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

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

I'M HUELL HOWSER.

GET READY FOR AN ADVENTURE.

ACTUALLY, GET READY FOR 2 ADVENTURES, BECAUSE TODAY WE'RE GOING IN SEARCH OF 2 PLACES HERE IN LOS ANGELES THAT ARE VERY HISTORIC, VERY INTERESTING, BUT SOMEWHAT OBSCURE.

IN FACT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY THEY ARE VERY OBSCURE.

BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES OUR GREATEST TREASURES ARE KIND OF HIDDEN AWAY, KIND OF TUCKED AWAY.

OK, HERE WE GO.

ADVENTURE NUMBER ONE BRINGS US DOWNTOWN.

WE'RE IN LITTLE TOKYO.

ACTUALLY WE'RE RIGHT HERE ON FIRST STREET, AND THERE IT IS.

THERE'S OUR FIRST DESTINATION RIGHT OVER THERE.

CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOIN' TO LOOK AT?

ñ WELL, WE WERE IN LITTLE TOKYO p@ç÷ ON A BIG DAY FOR A BIG TREE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE TREE WE'RE LOOKIN' AT RIGHT NOW, AND THIS JUST ISN'T ANY OLD BIG TREEúaú 0 @@$@@h EITHER.

THIS IS A HISTORIC TREEp pxúúp@p8888888 8@ú@!

A TREE THAT MEANS A LOT TO THE pú' JAPANESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.pt 8 8 WE WERE THERE THE DAY THIS TREE HP@ BECAME AN OFFICIAL LOS ANGELESx÷ úñ÷ñ÷ñ @@ LANDMARK, AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL KEN, YOU'RE WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES OFFICE OF HISTORICPñ RESOURCES.

HOW BIG A DEAL IS ITñ p FOR A TREE TO BE NAMEDppppp ppppp@?@?

A CULTURAL, HISTORICAL MONUMENT÷ HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES÷ >> WELL, I-IT'S A BIG DEAL.úúx THIS IS NOW HISTORIC-CULTURAL÷ú MONUMENT NUMBER 920 IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, AND MOST OF OUR@ HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENTS,@@@@ AS YOU PROBABLY GUESS, ARE BUILDINGS OR, UH, GROUPS OFs BUILDINGS.

BUT TO HAVE A SINGLE TREE LIKE THIS THAT IS SO0ó88 V@ CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TO THEP @0@ñ DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY IS QUITE RARE, AND THIS A--A WELLú DESERVING TREE.

IT--IT, UH,f 4 SPEAKS TO THE HISTORY OF BOTHBP ñ@CD@@ THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE IT WAS ONCE ASSOCIATED WITH AND REALLY0 THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF@/ THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITYp q888@x A-AND OF LITTLE TOKYO.< ú.V Huell: OK, WE'RE STANDING HERE@x UNDER THE SHADE OF THE TREE,LoÑ ú0K0NLú AND I'M STANDING WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS TREE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS TREE IS HERE, WHEN IT WAS PLANTED, WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT.

>> UH, WELL, I--I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PLANTING PER SE, BUT THE, UH, KOYASAN BUDDHIST TEMP-- CHURCH CAME TO THIS, UH, AREA IN 1920, WHEN THE CONGREGATION INCREASED SO THAT THEY COULDN'T STAY IN THEIR--I-IN A HOUSE.

THEY USED TO MEET ON COMMERCIAL STREET SOMEWHERE.

THEY CAME HERE TO THIS BUILDING, AND THE TREE DID NOT HIT THE TOP OF THE, UH, ENTRYWAY, THE--THE DOORWAY.

Huell: SO IT WAS A LITTLE TREE WHEN THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE WAS PUT HERE IN 1920.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

Huell: WE'VE GOT PICTURES TO PROVE THAT IT WAS HERE.

>> UH-HUH.

WE CAN CHRONICLE IT.

RIGHT.

Huell: NOW, WHERE WAS THE TEMPLE IN RELATIONSHI-- >> RIGHT HERE.

Huell: IT WAS RIGHT HERE.

>> THE ENTRY--ENTRANCE WAS HERE, AND THE TREE WAS ON THIS SIDE.

Huell: RIGHT HERE.

>> UH-HUH.

Huell: LET'S GET IT IN RELATIONSHIP.

HERE'S THE ENTRANCE.

HERE'S THE TREE RIGHT OVER HERE, AND, BOY, IT HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS.

>> YES, IT HAS.

Huell: AND WE'RE STANDING HERE WITH YOUR MOM, BECAUSE YOUR MOM WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THE TEMPLE THAT USED TO BE HERE.

>> RIGHT.

MY FATHER WAS THE FOURTH, UH, HEAD BISHOP HERE.

HE ARRIVED IN 1931.

