Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Goodbye, Mr. Wizard

Don Herbert, who as "Mr. Wizard" introduced two generations of students to science through TV shows, films, and books, has died at 89. Herbert's original NBC show, "Watch Mr. Wizard," began in 1951 and stayed on for 14 years, covering almost every branch of science with experiments viewers could often replicate at home. The show was revived in new versions several times, most recently on Nickelodeon in the 1980s.
I was too late to catch the original show, but I saw Herbert's work on 16mm film in my school days. Herbert did great service for science and education. There have been worthy followers, like Bill Nye, but there was only one Mr. Wizard.
Thanks to Loren Coleman for circulating this item.

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