Help me find an old tv science show

bloo · 06-12-2007, 09:32 PM

I saw that Mr. Wizard passed away:
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituari...,4867128.story

While I never actually saw Mister Wizard, this made me want to find an old tv science show. I can't remember the name of the teacher/professor but he mostly taught physics stuff maybe some chemistry too. I think it was early 70s, but it could have been late 60s. Color, very, very low production values: a table, a chalk board, and some equipment. The guy had a thick shock of white hair that was Einstein-esque. He was a big brusque in speech, but maybe more gravelly in tone. Seemed to be upper east-coast accent: Philly, Jersey or New York I think. Episodes were usually 10 minute bits or so, sometimes in sequence on a common theme, such as electricity.

Great show but my google fu is weak.

Miramon · 06-12-2007, 10:53 PM

I think it was a different show, but you got me thinking about the PBS "What's New" program of my childhood, about that era. I can't remember anything to speak of about the program except the title, unfortunately.

But googling.... Oh god, I should have known better than to google "What's New". Oh well, can't find any reference to it anywhere.

Edit: I'm guessing What's New was produced by NET (National Educational Television) prior to the creation of PBS. I can't find any lists of their old programs anywhere, though.

Talisker · 06-13-2007, 01:03 AM

What's New? at IMDB. Not much info there, though. Dunno on the other one.

Miramon · 06-13-2007, 01:20 AM

Thanks, but I suspect that IMDB reference was for something else entirely. While I could be wrong, I don't remember it as being Canadian, or involving puppets or satire among other things noted in those keywords.

Talisker · 06-13-2007, 01:26 AM

You sure?

Quote:

What's New

A current affairs program for high school age viewers, What's New presented the week's headlines and features geared for teenagers. Features included the caricature puppets of Noreen Young, usually confined to programs for younger audiences, such as Hi Diddle Day. Hosts for the show were Harry Mannis and Sandy Lane (l972- 79), David Schatzky (l979-80), Wayne Thompson (l980-82), Marie-Claude Lavalle (l980-8l), Lon Appleby (l980-8l), and Sara Welch (l98l-82). Ray Hazzan (l972-77), Sybel Sandorfy (l978-82), and Wayne Thompson (l98l-82) were executive producers.

(from http://www.film.queensu.ca/CBC/W.html)

Naniad · 06-13-2007, 03:27 AM

The Professor from The Hilarious House of Frightenstein?

Edit: Actually I think this clip is better.

Derek Meister · 06-13-2007, 06:51 AM

As soon as I heard the news about Mister Wizard, I too wondered what had ever happened to Professor Julius Sumner Miller.

According to Wikipedia, he died in 1987 of leukemia.

My other favorite was Professor Jearl Walker on "Kinetic Karnival", produced here in Cleveland for PBS.

bloo · 06-13-2007, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Meister

As soon as I heard the news about Mister Wizard, I too wondered what had ever happened to Professor Julius Sumner Miller.

Ding! We have a winner! Thank you very much!

Alan Dunkin · 06-13-2007, 08:24 AM

Wow I remember seeing him in high school and always parroting his intro phrase, "I'm Dr. Julius Sumner Millah!"

--- Alan

Bad Neighbor · 06-13-2007, 08:27 AM

They still show him on PBS in Cincinnati. It makes me miss my high school physics teacher, whose favorite objects in word problems were a toupee (problems without friction) and a rusty studebaker (with friction). Projectiles were usually thrown by monkeys, iirc.

Miramon · 06-13-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Myers

You sure?

(from http://www.film.queensu.ca/CBC/W.html)

Yup, that's not it. My "What's New" was not public affairs or anything like it, not a mix of different topics, it was just science, and I'm pretty sure it was for younger children, not high-schoolers.

But at least the OP found his show :)

Derek Meister · 06-13-2007, 06:50 PM

I haven't been able to locate any video clips, but JSM also used to make appearances on the Mickey Mouse Club as "Professor Wonderful" in glorious black & white.