HE RETURNED TO JAPAN IN 1935 TO TRY TO CHANGE THE STATUS OF THIS TEMPLE, UH, TO BECOME A HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN AREA.

SO HE DID-- HE ACCOMPLISHED THAT, AND THEN HE MARRIED AT THE SAME TIME, AND HE CAME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1936 ON MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 30, WITH MY MOTHER.

AND HER FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE TEMPLE, SHE SAID, WAS--SHE CAME FROM A VERY LARGE, UH, TEMPLE IN TOKYO, AND SHE CAME UP THE RICKETY STAIRS, AND SHE THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOODNESS.

WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?"

Huell: HA HA!

WELL, IT WAS A LITTLE TEMPLE, BUT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT TEMPLE.

>> IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN HE WAS BORN 4 MONTHS AFTER THAT.

Huell: YOUR BROTHER.

>> YES.

Huell: SO YOU ACTUALLY CAME TO THIS TEMPLE AS WELL.

>> YES, I DID, AND ACTUALLY I REMEMBER RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS AND MY FATHER SCOLDING ME FOR RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BOY SCOUT THAT WAS FORMED IN 1931.

AND SO THIS TREE IS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, AND IT WAS AN ITTY-BITTY TREE AT THE TIME.

Huell: BOY SCOUT TROOP WAS STATIONED IN THIS TEMPLE, WAS-- >> THEY SPONSORED IT.

CORRECT.

Huell: WAS SPONSORED IN THIS TEMPLE.

>> YES.

Huell: SO THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY HERE UNTIL 193... >> WELL, 1940, OCTOBER, THEY MOVED INTO THE NEW TEMPLE ON EAST FIRST STREET.

Huell: OK. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OLD TEMPLE?

>> WELL, IT BECAME, UH, SOME OTHER THINGS.

I THINK IT WAS EVEN A MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL.

AND THEN THE WAR, UH, RELOCATING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TEMPLE ITSELF, THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS RAZED.

Huell: BUT IT WAS TORN DOWN, AND, BOY, JUST LIKE THEY SAY IN L.A., IT WAS TORN DOWN, AND THEY PUT IN A PARKING LOT.

BUT THE TREE REMAINED.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

Huell: KIND OF OBSCURE ALL THESE YEARS UNTIL... >> DEANNA AND THE HISTO-- LOS AN--LITTLE TOKYO HISTORICAL SOCIETY... Huell: OK. YOU GRABBED ON TO IT.

>> PEOPLE SAID THAT THERE WAS A RUBBER TREE THAT WAS HISTORIC IN LITTLE TOKYO, AND WE FOUND OUT RECENTLY IT'S NOT A RUBBER TREE.

IT'S A MORETON BAY FIG TREE.

Huell: I KNOW IT'S A MORETON BAY FIG TREE, BECAUSE ONE JUST FELL OFF AND HIT ME ON THE HEAD.

THIS IS A FUNCTIONING, PRODUCING FIG TREE.

HA!

BUT YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO MAKE IT A CULTURAL-HISTORIC LANDMARK.

>> THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE LITTLE TOKYO HISTORICAL SOCIETY DID, AND WE JUST STARTED 2 YEARS AGO, AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR-- ONE OF OUR FIRST PROJECTS.

Huell: AND HOW BIG A DEAL WAS IT TO HAVE IT OFFICIALLY NAMED A CULTURAL-HISTORIC LANDMARK?

>> OH, IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT TO SUPPORT IT, AND, UH, IT SYMBOLIZES ALSO A LOT ABOUT LABOR HISTORY AND WOMEN'S HISTORY, AND SO, UH--AND BOY SCOUTS IN AMERICA, SO WE'RE-- WE'RE DELIGHTED.

WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU'RE HERE ALSO.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS AN EXCITING MOMENT.

WHO HAVE YOU GOT HERE WITH YOU?

>> OK, NOW I HAVE HERE-- THIS LADY HERE WAS BORN IN A HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO THE TEMPLE.

Huell: AH.

>> SO SHE WAS RIGHT THERE.

Huell: WHICH IS ALSO NOW... >> A PARKING LOT.

Huell: PART OF A PARKING LOT.

>> AND HE LIVED--HE IS JACK KUNITOMI.

HE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO HER--HER FAMILY.

Huell: IN A HOUSE THAT'S ALSO A PART OF THE PARKING LOT.

>> AND I HAD THIS--I USED TO CLIMB THIS TREE.

Huell: YOU DID?

>> O-ONLY SINGLE TRUNK... >> YES.

>> THOSE DAYS.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND THEY-- Huell: DID YOU GET THE FIGS?

>> NO.

UH, NO.

I-IT WAS TOO YOUNG TO BEAR FRUIT, BECAUSE IT WAS-- Huell: LET'S WALK OVER HERE TO THIS TREE.

THIS IS A TREE YOU USED TO CLIMB?

>> ONE SINGLE TRUNK.

