That’s Amazing! The legacy of Huell Howser

It’s been more than a year since we lost Huell Howser. The folksy, twangy, host of KCET’s California’s Gold traveled all across our state – to every nook and cranny – looking for the stories of everyday people.

Starting next week, there’ll be an exhibit to celebrate his public TV travelogues and his love for all kinds of out-of-the-way places.

The exhibit will be called — appropriately enough — “That’s Amazing! Thirty Years of Huell Howser and California’s Gold” and will be hosted by Chapman University in Orange County, which will include artifacts and memorabilia from his show.

The documentary “A Golden State of Mind: The Storytelling Genius of Huell Howser,” directed by Chapman film professor Jeff Swimmer, will be screened four times in the university’s Waltmar Theatre during the open house. Swimmer spoke with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis about Howser’s legacy.

Also joining the conversation is Shawniece Swain, a KCRW volunteer who actually created a blog, Facebook page and Instagram account called “Where Would Huell Go.” She documents her travels to places profiled by Huell, while meeting people who’ve met him along the way.

The photo on the right is from Huell’s visit to KCRW to record a Guest DJ Project set. Listen to it here.