>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER.

GET READY FOR AN ADVENTURE.

AND IF I HAD MORE TIME, I'D SET THIS WHOLE THING UP, BUT I'M RUNNING A FEW MINUTES FOR MY LUNCH DATE.

SHE LIVES HERE IN BEVERLY HILLS.

AND I GOT TO HER HOUSE, SHE GAVE ME GREAT DIRECTIONS, AND SHE WAS WAITING RIGHT OUT IN FRONT FOR ME TO PICK HER UP.

ANN, YOU GIVE GREAT DIRECTIONS.

>> WELL, I HAVE TO.

MY LITTLE STREET IS ONLY ONE BLOCK LONG.

ONE END OF IT BUTTONS INTO SUNSET, THE OTHER END COMES AROUND TO WHITTIER.

BUT YOU MISS IT ON WHITTIER UNLESS YOU DO AS I SAID, AND YOU DID, STAY IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR LEFT TURN.

Huell: BOY, DOES SHE GIVE GREAT DIRECTIONS.

AND YOU ALSO SAID, LOOK FOR THE HOUSE--THE 2-STORY WHITE HOUSE WITH THE BLUE DOOR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S A HANDICAP BLUE COLOR.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT UNTIL AFTER I'D CHOSEN IT.

AND WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH MY HANDICAP SIGN IN MY HAND, I THOUGHT, [GASPS], I'VE SEEN THAT-- Huell: IT MATCHES THE DOOR.

>> IT MATCHES THE DOOR, YES.

Huell: AND YOU SAID THERE WAS A CHAIR ON THE FRONT PORCH.

>> THERE WERE 2 CHAIRS.

SOMEONE ELSE LIKED THE OTHER ONE BETTER THAN I DID.

Huell: IN BEVERLY HILLS, SOMEBODY-- >> IN BEVERLY HILLS, YES.

I'VE ARRANGED TO PUT A LITTLE WHITE CHAIN ON THIS.

Huell: OK. >> AND THEY'LL COME BACK WITH THEM.

Huell: THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

HOW LONG--THIS IS TRADITIONAL OLD BEVERLY HILLS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THIS HOUSE?

>> SINCE 1943.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING.

IN THE SAME HOUSE.

>> I KID YOU NOT.

IN THE SAME HOUSE.

I KNOW THE SOUND OF EVERY DOOR CLOSING.

I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS HOUSE.

Huell: MM-HMM.

IT'S GOT GOOD BONES.

IT'S GOT GOOD-- >> OH, IT HAS GOOD BONES.

Huell: KARMA.

>> GOOD--OH, HONEY, IT...IT LIVES A WONDERFUL LIFE.

IT DID HAVE 2 MAGNOLIA TREES.

Huell: WELL, HERE'S ONE RIGHT HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER ONE?

>> WELL, IT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.

YOU CAN STILL SEE THE NAILS WHERE IT WAS HOLDING IT IN.

AND MY HUSBAND SURPRISED ME WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN BY HAVING THE DRIVEWAY RESURFACED.

AND IT DIDN'T DAWN ON HIM TO SAY, "DON'T GO NEAR THAT LUMP IN THE DRIVEWAY.

JUST PILE OVER IT."

Huell: SO THEY TOOK THE-- >> THEY CUT IT.

THEY--THEY KILLED IT.

Huell: WELL, YOU'VE STILL GOT A BEAUTIFUL YARD, A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, A BEAUTIFUL DOOR.

YOU'RE DRESSED FIT TO KILL.

>> NO.

Huell: I SAID THIS WAS GONNA BE INFORMAL, LOW-KEY.

>> IT'S A SHIRT AND PANTS AND A WHITE COTTON BLOUSE.

Huell: OK. OK. >> ALL RIGHT.

Huell: I'VE COME TO PICK YOU UP.

TAKE MY ARM.

'CAUSE LISTEN, WHEN I PICK YOU UP FOR LUNCH, WHEN I INVITE YOU TO LUNCH, I PICK YOU UP AT THE FRONT DOOR.

>> YOU ARE A CLASS ACT.

Huell: AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, THERE'S THE CAR RIGHT OVER THERE.

YOU DON'T MIND RIDING IN MY LITTLE FORD, DO YOU?

>> I HOPE IT'S A FORD.

Huell: IT'S AN AMERICAN CAR.

>> YOU BETCHA.

Huell: OK, WE'RE WALKING.

OH, BEAUTIFUL ROSES, TOO.

>> I KNOW.

I'M SO ASHAMED.

