME TWICE A DAY.
HUELL>> WHAT DO THEY HAVE HERE TWICE A DAY?
>> HAMBURGERS OR TUNA SANDWICH, MOST POPULAR.
HUELL>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR?
>> MOST OF THEM, I KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
I GOT THE ORDER IN AHEAD OF TIME; BY THE TIME THEY SIT, THEY HAVE THE ORDER READY.
HUELL>> REALLY?
SO AS SOON AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE DOOR AND COME OVER TO SIT DOWN, YOU KNOW TO ORDER EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT?
>> SOME OF THEM, MOST OF THEM, NOT EVERYBODY, BUT MOST.
HUELL>> IS IT A PRETTY FRIENDLY BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE?
>> THEY'RE ALL FRIENDLY, ALL FRIENDLY.
>> WE ENJOY WORKING WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE A COFFEE SHOP WHERE THE WAITRESS MIGHT BE MAD AND SHE WON'T GIVE YOU COFFEE.
HERE, WE GIVE THEM COFFEE ALL THE TIME, EVERYTHING THEY WANT.
WE ENJOY WAITING ON THESE PEOPLE.
HUELL>> YOU NEVER GET MAD?
>> SOMETIMES I GO BACK AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND COME BACK... AND TELL THEM, "YES, MA'AM."
HUELL>> NOW WE'RE BACK IN THE CONTROL CENTER RIGHT NOW OF "THE APPLE PAN."
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT; IT STARTS RIGHT HERE.
HUELL>> NOW, YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ANYBODY ELSE WORKING HERE TODAY?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HUELL>> HOW MANY YEARS?
>> 36 YEARS.
HUELL>> 36 YEARS?
>> 36 FIRST PART OF JANUARY.
HUELL>> NOW, YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE THE BURGERS?
>> RIGHT, YEAH.
HUELL>> HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING THE BURGERS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY FOR 36 YEARS?
>> EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, THE SAME WAY THEY STARTED OUT IN '47.
HUELL>> YOU NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT CHANGING ANYTHING ABOUT THEM?
>> NEVER CHANGE, NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
HUELL>> WHAT'S THE SECRET?
>> IT WORKS SO WELL SO THEY FIGURED NO REASON TO TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER.
HUELL>> LET ME PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE AND SAY A HAMBURGER IS A HAMBURGER IS A HAMBURGER.
TELL ME WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT YOURS?
>> NOT HERE.
WE PUT QUALITY MEAT IN IT, AND EVERYTHING IS FRESHLY MADE EVERY DAY, AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
HUELL>> NOW, I KEEP HEARING ABOUT THESE HICKORY BURGERS.
OKAY, NOW WHAT IS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON THERE?
>> THAT'S RELISH.
RELISH GOES ON, AND THE HICKORY BURGER GETS BARBECUE SAUCE, SMOKE-FLAVORED SAUCE.
HUELL>> IS THAT A SECRET?
>> A SECRET SAUCE WE PUT ON IT.
HUELL>> WELL, I'M NOT EVEN GONNA ASK YOU WHAT'S IN IT.
THERE THEY GO.
PART OF IT, NOW, IS WRAPPING IT IN THESE... >> WRAP IT AND PUT IT IN THIS SANDWICH BAG.
HUELL>> SO THAT'S IT, RIGHT THERE?
>> THAT'S IT.
HUELL>> HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS YOU FIGURE YOU'VE WRAPPED OVER THE LAST 36 YEARS?
>> OH, I IMAGINE, PROBABLY A COUPLE OF MILLION.
HUELL>> NOW, "THE APPLE PAN" NOT ONLY HAS LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES AND LOYAL CUSTOMERS, IT ALSO HAS BEEN OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE SAME FAMILY SINCE IT FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1947.
IN FACT, THE DAY WE DROPPED BY, 3 GENERATIONS OF THAT FAMILY WERE THERE TO GREET US.
NOW, DID YOU START WORKING HERE AS A CHILD?
>> MOTHER AND I WERE THE FIRST TWO WAITRESSES HERE.
>> THE ONLY WAITRESSES.
>> THE ONLY ONES.
WE WERE TERRIBLE, I KNOW.
HUELL>> AND YOU WERE BROUGHT IN WHEN?
>> I DID IT WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER TO MAKE A LITTLE MONEY.
MY GRANDFATHER WANTED ME TO LEARN AND TEACH ME THE PIES AND... HUELL>> SO YOU KNOW ALL THE FAMILY SECRETS NOW, ABOUT THIS PLACE, ALL THE SECRET INGREDIENTS AND ALL OF THAT?
>> A FEW, YEAH.
>> WELL, I JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THEY COULD KEEP THIS PIECE OF LAND IN WEST L.A.; THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE LAND IN WEST L.A.
YET, THIS BUILDING THAT ONLY HOLDS MAYBE 25 PEOPLE HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
>> WE LOVE OUR "APPLE PAN."
WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN SLIGHTLY TEMPTED.
HUELL>> WELL, BUT THE RUMOR'S GOING AROUND; YOU HEAR RUMORS FROM TIME TO TIMEHAT THE PLACE IS FOR SALE; THAT YOU'RE GONNA SELL OUT?
>> THOSE RUMORS CIRCULATE ALL THE TIME, BUT WE'VE REALLY NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED IT.
HUELL>> REALLY?
>> YEAH.
HUELL>> THE MONEY NEVER ENTERED INTO IT AT ALL?
>> IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE THAT RICH, BUT WE REALLY LIKE OUR PLACE.
AND THE MEN WHO WORK HERE, THEY'VE WORKED FOR US FOR A LONG TIME.
OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE BECOME KIND OF OLD FRIENDS.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING WORSE THAN NOT HAVING THIS PLACE, REALLY.
HUELL>> WELL, IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE WE FIRST VISITED "THE APPLE PAN."
NOW WE'RE BACK.
THE CUSTOMERS ARE ALL STILL HERE; THEY'RE STILL FRIENDLY, VISITING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
>> YES.
HUELL>> HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN COMING HERE?
>> OH, MAYBE 15.
HUELL>> 15?
>> YEAH.
HUELL>> SO YOU'RE A NEWCOMER HERE?
>> YES.
HUELL>> YOU'VE BEEN COMING?
>> I'M YOUNGER THAN SHE IS.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE 10 YEARS.
HUELL>> REALLY?
>> EVERY CHANCE I GET.
HUELL>> BUT ONCE YOU START COMING, YOU'RE A REGULAR, RIGHT?
>> REGULAR; BEST HAMBURGERS IN THE UNIVERSE.
HUELL>> NOW, HAD YOU SEEN THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM?
>> YES, I DID.
I SAW YOU ON TV AND I SAID, "I KNOW THAT GUY AND I KNOW THAT RESTAURANT."
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY, THOUGH.
>> ASK HIM HOW HE FIRST CAME HERE?
>> IN 1951, I HIT 3 HOMERUNS IN A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME IN GLENDALE, AND MY FOLKS BROUGHT ME HERE FOR A SURPRISE, FOR A TREAT; AND I'VE BEEN COMING EVER SINCE.
HUELL>> WHAT IS IT-- UH-OH, YOU HAD THE PIE?
>> I DID.
IT'S THE BEST QUALITY FOOD, CONSISTENT AND IT'S THE BEST.
HUELL>> HECTOR, I WAS LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM WE DID 4 YEARS AGO; NOTHING'S CHANGED, HAS IT?
>> PROBABLY I LOST MORE HAIR AND I GAINED SOME WEIGHT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT EVERYTHING'S THE SAME.
HUELL>> AND YOU'RE STILL WORKING THE SAME SIDE OF THE COUNTER?
>> FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS OVER HERE.
HUELL>> YOU HAVE THE EAST SIDE, THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
HUELL>> AND YOUR BUDDY ROBERTO HAS THE OTHER SIDE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HUELL>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO OVER AND SEE ROBERTO BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S STILL OVER HERE.
HERE HE IS; HE'S STILL WORKING OVER HERE.
ROBERTO, NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE WE WERE HERE 4 YEARS AGO?
>> NOT REALLY, NO.
HUELL>> NOTHING?
>> THE SAME FACES.
A LOT OF NEW CUSTOMERS.
HUELL>> NEW CUSTOMERS?
>> A LOT OF NEW CUSTOMERS.
HUELL>> WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
>> FROM ALL OVER THE CITY, ALL OVER THE CITY, LOOKING FOR GOOD FOOD.
>> THIS IS A HAMBURGER WITH VERY LITTLE GUNK ON IT.
HUELL>> NOT MUCH GUNK?
>> THEY KNOW THIS, YOU SEE.
HUELL>> SO THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU COME IN?
>> SURE, I JUST COME IN AND BY THE TIME THERE'S A PLACE FOR ME TO SIT DOWN, MY ORDER IS READY.
HUELL>> [LAUGHING] >> REALLY!
THESE TWO FELLAS ARE PHENOMENAL; BESIDES WHICH, THE COFFEE IS THE BEST IN TOWN.
DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT?
HUELL>> NO!
>> IT'S THE BEST COFFEE IN TOWN AND I'M NORWEGIAN.
IF THE COFFEE IS GOOD...
ANYTHING GOES.
HUELL>> AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS PRETTY NICE, TOO; THE ATMOSPHERE IS PRETTY NICE?
>> SO EVERYTHING IS...
TRY ONE OF THOSE.
TRY A FRENCH FRY.
HUELL>> I'VE HAD SOME BEFORE.
>> AND DIP IT.
HUELL>> DIP IT.
>> THEY'RE JUST GREAT.
HUELL>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
HUELL>> SHE'LL BE BACK FOR MORE.
WE GOT THE WHOLE-- EXCUSE US, WE GOTTA GET BY HERE FOR A MINUTE.
WE GOTTA SEE THE MASTER CHEF BACK HERE.
CHARLIE?
I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THAT PIECE OF FILM WE DID 4 YEARS AGO; COMING BACK HERE TODAY, NOTHING HAS CHANGED?
>> NO, IT'S STILL THE SAME THING, STILL MAKING ALL THESE HICKORY BURGERS.
>> HAS ANYTHING CHANGED?
>> NOTHING CHANGED SO FAR.
WE DON'T LIKE CHANGES.
HUELL>> THE RECIPE'S STILL THE SAME?
>> THE RECIPE'S STILL THE SAME.
HUELL>> YOU'RE STILL HERE 8 DAYS A WEEK?
>> EIGHT DAYS A WEEK, STILL HERE.
HUELL>> I DON'T THINK YOU EVER GO HOME, DO YOU?
>> SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES I DON'T.
HUELL>> YOU'RE HERE A LOT?
>> I'M HERE A LOT.
HUELL>> HOW MANY YEARS NOW?
>> 40 YEARS NOW, THIS IS MY 40th YEAR.
A LONG TIME, HUH?
HUELL>> YEAH.
YOU'RE NOT FIXIN' TO LEAVE ANY TIME SOON, ARE YOU?
>> NO, DON'T PLAN ON IT.
HUELL>> YOUR ASSISTANT IS THE SAME, THE SAME FELLA WHO WAS HERE BEFORE?
>> YEAH, HERE BEFORE.
HUELL>> HOWDY, HOW YA DOING?
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
AND ROBERTO AND HECTOR ARE STILL OUT THERE.
AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE STILL THE SAME.
>> MOST OF THEM THE SAME PEOPLE, YEAH.
HUELL>> YEAH.
SO IF WE COME BACK FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, ARE THINGS GONNA BE?
>> WE HOPE THE SAME THING.
HUELL>> ALL RIGHT; I'LL SEE YOU IN 5 YEARS.
I'LL SEE YOU BEFORE THAT BECAUSE I GET THOSE HICKORY BURGERS WHEN I'M IN THE AREA.
>> IT'S THE BEST PLACE IN TOWN FOR CARING ABOUT CUSTOMERS.
HUELL>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "CARING ABOUT CUSTOMERS"?
>> HECTOR AND THE OTHER GUYS JUST ANTICIPATE YOUR EVERY NEED; IF YOU'RE SITTING HERE WITH A FRY AND YOUR HAND IS DIRTY, THEY PUT A NAPKIN IN YOUR HAND; I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE; WE'VE LOST SERVICE.
NOBODY CARES; THIS PLACE CARES.
HUELL>> SO WHY DO YOU COME BACK?
IS IT THE FOOD, THE SERVICE, THE AMBIENCE, THE FRENCH FRIES?
WHAT IS IT?
>> IT'S MORE FOR THE SERVICE.
THE FOOD IS GREAT.
