Huell Howser Comes to Old Town Tustin
A report from Linda Jennings (president of
the
Tustin Preservation
Conservancy) who served as Huell's
tour guide for his visit to Old Town.
July 31, 2008–My afternoon with Huell went
very well and was actually a lot of fun. He’s
every bit as energetic as he appears on his show
and he runs the taping at his rapid-fire pace
using the info he finds interesting. It was just
Huell and one cameraman and the rest of us
running after him as he crisscrossed El Camino,
ignoring the stoplight and traffic.
He was late getting to the museum but took
great care in setting everything up, including
the opening remarks with me. As we stood
chatting in front of the camera out on the
corner of Main and El Camino, just about
everyone who drove by waved and yelled hello to
him. He was equally as friendly, waving and
smiling.
First shot was inside the museum, taking in
the fire truck and Utt Juice display, then on to
the Blacksmith Shop and Victor Anderson. It was
perfect. Huell loved the place and Vic kept
exclaiming about how no one knew all this was
hidden away in Tustin–his theme for the day. I
must have said five times that we are the best
kept secret in O.C. Victor got his fire going,
banged out some metal for a branding iron (I’m
not kidding!!!), made funny machines run and
thrilled Huell.
After that we shot my house (The Hewes House)
from the outside. He had done a show on the
golden spike and knew who David Hewes was. Then
to the Wooden Indian, where he had Gordon Bean,
the barber, pretend to trim his hair for the
interview. Annette Bartolomucci (Mrs. B) wanted
to be interviewed, so across Main we dashed, in
the middle of traffic, to talk to her and her
daughter Tiffany, the postmistress.
Final stop was the Beach Pit BBQ, the old
Tustin Garage, and Tim DeCinces. Lots of outside
shots and then a focus on a plate of BBQ. Tim
was a great interview, as I knew he would be.
Huell and the cameraman wolfed down the food and
then took off for LA. He tells me it will air in
two months. Good for Old Town Tustin!
(Photos courtesy Steve
Jennings)
Huell meeting and interviewing Linda Jennings,
historian and preservationist
Huell and Denny Hayden in front of our Fire
Engine in the Museum
Huell with Bill Finken, Linda Jennings, and
Denny Hayden at the Tustin Area Museum
Huell and his cameraman with Victor Anderson at
the Tustin Blacksmith Shop.
Gordon Bean at the Wooden Indian Barbershop
giving Huell a slight trim around the ears
Huell with Tim DeCinces at the Beach Pit BBQ
An unknown young lady came over to give Huell
some delicious cupcakes and just be neighborly |