I HAVEN'T DEAD-HEADED ANY OF THEM, AND I BET I DON'T GET A SECOND BLOOMING UNLESS I-- Huell: WOW.

LOOK AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

BOY, THIS IS SUCH A CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD HOUSE.

>> IT WAS SO MUCH PRETTIER WITH 2 TREES.

Huell: WELL, YOU CAN'T BRING THAT TREE BACK.

>> I'M LOSING MY BIG, BEAUTIFUL TREE.

Huell: RIGHT OVER HERE?

>> YES.

OHH.

Huell: WELL.

>> THAT'S THE HARDEST-- Huell: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STREET, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

WE'RE HERE AT THE CAR, WE'RE LOADING UP, AND WE'RE HEADING TO LUNCH.

GIVE THE CAMERA A WAVE, ANN.

WE'RE OFF TO LUNCH.

>> SEE YOU LATER.

Huell: HERE WE GO.

STOP NUMBER 2.

BECAUSE NOW I CAN REVEAL THE FACT THAT I DON'T HAVE A LUNCH DATE WITH ONE ANN, I HAVE A LUNCH DATE WITH 2 ANNS, RIGHT?

>> BUT ONE HAS AN "E" ON THE NAME AND THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT THE "E." >> I'VE GOT THE "E." Huell: THE OTHER ANN TOLD ME YOU HAD AN "E." >> SHE GOT CHEATED.

SHE WAS CHEATED.

Huell: SHE SAID YOU HAD A DANGLING "E." AN EXTRA "E" THAT WASN'T NECESSARY.

>> BUT IT'S PART OF THE NAME.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT AT LUNCH.

THIS IS AMAZING.

YOU DON'T LIVE THAT FAR FROM THE OTHER ANN.

AND YOUR DOOR'S RED, HERS IS BLUE.

>> WELL, WE NEED SOME WHITE IN THERE, DON'T WE?

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, YOU'VE GOT THE WHITE.

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.

NOW, THIS IS WHO?

WHO'S THIS FELLA?

>> THIS IS MY SON DANA.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

PLEASURE.

Huell: DID YOU COME OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE YOUR MOM WAS NOT JUST GOING OFF WITH ANYBODY FOR LUNCH TODAY?

>> I ALWAYS CHECK UP ON HER TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Huell: DOES HE REALLY KEEP A PRETTY GOOD EYE ON YOU?

>> OH, YES.

YES, HE DOES.

HE REALLY SQUASHES A LOT OF MY SOCIAL LIFE THAT WAY.

Huell: WELL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING HER GO OFF WITH ME TODAY.

>> WELL, IT'S MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

Huell: 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WITH THE OTHER ANN, AND SHE'S KIND OF A WILD ONE.

>> I KNOW SHE IS.

SHE CLAIMS THAT SHE CAME IN ON THE "MAYFLOWER."

AND SHE CLAIMS THAT SHE CAME IN ON THE FIRST WAGON TRAIN GOING WEST.

SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, I THINK YOU'RE IN FOR A REAL TROUBLE.

Huell: I THINK WE ARE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WERE STANDING OUT HERE WAITING FOR JUST A SECOND, AND YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT TREE.

YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT A TREE IN YOUR YARD, TOO.

>> CAN YOU SEE THE FRUIT ON IT?

Huell: YEAH, THEY'RE--WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> THEY'RE CALLED LOQUATS.

Huell: LOQUATS?

>> LOQUAT, YEAH.

Huell: AND WAS THAT TREE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE?

>> NO.

IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STREET, THERE'S A TREE THERE JUST LOADED WITH THE FRUIT.

AND SOME TIME, I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I GUESS A LITTLE BIRD CAME OVER AND DROPPED A SEED.

Huell: SO YOU GOT A LOQUAT IN YOUR YARD.

>> IT JUST GROWED.

Huell: AND YOU'VE LIVED IN YOUR HOUSE A LONG TIME AS WELL.

>> YES.

I THINK ABOUT 54 YEARS, MAYBE MORE.

Huell: IN THE SAME HOUSE.

>> RIGHT.

I DECIDED WHEN I MOVED OUT FROM NEW YORK, THIS WAS THE LAST MOVE I WAS GOING TO MAKE.

Huell: WOW.

>> SO HERE I AM.

Huell: WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FRONT DOOR.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TREE IN YOUR YARD.

I GOT TO MEET YOUR SON.

>> MY PLEASURE.

Huell: THIS IS--NOW, WE'LL HAVE HER BACK-- >> SYNCHRONIZING WATCHES.

Huell: YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BEFORE NOON.

