Biography

His first name was a combination of the first names of his parents, Harold and Jewell Howser. Huell explains this in the opening of Smartsville (2009).

Before he passed away, Howser began donating some of his materials to Chapman University in Orange, California. This came about via one of his Road Trip with Huell Howser (2001) shows that he taped near the campus- which did not feature the university. This caught the attention of campus president Jim Doti who wrote to Howser and a friendship was formed. This culminated into Howser eventually leaving his entire tape library of all his shows, books, research papers, memorabilia and other artifacts to the school which lead to the creation of the California's Gold Exhibit & Huell Howser Archives which is maintained by Chapman University as a permanent exhibit.

Filed a taxpayer suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court to prevent the Long Beach Naval Station, which featured buildings by African-American architect Paul Williams, from being demolished and made into a cargo container facility for the Chinese government-owned shipping company COSCO, maintaing that such a use would be a "waste" of public assets. The lawsuit was thrown out and demolition began in October 1998. Congress has sinced passed a law preventing use of property by entities with ties to the People's Republic of China. (January 1997)

Was the first to be given full access to film on the grounds and interiors of the Rancho Mirage, California home of Frank Sinatra, on his show California's Gold (1991). Out of many homes Sinatra owned, this was the most favored and considered intimate by the late entertainer, as revealed by members of his estate on the show.

He lived in California for thirty-two years, keeping his apartment at the El Royale in Los Angeles the entire time. In later years the apartment was used as a weekday residence, (for work), while his primary residence was in Palm Springs on the weekends. He also owned a desert retreat home in Twentynine Palms, (used for entertaining), and also owned what was called the Volcano House, in Newberry Springs, but never lived there.