The (SCV) History Channel debuts

By Christine Bitter
Signal Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 19, 2002

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ttention Santa Clarita Valley history buffs: Want a show that shows you the rootin' tootin' time of William S. Hart? Or what about the real first discovery of gold in California right here in Santa Clarita?
    Well, your wait is over.
    "Legacy: Santa Clarita's Living History" debuts on SCVTV public access Channel 20 on Thursday and is to share the valley's unique history and people, from homesteading families of the 1800s to the history being made in the area today.
    "History isn't static," said "Legacy" host and producer Leon Worden, who is also The Signal's city editor. "Everyone has a story to tell, and new information about our valley's past is coming to light all the time."
    The half-hour talk show will incorporate guest commentary, historical photos and film from the SCV Historical Society archive to create an authentic narrative of local history.
    Worden expects viewers to appreciate the authentic images, largely unseen by the general public, as well as the unfiltered information the program aims to provide.
    "It's information that hasn't been misinterpreted or sanitized by historians," said Worden. "It's straight form the horse's mouth, so to speak."
    Topics will take viewers on a journey through past periods and events from the SCV's early pioneers of the 1800s to the St. Francis Dam disaster of 1928 to the establishment of the city of Santa Clarita.
    The first show of the series, "Placerita Gold," will feature George and Gayle Starbuck, brother and sister in the Walker family that homesteaded to the area in the 1860s. The pair will discuss "Placerita White Oil" and show their family's original cabins.
    The series will feature guests such as Carl Boyer, former mayor and founding council member, and Harrison Scott, a local historian.
    "Our guests were there and were involved in making history," said Worden.
    Future shows include, "Birth of Valencia" with Tom Lee, former chief executive of The Newhall Land and Farming Co., "Mentryville and the Newhall of the 1930s and 1940s," "The Ridge Route" and "City of Santa Clarita Formation."
    The series is a "School-to-Career" partnership project of the SCV School & Business Alliance, the SCV Historical Society and AT&T Broadband. Each partner will offer their expertise while the project addresses each of their goals.
    The SCV School & Business Alliance will supplement the production crew with area students interested in television production.
    "'Legacy' is a great opportunity for students to play a part in the production of a history show about their own community," said Ann Kerman, executive director of the SCV School & Business Alliance.
    "One of the goals is to give kids real-life experiences to help them connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world," Kerman said.
    Canyon High teacher and fellow history buff Phil Scorza monitors the production. Scorza's own show, "Points of Interest," will continue to run on channel 20 on Mondays and Thursdays.
    The program will benefit from the historical society's resources while allowing the society to capture more oral histories, form educational partnerships and increase the society's role in the community, Worden said.
    "With 'Legacy,' not only are we sharing Santa Clarita history with the public, but we're also preserving every episode of the show for all time in the society's archives," said Worden.
    Each episode will have its own Internet version full of fun facts at www.SCVhistory.com. The bi-weekly program is available to AT&T Broadband and Time Warner Cable subscribers within city limits and will air on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. A new episode will air each week.

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