I'LL HAVE THEM BACK BY 3:00.

>> FANTASTIC.

Huell: IS THAT OK?

>> THAT'LL BE WONDERFUL.

Huell: UNLESS--WHO KNOWS?

WE MIGHT GET DIVERTED.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GONNA END UP.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CALL MY CELL PHONE.

Huell: WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF WE'RE RUNNING LATE.

>> BUT WITH THE 2 ANNS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

Huell: BOY, THAT'S THE TRUTH.

WE GOT ONE ANN OVER HERE.

COME ON AND GET MY ARM.

AND I'M PUTTING THE OTHER ANNE IN THE BACKSEAT.

>> Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: THE DOG'S OUT?

>> NO, MY CAT, BLACKY.

Huell: CAT'S OUT.

>> DOGS ARE IN THE YARD AND THE CAT'S OUT.

THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF MY DUTIES.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OFF.

>> HAVE FUN, Y'ALL.

Huell: WE'LL BE BACK IN A LITTLE WHILE.

>> TAKE CARE.

Huell: WE'RE OFF TO LUNCH WITH THE 2 ANNS.

>> YAY.

WHOOPIE!

HERE WE GO.

Huell: OK, TIME HAS PASSED.

WE ARE NOW IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

I'M WITH THE 2 ANNS.

YOU'RE WITHOUT THE "E." >> I'M WITHOUT THE "E." Huell: YOU'RE WITH THE "E." >> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: OK, NOW, WE ARE COMING TO LUNCH AT A PLACE THAT ANN NUMBER ONE SAID SHE WANTED TO COME TO.

SHE SAW THE PROGRAM I DID ON THIS PLACE ON TELEVISION AND WANTED TO COME SEE IT FOR HERSELF.

WHAT DO YOU THINK AT FIRST GLANCE, ANN?

>> IT IS DELIGHTFUL.

Huell: ISN'T THIS BEAUTIFUL?

>> OH.

>> OH, IT'S A GARDEN.

Huell: IT'S THE FRENCH GARDEN.

>> OF COURSE IT'S A GARDEN.

Huell: COME ON, HERE WE GO.

AND YOU HAVEN'T EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.

>> NO, I HAVEN'T.

Huell: ISN'T THIS A SURPRISE?

>> YEAH.

I WISH WE COULD MOVE IT TO BEVERLY HILLS.

Huell: HA HA!

THIS IS WHAT'S SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THIS PLACE IS THAT IT'S KIND OF HIDDEN HERE IN THE INDUSTRIAL PART OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

>> YOU THINK WE'D EVER BE ABLE TO FIND IT AGAIN?

Huell: ANN WOULD, WOULDN'T YOU?

>> UH?

Huell: FIND IT AGAIN.

>> OH, I'LL FIND IT.

I'LL STUDY MY MAP AND-- Huell: WE'RE OVER HERE.

LET'S GO GET SEATED.

>> THERE'S OUR MENU.

Huell: THERE'S THE MENU.

BENOIT IS GONNA BE HERE IN A MINUTE TO GREET US, BUT WE'LL GO OVER HERE.

WE'VE GOT THE TABLE RESERVED OVER HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WELL, I AM ABSOLUTELY STUNNED.

Huell: WE'RE HEADING OVER TO OUR TABLE IN THE FRENCH GARDEN.

WE'RE READY TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE LUNCH, BUT WE'RE GONNA TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE WE EAT.

AND HERE HE COMES.

HERE IS THE OWNER, BENOIT.

>> WELCOME TO THE FRENCH GARDEN.

>> BLESS YOUR HEART.

HOW NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> IT'S AN HONOR.

IT'S AN HONOR.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: SHE SAW THIS ON TELEVISION.

SHE SAW THE PROGRAM WE DID ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WELCOME.

IT'S A GREAT DAY TODAY.

>> I'M ENCHANTED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

>> IT WASN'T TOO HARD TO FIND IT?

>> OH, SHE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO GET HERE.

>> NO, SHE DOESN'T.

SHE'LL GO HOME AND CHECK WITH HER MAP.

>> I'LL FIND IT.

>> I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

Huell: THANK YOU FOR RESERVING THE TABLE FOR US.

>> YOU LIKE THIS TABLE?

IT'S NICE, IN THE SHADE.

>> IT'S LOVELY.

IT'S LOVELY.

THE FLOWERS ARE SO PRETTY.

Huell: I'VE NEVER HAD A TABLE RESERVED FOR ME BEFORE HERE.

YOU ALL ARE VERY SPECIAL.

>> CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK TO START?

