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, IT'S ABOUT 9:00 ON A SATURDAY MORNING, AND HERE WE ARE IN THE WONDERFUL LITTLE COMMUNITY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS, WHICH IS LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES NORTHEAST OF PALM SPRINGS IN THE MORONGO BASIN.

NOW, I COME HERE A LOT JUST TO KIND OF HANG OUT.

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DOCUMENT SOMETHING VERY EXCITING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS.

AND HERE TO BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT IS... DAVE MEYER.

Huell: DAVE... AND BETH WIEDERHOLD.

Huell: AND BETH.

AND YOU ALL HAVE INVITED US TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING VERY EXCITING, SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY PROUD OF, HERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

HOW DID ALL OF THIS GET STARTED?

WE STARTED AS A GROUP OF 4, 5, 6 MERCHANTS CONCERNED BECAUSE OUR LITTLE TOWN WAS DYING, BUT MORE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE'D LOST OUR PRIDE-- THE PRIDE THAT THE PIONEERS HAD.

AND WE SAID, "HOW DO WE GET THAT BACK?"

AND WHATEVER WE DO FOR OURSELVES WILL THEN BENEFIT OUR VISITORS.

AND ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, TIM TERRELL, SAID, "YOU KNOW, MURALS SOMETIMES BRING PRIDE IN A COMMUNITY."

AND I HAD JUST READ AN ARTICLE IN THE SMITHSONIAN ABOUT CHEMAINUS, BRITISH COLUMBIA, THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID HISTORICAL MURALS.

AND IT STARTED.

Huell: SO, YOU CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF MURALS.

NOW, THIS IS--YOU'RE ALL WEARING THESE SHIRTS, "ACTION COUNCIL FOR 29 PALMS."

THIS WAS JUST ONE THING THAT YOU DECIDED TO DO.

TRUE.

THE MERCHANTS COMMITTEE--WE REALIZED THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO, A BIG CLEANUP CAMPAIGN URGING OUR MERCHANTS AND RESIDENTS TO PAINT, SPRUCE UP, AND THEN ALSO THE MURAL PROJECT.

AND THE MURAL PROJECT SORT OF TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

WE REALIZED THAT WAS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG PROJECT THAT WAS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

AND SO, A GROUP OF US STARTED THE ACTION COUNCIL FOR 29 PALMS JUST FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND REVITALIZATION.

Huell: AND YOU HAD TO SELL EVERYBODY IN TOWN ON THE IDEA.

INDEED.

Huell: WAS THAT HARD TO DO?

WELL, AT FIRST, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN THAT JUST PAINTING PICTURES ON WALLS WASN'T GONNA DO MUCH.

BUT AS SOON AS WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED THIS MURAL, THE FIRST MURAL, ALL THE QUESTIONS WERE OVER.

I MEAN, IT TOOK JUST ONE PROJECT TO SHOW WHAT WE REALLY MEANT, BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EXCELLENCE.

Huell: LET'S GO OVER AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR WHAT THESE MURALS WOULD BE?

WELL, THIS PARTICULAR--WE SET AS A PHILOSOPHY WANTING TO RETELL OUR HISTORY AND OUR ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE DESERT, AND THE DESERT IS A VERY FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT.

SO, IT'S A CHALLENGING PLACE TO LIVE AND A CHALLENGING PLACE TO BE.

SO, WE WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.

SO, USING THAT THEME, THEN WE HAVE--WE ARE TELLING THE HISTORY OF OUR TOWN AND THE HISTORY OF THE DESERT IN GENERAL.

Huell: AND THIS FIRST ONE-- THIS WAS THE FIRST MURAL, RIGHT?

THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS ABOUT BILL AND FRANCES KEYS.

AND THIS ACTUAL--THE TOPIC WAS SELECTED BY OUR FIRST ARTIST, WHO WAS DAN SAWATZKY FROM CHEMAINUS, BRITISH COLUMBIA.

HE CAME TO TWENTYNINE PALMS TO DO SOME RESEARCH.

AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, HE SHARED THIS...STORY WITH US, AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PERFECT BEGINNING.

AND THEN HE WENT ON TO DO THIS MURAL, WHICH WAS AN INSTANT SUCCESS.

AND FROM THERE, WE'VE CONTINUED ON.

Huell: NOW, THIS WAS DONE IN WHAT YEAR?

UH, 1994.

2 YEARS AGO-- ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO TO THIS MONTH.

Huell: SO, THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE.

THERE ARE...

THEY ARE RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY PAINTING OUR EIGHTH MURAL.

Huell: EIGHTH MURAL.

YES.

UH-HUH.

Huell: AND I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT--YOU'RE SHOOTING FOR 29.

WELL, 29 MURALS IN TWENTYNINE PALMS.

HEH HEH HEH.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO SHOOT FOR.

AND WE HAVE TO SAY THAT THE HISTORICAL THEMES HAVE BROUGHT BACK THAT PIONEER PRIDE.

SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE COMING TO VISIT.