Huell: ONE TRUNK.

>> YEAH.

Huell: THAT WAS BEFORE IT SPLIT IN TWO.

@@úXP >> YES.úÑhúO@ Huell: WELL, HOW DO YOU FEELptpx xxx NOW THAT IT'S BECOME8÷[8 íxúzpj A HISTORIC-CULTURAL LANDMARK?

<<<0 >> TOO--IT'S TOO MUCH FOR--ú÷,x, FOR MY WORDS.

YES.

IT'S-- 00÷8÷÷0pX8xx Huell: IT MEANS A LOT.8<8>PóLpp >> OH, YES.

BECAUSE WE USED TOD TRY TO FLIRT WITH THE YOUNG GIRLS AS THEY CAME TO THE< xlñdl@@@@>@l@@ SERVICE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, AND< Pé>p/<<<<<< UH, OF COURSE WE WEREN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL, BUT... Huell: WELL, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TREE.

YOU TALKIN' ABOUT FLIRTIN' WITH THE GIRLS.

THAT'S PART OF HISTORY, TOO, ISN'T IT?

>> IT SURE IS.

>> [SINGING IN JAPANESE] [RINGING BELLS] Huell: NOW, YOU ARE THE BISHOP OF THE NEW TEMPLE HERE ON FIRST STREET.

DOES THE NEW TEMPLE HAVE THE SAME NAME THAT THE OLD TEMPLE HAD WHEN IT WAS HERE?

>> UH, DIFFERENT KIND OF TITL-- UH, NAME.

Huell: MM-HMM.

>> THE NAME-- Huell: THE OLD TEMPLE WAS CALLED... >> UH, LOS ANGELES KOYASAN DAISHI MISSION.

Huell: AND THE NEW TEMPLE?

>> KOYASAN BUDDHIST TEMPLE.

Huell: DO MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS TEMPLE USED TO BE HERE?

>> YEAH, MOST THE PEOPLE KNOWS ABOUT IT, YES.

Huell: THEY KNOW THE TEMPLE, THE OLD TEMPLE USED TO BE HERE?

>> YES.

YES.

Huell: DO YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE TREE?

>> YES.

Huell: THEY DO?

>> YES.

MOST--NOT NEW MEMBER, OLD MEMBERS.

Huell: OLD MEMBERS KNOW.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: WELL, HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

>> THIS IS, UH, FIRST OF ALL, OUR, UH--THIS TREE IS CALLED, SOMETIMES CALLED BODHI TREE.

Huell: BODHI TREE?

>> YES.

THAT, UH, RUBBER TREE, BUT, UH, BUDDHISTS CALL BODHI TREE, THAT ENLIGHTENMENT TREE, BECAUSE SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA, YOU KNOW, WAS SITTING DOWN 49 DAYS UNDER THE BODHI TREE.

THAT LOOKS LIKE A BODHI TREE, SO... Huell: BUT IT'S A FIG TREE.

>> YEAH, A FIG TREE.

YES.

[LAUGHS] Huell: WELL, IS IT A BODHI TREE OR A FIG-- >> BODHI--BODHI--THEY CALL A BODHI TREE.

Huell: A FIG TREE IS CALLED A BODHI TREE?

>> YES.

Huell: AND THIS IS THE KIND OF TREE THAT BUDDHA SAT UNDER... >> YES, UN--ACCORDING TO TRADITION, MOST BUDDHISTS BELIEVE THAT.

THIS IS A BODHIJU IN JAPANESE.

THAT MEAN BOD-BODHI TREE.

Huell: SO THAT'S WHY THIS TREE WAS PLANTED... >> I THINK SO.

Huell: IN FRONT OF THE ORIGINAL TEMPLE... >> I THINK SO.

Huell: BECAUSE IT TIES IN DIRECTLY... >> YES.

Huell: WITH THE BUDDHIST RELIGION.

>> Y-YES.

EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: WE GOT A LITTLE CONTROVERSY GOIN'.

YOU KNOW HOW THE MEDIA LIKES TO STIR THINGS UP.

AND--NOW, THE BISHOP CALLED THIS A BODHI TREE.

I'VE GOT A FIG THAT FELL OFF THIS.

IS IT[ A BODHI TREE OR A FIG TREE?<@@÷ éú éú éN446 4N4< > >> NOW, THE BISHOP SAID IT WAS; >> NOW, THE BISHOP SAID IT WAS; SIMILAR TO A BODHI TREE.

v@6@÷?í Huell: SIMILAR TO??

>> YES.

IT'S NOT THE--YOU KNOW,p JAPANESE CALL EVERGREEN TREE ASp ÷XZXxxxXñpzlpp@@ LOOKS LIKE A BODHI TREEP<ú IN INDIA.ú Huell: OH, IN INDIA.

>> LOOKS LIKE.

YES.

YEAH.