Huell: WELL, BENOIT TOOK OUR DRINK ORDERS.

AND THEN, BEFORE WE ORDERED OUR LUNCH, IT WAS TIME TO SETTLE IN AND TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE LIVES OF THESE 2 REMARKABLE LADIES.

OK, NOW WE'RE KIND OF ADJUSTED HERE.

WE'RE DOWN AT THE TABLE.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE OUR DISCUSSION.

FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE MET, WHICH WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN PALM DESERT.

WE WERE ALL ATTENDING A FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR THE LIVING DESERT, RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

Huell: WE WERE ALL AT THE SAME TABLE.

>> YES.

Huell: BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER AT THE TIME.

>> NO.

I KNEW ANNE.

ANNE KNEW ME.

THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE TOTAL STRANGERS.

AND AS I SAT DOWN AND PUT MY NAPKIN ON MY LAP, I LOOKED UP AND RIGHT ACROSS FROM ME I SAW A FACE I RECOGNIZED.

AND ACCUSINGLY, I SAID, "YOU'RE HUELL HOWSER!"

AND HE VERY POLITELY NODDED, SAID, "YES, I AM."

WITH THAT, I, WITHOUT HESITATION, TURNED TO A TOTAL STRANGER--I MUST HAVE BEEN OUT OF MY MIND--ON MY LEFT AND SAID, "SIR, WOULD YOU MIND CHANGING PLACES WITH ME MR. HOWSER?

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I NEED TO ASK HIM."

Huell: SO WE BECAME FRIENDS IMMEDIATELY.

>> HE CAME ACROSS.

THEN YOU SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE TWO OF US.

SOMEBODY TOOK A PICTURE OF THE TWO OF US, WHICH DELIGHTED ME.

AND YOU'VE JUST MADE GOING TO PALM SPRINGS WORTHWHILE.

Huell: WE'RE NEW BEST FRIENDS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: THE 2 ANNS AND I ARE.

>> YES.

WE GO AS AN ENTRY.

Huell: WE'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU, IN THAT INITIAL CONVERSATION, SAID, "I SAW YOUR PROGRAM ABOUT THE FRENCH GARDEN.

I WANT TO GO THERE FOR LUNCH."

AND I SAID, "LET ME TAKE YOU."

>> IT WAS THE FASTEST INVITATION FROM A COLD FRIEND I'VE EVER MET IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Huell: BUT YOU'RE USED TO THIS, AREN'T YOU?

HANGING OUT WITH HER?

>> OH, YES.

IT'S QUITE A TRIP I CAN TELL YOU.

Huell: DOES SHE--I DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS IN FRONT OF HER, BUT SHE DOESN'T EMBARRASS YOU, BUT SHE DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF APPROACHING PEOPLE, DOESN'T SHE?

>> OH, YES.

THERE'S NOTHING SHY ABOUT ANNIE.

AND SHE'S SO INTERESTING THAT I JUST GO ALONG AND LISTEN.

YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL, SHE'S OLDER THAN I AM, SO...

I HAVE TO BOW TO AGE, YOU KNOW.

Huell: HOW LONG HAVE YOU ALL KNOWN EACH OTHER?

>> BEFORE THAT, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN I TOLD MY DAUGHTER THE STORY, SHE SAYS, "MOTHER, YOU PICKED HIM UP?"

I SAID, "HE'S MY BEST PICKUP."

Huell: YEAH, BOY, SHE DID PICK ME UP.

NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW LONG THE 2 ANNS HAVE BEEN FRIENDS.

>> WELL, IN OUR BUSINESS, YOU AUTOMATICALLY KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS A NAME THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR, SO YOU HURL YOURSELF AT THOSE PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.

YOU'RE JUST DELIGHTED.

AND ANNIE AND I HAVE HURLED OURSELVES AT EACH OTHER AT DIFFERENT PARTIES.

WE ALWAYS SAY GOOD-BYE TO EACH OTHER.

THE BEST THING WE DID, WE TOOK A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA TOGETHER.

AND IT WAS THE MOST FUN THING.

ANNE HAS NEVER MET A STRANGER.

SHE PICKED UP PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT.

WE HAD GENTLEMEN WHO COLLECTED US AT THE DOOR WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO TO DINNER.

Huell: SO YOU ALL HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> WELL, NOT THAT MANY.

MAYBE 6 OR 7 YEARS.

Huell: TELL EVERYBODY THE ANN MILLER STORY, 'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONE I WANTED.

HAVE YOU HEARD HER ANN MILLER STORY?

>> NO, I'M CURIOUS, BECAUSE ANNIE AS PART OF OUR GROUP.