I remember catching a re-run on Disney TV years ago that had him on, and it was certainly odd to see him so young.

Still, the thing that I loved most about the "Demonstrations in Physics" series was how he tried desperately to cram as much science as possible in the short amount of time.

Justin Fletcher · 06-13-2007, 09:11 PM

Since when does Wolverine teach physics?

06-12-2007, 09:32 PM	#1
bloo Social Worker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 2,802	Help me find an old tv science show I saw that Mr. Wizard passed away: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituari...,4867128.story While I never actually saw Mister Wizard, this made me want to find an old tv science show. I can't remember the name of the teacher/professor but he mostly taught physics stuff maybe some chemistry too. I think it was early 70s, but it could have been late 60s. Color, very, very low production values: a table, a chalk board, and some equipment. The guy had a thick shock of white hair that was Einstein-esque. He was a big brusque in speech, but maybe more gravelly in tone. Seemed to be upper east-coast accent: Philly, Jersey or New York I think. Episodes were usually 10 minute bits or so, sometimes in sequence on a common theme, such as electricity. Great show but my google fu is weak.

06-12-2007, 10:53 PM	#2
Miramon Social Worker Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,938	Hm... I think it was a different show, but you got me thinking about the PBS "What's New" program of my childhood, about that era. I can't remember anything to speak of about the program except the title, unfortunately. But googling.... Oh god, I should have known better than to google "What's New". Oh well, can't find any reference to it anywhere. Edit: I'm guessing What's New was produced by NET (National Educational Television) prior to the creation of PBS. I can't find any lists of their old programs anywhere, though. Last edited by Miramon; 06-12-2007 at 11:03 PM..

06-13-2007, 01:20 AM	#4
Miramon Social Worker Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,938	Hm Thanks, but I suspect that IMDB reference was for something else entirely. While I could be wrong, I don't remember it as being Canadian, or involving puppets or satire among other things noted in those keywords.

06-13-2007, 03:27 AM	#6
Naniad Good Shape Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada Posts: 70	The Professor from The Hilarious House of Frightenstein? Edit: Actually I think this clip is better. Last edited by Naniad; 06-13-2007 at 03:34 AM..

06-13-2007, 01:03 AM	#3
Talisker How To Go Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Gamertag: Talisker 18 Posts: 10,647	What's New? at IMDB. Not much info there, though. Dunno on the other one.

06-13-2007, 06:51 AM	#7
Derek Meister New Romantic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 5,229	As soon as I heard the news about Mister Wizard, I too wondered what had ever happened to Professor Julius Sumner Miller. According to Wikipedia, he died in 1987 of leukemia. My other favorite was Professor Jearl Walker on "Kinetic Karnival", produced here in Cleveland for PBS.

06-13-2007, 08:24 AM	#9
Alan Dunkin New Romantic Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 9,746	Wow I remember seeing him in high school and always parroting his intro phrase, "I'm Dr. Julius Sumner Millah!" --- Alan

06-13-2007, 08:27 AM	#10
Bad Neighbor Neo Acoustic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Steam ID: Bad Neighbor Posts: 1,821	They still show him on PBS in Cincinnati. It makes me miss my high school physics teacher, whose favorite objects in word problems were a toupee (problems without friction) and a rusty studebaker (with friction). Projectiles were usually thrown by monkeys, iirc.

06-13-2007, 06:50 PM	#12
Derek Meister New Romantic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 5,229	I haven't been able to locate any video clips, but JSM also used to make appearances on the Mickey Mouse Club as "Professor Wonderful" in glorious black & white. I remember catching a re-run on Disney TV years ago that had him on, and it was certainly odd to see him so young. Still, the thing that I loved most about the "Demonstrations in Physics" series was how he tried desperately to cram as much science as possible in the short amount of time.

06-13-2007, 09:11 PM	#13
Justin Fletcher Social Worker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Viral Marketing HQ Gamertag: Justin Fletcher Posts: 2,524	Since when does Wolverine teach physics?

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Help me find an old tv science show