NOW,l THAT--THE BODHI TREE IS WHERE, UH, BUDDHA SIDDHAR-- ñ Huell: BUDDHA SAT.??

?o82?2?n?ó6 >> YES.

Huell: SO WE WERE SAYING WE THINK THAT'S WHY THEY PLANTED IT OUT IT IN FRONT OF THE TEMPLE.

>> I--I BELIEVE THE TREE WAS ALREADY IN THE BUILDING.

WE DIDN'T BUILD THE BUILDING.

THE--THE TEMPLE ITSELF MOVED TO THIS LOCATION IN 1920.

THE BUILDING WAS ALREADY HERE... Huell: AND THE TREE WAS ALREADY THERE.

>> AND THE TREE WAS ALREADY THERE, NOT VERY BIG... Huell: ALL RIGHT.

>> BUT THE TREE WAS ALREADY THERE.

Huell: AND SEE, WE'RE GETTIN' MORE INFORMATION, AND NOW WE'RE REALLY GONNA FIND OUT, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ARBORIST?

>> ARBORIST'S WIFE.

Huell: YOU'RE--THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

YOU'RE THE ARBORIST'S WIFE.

IS THIS A BODHI TREE OR A FIG TREE?

WHAT IS THIS TREE?

>> OK, TECHNICALLY IT'S A MORETON BAY... Huell: FIG TREE?

>> AND IT IS A FIG TREE.

IT'S NOT AN EDIBLE FIG.

THAT'S NOT NOT AN EDIBLE FI8@ THAT'S NOT AN EDIBLE FIG.

YOU WOULDN'T...@ Huell: THANK YOU FOR TELLIN' ME THAT.

>> YOU WOULDN'T WANT TOpé x EAT THAT.

Huell: I WAS GONNA MAKE PRESERVES OUT OF THIS.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD.

@ BUT IT'S CALLED A BODHI TREE, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET@ @ THE RIGHT TREE, AND THIS IS WHAT Pñ@@ THEY HAVE.

SO BODHI TREE, I ONL4 4b@00@ LEARNED THAT WHEN WE FOUND OUT @@ THAT THEY WANTED TO SAVE A THIS ONE... Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND THEN IT BECAME VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THEN WE FOUND OUT FROM THE TEMPLE THAT IT WAS CALLED A BODHI TREE.

Huell: YOU KNOW WHAT?

I REALLYú0 DON'T THINK IT MAKES@P ANY DIFFERENCE.

>> IT DOES NOT.

Huell: BECAUSE--@o >> IT LOOKS LIKE--JAP-JAPANESE,ú 888 UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, BODHI TREE IN JAPAN AND HERE,0./ 70?

BUT, UH, SIMILAR--0 Huell: THIS IS THE CLOSEST THING.

>> CLOSE--CLOSEST THING.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE'VE@,/ SOLVED OUR CONTROVERSY.. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

ñ Huell: IT'S NOT A BODHI TREE, AND IT IS A BODHI TREE.

8$eí:0ó@@X IT'S A FIG TREE, A BODHI TREE, AN EVERGREEN TREE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TREE.!

@ úú@@aD >> WHAT WE NEED.

Xé Huell: AND IT'S RIGHT HEREx 2@Z IN LITTLE TOKYO, WHERE IT HAS8P @áhí&;÷÷ú BEEN FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS.

@Ñp@ @óp@ SO THERE WE GO.

THIS IS NOW PAR@ DaRDúI uP @÷V/0oún@ Rú÷ OF HISTORY.

THIS OLD FIG TREE THAT STARTED OFF AS A LITTLE FIG TREE BACK WHEN THE TEMPLE WAS HERE.

NOW THE TEMPLE HAS BEEN MOVED ACROSS THE STREET.

IT'S STILL ON FIRST.

THE OLD TEMPLE IS GONE, BEEN REPLACED BY A PARKING LOT, BUT THE FIG TREE IS NOW LOS ANGELES CULTURAL-HISTORIC LANDMARK NUMBER 920.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

p Huell: CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS.÷ CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

@@p@ Huell: BOY, THERE THEY ARE.

NOW, THIS IS LIVING HISTORY... >> [LAUGHS] Huell: RIGHT HERE, AND THERE'S LIVING HISTORY AS WELL... >> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: RIGHT HERE IN LITTLE TOKYO IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.ú@ THANKS FOR INVITING US TO BE@@d A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL,@ úp@zx@xxy@@ú@ VERY HISTORIC DAY.

@ú@@@@ÑÑÑÑ@ >> [SINGING IN JAPANESE]@ç@8PPB@ [BELLS RINGING]@AG0 00@AAA"@BB úú@@xoppXPXpúú@@dp (40L;d9pzx úú@@zxhúp ñxúhÑÑúÑ÷xpÑxx@ú@ Huell: OK, AS OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES, WE HAVE LEFT THAT HISTORIC TREE IN DOWNTOWN L.A. WE'VE COME TO ANOTHER PLACE, AND, BOY, THIS IS ABOUT AS FAR FROM--HA--DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AS YOU CAN GET.