Huell: THE 3 ANNS.

>> IT WAS ANNIE MILLER, ANNIE JEFFREYS, AND ANNIE RUTHERFORD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, ANN MILLER AND HER MOTHER WERE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS TO MY MOTHER.

AND THEY HAD JOINED THE MOTION PICTURE MOTHER'S GROUP.

SO ANNIE MILLER AND I WENT AS AN ENTRY.

AND IT WAS THE 2 ANNS.

AND THEN WE FELL IN LOVE WITH ANNE JEFFREYS.

Huell: IT BECAME THE 3 ANNS.

>> IT BECAME THE 3 ANNS, YES.

Huell: ANN MILLER HAS LEFT US NOW, BUT THE 2 ANNS ARE STILL VERY MUCH HERE TOGETHER.

>> AT THE TIME, ANN MILLER WAS NO "E." SHE WAS JUST A-N-N.

I WAS JUST A-N-N. AND THEN WE LET HER COME IN WITH HER DANGLING "E." BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT, I'VE KEPT HER IN THE ACT.

>> SHE'S STILL DANGLING MY "E." I WAS BORN ANNIE.

A-N-N-I-E. AND I TOOK THE "I" OUT AND BECAME ANNE.

Huell: SHE'S JUST DOING THAT-- >> SHE'S DANGLING MY--I'LL GET YOU LATER.

Huell: NOW, LET'S--WE HAVEN'T TECHNICALLY INTRODUCED YOU LADIES TO THE AUDIENCE.

I'M SURE SOME OF THEM HAVE FIGURED IT ALL OUT NOW, BUT INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> WELL, MY NAME IS ANNE JEFFREYS.

AND WE'RE BIG FANS OF HUELL'S.

I WATCH THE SHOW ALL THE TIME, AND I WONDER HOW HE GETS AROUND.

HE TRAVELS THE MOST INTERESTING PLACES-- Huell: WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOU.

>> OH, I DON'T WANT TO TALK--I KNOW ABOUT ME, SO.

Huell: BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD THIS AMAZING CAREER IN MOVIES, IN TELEVISION, ON STAGE AND BROADWAY.

>> YES, THEATER.

>> HAD HER OWN SHOW ON TELEVISION.

Huell: THAT WAS "TOPPER."

>> "TOPPER," YEAH.

Huell: SO PEOPLE RECOGNIZE YOU AND KNOW YOU FROM A MYRIAD OF SOURCES OVER THE YEARS--MOVIES, TV, BROADWAY.

>> IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL TRIP.

I TELL YOU, I'VE ENJOYED IT.

AND MY FAVORITE, THOUGH, IS THEATER.

Huell: WHEN THE TWO OF YOU ARE OUT TOGETHER, IS THERE ANY SENSE OF--I DON'T WANT TO SAY COMPETITION, BUT WHO MIGHT RECOGNIZE YOU AS OPPOSED TO WHO MIGHT RECOGNIZE ANN?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T--IF THEY RECOGNIZE US AT ALL, THEY SAY, "YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK LIKE--YOU LOOK LIKE--YOU LOOK LIKE ANNE JEFFREYS."

AND I SAY, "OH, I DO?

HOW IS SHE?

HAVE YOU SEEN HER LATELY?"

[HUELL LAUGHS] Huell: AND ANN RUTHERFORD, YOU'RE ANOTHER STORY, BECAUSE I TURNED ON TURNER MOVIE CLASSICS 2 NIGHTS AGO AND THERE YOU ARE WITH MICKEY ROONEY IN THE ANDY HARDY MOVIES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: YOU DID HOW MANY OF THOSE?

>> WE MADE 17 OR 18.

I THINK I WAS IN ABOUT 16.

WE AS ACTORS OWE SUCH A DEBT TO TED TURNER, WHO IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM BOUGHT ALL THOSE NEGATIVES AND RUNS THEM.

BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM THE DAYS OF THE STUDIOS, WHERE WE HAD ONE--EVERY STUDIO HAD A STOCK COMPANY OF PEOPLE.

YOU COULD TELL BY THE SUPPORTING PLAYERS WHAT THE STUDIO WAS.

Huell: AND YOU WERE WITH MGM.

>> I WAS WITH METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER.

AND THAT WAS THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT WAS-- Huell: AND THE WHITE HOUSE INCLUDED YOUR ROLE IN... >> "GONE WITH THE WIND."

Huell: "GONE WITH THE WIND."

YOU PLAYED SCARLETT O'HARA'S YOUNGER SISTER ON "GONE WITH THE WIND."

