What were the disastrous consequences when Palm Springs declared itself its own isolated time zone? What’s up with Palm Springs’ 80-year obsession with Abraham Lincoln? Why was a single sheet of canvas inadequate to shield pedestrians crossing a bridge over a busy downtown street?

Palm Springs has a long history of accommodating the eccentric. In this town, the unconventional is routine, the marginal is mainstream, and outliers rule the day. That’s how it’s been for at least a century. Quirks Kitsch Curiosities is a playful, entertaining, and revealing-but-respectful perspective on Palm Springs' last hundred years.

What’s the connection between the venerated Palm Springs Art Museum and Howdy Doody? How did Palm Springs become the location for a movie widely considered the worst Hollywood’s ever produced? Who was the acclaimed Egyptian clairvoyant of the 1930s who guided the lives of Palm Springs locals and predicted today’s California?

Your guide to these revelations is Eric Chiel, a Palm Springs resident and pop-culture enthusiast. Eric has been documenting this region’s idiosyncrasies since his first visit more than 25 years ago. Now he’s opened the archives for what promises to be a fun, amusing, and informative take on this area’s distinctive history and culture. Join us for Quirks Kitsch Curiosities: 100 Years of Palm Springs Eccentricity!