I MEAN, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF--WHERE ARE WE, DONNA?

>> WE ARE IN FRANKLIN CANYON, WHICH IS INDEED IN LOS ANGELES.

UM, I'M SURPRISED YOU'VE NEVER ú BEEN HERE, HUELL.

@ Huell: I'VE LIVED IN L.A. FORñx ÷ñ÷úñú÷x OVER 25 YEARS.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN @@÷ HERE, AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS WE'RE REALLY NOT THAT FAR AWAYé FROM DOWNTOWN L.A.>÷ >> WE ARE NOT FAR AT ALL.ñ0<<x DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES IS THIS WAY.

WE ARE TECHNICALLY,úolw I THINK, IN BEVERLY HILLS.úú xú7@ STUDIO CITY IS RIGHT THERE TO@ THE SOUTH.

WE ARE PRETTY MUCH@ RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT'S HERE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

THIS GRASS, THESE TREES, THESE HUGE--WE'RE NOT SURE.

ARE THESE CEDAR TREES?

>> CEDARS OR REDWOODS.

I THINK THEY'RE CEDARS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR, AND WE'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 5 MINUTES.

I'VE SEEN 2 PEOPLE.

>> 2 PEOPLE, I THINK, YES.

I COME HERE FREQUENTLY.

UM, EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN I COM HERE, I RARELY SEE ANYBODY ELSEó Huell: WOW.

THIS IS JUST--WELL,w ACTUALLY WE'VE MET SOME PEOPLE.

HERE WE GO.

HI.

HOW ARE DH@fP@sú(# YOU DOIN'?

>> HOW YOU DOIN', HUELL?

Huell: TELL ME ABOUT THIS PLACE.

Huell: TELL ME ABOUT THIS PLACE.

I--THIS IS LIKE--I'M--tíóÑ<Póx I'M ALMOST SPEECHLESS.0tXx÷p@P÷@ >> IT'S FANTASTIC, ISN'T IT?

@pú Huell: YEAH.ñúú@d@d@d@D$@@LLM >> YEAH.údM@Dú@Yúú@e Huell: HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THIW Huell: HOW DID YOU DISIW PLACE?

HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT 0aOl÷-0% OW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE?

>> WELL, TREEPEOPLE WASN'T OPEN FOR ABOUT--FOR A WHILE, SO-- Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "TREEPEOPLE"?

>> TREEPEOPLE'S ACROSS THE STREET.

Huell: THE HEADQUARTERS FOR TREEPEOPLE.

>> FOR TREEPEOPLE.

CORRECT.

AND SO WE WENT LOOKING.

WE WANTED TO GO HIKING, AND SO WE DECIDED TO KEEP GOING DOWN THE STREET, AND WE SAW THAT IT WAS HERE, AND WE SAW THE NATURE CENTER AND SAW THIS GRASS, AND WE WALK AROUND HERE ALL THE TIME.

Huell: LOOK AT THE KIDS.

WE GOT 2 KIDS HERE.

WE GOT SOME JOGGERS.

HI.

HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

SUDDENLY PEOPLE ARE APPEARING OUT OF NOWHERE.

HA!

THIS IS GREAT.

SO IT'S NOT A TOTAL--IT'S NOT TOTALLY OFF THE MAP, IS IT?

>> NO.

I DISCOVERED IT ALSO BECAUSE I USED TO HIKE AT TREEPEOPLE, UH, WHICH I STILL DO ON OCCASION, AND PEOPLE KEPT SAYING TO ME, "YOU HAVE TO GO TO FRANKLIN CANYON.

YOU'LL LOVE IT."

AND I STARTED COMING, AND I'M-- >> I CAN CARRY THIS WHOLE THING.

Huell: OH, LOOK AT THIS.

HA HA HA!

OH, WOW.

WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO SPEND A SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE BOYS.

>> IT'S GREAT, ISN'T IT?

>> WOW.

WELL, OUR ADVENTURE, WE HAVE JUST KINDA COME INTO THE EDGE OF FRANKLIN CANYON... >> YES.

Huell: RIGHT NOW.

>> WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO GO.

Huell: THERE'S A LOT MORE TO SEE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT HERE TO DO A STORY ON FRANKLIN CANYON ITSELF, BUT ONCE WE GOT HERE, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WENT, "LOOK AT THIS.

WE GOTTA CHECK THIS OUT."

THIS IS AS BEAUTIFUL A SCENE RIGHT HERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF LOS ANGELES AS YOU WILL FIND, AND WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL IS THAT IT'S SUCH A SURPRISE.

>> [LAUGHS] [HUELL WHISTLING THEME FROM THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW] YOU DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA KEEP GOIN', DID YOU?