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND I DID A SERIES, ONLY 3, WITH RED SKELTON, "THE WHISTLING."

WE WHISTLED IN DIXIE, WE WHISTLED IN THE DARK, WE WHISTLED IN BROOKLYN, WE WHISTLED EVERY PLACE.

BUT THE WONDERFUL THING IS THAT TED TURNER, BY RE-RELEASING THESE AFTER ALL OF THESE MANY YEARS, BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES THAT EVERYTHING WAS SOLD OFF, THAT SUDDENLY GRANDCHILDREN REALIZED THAT GRANDPA USED TO BE SOMEBODY.

Huell: YEAH.

>> THAT GRANDMA WAS QUITE A DISH IN HER DAY.

Huell: NOW, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE YOUR NAMES AT ALL.

BUT FOR ANYONE OF A CERTAIN AGE AND ABOVE--I WAS TELLING PEOPLE THAT I WAS HAVING LUNCH TODAY WITH ANNE JEFFREYS AND ANN RUTHERFORD, AND THEIR EYES LIT UP AND THEY KNEW EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD DONE IN YOUR CAREER.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, THAT'S WONDERFUL TO KNOW.

Huell: WELL, YOU KNOW THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO A PART OF MY LIFE, I DON'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENCE.

IF I HAD TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO MAKE A LIVING, I WOULD STARVE TO DEATH.

Huell: YEAH.

>> ALL I KNOW IS MY TRADE, WHICH IS ACTING AND SINGING.

Huell: WOW.

WELL, YOU HOOKED UP WITH A GOOD PARTNER HERE.

>> I SURE DID, DIDN'T I?

Huell: BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY YOUR DNA AS WELL.

>> THE MOST AMAZING THING WAS MY STUDIO AND L.B.

MAYER WERE NOT GOING TO LET ME BE BORROWED BY DAVID SELZNICK FOR "GONE WITH THE WIND."

MR. MAYER CALLED ME IN, HE SAID, "I WANT TO BE THE ONE TO TELL YOU, MY SON-IN-LAW'S TRYING TO BORROW YOU, BUT WE CAN'T LET YOU DO IT.

IT'S A NOTHING PART."

I SAID, "WHAT IS IT?"

HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW.

SOMETHING TO DO WITH SLAVES AND THE CIVIL WAR," AND THOSE PICTURES NEVER DID MAKE ANY MONEY.

AND HE SAID, "WE CAN'T PUT YOUR NAME ABOVE THE TITLE IN OUR PICTURES AND THEN LEND YOU OUT TO DO NOTHING."

WELL, OF COURSE, I BURST OUT CRYING.

I SAID, "WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PICTURE?"

'CAUSE ALL I KNEW WAS THAT DAVID SELZNICK WAS SPENDING ABOUT 2 YEARS GETTING READY TO MAKE THIS "GONE WITH THE WIND" THING.

AND WHEN I CAME UP WITH THE NAME MARGARET MITCHELL AND WAS IT "GONE WITH THE WIND" AND HE SAID YES, THAT'S WHEN I BEAT HIM TO IT AND I BURST OUT CRYING.

HE WAS THE EMOTIONAL ONE USUALLY.

AND HE SAID, "WELL, IF YOU WANT TO RUIN YOUR CAREER."

I SAID, "WHAT CAREER?"

HE SAID, "WELL, YOU GOT A PRETTY GOOD ONE GOING NOW."

AND I SAID, "I DON'T CARE.

I WANT TO GO WITH THEM.

I JUST WANT TO BE ON THE SET AND WATCH THIS BOOK COME TO LIFE AROUND ME."

SO IF ANYBODY HAD TOLD HIM AND ME IN 1939 THAT 71 YEARS LATER I WOULD STILL BE RIDING THE WIND.

Huell: THE TWO OF YOU ALL, IT'S SUCH AN INTERESTING COMBINATION BECAUSE YOU'RE A LITTLE MORE RESERVED.

>> WELL, THE DIFFERENCE IS, I'M REALLY RATHER SHY.

AND I NEVER WENT AFTER ANY ROLE IN MY LIFE.

AND ANNIE WOULD GO VOOM, YOU KNOW.

SHE SAW A ROLE SHE WANTED, SHE WENT IN AND MADE SURE SHE GOT IT BY HOOK OR BY--I NEVER DID THAT.

I'M SORT OF--I THINK THE WORD IS SHY.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Huell: WELL, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR BUSINESS.

>> WELL, BUT NOT WHEN I GET ON STAGE.