VISITORS ARE STOPPING.

I THINK ONE OF THINGS THAT SHOWED US THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE REALLY LOVED IT--LAST CHRISTMAS, ONE OF OUR CLUBS HAS TRADITIONALLY SOLD CHRISTMAS TREES IN ONE OF THE LOTS WHERE OUR MURAL IS.

AND THEY SET UP THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE LOT AS USUAL.

WE HAD DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS FROM IRATE LOCALS SAYING, "THEY'VE HIDDEN THE MURAL.

I HAD VISITORS.

I WANTED TO TAKE PICTURES."

WE KNEW IT-- Huell: SO, THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY VERY QUICKLY-- OHH.

VERY.

IT'S--IT'S BEEN STUNNING TO SEE HOW MUCH PERSONAL COMMUNITY PRIDE THEY'VE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THIS.

AND THEY'RE FUNDED ONLY BY THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE HAD NO PUBLIC FUNDING WHATSOEVER.

THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE PAID FOR EVERY SINGLE MURAL.

Huell: NOW WE'VE COME JUST A FEW BLOCKS DOWNTOWN TO OUR NEXT MURAL.

AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ONE.

WELL, THIS ONE IS NEIGHBORS IN NATURE.

THIS ONE IS ABOUT THE FLORA AND THE FAUNA AND ALL OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE HERE IN THE TERRAIN AROUND TWENTYNINE PALMS.

AND SO, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS ALL THE ANIMALS AND THE LITTLE BEANS THAT MAKE THIS THEIR HOME.

Huell: SO, YOU'VE GOT--DOWN IN THE BOTTOM, I NOTICE, YOU'VE GOT 'EM ALL SPELLED OUT.

RIGHT.

THERE'S...A LEGEND THERE ON THE BOTTOM THAT GIVES YOU A SHADOW EFFECT--SO, WHEN VISITORS COME HERE, THEY CAN LOOK AT THE SHADOW, AND THEY CAN KNOW WHAT KIND OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

Huell: NOW, WE BROUGHT A FELLOW WITH US TO THIS MURAL BECAUSE YOUR CLAIM TO FAME IS WHAT?

I'M THE DUTY MAN, THE GROUNDS MAN.

Huell: YOU KEEP THE GROUNDS-- THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: CLEAN IN FRONT OF ALL OF THESE THINGS.

YES, SIR.

Huell: I GUESS THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, ISN'T IT?

WELL, THE MURALS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

AND, UH, TRASH, WEEDS, THEY DETRACT FROM IT.

Huell: YEAH.

SO, WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THEM CLEAN.

Huell: SO, WHAT, YOU JUST BRING A RAKE AND RAKE IT AND WEED IT AND CLEAN IT AND... RAKE IT AND WEED IT AND CLEAN IT.

THAT'S IT.

Huell: WELL, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF IT.

THANK YOU, HUELL.

Huell: THIS IS IMPORTANT, ISN'T IT?

WELL, IT'S CRITICAL.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WE'RE DOING IT, BUCKY IS IN CHARGE OF GETTING THE WALLS PREPARED.

SO, WE HAVE TO SANDBLAST THEM.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRIOR WORK BEFORE ANY PAINT EVER GOES ON THE WALL.

Huell: BEFORE YOU PUT THE MURALS UP THERE.

BEFORE THE WALL EVEN GOES-- EVERY SINGLE WALL HAS TO BE PREPARED, AND THAT'S WHAT BUCKY DOES.

HE MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE PERFECTLY SO THE ARTIST CAN GO TO WORK,pE 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUE THING, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT LASTS FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAVE VISITORS COMING EVERY DAY--EVERY DAY, FILMING IS GOING ON HERE.

SO, BUCKY MAKES THE ROUNDS AND MAKES SURE EVERYTHING IS LETTER-PERFECT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Huell: SO, YOU MEAN, PEOPLE WOULD COME AND, LIKE, POSE-- OH, CONSTANTLY.

EVERY DAY.

THERE'S NEVER A DAY THAT THERE AREN'T PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THE MURALS COMING TO VISIT AND TO ENJOY THEM AND TO LEARN.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.

AND IT'S COMING TRUE, ABSOLUTELY BEFORE OUR EYES, BEFORE OUR EYES.

Huell: AS OUR MURAL TOUR CONTINUES, WE'VE COME TO A REALLY NEAT ONE.

THIS ONE'S VERY COLORFUL.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL ONE, HUELL, BECAUSE IT'S DONE BY OUR OWN TIM O'CONNOR, A LOCAL ARTIST--OUR FIRST LOCAL ARTIST THAT SUBMITTED AND WAS ACCEPTED--AND HE JUST DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

THIS WAS HIS FIRST MURAL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Huell: AND WHAT'S THIS ONE CALLED?

THIS ONE IS CALLED JACK CONES, THE FLYING CONSTABLE.

THIS WAS TRULY A FLYING CONSTABLE WHO HAD AN AIRPLANE AND PATROLLED THE AREA IN HIS PLANE.