NOW, I'M WHISTLIN' THE THEME FROM ANDY GRIFFITH, FROM MAYBERRY, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY I'M WHISTLING IT, AND THIS IS AN AMAZING PART OF THIS STORY, TOO.

>> BECAUSE MAYBERRY IS ACTUALLY FRANKLIN CANYON IN LOS ANGELES.

Huell: SO THIS IS WHERE THEY SHOT THE OPENING FOR THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW WITH ANDY AND OPIE WALKIN' OUT TO GO FISHIN'.

WE NEED OUR FISHIN' POLES.

>> AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS NORTH CAROLINA, DIDN'T YOU?

Huell: AND THIS HAS BEEN USED FOR OTHER MOVIES AND TELEVISION SHOWS AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS THE LAGOON WHERE THE CREATURE-- THE BLACK LAGOON CREATURE CAME OUT OF.

Huell: THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON?

>> COULD STILL BE IN THERE.

Huell: AND... >> IT WAS GOLDEN POND, PARTLY.

SOME OF IT WAS NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT SOME OF IT WAS HERE.

Huell: ON GOLDEN POND.

>> ON GOLDEN POND.

GOLDEN POND IS WHERE THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON LIVES.

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

Huell: HA!

WELL, THIS IS A NATURAL PLACE TO SHOOT THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE YOU CERTAINLY DON'T--THIS DOESN'T FEEL LIKE L.A., DOES IT?

>> NOT AT ALL.

AND MANY PHOTO SHOOTS--THE ROLLING STONES' BIG HITS (HIGH TIDE AND GREEN GRASS) ALBUM COVER WAS SHOT HERE.

SIMON AND GARFUNKEL, THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE PHOTO FOR THAT ALBUM COVER.

Huell: WOW.

>> UM, MOST EPISODES OF COMBAT!

WERE SHOT HERE, SO IT DOUBLED FOR FRANCE AND GERMANY IN WORLD WAR II.

Huell: WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS JUST SO SPECTACULAR.

NOW, THIS YOU TOLD ME USED TO BE OWNED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER, THIS LAND IS.

>> YES, IT WAS, AND IN FACT IT ALMOST FELL INTO PRIVATE HANDS.

WILLIAM MULHOLLAND WAS THE ONE WHO ORIGINALLY HAD THIS LAND.

IT'S A VERY LONG STORY, VERY CHINATOWN, BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR SOOKY GOLDMAN, WHO WAS PRETTY MUCH THE FIRST PERSON TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF CONSERVANCY OF THIS AREA, IT COULD HAVE ALL BEEN A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

Huell: AND NOW IT'S OWNED AND RUN, OPERATED BY THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY... >> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: SO THIS IS A PARK FOR EVERYONE.

>> EVERYONE.

Huell: WE OWN IT... >> WE OWN IT.

Huell: AND IT'S HERE FOR ALL OF US TO ENJOY.

>> HERE FOR ALL OF US, AND ANYBODY CAN COME HERE AND BETWEEN SUNRISE AND SUNSET AND ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO.

Huell: WELL, IT SAYS--THE LITTLE SIGN SAYS, "NO FISHING AND NO SWIMMING," BUT THAT'S OK, BECAUSE LOOK.

YOU CAN JUST WALK AROUND THIS LAKE.

WE'RE LEAVING MAYBERRY.

WE'RE LEAVING THE LAKE, AND WE'RE GOING TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION HERE IN FRANKLIN CANYON.

OK, HERE WE GO.

TO GET TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION, WE ARE HIKING THROUGH THIS-- THIS IS OTHERWORLDLY.

>> IT IS, ISN'T IT?

Huell: IT'S REALLY--I THOUGHT THE LAKE WAS BEAUTIFUL, BUT RIGHT HERE BESIDE THE LAKE, WE'RE WALKIN' UNDER THESE TREES.

LOOK AT THIS.

COME DOWN HERE, CAMERON, AND JUST LOOK UP THROUGH THESE LIMBS.

WE'VE GOT 2 BEAUTIFUL TREES, AND THEN WE'RE JUST WALKIN' DOWN THIS TRAIL, AND THEY'RE MILES AND MILES AND MILES OF TRAIL IN THIS CANYON, AREN'T THERE?

>> YES.

YES.

UM, I BELIEVE THE CANYON IS ABOUT 300 ACRES.

Huell: WOW.

>> WE CAN FIND THAT OUT, BUT THERE'S-- Huell: IT JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> THERE'S TRAILS OF ALL KINDS, FOR THE NEW HIKER, FOR THE EXPERIENCED HIKER.

ANYBODY CAN COME HERE.

Huell: AND SOME OF THE TRAILS ARE OPEN--YOU KNOW, OPEN LAND.