WHEN I GET ON STAGE AND THAT SPOTLIGHT HITS ME, I'M HOME AND I'M HAPPY AND I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

SO.

Huell: IS IT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE TWO OF YOU WHEN YOU GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS, OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT IN YOUR LIFE?

I MEAN, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO-- A PLAY TO BE IN.

>> YES, I AM.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS BREWING RIGHT NOW.

DON'T MOVE BACK, BUT IT'S TO BE TO LONDON.

WOULD YOU MISS ME IF I WENT TO LONDON?

Huell: YOU THINK SHE SHOULD GO TO LONDON TO BE IN A PLAY?

>> OH, I COULD GO TO LONDON.

SHE WENT TO LONDON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO?

Huell: WOULD YOU GO TO LONDON TO SEE HER IN A PLAY?

>> YOU BET I WOULD.

YOU BETCHA.

Huell: WOULD YOU DO ANOTHER MOVIE?

>> NO.

NO.

NO, THAT'S WORK.

YOU HAVE TO REHEARSE.

I MEAN, NO, THAT'S WORK.

STAGE IS DIFFERENT.

YOU GET IMMEDIATE REACTION.

THERE'S AN AUDIENCE.

YOU HEAR THAT LAUGHTER AND YOU'RE THE STRONGEST PERSON ON EARTH.

Huell: DID YOU ENJOY YOUR BROADWAY OR YOUR "TOPPER" AND YOUR MOVIE DAYS BETTER?

>> WELL, OF COURSE "TOPPER" WAS WITH MY HUSBAND ROBERT STERLING, SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

WE DID 79 OF THOSE BEFORE-- Huell: 79 "TOPPERS."

TELEVISION "TOPPERS."

>> SO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME, THEY SAY, "OH, WE GREW UP WATCHING 'TOPPER', AND WE'D LOVE TO SEE THEM AGAIN."

AND I SAID, "I HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER THEM."

Huell: WHERE IS "TOPPER"?

WHERE ARE THE "TOPPER" FILMS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS THEM NOW.

AT ONE TIME THE KING BROTHERS HAD THEM.

Huell: THEY WERE THE GAME SHOW PEOPLE, WEREN'T THEY, THE KING BROTHERS.

WELL, SEE, WE GOT TO FIND "TOPPER" AND GET IT BACK ON THE AIR, ALONG WITH YOUR ANDY HARDY MOVIES.

>> IT CAN'T HURT.

WE JUST GET OUR HANDS ON TED TURNER.

Huell: DO YOU STILL GET RESIDUALS FROM "GONE WITH THE WIND"?

ARE YOU GETTING BIG CHECKS IN THE MAIL EVERY WEEK?

>> NO, NO.

THAT ONLY STARTED IN 1949.

Huell: SO YOU MISSED OUT ON ALL THAT.

>> I MISSED OUT ON ALL OF THAT.

BUT I'M SO AHEAD IN MY LIFE, THE WONDERFUL TIMES THAT I'VE HAD.

>> I DIDN'T EVEN GO OUT TO HOLLYWOOD UNTIL 1941.

AND I STARTED OUT AS AN OPERA SINGER.

Huell: REALLY?

>> I HAD MY OWN RADIO SHOW AT RALEIGH-DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA WHEN I WAS 10.

15 MINUTES OF SONG A DAY.

AND I WAS TRAINING.

MY MOTHER WANTED ME TO BE AN OPERA SINGER.

AND I TRAINED AND TRAINED.

I WENT TO COLLEGE AND MAJORED, OF COURSE, IN MUSIC.

AND MY FIRST FILM WAS WITH JEANETTE MacDONALD AND NELSON EDDY IN "I MARRIED AN ANGEL."

AND I HAD BEEN IN LOVE WITH NELSON SINCE I WAS 5 YEARS OLD.

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TAKE ME TO ALL OF HIS FILMS.

AND IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL.

AND I TRIED--THEY WERE GOING TO TEST ME FOR A CONTRACT THERE AT METRO.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN "THE LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE" WITH ANNIE.

Huell: YOU ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MOVIE TOGETHER.

>> WELL, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINING TOGETHER.

>> I WORKED WITH HER HUSBAND, ROBERT STERLING.

OH, HE WAS GORGEOUS AND A GOOD ACTOR.

ALWAYS KNEW HIS DIALOGUE, NEVER RAN INTO THE FURNITURE.

YOU KNOW, HIT HIS MARK RIGHT EVERY TIME.

Huell: YOU KNOW, THIS IS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE I'M TORN BETWEEN WHY I ENJOY YOU ALL SO MUCH.

