CALIFORNIA DREAMIN‘
(1) THE WILD WEST
When God made the American continent, he tilted the massive landmass to one side for a final look at his masterpiece — and all the raisins and the nuggets rolled into California. That’s what American kids learn at school. And that’s what people all over the world faithfully believe.
The Gold Rush and Kerouac’s On the Road, Rodeo Drive and Pretty Woman, Silicon Valley, Disneyland and fitness gurus, Haight-Ashbury and Beverly Hills, Flower Power and drive-in churches, Yosemite and the Mendocino Coast, Napa Valley, psychotherapy and LA’s Silicon Beach bums, Death Valley, redwood trees and Malibu: no other place has shaped as many modern myths as California, the tamed Wild West of America.
Yet no other place has made more dreams come true. Since the Gold Rush, people have brought their hopes to the West Coast — to find instant wealth or spiritual enlightenment. Hollywood has become the dream factory of the world, creating the very Californian idea that reality can be made to order.
Until the 1920s, California was considered the westernmost outpost of civilisation — the promised land for fortune hunters, adventurers and avant-gardists alike. Even today, modern-day cowboys play out their desire for freedom and the rush of adrenaline on thundering Harley-Davidsons, on surfboards in the towering waves of Half Moon Bay, or with sex & drugs & rock’n’roll in the nightlife joints of LA and San Francisco
We meet the former have-not Joachim Krauledat, whose mother escaped with him from post-war East Prussia and the invading Russians. In California, Joachim became John — John Kay, frontman and songwriter of the world-famous Rock’n’Roll icon Steppenwolf. “Born to Be Wild,” “Magic Carpet Ride” and “The Pusher” — from the Easy Rider soundtrack — are some of the era-defining superhits. German-born John Kay now lives in Santa Barbara. And the band keeps rolling.
California’s sense of freedom is also defined by its extraordinary nature: black bears roam Yosemite National Park, giant elephant seals gather along the magnificent Big Sur coast, and sea otters drift through the cold Pacific waters off Carmel. In Monterey — where Steinbeck once wrote his famous novels — one of the world’s leading marine aquariums brings this rich coastal life closer.
We watch elephant seals locked in their mating battles, follow Yosemite’s rangers on their nighttime bear patrols, and ride with the Harley Owners Group #1 from LA all the way to Death Valley. And we chat with surf nomad Jon Paskowitz about the philosophy of wave-riding — the art of becoming one with nature.
The Gold Rush and Kerouac’s On the Road, Rodeo Drive and Pretty Woman, Silicon Valley, Disneyland and fitness gurus, Haight-Ashbury and Beverly Hills, Flower Power and drive-in churches, Yosemite and the Mendocino Coast, Napa Valley, psychotherapy and LA’s Silicon Beach bums, Death Valley, redwood trees and Malibu: no other place has shaped as many modern myths as California, the tamed Wild West of America.
Yet no other place has made more dreams come true. Since the Gold Rush, people have brought their hopes to the West Coast — to find instant wealth or spiritual enlightenment. Hollywood has become the dream factory of the world, creating the very Californian idea that reality can be made to order.
Until the 1920s, California was considered the westernmost outpost of civilisation — the promised land for fortune hunters, adventurers and avant-gardists alike. Even today, modern-day cowboys play out their desire for freedom and the rush of adrenaline on thundering Harley-Davidsons, on surfboards in the towering waves of Half Moon Bay, or with sex & drugs & rock’n’roll in the nightlife joints of LA and San Francisco
We meet the former have-not Joachim Krauledat, whose mother escaped with him from post-war East Prussia and the invading Russians. In California, Joachim became John — John Kay, frontman and songwriter of the world-famous Rock’n’Roll icon Steppenwolf. “Born to Be Wild,” “Magic Carpet Ride” and “The Pusher” — from the Easy Rider soundtrack — are some of the era-defining superhits. German-born John Kay now lives in Santa Barbara. And the band keeps rolling.
California’s sense of freedom is also defined by its extraordinary nature: black bears roam Yosemite National Park, giant elephant seals gather along the magnificent Big Sur coast, and sea otters drift through the cold Pacific waters off Carmel. In Monterey — where Steinbeck once wrote his famous novels — one of the world’s leading marine aquariums brings this rich coastal life closer.
We watch elephant seals locked in their mating battles, follow Yosemite’s rangers on their nighttime bear patrols, and ride with the Harley Owners Group #1 from LA all the way to Death Valley. And we chat with surf nomad Jon Paskowitz about the philosophy of wave-riding — the art of becoming one with nature.
Facts
The California Dreamin’ series first aired in May and June 2001 on ZDF, in the regular prime-time slot of 7:30pm. Since then California Dreamin‘ has been the German documentary series with the most ever re-runs. Between 2001 and 2025, the series was broadcast 85 times! The extensive aerial photography — by helicopter camera operator Peter Thompson — served as the blueprint for Germany’s most successful documentary film and series, Germany From Above.”
Credits
Written, directed and produced: Petra Höfer, Freddie Röckenhaus
DOP: Thomas Schäfer
Additional Camera: Patrick Brandt, Udo Lachnit
Editing: Jörg Wegner
Editor at ZDF: Peter Arens