SOME OF 'EM ARE LIKE THIS, WHERE YOU'RE GOIN' RIGHT UNDER THESE MAGNIFICENT TREES.

>> YOU'RE BASICALLY IN A FOREST RIGHT IN LOS ANGELES.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR.

OH, AND LOOK.

YOU CAN STAND HERE AND LOOK BACK OUT AT THE LAKE, WHICH IS MY CUE TO ONCE AGAIN...[WHISTLING THEME TO THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW] WE HAVE BEEN MET UP WITH BY-- YOUR NAME, SIR?

>> MY NAME IS JOEL CORDEIRO.

I'M PARK STAFF HERE AT THE NATURE CENTER.

Huell: YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERI'' WHAT WE WERE DOIN' OVER HERE.

>> NO, WE KNEW YOU WERE COMING.

Huell: HA!

BUT YOU WANTED TO BRING US OVER HERE AND SHOW US THIS.

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

UH, WE HAVE INNER-CITY CHILDREN AS WELL--AS WELL AS OTHER SCHOOLCHILDREN WHO COME HERE, AND, UH, I BOOK THE SCHOOL TOURS, AND, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR AREAS THAT WE BRING THEM TO TO-- Huell: WHAT IS THIS CALLED?

>> THIS IS HEAVENLY POND.

Huell: HEAVENLY POND, AS OPPOSED TO THE LAKE WHICH IS JUST RIGHT OVER THERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: AND THIS IS A HOTBED FOR DUCKS AND MALLARDS.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF 'EM JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

>> WELL, NOT ONLY THAT.

IF YOU REALLY LOOK IN THE WATER, YOU'LL FIND A LOT OF TURTLES AND FISH AS WELL.

Huell: SO THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BRING KIDS OR ADULTS TO HANG OUT AND REALLY GET THE SENSE OF THE WHOLE WILDLIFE THING GOIN' ON HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT CERTAINLY IS.

Huell: AS OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES, OUR ENTOURAGE EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS.

WE'RE NOW EXPANDING WITH THE ADDITION OF-- ANGI, YOUR NAME AND TITLE?

>> ANGI ORTON, DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES FOR THE MOUNTAINS RECREATION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY.

Huell: BOY, THAT IS--YOU CAN'T GET ALL THAT ON A BUSINESS CARD, CAN YOU?

>> NO.

NICE TO MEET YOU, HUELL.

Huell: WOW, THIS NATURE CENTER IS SPECTACULAR, ISN'T IT?

WOW.

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT?

IT'S VERY SPECIAL.

Huell: WHAT HAPPENS HERE?

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 10,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN THAT COME HERE EVERY YEAR FOR A FIELD TRIP DESTINATION.

MOST OF THEM ARE FROM THE INNER CITY.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE QUITE A HEAVY AMOUNT OF THE LOCALS WHO COME HERE, AND THEY GET THEIR EXERCISE UP ON THE HASTAIN TRAIL AND CHECK OUT THE NATURE CENTER AND ENJOY THE VIEW.

Huell: ARE--ARE YOU LOCALS?

>> WE ARE.

Huell: GIVE US A WAVE, EVERYBODY.

>> GOT SOME JUNIOR RANGERS OVER HERE.

Huell: OH, WOW.

JUNIOR RANGERS.

>> WHERE ARE MY JUNIOR RANGERS?

Huell: HA!

>> ALL RIGHT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, YOU KNEW WE WERE GONNA BE HERE TODAY.

>> YES, I DID.

Huell: AND WE'RE FINALLY GONNA GET TO OUR DESTINATION, WHICH IS, WHAT, JUST A MINUTE OR TWO FROM HERE?

>> NOT VERY FAR.

Huell: BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DIVERTED BIG TIME.

WE'VE BEEN TO THE--WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE POND?

UH... >> UH, WE WENT TO HEAVENLY POND.

Huell: HEAVENLY POND.

WE'VE BEEN TO THE LAKE.

THE NAME OF THE LAKE?

>> FRANKLIN CANYON LAKE.

[HUELL WHISTLES THE THEME FROM THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW] IT'S THE MAYBERRY LAKE, RIGHT?

>> YES, IT IS.

THAT'S WHERE IT WAS FILMED.

UH-HUH.

Huell: AND NOW WE ARE FINALLY GETTING TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION.

WE'RE FINALLY HERE, AND, DONNA, NOW IT'S TIME TO TELL WHERE WE ARE AND HOW YOU DISCOVERED THIS PLACE.

>> WELL, I'M A WRITER, AND I WAS DOING A PIECE ON FRANKLIN CANYON, BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD, AND IN MY RESEARCH, I CAME ACROSS THIS VERY INTERESTING FACT.

Huell: WHAT'@Ñc''Pñ5wwñ@ Fóh?p?ço óç?