IT'S GOOD, BASIC FOOD.
BUT THE SERVICE IS REALLY WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY COMING HERE.
HUELL>> YEAH.
AND IS IT THE PROXIMITY TO OTHER CUSTOMERS?
DO YOU... >> YOU KNOW, WHEN SUSHI BARS BECAME POPULAR, PEOPLE STARTED SOCIALIZING IN RESTAURANTS.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SOCIALIZING HERE FOR 40, 50 YEARS.
AND THERE'S A CODE HERE.
YOU ALWAYS MOVE OVER IF YOU NEED TO GIVE SOMEONE ROOM FOR TWO OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T CUT IN IF YOU'RE WAITING ON ONE SIDE, YOU DON'T CROSS THE LINE IF THERE'S A TABLE ON THE OTHER SIDE, UNLESS NO ONE'S WAITING.
IT'S VERY CIVILIZED, WHICH IN LOS ANGELES IS RATHER A REFRESHING CHANGE.
HUELL>> YEAH.
>> IT'S A GREAT AMBIENCE.
THERE'S NOTHING PHONY ABOUT IT.
IT'S SORT OF THERE AND DELICIOUS.
THE FOOD ISN'T INCORPORATED INTO ANY GREAT CHAIN; YOU HAVE TO COME TO THIS ONE.
BY THE WAY, THEY'VE UPHELD THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE OWNER IS ABSOLUTELY DEDICATED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
HUELL>> OKAY, WE'VE COME BACK; WE'RE STANDING OUT FRONT.
AND HERE ARE THE SAME 3 LADIES WE WERE VISITING WITH 4 YEARS AGO, THREE GENERATIONS OF OWNERSHIP OF "THE APPLE PAN."
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GOTTEN EVEN FANCIER?
>> A LITTLE BIT.
HUELL>> AND "THE APPLE PAN" IS STILL "THE APPLE PAN?"
>> THE VERY SAME, NOT A THING HAS CHANGED.
HUELL>> NOTHING HAS CHANGED?
>> WHICH WE'RE GLAD FOR.
HUELL>> THE WORD WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE INSIDE TODAY IS THE WORD "CONSISTENCY"; THAT'S WHY THEY KEEP COMING BACK?
>> WELL, I HOPE SO.
THAT'S WHAT WE STRIVE FOR, QUALITY FOREVER, AND CONSISTENCY.
HUELL>> NOW, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY MORE OFFERS TO BUY THE PLACE IN THE LAST 4 YEARS?
>> NO, NOT REALLY.
PEOPLE CALL AND THEY HAVE... IDEAS ON, YOU KNOW, COULD WE GO INTO A JOINT VENTURE OR FRANCHISE OR TAKE THIS TO EUROPE OR, YOU KNOW... HUELL>> TAKE IT TO EUROPE?
>> DOESN'T THAT SOUND FUNNY?
YEAH.
HUELL>> YOU HAVE A LOT OF TOURISTS FROM EUROPE?
>> WE DO.
YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE ORIENT AND EUROPE.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT... HUELL>> BUT YOU SAID "NO" TO EVERYTHING?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
HUELL>> IT'S JUST STAYING IN THE FAMILY AS A FAMILY BUSINESS?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HUELL>> BECAUSE YOU REALIZE THAT IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD NEWS?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
IT'S KIND OF, IT'S FUN.
GENERATIONS KEEP COMING BACK.
THEY BRING THEIR KIDS, AND THE KIDS BRING THEIR KIDS NOW, AND WE LIKE THAT.
HUELL>> MA'AM?
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.
HUELL>> YEAH.
YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GENERATIONS?
>> I'VE SEEN IT ALL.
HUELL>> THEY HAVE ALL COME THROUGH HERE?
>> YOU BET.
HUELL>> DO YOU STILL COME DOWN AND CONSULT FROM TIME TO TIME?
>> OCCASIONALLY.
I COME DOWN AND SAY HELLO.
>> OR WE TAKE IT UP TO HER.
>> ALL THE TIME.
HUELL>> SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONSULTATION AMONG THE GENERATIONS?
>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
HUELL>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THE TEMPTATION TO SELL OUT-- BECAUSE THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY HAS GOTTA BE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY?
>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY HAS APPRECIATED SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT.
HUELL>> DO YOU OWN THIS PROPERTY?
>> YES, WE DO.
HUELL>> SO YOU OWN THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PICO BOULEVARD, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WESTSIDE PAVILION, WHICH IS VERY CHI-CHI?
>> WE COULD HAVE NEVER PLANNED IT THIS WAY.
HUELL>> BUT YOU ARE SURVIVORS.
AND FOR THAT, WE AWARD YOU THE KCET SURVIVOR AWARD.
>> DID YOU HEAR THAT?
HUELL>> BECAUSE YOU HAVE SURVIVED THE TEMPTATION TO SELL OUT, TO MOVE AWAY, TO CHANGE THE RECIPES, TO CHANGE THE DECOR; ACTUALLY, YOU'VE SURVIVED THE TEMPTATION TO CHANGE ANYTHING?
>> YEAH, BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN A TEMPTATION.
WE HAVE THE BEST BUNCH OF GUYS WORKING FOR US AND THE BEST CUSTOMERS.
IT HAS REALLY NEVER TEMPTED US TO DO ANY OF THAT STUFF.
>> YEAH.
HUELL>> WELL, YOU STILL GET THE AWARD.
>> I HOPE SO, I LOVE THAT AWARD.
HUELL>> CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS OF THE KCET SURVIVORS AWARD, STANDING IN FRONT OF "THE APPLE PAN," WHICH HAS SURVIVED IT ALL AND IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL AND GOING AS STRONG AS EVER.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
HUELL>> NOW WE'RE ALL GOING INSIDE AND HAVE A HICKORY BURGER, RIGHT?
>> I HOPE SO; DEFINITELY.
HUELL>> NOW, CONTINUING OUR SALUTE TO THINGS THAT HAVE SURVIVED OVER TIME HERE IN L.A., WE HAVE LEFT "THE APPLE PAN" AND MOVED TO THE VALLEY; SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE ON LOUISE AVENUE, WHICH RUNS OFF VENTURA BOULEVARD.
AND WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF LOS ANGELES HISTORIC CULTURAL MONUMENT NUMBER 24.
AND HERE IT IS, RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES I HAVE EVER SEEN.
WE HAVE INVITED MIKE MAHONEY, A TREE EXPERT, TO TELL US... FIRST, WHAT KIND OF A TREE, OAK IS THIS?
>> A COAST LIVE OAK QUERCUS AGRIFOLIA.
HUELL>> WHAT?
>> COAST LIVE OAK QUERCUS AGRIFOLIA.
HUELL>> QUERCUS AGRIFOLIA?
>> AGRIFOLIA.
HUELL>> NOW, ARE THE LIMBS HEALTHY?
IS THE WOOD ROTTING OR HEALTHY?
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF IT?
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM...
THERE ARE TWO AREAS; THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL CONCERNS AND STRUCTURAL CONCERNS.
SO WHEN YOU SAY, "ARE THE LIMBS ROTTING?"
THEY'RE ROTTING IN PLACES, BUT THEY'RE STRONG IN PLACES.
HUELL>> BECAUSE THIS LOOKS HEALTHY RIGHT HERE?
>> INTERESTING; IT LOOKS HEALTHY RIGHT HERE, BUT HOW DOES IT LOOK RIGHT HERE?
HUELL>> OH, OKAY.
>> SO THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO THE TREE HAVE REMOVED ITS ABILITY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND ITSELF.
AND SO REALLY, OUR PROJECT IS GETTING THE TREE BACK INTO A MORE... TO A KIND OF CONDITION THAT MORE REPLICATES ITS NATIVE ENVIRONMENT.
HUELL>> BECAUSE LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS CANOPY HERE; THIS IS HUGE.
>> THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE TREE.
HUELL>> JUST THE WEIGHT ALONE?
>> 150 FEET ACROSS THE CANOPY AND 70 FEET TALL; IT'S A VERY LARGE TREE.
HUELL>> WOW.
WE HAVE A LADY WHO'S JOINED US REPRESENTING COUNCILMAN?
>> MARVIN BROUDY.
HUELL>> THIS IS HIS DISTRICT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
HUELL>> YOU'RE HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE WAY THE COMMUNITY IS RESPONDING TO WHAT MIKE IS DOING WITH THE TREE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE COMMUNITY'S VERY, VERY IN LOVE WITH THIS MARVELOUS OAK TREE.
WE HAVE OTHERS IN OUR TOWN OF ENCINO, BUT NONE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS ONE.
AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT WE SAVE WHAT WE'VE GOT; THAT WE PRESERVE WHAT WE'VE GOT; SO, YES.
THE COUNCIL OFFICE HAS TAKEN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE COMMUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE TREE.
HUELL>> HOW SO?
>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS.
WE CALLED THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE TWO HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS, SOME NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS, AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT; WE'RE MEETING ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THE TREE.
REALLY WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THE TREE IS TO RAISE SOME MONEY TO PAY FOR A WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN THAT WILL HELP SAVE OUR TREE; AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
HUELL>> A GOOD TREE DOCTOR?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
HUELL>> YOU HAVE A CAN HERE?
>> I HAVE A CAN THAT WAS MADE BY THE SCHOOL CHILDREN... HUELL>> "SAVE OUR OAK."
>> RIGHT; TO PUT INTO THE STORES SO THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN HELP US.
ALL THE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE WORKING WITH US MADE THIS THEIR PROJECT FOR THE YEAR.
HUELL>> SO THE KIDS ARE REALLY GETTING INVOLVED?
>> ABSOLUTELY; THIS IS PART OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO PRESERVE THE EARTH AND TO PRESERVE NATURE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN SPECTACULAR.
HUELL>> DO YOU THINK MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MIGHT HAVE TAKEN THIS TREE FOR GRANTED BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HERE, AND THEN IT GOT SICK AND EVERYBODY GOT NERVOUS?
>> YES; BUT WE'VE HAD TREES IN SOME OF THE SHOPPING CENTERS AROUND THAT WE'VE LOST BECAUSE OF OVER-ASPHALTING AND NEGLECT.
AND I THINK FINALLY THE COMMUNITY HAS AWAKENED TO KNOW THAT THESE THINGS THAT ARE HUNDREDS AND MAYBE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD MAY DISAPPEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
HUELL>> NOW THE ADVENTURE, BECAUSE WE GOT ALL THIS STUFF.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MIKE JUST KIND OF SPRUNG ON US.
TELL US WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO?
>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ELEMENTS TO STUDYING THE TREE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ITS CONDITION.
A LOT OF IT HAPPENS BELOW THE SOIL.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, JIM BERRY, IS A SOIL EXPERT ON OUR TEAM AND HELPED WITH LOOKING INTO THE SOIL AND THE SUB-- BELOW-THE-GROUND ISSUES.
AND I REALLY FOCUS MORE ON THE AERIAL ISSUES.
SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING FOR YOU TO JOIN ME UP IN...
IN THE BRANCHES OF THE TREE AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE AS WELL.
HUELL>> SO WE'RE GONNA CLIMB THE TREE?
>> WE'RE GONNA GET UP, GET INTIMATE.
HUELL>> AND WE HAVE A CHERRY PICKER FOR LUIS TO GO UP IN SO HE CAN SEE US.
>> HE CAN FOLLOW ALONG.
HUELL>> THIS IS EXCITING.
I MEAN, THIS IS EVERY KID'S DREAM, TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB IN THIS TREE.
AND YOU ALSO WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE, STARTING WITH NATIVE AMERICANS THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, WERE CLIMBING TREES... PERHAPS THIS TREE, LIKE WE'RE GONNA DO THIS AFTERNOON?
>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE...
THE NATIVE AMERICANS DIDN'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF ROPES AND SADDLES AND GEAR WE'RE GONNA USE.
HUELL>> BUT THEY PROBABLY KNEW HOW TO CLIMB TREES BETTER THAN WE DO, AS WELL THOUGH.
>> WE'LL DO IT SAFER.
HUELL>> ALL RIGHT; WE'RE OFF.
LET'S GET BUCKLED UP HERE.
OKAY.
HUELL>> WE'RE GOING UP.
HUELL>> SLOW BUT SURE.
MAN!
HUELL>> I DIDN'T COUNT ON THIS.
>> YOU'RE GETTING YOUR MONEY'S WORTH TODAY, HUELL.
HUELL>> WHOA!
>> IT'S JUST LIKE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN, ISN'T IT?
HUELL>> OH... WHAT IS THIS CALLED?