AND ACTUALLY, THEY SAY HE COULD EVEN TOUCH THE TOP OF THE CAR WITH THE WING OF HIS PLANE WHEN HE WAS CHASING A CRIMINAL.

Huell: AND THIS WAS BACK IN...

THIS WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 1900s, OR I SHOULD SAY LATE 1930s.

Huell: SO, REALLY, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS, YOU HAVE...YOU GET PEOPLE UP ON YOUR MURALS WHO ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE HISTORY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND TIM KNEW JACK CONES AND HAS HIS GUN AND HIS BADGE.

AND HE'S VERY CLOSE TO THAT FAMILY.

SO, THAT MADE IT SPECIAL ALSO.

HE REALLY WANTED TO DO JACK CONES.

Huell: WHAT DID YOU SAY, J.P.?

HE FLEW IN THAT PLANE, TOO.

Huell: THE GUY WHO-- THE LOCAL KIDS, YEAH.

TIM O'CONNOR-- THE ARTIST WHO DID THIS HAD ACTUALLY FLOWN IN THE PLANE.

HE FLEW ALL OVER IN THAT PLANE.

AND SOME OF THE KIDS, EVEN THE ARTIST, HAS BEEN UP IN THAT PLANE.

Huell: AH.

YEAH.

Huell: WELL, AS A LOCAL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

FANTASTIC.

IT'S JUST-- THE WHOLE TOWN IS BEHIND IT.

IT'S JUST--IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE COULD DO.

Huell: YEAH.

IT IS.

IT'S JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

Huell: NOW, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE COULD DO"?

WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW THE TOWN WOULD ALL COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS.

AND IT IS--THE WHOLE TOWN IS BEHIND IT.

AND ANYBODY TOUCHES THE MURAL, THEY'RE IN DEEP TROUBLE.

Huell: HA HA HA!

DEEP TROUBLE.

Huell: OK. ANOTHER MURAL, ANOTHER PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TWENTYNINE PALMS HISTORY, WHICH IS THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BASED HERE SINCE, I GUESS, THE 1940s IN LARGE NUMBERS.

RIGHT.

THIS IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE CORPS BASE.

IT'S CALLED THE MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER.

AND THIS MURAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE VETERANS AT DESERT STORM.

AND WE HAD A HUGE PARADE THAT WENT RIGHT DOWN ADOBE ROAD.

AND WE WANTED TO COMMEMORATE THAT PARADE.

AND SO, WE DID THAT WITH THIS MURAL.

IT'S 100 FEET LONG, 25 FEET HIGH ON THE FAR END DOWN HERE.

IT WAS DONE BY CHUCK CAPLINGER, WHO HAS MOVED TO TWENTYNINE PALMS SINCE HE DID THIS, UH...MURAL.

AND IT'S BASICALLY A COLLAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PARADE DAY ITSELF.

Huell: SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU GET THE ARTIST HERE, AND YOU GET 'EM HOOKED INTO TWENTYNINE PALMS, AND THEY ENDED UP MOVING HERE TO LIVE?

WELL, THEY FIND IT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE, AND THE CLIMATE'S SO WONDERFUL, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE TO ENJOY.

AND SO, THEY--AFTER THEY SPEND A FEW WEEKS PAINTING, THEY OBVIOUSLY WANT TO LIVE HERE.

SO, SOMETIMES, THEY DO.

Huell: WELL, I GOTTA TELL YOU, AS A FORMER MARINE, THIS REALLY--THIS DOES SOMETHING.

THIS IS VERY DRAMATIC HERE.

WELL, WHAT WAS PARTICULARLY DRAMATIC ALSO WAS OUR DEDICATION THAT NIGHT.

WE HAD 3 GENERALS HERE.

WE HAD THE FULL MARINE CORPS BAND, BIG FIREWORKS DEMONSTRATION.

AND THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE AUDIENCE-- Huell: YEAH.

ABOUT 500 PEOPLE FOR THE DEDICATION THAT NIGHT.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS PART OF THE HISTORY AND THE PRIDE, NOT ONLY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS BUT OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THIS COMMEMORATES WHEN THEY CAME BAC0 FROM DESERT STORM.

AND NORMALLY, IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR TO COME UP THE HIGHWAY TO GET TO THE BASE.

DURING THOSE TRIPS, THOSE BUSES TOOK 3 HOURS BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WELCOMING THEM HOME THAT WERE IN THE STREETS TO WELCOME THEM BACK.

AND SO, THIS--THIS MURAL COMMEMORATES THAT EXPERIENCE.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES.

THIS IS, TRULY.

THIS IS IN MEMORIAL TO DR. JAMES B. LUCKIE, A PHYSICIAN FROM PASADENA WHO SENT MANY OF HIS PATIENTS HERE.

THEY WERE MEN THAT HAD BEEN GASSED IN WORLD WAR I.

THEY HAD TO HAVE A PERFECT CLIMATE TO SURVIVE, AND HE FOUND TWENTYNINE PALMS.

