Videos of the History of Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs

Historical Society

Videos of The History of Desert Hot Springs (presented somewhat chronologically)

The Travels of Fred and Elmer to Desert Hot Springs -February 1980

Fred Anderson (d. 1996) and Elmer Dills (d. 2008) were a couple of travel and cuisine reporters who did special segments for KABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News out of Los Angeles. These fun reports were aimed at informing the viewers of places they might not have visited. They did 3 segments on Desert Hot Springs. We are fortunate to have these very interesting videos - each are about 3 minutes. (note: the original quality of the video was poor but we've worked to get these as best as possible)

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

Segment #1 - "What can you find in Desert Hot Springs"

- General overview of the city

- Dr. Robert Bingham, Late Director of the Desert Medical Clinic in Desert Hot Springs.

Segment #2 - "What can you do and see in Desert Hot Springs"

- Jogging

- Road Runners

- Kingdom of the Dolls, Betty Hamilton

- Cabots Old Indian Pueblo

- Cole Eyraud

- Peter Toth's Indian head statue/carving

- Whitewater trout farm

Segment #3 - "Where can you stay in Desert Hot Springs"

- Various Hotels and Spas: Sam's Family Spa, Ponce De Leon, Two Bunch Palms, and Lido Palms.

- Various Eateries: Hayden's Steak and Fish, Csers Hungarian, and Costas Italian.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

DHS Resident Lynn Wade on "Dinah and Friends"

Desert Hot Springs held a beauty pageant called "The Eternal Youth Beauty Pageant" (if anyone can help us with more info, we'd appreciate it). This pageant was for women 50 to 100 years of age. Cole Eyraud escorted the winner, Lynn Wade - age 73, to the TV show "Dinah and Friends" (1974-1980). On the show is: Dinah Shore, Charles Nelson Reilly, Lawrence Welk , Ricardo Montalban, and Ken Minyard. Lynn gets a dance with Lawrence Welk and then everybody starts dancing! 10 minutes.

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

DHS Community Overview - mid 1980s

Sometime in the mid 1980's the Desert Hot Springs chamber of commerce produced a 12 minute promotional video highlighting the city, it's history, development, growth, and re-development. In this video: Cabot Yerxa, Cabot's Lodge, Coffees Hot Mineral Springs Spa, Mission Lakes Country Club and other sites around the city.

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

History & Memory Project 2001

Desert Hot Springs Historian John J. Hunt compiled a video of several DHS residents. This 17 minute video contains interviews of:

Bob Broughton - 5/21/2001

Betty Hudspeth - 4/6/2000

Jerry Skuse - 3/14/2000

Mary Gibson - 7/6/2001

Dr. Robert Bingham - 4/4/92

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Demolition of Coffee's Spa filmed by John J. Hunt

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

Built July 12, 1941 by L. W. Coffee it was the first hot water spa in Desert Hot Springs. Coffee's Hot Mineral Baths was known the world over. Sadly it fell into disuse and was taken down in January 1991. This video captures the demolition. Today Desert Hot Springs is still known for its amazing hot mineral water spas -- many of which are restored and updated better than they were originally built. We wish Coffee's was still here... 2 minutes

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Discussion with Cole Eyraud at Cabot's Lodge about a "wailing wall" by John J. Hunt

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

John J. Hunt captured a short discussion with Cole Eyraud regarding a "wailing wall" that Cole would have liked to build on the Cabot's Lodge grounds. Cole is credited with saving Cabot's Lodge from demolition. 2 minutes

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dot Reed (8/2010) talks about her arrival to DHS in May of 1978. She shares her involvement with the city, her volunteerism and time on the City Council. Interviewed and filmed by Alta Hester and Ron Gilbert - 33:28 minutes.

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Charles Hayden (7/2007) talks about his family and their restaurant "Fisherman's Warf of the Desert" back in 1957 along with other bits of DHS history (Bill Schultz, L.W. Coffee). Interviewed and filmed by Alta Hester - 37 minutes.

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

High quality

Low quality

Videos from The Desert Hot Springs - soup suppers

5/3/07 - Dr. Richard "Dick" Roger

History of the B-bar-H Ranch

28:03 minutes Windows Media Video format

High quality

Low quality

Videos of The History of Desert Hot Springs (continued)

Desert Hot Springs: Home of the Healing Waters

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

A 40 minute documentary video by Maggie Abbott

This is a wonderful documentary (made in 2004) featuring many of the revived spas of Desert Hot Springs. You can purchase the high quality DVD by calling our Chamber of Commerce 760-329-6403. Thanks to Maggie and Leanna Bonamici of Casablanca Studios in Desert Hot Springs for allowing us to put this video on the web.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

John "Whitey" Morgan (7/2007)

talks about his coming to Desert Hot Springs because his wife needed a "dry" and "hot" climate for her health. He worked many years for the city of Desert Hot Springs and the Mission Springs Water District. Interviewed and filmed by Alta Hester - 7 minutes

Click on image to view the video (Windows Media)

High quality

Low quality

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

John Furbee and Jim Haidet (10/2010) talk about DHS. Interviewed by Alta Hester and filmed by Ron Gilbert.

Low quality (wmv) High quality (mov)

Video 1

00:00 John Furbee introduces himself. He came to Desert Hot Springs in 1969.
01:38 Jim Haidet who came to Desert Hot Springs in the 1940s introduces himself.
07:55 They discuss the locations of various grocery stores, including the homemade bricks for Horton's market at Cahuilla and Palm.
10:30 Recollections of Cabot Yerxa.

Low quality (wmv) High quality (mov)

Video 2
00:15 They recall Jerry Skuse when he was young.
01:35 When DHS incorporated in 1963, and its first police department.
02:05 John Furbee talks about the drug store he bought in 1969.
10:30 Jim Haidet was on the Mission Springs Water District board. Sewers are discussed.

Low quality (wmv) High quality (mov)

Video 3
00:00 They discuss DHS Mayors.
02:50 Who was Carl May?
03:16 Bill Gibson, husband of the late Mary Gibson, is discussed.
04:36 John Furbee mentions Mayor Alex Bias.

Low quality (wmv) High quality (mov)

Video 4
00:00 Jim Haidet discusses the elementary schools he attended.
01:10 They discuss elementary schools.
04:00 MSWD bottled water.
05:00 A discussion of the facts of the supposed seismic fault under the site of the proposed elementary school.
09:50 In 1943 or '44 Jim Haidet would ride in a Model A Ford to get to school in Palm Springs until they began to bring the school bus up to Garnet. In 1946 or '47 the school bus began to come all the way to DHS.
11:40 John Furbee recalls a couple of movies that were filmed in his drug store and in his hotel.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bill Gibson (5/2/2011), former Mayor of Desert Hot Springs, talks about his coming to and being in DHS. Interviewed by Alta Hester and filmed by Ron Gilbert.

Low quality (WMV) High quality (MOV) High quality takes about a minute to load.

Part 1 (24 minutes)

Low Quality (WMV) High Quality (MOV) High quality takes about a minute to load.

Part 2 (22 minutes)

The old "five and dime" on the corner of Palm and Pierson, circa 1969