>> THAT WE ARE AT THE ALLEGED, SUPPOSED--WHATEVER THE ADVERB IS--CENTER OF LOS ANGELES.

Huell: THE EXACT CENTER OF LOS ANGELES.

>> YES.

Huell: AND HERE IT IS RIGHT OVER HERE.

AND LOOK WHO'S STANDIN' HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS BETH EDWARDS.

UH, I'M ALLAN EDWARDS' WIDOW.

AND, UH, HE PLOTTED THE CENTER OF LOS ANGELES.

Huell: NOW, HE LOVED THIS PARK.

HE WAS A DOCENT HERE IN FRANKLIN CANYON FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

>> YES.

Huell: AND WHAT MADE HIM DECIDE TO CREATE THIS LITTLE THING AND CALL IT THE CENTER OF L.A.?

>> WELL, WHEN HE'D COME TO FRANKLIN CANYON, HE WOULD SAY AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "I-ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT THIS FRANKLIN CANYON PARK IS RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF LOS ANGELES?"

AND HE SAID, "I WONDER WHERE THE CENTER REALLY IS?"

Huell: THE EXACT CENTER.

>> THE EXACT CENTER.

AND HE HAD A LITTLE SURVEYING EXPERIENCE AMONG HIS VARIOUS TALENTS, AND HE TOOK A MAP OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES... Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND HE CUT OUT ALL OF THE PLACES THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE CITY PROPER... Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND HE MOUNTED THAT ON FOAM BOARD, AND HE TOOK THE FOAM BOARD AND BALANCED IT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN, AND WHERE THE POINT OF BALANCE IS... Huell: WAS RIGHT HERE.

>> LOOK WHAT THAT SAYS.

YES.

Huell: WOW.

THIS MUST HAVE BEEN HIS PRIDE AND JOY TO DO THIS.

>> OH, IT WAS LOVELY.

Huell: DO YOU COME OVER HERE MUCH?

>> I DO.

I COME OVER TO CLEAN IT UP.

WE ORIGINALLY DID THAT ON OUR OWN, KIND OF A STEALTH OPERATION.

AND, UH--BUT YOU COULDN'T KEEP WHAT WAS GOING ON ww?v@ççççúç@ THE PLACE.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND AND NOW THEY TAKE, UH, CHILDREN FROM THE INNER CITY... Huell: YEAH.

>> TO SEE THE CENTER OF LOS ANGELES.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE, ANGI, WE'RE NOT SURE THAT THIS IS REALLY THE CENTER OF LOS ANGELES, BUT WHO CARES?

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REASON TO COME TO FRANKLIN CANYON... Huell: YEAH.

>> AND SEE ALL THE GREAT THINGS.

Huell: IT'S PART OF THE LORE AND THE LEGEND AND THE SENSE OF DISCOVERY.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED TODAY.

THIS FITS RIGHT IN, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT SURE DOES, AND I COME HERE OFTEN, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE ELSE AT THE EXACT CENTER OF LOS ANGELES.

Huell: YEAH, AND YOU HAD BEEN COMIN' HERE FOR YEARS BEFORE YOU EVEN KNEW THIS WAS HERE.

>> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS HERE.

I HAD--I HAD NO IDEA.

>> THIS LITTLE PLAQUE OVER HERE GIVES THE COORDINATES.

Huell: UH-HUH.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKIN' FOR IT TO FIND IT, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR FRANKLIN CANYON... >> YES.

Huell: TO FIND IT, BUT WE HAVE FOUND BOTH THE CANYON AND THE CENTER OF LOS ANGELES.

THANK YOU FOR--FOR JOININ' US TODAY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

Huell: AND THANK YOUR HUSBAND FOR ALL OF THE LOVE THAT HE FELT FOR THIS PARK.

HE REPRESENTS IN MANY WAYS THE LOVE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DISCOVER WHEN THEY VISIT THIS PLACE, RIGHT?

>> UH-HUH.

UH-HUH.

WELL, I'M SURE IF HE WERE STILL WITH US, HE'D BE PLEASED.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, I KNOW WE'RE PLEASED TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

Huell: THIS WHOLE ADVENTURE, WE FOUND 2 KIND OF UNIQUE, OBSCURE PLACES IN LOS ANGELES--THE OLD TREE IN LITTLE TOKYO DOWNTOWN THAT'S AN OFFICIAL HISTORIC-- LOS ANGELES HISTORIC LANDMARK AND THEN THIS AMAZING PLACE CALLED FRANKLIN CANYON THAT YOU HAVE TO GOT TO COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.

THERE IS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF US TO SEE HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

WE HAVE SEEN 2 PLACES ON THIS ADVENTURE THAT ARE OBSCURE, BUT ARE TRULY WONDERFUL.

CHECK 'EM BOTH OUT FOR YOURSELF.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE DISAPPOINTED.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY.

>> YES.

[THEME TO THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW PLAYING] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [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.