AND THESE MEN WERE OUR PIONEERS.

THEY BROUGHT THEIR FAMILIES, RAISED THEIR FAMILIES HERE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THAT PIONEER SPIRIT AND THAT PIONEER PRIDE COMES FROM.

Huell: SO, I'M READING THIS HERE THAT DR. LUCKIE MOVED HERE FROM PASADENA?

NO.

HE DID HAVE A HOME HERE, BUT HE STILL KEPT HIS PRACTICE IN PASADENA.

HE SENT HIS PATIENTS HERE.

Huell: OH, WHO HAD BEEN GASSED DURING WORLD WAR I. GASSED IN THE WAR.

YES.

Huell: SO, THIS MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING A LOT OF THE EARLY PIONEERS TO TWENTYNINE PALMS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S--WE CALL HIM "THE FATHER OF TWENTYNINE PALMS."

Huell: NOW, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PUT THE MURALS?

BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT EVERY STORE IN TOWN NOW WANTS A MURAL.

WELL, THERE'S A GREAT INTEREST IN THE MURALS.

BUT WE SELECT A THEME, AND THEN WE SELECT AN ARTIST, AND THEN WE TRY TO MATCH A WALL THAT CONNECTS WITH THAT THEME AND A BACKGROUND THAT LOOKS ATTRACTIVE TO THE ARTIST.

Huell: BUT YOU ALSO WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO BE SEEN.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO, WE HAVE LOTS OF WALLS AVAILABLE IN TWENTYNINE PALMS.

AND WE JUST MATCH THE WHOLE THING UP.

AND SO FAR, IT'S WORKED PRETTY WELL.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE OVER HERE?

WE GOT SOME ONLOOKERS.

HOWDY.

HOW DO YOU DO?

Huell: HOW ARE YOU DOING?

GOOD.

Huell: NOW, DO YOU LIVE HERE?

YES, THIS IS OUR BUILDING-- Huell: OH.

WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS YOUR BUILDING.

AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND.

Huell: COME ON.

LET'S GET Y'ALL OUT HERE.

AND WAYNE.

Huell: COME ON OUT HERE.

COME ON.

SO, HOW DID YOU--HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HAVING THIS MURAL?

WELL, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.

Huell: YEAH.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE DOING THIS.

Huell: DO YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING BY NOW TO-- YES, WE DO.

WE DO, QUITE A LOT.

AND I THINK IT'S--WELL, TO ME, HE KIND OF LOOKS LIKE DR. RACHFORD.

SO, WE KIND OF THINK IT'S A GOOD--HEH-- Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

LET'S GET THE DOCTOR.

YOU'RE THE EYE DOCTOR NOW, AND YOU'RE STANDING HERE NEXT TO DR. LUCKIE.

WELL, I--I SAID I SHOULD JUST PUT A LITTLE WHITE BEARD ON HIM, AND IT WOULD PASS FOR MY OWN MURAL.

Huell: AND MAYBE LOSE A LITTLE HAIR UP ON THE TOP.

WELL, I'M DOING THAT ALREADY.

Huell: HA HA HA!

IT'S GREAT.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

HE DID QUITE A FEW NICE THINGS HERE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY-- I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.

BACK IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WERE HAVING LOTS OF LUNG PROBLEMS AND THINGS--AND, UH, DONATED LUCKIE PARK FOR THE KIDS, AND HE'S DONE A LOT OF NICE THINGS.

SO, I WAS PRETTY PROUD TO HAVE HIM ON OUR BUILDING.

Huell: NOW, WE'RE ALL STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF THIS NEXT MURAL COUNTING THE PALM TREES.

[CHUCKLING] Huell: THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE 29 IN THIS ONE.

WELL, ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE ASK US, "SO, WHERE ARE THE 29 PALMS?"

AND I SAY, "OH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE," EXCEPT UNTIL WE PAINTED THIS MURAL.

AND WE KNOW THERE ARE 29 PALM TREES IN THIS MURAL.

Huell: BUT J.P., YOU FOUND 30.

I HAVE DOUBLE VISION.

[LAUGHTER] Huell: WHAT'S THE-- WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR MURAL?

WELL, THIS IS THE OASIS OF MARA.

AND THIS IS WHY PEOPLE STARTED GATHERING IN THIS LOCATION, BECAUSE THERE IS A NATURAL OASIS HERE, AND WATER IS, UH, WHAT WE NEED FOR LIFE.

AND OUR NATIVE PEOPLES STARTED HERE.

AND IT'S JUST ABOUT AN OASIS THAT'S LOCATED ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY.

AND WE'RE DEPICTING THE HISTORY OF THE OASIS OF MARA.

Huell: WOW.

AND THEN THESE ARE WHAT?

EARLY SURVEYORS?

WELL, THIS WAS COLONEL WASHINGTON, WHO WAS WITH THE GEODESIC SERV--GEODETIC SURVEY WHO CAME THROUGH AND SURVEYED THE AREA, PUT THE TITLES, AND DID THE FIRST MAPS.

