Huell Howser memorial plans, and back home with Minnie Pearl

City Councilman Tom LaBonge, a friend of the public TV icon Huell Howser, announced today he will join friends and fans for a public memorial at sunset on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at the Griffith Observatory. LaBonge said the gathering high in Griffith Park would begin around 3:30, with shuttle buses up to the observatory from the Greek Theatre. "Huell had a tremendous enthusiasm for California landmarks like the Griffith Observatory," said LaBonge. "And now we must say goodbye to our own California landmark, Huell Howser." Howser, who presided at LaBonge's swearing-in to office in 2001, died this week at age 67.

Also, former Howser producer Harry Pallenberg has posted an episode from 1973 of Huell, back in Tennessee, hosting "The Happy World of Huell Howser." One of his guests is Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl. There is a pig involved.

Pallenberg has also put up a fun old, unfinished promo piece for Howser's KCET show, "California's Gold:" watch it. There are hula dancers, a horse, a dune buggy and more surprises.

And if you haven't seen it yet, this is kind of awesome: A Google Map by KCET showing every place in the state where Howser and his crews visited.

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