One of many episodes of the TV show “America!” released during the 1960s, this color episode “California: The Monarch of the Far West” takes the viewer on a tour of the state of California by discussing the state’s rich history, scenic nature, and beautiful towns. It is hosted by actor and producer Jack Douglas.
Opening remarks by Jack Douglas (0:07). Map of the United States highlighting Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas (0:16). Scenes of places associated with the “far west” i.e. Spanish missions, mountains, waterfalls (0:27). Illustrated outline of California (0:47). Sierra Nevada Mountains of east-central California also known as The Great Western Divide and includes The General’s Highway (1:05). Sequoia National Forest (1:23). Tourists from Buenos Aires, Argentina consult a map (1:42). General Sherman Tree – the largest living thing on the face of the Earth (2:46). Yosemite National Park a few hours north-west of King’s Canyon (3:15). View from Inspiration Point in Yosemite of scenes described by John Muir the great conservationist (3:25). Yosemite National Park Park Store and Ahwahnee Hotel Lodge that resembles a baronial mansion and once hosted John F. Kennedy (3:48). El Capitan (4:05). Rounded summit of Half Dome – highest point of the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley (4:15). Birthday Veil Falls (4:40). Yosemite Falls (4:51). Death Valley, California also known as Tomisha by the Panama Indians (5:22). Badwater – lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (5:52). The Devil’s Golf Course and Salt Pools (6:09). Grounds of the Furnace Creek Ranch (6:41). Views from along Highway 1 (7:29). Morro Bay State Park – just north of San Luis Obispo (7:33). Morro Rock – also known as The Gibraltar of The Pacific (7:38). Windmill resembling those of Holland or Scandinavia in the town of Solvang – “America’s Danish Capital” – just north of Santa Barbara (8:21). Homes of Solvang (8:33). Ballard School – little red schoolhouse (9:02). Copenhagen Drive (9:15). Dana Broad Shops (9:26). The Danish Inn – roof adorned with figures taken from Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Shepherdess and The Chimney Sweep” (9:31). Antique beer wagon that formerly delivered beer in Copenhagen (9:42). Woman prepares ebelskivers (10:04). Traditional Danish folk dance (10:50). City of Santa Barbara (11:48). The Old Guard House – El Presidio, military fort of Spain (12:08). Examples of Adobe architecture (12:26). Red hibiscus flowers and bougainvillea (12:45). The County Courthouse – example of Moorish Arch like those seen in Madrid, Barcelona, or Seville (12:53). The Santa Barbara Historic Museum (13:00). Home of Don Domingo Carrillo – Casa Covarrubias (13:23). El Paseo neighborhood of Santa Barbara (13:33). The Santa Barbara Mission – memorial cross to Father Serra (13:57). Father Virgil of the mission speaks about the historical background of the mission (14:43-15:53). De La Guerra Plaza and La Fiesta Parade (15:59). Music performance of music from Old Spain (16:40). Float of a Spanish Galleon and the explorer Juan Cabrillo (17:34). Earl Warren Showgrounds – Fiesta Rodeo and Stock Horse Show (18:03). Santa Barbara Polo Grounds (18:49). Andre Clark Bird Refuge on Cabrillo Road and Highway 101 (19:30). Santa Barbara beaches (20:04). The Harbor Restaurant (20:15). Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa founded by Father Junípero Serra (20:56). The Ah Louis Store – center of Chinese medicinal herbs, art, and craft with imports from China and Hong Kong (21:43). Closing remarks (23:03).
El Presidio was constructed in 1840. Six years later, during the war between Mexico and the United States Captain John C. Fremont attacked and overwhelmed the Mexican soldiers stationed there and commandeered this building as his guard house.
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