Huell: AND LOOK.

YOU CAN SEE UP HERE, LOUIE, HERE ARE THE LIGHTS THAT LIGHT THIS THING AT NIGHT.

BECAUSE DRIVING THROUGH HERE AT NIGHT, IT'S REALLY DRAMATIC.

WELL, THEY--THEY ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT.

THEY TAKE ON A WHOLE NEW PERSONALITY AT NIGHT.

AND WE LIGHT ALL OF THEM SO THAT OUR VISITORS IN THE EVENING CAN STROLL THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND ENJOY OUR MURALS AT NIGHT AS WELL.

Huell: AND YOU CLEAR ALL OF THIS AREA OUT AROUND THEM SO THAT THERE'S A REAL, NICE SHOT OF THEM.

WELL, THEY HAVE CLOSE ACCESS SO EVERYBODY CAN GET TO THEM.

AND THEY CAN PARK IN FRONT.

THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.

AND WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY THEM.

THEY COME AT ALL HOURS.

UH, SO, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

Huell: BETH, COME OVER HERE A MINUTE.

AND WE'VE GOT THE KIDS, TOO.

WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THE KIDS HERE TODAY?

[CHUCKLING] WELL, THEY'RE MURAL BABIES.

Huell: MURAL BABIES.

MURAL BABIES OF TWENTYNINE PALMS.

THEY SAW THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST MURAL, AND THEY'VE BEEN TO EVERY MURAL UNVEILING, AND THEY'VE EVEN GOTTEN TO PAINT A FEW BRUSH STROKES ON 3 OF THE MURALS.

Huell: REALLY?

YOU ACTUALLY... STROKED.

Huell: PUT A STROKE UP THERE ON THERE?

IS IT PRETTY MUCH FUN?

YES.

Huell: SO, REALLY, IT'S A BIG DEAL WHEN THESE THINGS ARE DEDICATED.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

SARAH HAS ALREADY TOLD ME SHE WANTS TO BE AN ARTIST WHEN SHE GROWS UP, AND SHE WANTS TO PAINT A MURAL IN TWENTYNINE PALMS.

Huell: AH.

WELL, THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ROOM FOR ONE IF SHE HURRIES UP.

LET'S-- COME ON OVER HERE WITH THE KIDS.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL, ISN'T IT, WHEN THEY'RE FORMALLY DEDICATED?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE COMMUNITY TURNS OUT FOR THAT.

WE HAVE THE BAND.

WE HAVE SPEAKERS.

AND WE'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T THINK ANY OTHER TOWN HAS DONE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN UNVEILING.

JUDY DUNN, WHO'S ONE OF OUR EARLY SETTLERS, SEWED TOGETHER I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY KING-SIZE SHEETS, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TOTAL VEILING OF THE BUILDING.

AND I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S SEEN IT BEING PAINTED.

BUT THEN THE DAY OF THE DEDICATION, IT'S COVERED.

AND THEN WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE "ROOF DOGS," THE GUYS THAT ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO GET UP ON TOP.

HEH.

AND AT THE RIGHT MOMENT, THE VEIL IS LIFTED, AND THEN THE ARTIST SIGNS HIS NAME WITH A BIG FLOURISH.

Huell: SO, THIS REALLY IS TRULY A COMMUNITY...

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: KIND OF AN EFFORT.

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.

AND AT--AT AN UNVEILING OR A DEDICATION, WE WILL HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 300 TO 800 PEOPLE AT THAT CEREMONY.

AND THE PARTICIPATION GOES BEYOND THAT, HUELL.

PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE THE ARTIST TO DINNER.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HERE FOR 2 WEEKS OR A MONTH.

PEOPLE HAVE THEM TO DINNER.

PEOPLE BRING THEM COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS AT THE SITE.

CHILDREN COME AND VISIT AT THE SITE.

SO, IT IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

IT'S A GREAT EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN, TOO.

MY FAVORITE STORY IS--MY DAUGHTER NOW, WHEN WE'RE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN, IF YOU SEE A BLANK WALL, SOME @@ SCAFFOLDING, AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SITTING NEXT TO IT,ú SHE SAYS, "OH, LOOK, MOM.

A NEW MURAL."

Huell: MM-HMM.

A KID IN ANY OTHER TOWN WOULD SAY, "THAT'S A CONSTRUCTION SITE."

NOT TO HER, THOUGH.

SHE SAYS, "THAT'S A NEW MURAL, MOM."

Huell: YEAH.

NOW, J.P.'s HARD AT WORK OVER HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, J.P.?

WELL, THEY'RE NEW PEOPLE HERE TO TOWN.

THEY LOVE OUR MURALS.

AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PURCHASE THEM.

SO, OF COURSE, I HAD TO GET THE NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER-- Huell: SO, WHAT DID YOU DO?

JUST START NOTICING THE MURALS?

WELL, WE MOVED HERE IN AUGUST.

WE'RE WITH THE MARINE CORPS, AND WE MOVED HERE IN AUGUST.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY STAND OUT.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: YEAH.