ON ONE HAND, IT'S THE WONDERFUL OLD STORIES OF HOLLYWOOD BACK WHEN IT WAS REALLY HOLLYWOOD.

>> IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL ERA.

Huell: I KNOW, BUT WAIT A MINUTE, I WANT TO GET TO THE SECOND REASON I ENJOY BEING AROUND YOU.

IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE WITH THESE 2 LADIES, YOU'RE NOT JUST HEARING ABOUT THE OLD DAYS AND GREAT OLD STORIES, BUT YOU'RE TAPPING INTO THE ENERGY THAT YOU BOTH HAVE FOR LIFE TODAY.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN AFTER ANNIE TO WRITE A BOOK, AND THEY'VE BEEN AFTER ME TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT OUR LIVES.

AND I COPY EVERYTHING SHE DOES ANYWAY.

AND SHE TOLD THEM, SHE SAID, "I'M NOT GONNA WRITE A BOOK, I'M TOO BUSY LIVING MY LIFE."

Huell: RIGHT.

>> SO WHEN THEY CAME TO ME, I SAID, "I'M NOT GONNA WRITE A BOOK, I'M TOO BUSY."

YOU KNOW, I'M LIVING AND I'M ENJOYING AND I'M BEGINNING TO--COURSE, SHE IS A LOT OLDER, YOU KNOW.

BUT--[LAUGHS] Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS WHAT'S SO FASCINATING ABOUT THE TWO OF THEM.

DRIVING DOWN HERE THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL PART OF DOWNTOWN LA AND LOOKING OUT AT THE GARMENT DISTRICT AND THE TOY DISTRICT, YOU ALL WERE BOTH FASCINATED AT WHAT YOU SAW--AT THE PINATA PLACE THAT WE PASSED BY.

I MEAN, SO LIFE ISN'T SOMETHING JUST TO BE LIVED IN THE PAST, IT'S SOMETHING TO BE-- >> NOW.

Huell: NOW.

>> NOW.

THERE'S A SONG FROM NORWAY, EDVARD GRIEG, IT SAID, ♪ NOW, NOW, NOT TOMORROW, BUT NOW ♪ AND THAT'S IT.

YOU HAVE TO LIVE EACH DAY AT ITS FULLEST BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS.

Huell: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW--I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW'S GONNA BRING.

I KNOW WHAT TODAY HAS BROUGHT.

I KNOW WHAT THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, OUT THERE WATCHING RIGHT NOW WHO ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO SEE THE TWO OF YOU AND TO REMEMBER ALL THE MOVIES, ALL THE TELEVISION, ALL THE BROADWAY THAT THEY HAVE SEEN YOU DO OVER THE YEARS.

AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO ANNE JEFFREYS AND ANN RUTHERFORD ARE WHO NOW DO AND ARE INTRIGUED AND CURIOUS AND EXCITED THAT THEY'VE LISTENED TO YOU SHARE YOUR STORIES, JUST A SMALL PART OF YOUR STORIES, AND YOUR LIFE LESSONS WITH THEM.

>> BY THE WAY, ANNIE, I HAVE DECIDED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT MY LIFE, AND YOU'RE IN IT.

>> TO DO WHAT?

Huell: SHE'S GONNA WRITE A BOOK ABOUT HER LIFE, AND YOU'RE IN IT.

>> I'LL FIX YOU.

I'LL GET YOU.

NO.

WE'RE TOO BUSY TO SIT AND ROCK.

WHY ANYBODY WANTS TO SIT AND ROCK, HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS.

Huell: YEAH.

>> I PROP MYSELF UP AND GET MYSELF OUT AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.

EVERY DAY-- Huell: AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN THIS WAY ALL YOUR LIVES.

>> MORE OR LESS.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY BE HERE TWICE.

ALL I KNOW IS THIS IS MY ONE AND ONLY TRIP AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING IF I CAN POSSIBLY AVOID IT.

Huell: WELL, WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING TODAY.

WE'RE HERE AT THE FRENCH GARDEN.

I AM ONCE AGAIN SEATED BETWEEN THESE 2 LOVELY LADIES.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THE REST OF THE DAY IS GONNA BRING.

I PROMISED YOUR SON I'D HAVE YOU BACK BY 3:00.

IT'S JUST 1:15 AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED TO EAT.

>> DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, I DON'T.

Huell: WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY WE'VE HAD HERE IN LOS ANGELES WITH THE 2 ANNS.

I HOPE YOU'VE HAD AS MUCH FUN AS WE HAVE.

[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...