Episode Number 31 - Original Airdate: December 26, 2014

Making Small Homes for the Homeless: Special Video Episode

In this special video episode of Historic California News, Mike O'Sullivan reports on a problem that plagues cities around the globe: homelessness.

This report features an artist in California, who uses discarded materials and works in his spare time to make tiny homes for homeless people.

As VOA’s Mike O’Sullivan tells Imran Siddiqui, the artist has made over 20 such structures for people who might otherwise be on the streets of Oakland.

This special video episode of Historic California News was originally broadcast on Voice of America on December 26, 2014, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan in Los Angeles.

This episode is provided for educational and historic purposes, and is not monetized in any way. We have not added our customary intro and theme music, as we feel the content herein speaks for itself.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #homelessness #homelesssolutions #smallhomes #Oakland #streetlife #california #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 30 - Original Airdate: August 12, 2014

In Hollywood, Fans Remember Robin Williams

Fans around the world are remembering actor-comedian Robin Williams, who died Monday at age 63 of an apparent suicide at his home near San Francisco.

Mike O'Sullivan spoke with admirers who gathered in Hollywood, where Williams' plaque on the Walk of Fame has become a makeshift memorial.

This story was originally aired on August 12, 2014 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #hollywooddeaths #robinwilliams #hollywoodwalkoffame #hollywood #famousdeaths #california #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 29 - Original Airdate: August 6, 2014

Historic US Route 66 Still Sparks Wanderlust

In this episode of Historic California News we go back to 2014, on August 6, when Mike O'Sullivan's report on VOA focused on one of the enduring icons of American culture and transportation -- Route 66.

Route 66, the legendary highway from Chicago to Los Angeles, offered a road to a better life for many Americans, and became a symbol of wanderlust in 20th century.

The highway, called the main street of America, is the focus of an exhibit in Los Angeles.

Route 66 covered nearly 4,000 kilometers of the American heartland and West, and generations came westward on this route long before it became a paved highway.

This story was originally aired on August 6, 2014 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #route66 #routesixtysix #roadsideamerica #historichighways #mainstreetamerica #california #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 28 - Original Airdate: April 29,2014

Radio Hams Keep 'Queen Mary' Wireless on the Air

The Queen Mary, an ocean liner that once sailed the North Atlantic, is now permanently berthed in Long Beach, California, where it's a tourist attraction and hotel.

In one of the rooms aboard the ship, the tradition of ship-to-shore wireless operations is continued and visitors are introduced to the hobby of ham radio.

A young visitor recently got an introduction to Morse code, the system of dots and dashes once used for wireless communication. Amateur radio operators, called "hams," still use it today.

This story was originally aired on April 29, 2014 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #hamradio #longbeach #amateurradio #morsecode #queenmaryship #queenmarylongbeach #california #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 27 - Original Airdate: August 12, 2013

Riding the Waves in California

Surfing started in Hawaii, but Californians adopted the sport early and popularized it around the world.

Mike O'Sullivan reports from Huntington Beach, California - known as Surf City - where riding the waves has become a way of life.

This story was originally aired on August 12, 2013 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #surfing #surfcity #huntingtonbeach #california #californiasurfing #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 26 - Original Airdate: October 19, 2012

Preparedness Drills Aim to Reduce Earthquake Losses

Millions of people from the Pacific island of Guam to southern Italy joined a practice drill this week for earthquake preparedness.

Mike O'Sullivan reports that the annual event that began in 2008, called the Great Shake Out, has a simple message that could save lives in a real earthquake.

This story was originally aired on October 19, 2012 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #emergencyprep #emergencypreparedness #earthquakes #greatshakeour #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 25 - Original Airdate: September 3, 2012

Nokia, Microsoft Launch New Phones

Competition is heating up in the world of mobile computing, with separate product announcements on Wednesday by partners Nokia and Microsoft, and by Motorola, which is owned by Google.

As VOA's Mike O'Sullivan in Los Angeles reports, other mobile phones and tablet computers will be unveiled in coming weeks, bringing more choices to consumers, including innovations like wireless charging.

This story was originally aired on September 3, 2012 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #nokia #windows8 #wireless #microsoft #motorola #mobilephones #google #mobiletech #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 24 - Original Airdate: March 22, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor Remembered for Sultry Roles, Turbulent Life

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor has died in Los Angeles at the age of 79.

Her publicist says the actress had been hospitalized for six weeks and died of congestive heart failure early Wednesday.

The screen icon is remembered for several Oscar-winning performances and a tempestuous personal life.

This story was originally aired on March 22, 2011 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #hollywood #celebritydeaths #elizabethtaylor #oscarwinners #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode 23 - Original Broadcast Date: December 26, 2023

Moon Base Moves From Hollywood Screen to Near Reality: A Special Video Episode

A future moon base is central to the vision of the U.S. space Agency NASA, which hopes to return humans to the moon within two years.

It’s part of an international program called Artemis.

As Mike O’Sullivan reports, it’s a future that Hollywood has envisioned.

This special video episode of Historic California News was originally broadcast on Voice of America on December 26, 2023, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan in Los Angeles.

This episode is provided for educational and historic purposes, and is not monetized in any way. We have not added our customary intro and theme music, as we feel the content herein speaks for itself.

#mikeosullivan #losangeles #la #nasa #artemis #moonmission #space #astronauts #spaceagency

Episode Number 22 - Original Airdate: March 15, 2011

Infrastructure is Challenge for Electric Vehicle Owners

Auto experts say electric vehicles are a practical alternative to gasoline-powered cars, at least for some drivers.

The biggest challenge for the auto industry is expanding the infrastructure for recharging the vehicles.

This story was originally aired on March 15, 2011 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #eva #electriccars #electricvehicles #autoindustry #evabattery #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica