Huell Howser: The Palm Springs star without a star
Of all the names along the Palm Springs Walk of Stars (more than 300, in fact), there is one missing. At least, Kay Adkins thinks so.
Adkins started the “Palm Springs Star for Huell Howser” GoFundMe account to get the charming storyteller an honor in a town he loved so much.
“Palm Springs is the only single geographic area he focused on. He loved this area that much,” Adkins said.
From 2001 to 2010, Howser shot 34 episodes of California Gold in Palm Springs, the city where he chose to spend his final days in 2013.
The honor of a star does not come cheap.
“It costs 10 thousand dollars for a star” Adkins says, “There are real costs involved in making one of these — having the city install one of these on a public walkway, with maintenance. It’s real costs.”
She says while Howser was alive, someone submitted an application for a star on Huell’s behalf, and it was unanimously approved by the non-profit’s board of directors. The only problem — there was no sponsor to pay for the star. Many agreed the historian should have a star, but there’s never been an effort to raise the $10,000 needed, until now.
“I think it’s a great idea!” says Cathedral City resident Christie Crother. “He contributed a lot, he made this area famous, his shows were great, and he’s local! What more can you ask for?”
Crother’s opinion is shared by many. The GoFundMe page raised nearly $900 in small donations quickly, as well as an anonymous $4,000 donation, in one week.
“When somebody is walking along and says, ‘Oh look, there’s Huell Howser!’, they’re going to smile. Everyone is going to smile and everyone is going to tell a story,” says Adkins.
If you feel Howser’s enthusiasm for the small things in Palm Springs is metaphorically worth it’s weight in gold — or should we say, California Gold — you can donate to GoFundMe.com/HuellHowser.
Adkins is in contact with Chapman University, the educational powerhouse which runs Howser’s archives, to spread the word about her efforts.
Adkins hopes to raise the money by Howser’s birthday in October, and use whatever is left over for a dedication ceremony, complete with Howser impersonators. She says that would be AMAZING.
