California's Gold: Huell Howser

[thevofl]

Just shut him the fuck up, but yeah. He is kinda hot.

 

[cashierjim]

About ten years ago, I wrote him a fan email (through The California's Gold website) with a picture of me at one of the spots featured on his show. His assistant wrote back asking for my phone number, and soon after I got a call from Huell with a personal thanks for watching. I was already with my current partner at the time, but I got a vibe that it could have gone much further than a phone call if I had been single. We did not go anywhere near discussing his sexuality--that's just what I sensed. Anyway, he sent me a nice signed publicity still photo that I still have hanging on the wall.

I'll agree with the original poster that he is one hot daddy. He always used to wear his polo shirts (usually blue, to bring out his eyes) a size too small, and would push up the sleeves to show off his biceps, plus he always used a hand-held microphone so his arms were flexed for the camera. The target demographic for the show is probably elderly women, but I'm sure many gay boys have enjoyed it too.

 

[thevofl]

He drives me crazy. I find the topics quite fascinating, but his interviewing skills leaves much to be desired.

Anyway, he can sit on my face at anytime.

 

[Scorpiodncr]

About 10 or so years ago, when my (still a bit closeted) eldest brother was still living in L.A., somehow he and I got on the subject of Huell Howser and my bro said, 'He's hot!'...one of the few times my brother ever 'dropped a hairpin'. Incidentally, this would have been when I was about 30 and my brother was about 48...and I found Huell hot then as well!

I also used to have a newspaper clipping of Huell which featured a pic of him working out at the gym, doing 'preacher curls', showing his massive biceps. I think I still have that clipping stored away in a box somewhere. And I remember a friend of mine telling a similar story to bw92116, about getting flirted up by Huell in Palm Springs.

 

[jimbill]

I remember on the Simpsons they portrayed him as falling off a turnip truck. Random.

Someone actually made a blog posting addressing his sexuality. It's fuuny.

Some commenter mentioned his myspace page says he's straight.

http://wrb-myblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/huell-howser-gay.html

 

[cashierjim]

I also used to have a newspaper clipping of Huell which featured a pic of him working out at the gym, doing 'preacher curls', showing his massive biceps. I think I still have that clipping stored away in a box somewhere. And I remember a friend of mine telling a similar story to bw92116, about getting flirted up by Huell in Palm Springs.

Umm...if you dig up that newspaper clipping and find a scanner, I'm sure many JUB'ers would be very grateful (myself included). Daddy had some major guns!!!

 

[Limenade]

Sadly, Huell passed away on Sunday (1/6/2013):

From Los Angeles Times:

Huell Howser dies at 67; TV host profiled California people and places

Known for his gee-whiz enthusiasm in interviews, Huell Howser highlighted the familiar and the obscure all around the state. His public TV series included 'California's Gold,' 'Visiting,' 'Road Trip' and 'Downtown.'

Huell Howser seemed an unlikely candidate to become a television star — a big, grinning ex-Marine with a molasses-smooth Tennessee drawl and an eye for stories that others would pass by, such as the Bunny Museum in Pasadena and the rendering of artwork out of dryer lint.

His platform was traditional and unflashy — highlighting familiar and obscure spots all around California in public television series, particularly "California's Gold." But though his shows were focused on points and people of interest, it was Howser who turned into the main attraction, tackling his subjects with an awe-struck curiosity and relentless enthusiasm.

Howser, 67, an iconic figure in public television, died at home Sunday night, his assistant Ryan Morris said. The cause of death was not released.

 

[LoveSweatandTears]

About ten years ago, I wrote him a fan email (through The California's Gold website) with a picture of me at one of the spots featured on his show. His assistant wrote back asking for my phone number, and soon after I got a call from Huell with a personal thanks for watching. I was already with my current partner at the time, but I got a vibe that it could have gone much further than a phone call if I had been single. We did not go anywhere near discussing his sexuality--that's just what I sensed. Anyway, he sent me a nice signed publicity still photo that I still have hanging on the wall.

There are a lot of posts online in various places about him doing similar things to other guys. With how often I see these kind of stories of him calling male fans who eventually got the sense that he was hitting on them I think it's probable that he was closeted for the sake of his career, especially considering that he never talked about his personal life. Anyway, it's sad he died so relatively young.