>> IT'S CALLED ASCENDING USING THE BODY THRUST.
HUELL>> ASCENDING USING THE BODY THRUST.
>> SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BREAK WHEN WE GET UP HERE.
IS THAT WATER HERE YET?
HUELL>> OKAY, WE'RE... >> ALMOST THERE.
HUELL>> WE'RE UP!
WHEW!
>> STAGE 1.
HUELL>> NOW WE GOTTA GO... A LITTLE HIGHER.
>> WE'RE AT BASE CAMP.
HUELL>> IN A VERY HISTORIC TREE, IN ENCINO.
HUELL>> MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST STOP HERE.
>> THE VIEW'S NICE.
HUELL>> WE'VE GONE ABOUT AS FAR AS I CAN GO.
I'M HUGGING THIS TREE RIGHT NOW.
>> HUELL'S IN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A VERY OLD ORGANISM.
HUELL>> AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A VERY OLD TREE.
CAN YOU GET ON HERE?
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, WE'RE UP TO WHAT IS A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO BE, RIGHT?
>> I THINK SO.
HUELL>> NOW, YOU TOLD ME WHEN WE WERE COMING UP THAT YOU WERE LOVING IT BECAUSE IT'S SO NICE AND GREEN UP HERE THIS SPRING?
>> RIGHT; IF YOU NOTICE FROM UP HERE, I GUESS IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT HEALTHY, BUT COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS 2 YEARS AGO, ALMOST ALL THE TISSUE IN THE FOLIAGE IN THIS PART OF THE TREE WAS DEAD OR DYING.
AND IT WAS REALLY IN VERY POOR CONDITION.
AND WHAT YOU SEE NOW ARE LITTLE SPROUTS ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE ENDS OF THE BRANCHES.
THE GOOD THING FOR US IS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO PRUNE OR CUT OFF ANY BRANCHES AND MAKE ANY BIG WOUNDS.
YOU NOTICE, LIKE RIGHT HERE, THERE'S AN AREA WHERE A LARGE BRANCH WAS CUT OFF.
THERE'S ANOTHER BRANCH OVER THERE THAT WAS CUT OFF.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE THAT I'M SITTING ON BROKE OFF.
SO THERE'S-- HUELL>> YEAH, THAT LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME RIGHT OFF.
>> AND THAT'S THE REASON WE HAD TO FENCE THE TREE IN.
THERE ARE JUST TWO MANY PARTS OF THE TREE THAT ARE NOT SOUND.
HUELL>> SO AS THE TREE DOCTOR, WHAT'S YOUR PROGNOSTICATION HERE?
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THIS TREE?
>> I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE'S LIVING TISSUE IN THE TOP OF THE TREE AND THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHUTES AND THE ROOTS IS ACTIVE ALL THE WAY UP HERE IN THE TOP.
SO WE BELIEVE, AND I FEEL THAT AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP IT GREEN AND GROWING UP HERE...
IT PERHAPS WILL OUTGROW THE DECAY THAT IS AT WORK AGAINST IT INTO THE WOOD OF THE TREE.
HUELL>> WELL, THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
AND THAT QUALIFIES THIS TREE AND YOU, AS ITS DOCTOR, TO BE THE SECOND RECIPIENT OF OUR KCET SURVIVORS AWARD, GIVEN TO THINGS THAT HAVE SURVIVED OVER THE YEARS.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAS SURVIVED, IT'S THIS WONDERFUL OLD-- WHAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE TO BE THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD-- OAK TREE RIGHT HERE OFF VENTURA BOULEVARD IN ENCINO.
IT'S A SURVIVOR!
>> IT'S A SURVIVOR AND SO ARE WE.
HUELL>> WELL... WE'VE STILL GOTTA GET DOWN, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S THE EASY PART.
HUELL>> OH, OKAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN, STARTING WITH "THE APPLE PAN" ON PICO AND ENDING UP HERE IN THE WONDERFUL OLD OAK, HISTORICAL LANDMARK NUMBER 24; THIS ONE IS A THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD SURVIVOR, COMING BACK AND DOING BETTER THAN EVER, THANKS TO THE GOOD TREE DOCTOR HERE AND THE CITIZENS OF ENCINO WHO LOVE THEIR OLD OAK TREE... A SURVIVOR.
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:
