Season 5

1996 · 30 episodes

Episodes

1Rosedale CemeteryHuell visits the historic Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles during their annual "Living History" day. He shadows costumed local actors who portray and share the colorful biographies of notable historical figures buried on the grounds.
2Twentynine Palms MuralsHuell travels out to the desert community of Twentynine Palms to look at public art. He takes a guided tour to inspect seven massive outdoor historical murals commissioned to illustrate the rich heritage and settlement history of the region.
3Persimmon LadyHuell spends a delightful afternoon in a neighborhood backyard with 88-year-old Esther DeBar. DeBar shares stories about her beloved, 90-year-old persimmon tree that continues to sprout high-volume fruit crops every single year.
4Weed ShowHuell heads back out to the desert to cover an unusual botanical event hosted by the Historical Society of 29 Palms. Instead of pristine garden florals, this creative exhibition challenges local artisans to craft eye-catching artistic arrangements out of common desert weeds and historic relics.
5Mulholland FountainHuell attends the public re-dedication ceremony of the iconic William Mulholland Memorial Fountain in Los Feliz. He highlights the architectural restoration of the landmark monument and details early Los Angeles aqueduct history.
6B-2 Bomber SpecialIn an expanded one-hour special, Huell secures exclusive media clearance to go behind the scenes of the stealth program. He visits Northrop Grumman to see where the B-2 is built before heading to Edwards Air Force Base to become the first television host to tour inside the cockpit.
7Bullocks Wilshire LibraryHuell revisits the grand Art Deco Bullocks Wilshire building to review an adaptive reuse project. He tours the newly opened Southwestern University School of Law campus library, showcasing how the structure preserved its historic retail design elements.
8LifeIn this unique, hour-long installment, Huell tracks the passage of time by reviewing life through the eyes of three distinct groups of everyday people. The episode features a warm update with the Gomez family, whom he first met in an earlier season profile.
9Rio SpecialHuell takes his camera equipment on an international flight to Brazil, traveling alongside the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. This scenic one-hour travelogue pairs major outdoor symphony performances with local sightseeing and cultural highlights around Rio de Janeiro.
10Hair ShowHuell drops in on a buzzing regional hair and beauty convention showcasing the latest trends, styling techniques, and innovative cosmetics. The lively episode features interviews with passionate local stylists, barbers, and attendees demonstrating their creative artistry.
11Saint Sophia'sHuell visits the beautiful Saint Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church at Normandie and Pico in Los Angeles. He explores the intricate architecture and incorporates rare, original 1952 KTTV archival television footage of the church's early opening ceremonies.
12SikhsHuell spends a vibrant afternoon inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. He embeds within the local Sikh community to learn about their religious history, regional advocacy work, and dynamic Baisakhi festival celebrations.
13El Camino CollegeHuell visits Torrance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of El Camino College. He traces the university's origins back to its post-WWII history as a makeshift G.I. campus made out of army barracks and reviews its massive academic growth.
14Roman Genn UpdateHuell updates a profile on Roman Genn, a talented political cartoonist he first met on an early trip to Russia. The episode highlights Genn's transition to Southern California and explores his artistic success in American media circles.
15LAPD HorsesHuell shifts from mechanics to equestrian duty to spend the day with the LAPD Mounted Unit. He trails officers from the training stables right out onto active city street patrols before wrapping up the day with the officer's family.
16Food Shows (Part 1)Spurred by a network pledge event, Huell drops in on six different local restaurants. This culinary marathon highlights neighborhood diner staples across Los Angeles, including a tour of Barron's Restaurant.
17Food Shows (Part 2)Huell continues his regional food tour by visiting another batch of six distinct Southern California eateries, interviewing local chefs, exploring kitchen recipes, and reviewing neighborhood culinary traditions.
18Olvera Street FoodHuell concentrates his appetite on the birthplace of Los Angeles. He samples traditional Mexican dishes and treats across six historic food stalls, carts, and restaurants operating along Olvera Street.
19Little Tokyo FoodHuell checks out his final batch of six local restaurants for the season, including an immersive look at traditional culinary favorites cooked up in the heart of Little Tokyo at Mitsuru Cafe.
20MarsIn the season finale, Huell tracks space exploration history by visiting the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, before heading home to check out deep-space imaging models inside NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.
21Basset Hound PicnicHuell drops in on a highly unusual, lighthearted community gathering: an annual social picnic organized exclusively for local basset hound owners and their long-eared pets, featuring whimsical competitions and outdoor fun.
22StatuesHuell takes an urban walking tour across Southern California to locate unique, historical, and occasionally eccentric public statues, monuments, and stone sculptures, checking out the local backstories behind their creation.
23The Rose LadyHuell spends an inspiring day following Miriam, affectionately known as "The Rose Lady."For over a decade, she has meticulously cultivated beautiful bouquets from her garden and hand-delivered them to lift the spirits of workers and patrons at her local neighborhood post office.
24Del Rubio Triplets UpdateHuell catches up with the iconic, acoustic-guitar-playing musical act, the Del Rubio Triplets, for a lively update on their lives, retro performance wardrobe, unique show business history, and lasting pop-culture legacy.
25Mars RocksHuell visits a planetary research lab or university archive where scientists analyze unique geological specimens and meteorite fragments believed to originate from Mars, detailing what these rocks reveal about the solar system.
26K9 UnitHuell embeds with local law enforcement canine handlers to go behind the scenes of a specialized K-9 training facility. The episode highlights the intense training, scent-tracking drills, and tactical skills of the working dogs and their officers.
27Forest PhotographerHuell spends the day with Roy Murphy, a landscape photographer who has dedicated forty years to documenting the changing natural beauty, trees, and trails of the Angeles National Forest.
28Vernon Light And PowerHuell tours the historic Vernon Light and Power Plant. The episode highlights the striking Art Deco architecture of the facility and explores its decades-long history of providing electricity to the industrial city of Vernon.
29TamalesHuell Howser travels to the desert community of Indio to attend the annual International Tamale Festival. The episode captures the vibrant community atmosphere and explores a massive variety of traditional, non-traditional, and holiday tamales made by local and international vendors.
30Japanese MochiHuell travels to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles to document the vibrant cultural and culinary preparations surrounding the Japanese New Year. The episode explores the physical, labor-intensive traditional art of pounding steamed rice to make fresh mochi.