YEAH.

IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY ABOUT TWENTYNINE PALMS RIGHT HERE ON THE ROAD.

Huell: THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT.

Huell: WELL, NOW, HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE HERE WITH THE MARINES?

ABOUT 3 YEARS.

Huell: SO, YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF 'EM.

WELL, WE HOPE SO.

Huell: YEAH.

CAN YOU DRAW?

NOT AT ALL.

[LAUGHTER] I CAN!

Huell: YOU CAN?

WELL, GOOD.

WELL, WE'LL SIGN YOU UP.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOUNG ARTISTS NOW.

UH...UH-UH.

[LAUGHTER] CHICKENED OUT.

Huell: BUT IT IS INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?

IT IS.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN IN A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY PUTS THE ART OUT ON THE WALLS LIKE THIS THAT WE CAN SEE--AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

AND IT'S ALSO NICE THAT YOU'RE ALLOWING US THE CHANCE TO PURCHASE THE ART.

ONE-OF-A-KIND PRINTS--BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, YOU'LL BE ONE TO PAY FOR IT.

THE LOCAL PEOPLE BUY THE PRINTS, AND THAT'S HOW WE PAY FOR PUTTING THE MURALS-- Huell: OH, IS THAT HOW IT'S DONE?

OH, YES.

WE HAVE 150 SIGNED PRINTS BY THE ARTIST, AND WE SELL THEM FOR $125.

AND THAT GIVES US OUR MONEY TO PUT IT UP.

IT COSTS US ABOUT 18,000 EVERY TIME WE PUT A PICTURE ON THE WALL.

Huell: WOW.

I'D FORGOTTEN TO-- I HAD FORGOTTEN TO ASK HOW THESE WERE FINANCED.

BY THE COMMUNITY.

NO PUBLIC FUNDING, NO GRANTS--IT'S ALL OUT OF THE POCKETS OF THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE.

THROUGH OUR LIMITED-- Huell: AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE COLLECTING ART, BUT IT'S REALLY AN INVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

Huell: NOW, J.P., I HEARD YOU SAYING THIS WAS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES.

YES.

IT JUST IS THE OLD TOWN OF TWENTYNINE AND WHAT GOT STARTED--THE MINERS UP IN...

THE MOUNTAINS AROUND HERE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

FOR OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

AND ALL THE KIDS, WHEN THEY CAME BACK FROM SAUDI, THEY SAID THEY'LL NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT TWENTYNINE AGAIN, BECAUSE WE HAVE MOUNTAINS, NOT JUST SAND FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER.

Huell: HA HA HA!

THERE ARE THE MOUNTAINS RIGHT OVER THERE.

IN FACT, TWENTYNINE PALMS, OF COURSE--ACTUALLY, LOUIE, RIGHT OVER HERE, WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT INTO THE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK.

SO, THAT'S ANOTHER WONDERFUL THING ABOUT TWENTYNINE PALMS.

YOU CAN COME HERE, AND YOU'RE JUST LITERALLY A MILE AWAY-- YEAH.

Huell: FROM A NATIONAL PARK.

NATIONAL PARK, YEAH.

AND DEDICATED AS A NATIONAL PARK HERE JUST 2 YEARS AGO, AND WE GET ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF VISITORS A YEAR COMING TO THE PARK.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE MURALS AS WELL, SO THAT THEY--IN ADDITION TO ENJOYING THE PARK, THEY CAN COME INTO TOWN AND ENJOY LEARNING SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS.

Huell: WELL, NOW, THIS A KIND OF THE EARLY, UH-- THIS TELLS THE MINING DISTRICT STORY.

THERE ARE GOLD FIELDS HERE TO THE EAST.

AND THIS STARTED WITH THIS--IT WAS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THIS CAMPING TENT, OR THIS MINER'S TENT,E EE CALLED--AND IT SAID "DIRTY SOCK CAMP."

AND WE THOUGHT, WELL, YOU COULD ALMOST FEEL THOSE DIRTY SOCKS THAT MUST HAVE BEEN AROUND.

ACTUALLY, THEY USED THOSE SOCKS TO HELP FILTER THE GOLD, SO--BUT ANYWAY, THIS IS A COLLAGE PHOTOGRAPH.

THAT DEPICTS THE STORY OF THE MINERS IN TWENTYNINE PALMS.

Huell: I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS GOLD AROUND HERE.

OH, THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS.

YEAH.

THERE'S-- Huell: THERE'S NOT STILL GOLD-- WELL, NOW, YES, THEY DO A LOT OF DRY WASHING OUT HERE, AND THERE IS STILL GOLD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PEOPLE AND A LOT OF HOBBYISTS DO COME... DRY WASHING FOR GOLD HERE.

Huell: AND SEE, THIS IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE DESERT.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THE CLOUDS AND THE BLUE SKY AND THE CLEAN AIR.

LOOK OVER HERE.

YOU CAN LOOK OVER AND SEE THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SKY AND THE CLOUDS.

WELL, THE MOUNTAINS AT THAT END DOWN THERE, THAT'S 35 MILES FROM HERE.

Huell: REALLY?

YOU CAN TOUCH THEM TODAY.

SO, THAT'S--THAT'S WHY WE LIVE IN TWENTYNINE PALMS.

IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.

Huell: I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO SIGN ME UP FOR A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THOUGH.

I'M GETTING PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT MYSELF.

GOOD!

YOU WOULD MAKE A VERY GOOD AMBASSADOR FOR TWENTYNINE.

HA HA!

WHEN DAVE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS, I THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 360 DEGREES."

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LOOK, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW-- Huell: YEAH.

AND CLEAR AND CLEAN AND WONDERFUL.

Huell: NOW WE'VE RUN INTO THE LADY WHO WORKS OVER HERE AT THE--WHAT IS THIS?

THE-- CIRCLE K. Huell: CIRCLE K. AND THERE'S WHERE YOU WORK, AND THERE'S THE MURAL RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT.

RIGHT HERE.

Huell: SO, DO YOU GET A LOT OF, UH-- OH, YEAH.

A LOT OF TOURISTS, A LOT OF EUROPEANS COME HERE.

MATTER OF FACT, I ALMOST WISH I WAS BILINGUAL.

BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EUROPEANS.

THEY STOP, AND THEY'LL GET SOMETHING TO DRINK, AND THEY'LL LOOK AT THE MURAL, AND THEY WALK UP, AND THEY READ HOW--AND THEY'LL ASK WHAT...PRESENTED US TO DO THIS.

AND IT'S DONE A LOT FOR US.

Huell: WELL, NOW, LET'S STAND OVER HERE.

AND I WANT TO GET THE SPIEL THAT YOU GIVE THEM WHEN THEY ASK YOU ABOUT IT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

UM, THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OLD MINERS HERE THAT STARTED BACK IN 1928, 1930s.

MY HUSBAND'S GREAT-AUNT WAS ONE OF THE MINERS IN THE MONUMENT THERE THAT HAD--THE GOLDEN BEE MINE.

SO, I GET A LOT OF HISTORY.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS STILL ALIVE, AND HE TELLS ABOUT HOW THEY GOT SICK OFF THEIR OWN COOKING AND JUST HOW THEY--AND HE DID MAKE GOLD.

THERE WAS A LOT OF GOLD.

Huell: SO, YOU'RE A NATIVE WHO-- NO, I'M MARRIED TO ONE.

HEH HEH HEH!

Huell: NOW, WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS A...PIECE THAT WAS PICKED OUT BY THE INDIANS THAT CAME THROUGH TWENTYNINE PALMS.

THEY WERE WALKING FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO SANTA BARBARA FOR PEACE.

AND THEY WERE TOLD ALONG THEY WAY THAT THEY NEEDED TO STOP IN TWENTYNINE PALMS.

AND SO, THEY CAME HERE, AND THEY SPENT, OH, ABOUT 3 OR 4 DAYS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Huell: WHEN WAS THIS?

UM, THIS WAS-- LAST JANUARY.

IN THE SPRING.

IN JANUARY, WAS IT?

ALL RIGHT.

Huell: SO, THIS HAS JUST BEEN RECENT.

JUST RECENT, THIS YEAR.

AND THEY WERE SO THRILLED WITH OUR COMMUNITY HERE AND HAD SUCH A PEACE HERE THAT THIS REPRESENTS THE NORTH, THE SOUTH, THE EAST, AND THE WEST.

THIS IS SYMBOLIC.

AND THE CHIEF--THIS IS SACRED GROUND NOW.

IT'S BEEN BLESSED BY THE GROUP OF INDIANS AND THE CHIEF THAT WAS HERE.

THEY HAD AN OFFICIAL PIPE CEREMONY.

Huell: REALLY?

YEAH, A REAL INDIAN PIPE CEREMONY ON THAT SACRED GROUND.

AND THE SCULPTURE IS BY A LOCAL SCULPTOR, SIMI DABAH, WHO LIVES IN JOSHUA TREE.

AND THEY WENT AND SELECTED THAT, PLACED IT ON THE SITE TO MARK THE SITE.

Huell: SO, IT'S--THIS IS GROWING INTO MORE THAN JUST A MURAL NOW.

NOW YOU'VE DONE IT.

WELL, WE'VE HAD--WE'VE HAD 2 NEW ART GALLERIES HAVE OPENED SINCE WE STARTED DOING THIS.

AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS BEGINNING TO ENJOY A DEEPER MEANING AND EXPRESSION THROUGH THE ARTS, AND OUR MURALS HAVE SPAWNED THAT.

Huell: I NEVER HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEW IDEAS COME TO TOWN, AND IT'S SPARKED A REAL DIFFERENT INTEREST THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

THIS IS HOW WE START A PROJECT.

AND OUR ARTIST FIRST DOES A MAQUETTE, WHICH IS A PAINTING THAT WILL BECOME THEN TRANSFERRED ONTO THE WALL AND ULTIMATELY WILL BECOME THE MURAL.

BUT IT STARTS WITH A PAINTING.

AND FROM THAT, WE DO THE ARTWORK ON THE BUILDING.

AND IT'S 98 FEET BY 14 FEET WHEN IT GETS UP IN THE WALL.

THIS ONE IS.

Huell: WOW.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE AND HOW YOU DO IT.

WELL, BASICALLY, I WAS INVITED--AND VERY HONORED TO BE INVITED--TO TWENTYNINE PALMS BY THE ACTION COUNCIL TO DO A PIECE THAT PAYS HOMAGE AND TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH CAMPBELL.

AND THEY WERE PIONEERS THAT REALLY SORT OF EXEMPLIFIED THE SPIRIT OF THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY--THE IDEA OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY JUST WENT OUT ON THEIR OWN AND REALLY JUST PURSUED THEIR GOALS AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND DREAMS.

AND-- Huell: HAD YOU EVER BEEN TO TWENTYNINE PALMS BEFORE-- FIRST TIME, WHEN I WAS INVITED BY BETH WIEDERHOLD AND DAVE MEYER TO COME DOWN AND VISIT THE TOWN.

AND, UH, I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

AND I'LL OFTEN JUST LOOK OUT OVER THE HORIZON AT THE MOUNTAINS OVER IN THIS SECTION HERE AND TO...LOOK AT THE COLORS AND SEE WHAT COLORS I'M GONNA USE AS A SOURCE OF-- AS A MODEL, ACTUALLY.

YOU KNOW-- Huell: YEAH.

AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, TOO.

YEAH.

IT'S NOT EASY-- IT'S VERY EASY TO BE INSPIRED HERE.

YOU KNOW?

HEH HEH HEH!

Huell: A LOT OF NICE PEOPLE YOU'VE MET OUT HERE?

PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

I MEAN, THE ACTION COUNCIL TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE--THEY'LL STOP AND TALK, AND IT'S JUST--IT'S JUST NICE.

I MEAN-- Huell: THEY DON'T BOTHER YOU, DO THEY?

NO, NOT AT ALL.

YEAH.

'CAUSE I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS TO TALK AND WORK AT THE SAME TIME, SO--HEH HEH HEH!

I'M ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT IT'S JUST GREAT.

THE PEOPLE ARE REALLY SUPPORTIVE.

AND THAT'S ONE APPEAL FOR THIS PROJECT FOR ME, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE THIS ON THEIR OWN.

THEY DIDN'T COUNT ON, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF ART PROGRAMS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN CITIES WHERE--THEY'RE JUST DOING IT ON THEIR OWN, AND THIS IS KIND OF A LABOR OF LOVE.

AND FOR ANY ARTIST, I MEAN, THAT'S, LIKE, THE BIGGEST HONOR--TO BE ASKED TO BE A PART OF IT, YOU KNOW?

SO, I'M, LIKE, THRILLED AND HONORED AT THE SAME TIME.

Huell: NOW, THESE ARE SOME OF THE ORIGINALS RIGHT HERE, AREN'T THEY?

YES.

Huell: THESE ARE THE HARD-CORE BELIEVERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

YES.

THEY ARE THE BELIEVERS.

IN FACT, ONE OF OUR FIRST STORIES TALKED ABOUT THAT-- "THE DREAMS OF A FEW BECAME THE REALITY OF MANY" WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST LEADS FOR OUR STORIES.

Huell: OK. WELL, LET'S GET A SHOT HERE, LOUIE, OF EVERYBODY.

HEY.

THESE ARE THE HARD-CORE BUNCH RIGHT HERE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

THESE ARE THE ONES WHO STARTED IT ALL.

THESE ARE THE PIONEERS OF TWENTYNINE PALMS WHO ARE CARRYING ON IN THE PIONEER TRADITION.

GIVE US A WAVE.

HEY!

Huell: THERE THEY ARE... [CHUCKLING] Huell: A REALLY NICE GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH BIG PLANS FOR THEIR LITTLE TOWN.

SO, THE GOOD CITIZENS OF TWENTYNINE PALMS HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THEY'VE SET OUT TO DO.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAVE THEY BEGUN TO FILL THEIR DESERT COMMUNITY WITH BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC MURALS, BUT THEY'VE ALSO QUICKLY REKINDLED A SENSE OF PRIDE AMONG THE RESIDENTS AS WELL.

AND WE JOIN IN THE SALUTE TO TWENTYNINE PALMS PIONEERS PAST AND PRESENT.

WE'VE HAD 2 NEW ART GALLERIES HAVE OPENED SINCE WE STARTED DOING THIS.

AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS BEGINNING TO ENJOY A DEEPER MEANING AND EXPRESSION THROUGH THE ARTS, AND OUR MURALS HAVE SPAWNED THAT.

Huell: I NEVER HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEW IDEAS COME TO TOWN, AND IT'S SPARKED A REAL DIFFERENT INTEREST THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.