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Mr. Wizard Remembered

June 13, 2007 By Sam Sloan 5 Comments

Written by: Samuel K. Sloan (Farpoint Media Exec. News Dir.)

wizard_2.jpewatchmrwiz.jpeMy generation grew up with him and we all loved him — Don Herbert, better known by millions as television’s “Mr. Wizard,” has died at the age of 89 of bone cancer.

He, along will Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is responsible for introducing three generations of kids to the wonders of science and technology. In fact, without Don Herbert, there would have been no Bill Nye teaching science on television and I think Bill would be one of the first to admit that.

“He really taught kids how to use the thinking skills of a scientist,” said former colleague Steve Jacobs.

“Mr. Wizard” began airing in the 1950’s, was the recipient of the prestigious Peabody Award and many other great accomplishments, most notably, educating in an entertaining way, a whole generation of baby boomers new to this new-fangled thing called TV and a generation that would go on to make some of the most significant contributions to science and technology this world has ever experienced. Much of the boom in science from the early 1950’s to the 1980’s can be laid at Herbert’s feet as the person most influencial in the lives of the people who grew up under his tutelage and forged those advances.

“Mr. Wizard,” would take common household items and turn them into mind expanding experiments that would make kids go, “I can even do more with that,” which is exactly what Herbert was aiming for — get the kids to think outside the box.

“He modeled how to predict and measure and analyze. … The show today might seem slow but it was in-depth and forced you to think along,” Jacobs said. “You were learning about the forces of nature.”

Herbert was trained to be a teacher as a graduate of LaCrosse State Teachers College in the 1940’s. He went to serve as a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot during World War II, then after the war he dipped his toe into acting, writing radio script and was an early pioneer in the new technology called television. He got his real break when NBC asked him to host a science show they called “Watch Mr. Wizard” for one of their Chicago affiliates. Herbert was in seventh heaven. He could still be in the media business and also perform his first love — teaching.

After several years in Chicago the show moved to New York and the rest, as they say, is history. The show went on for four decades, airing from 1983 to 1991 on Nickelodeon then on reuns with its final show in 2000.

Don Herbert, for me, will always be “Mr. Wizard.” He was a great scientist and instructor and an even better human being — one of my generation’s greatest teachers and we will miss him. “Mr. Wizard” dead at 89.

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Filed Under: Human Interest Tagged With: In Memory Of

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Comments

  1. Hy Tang says

    June 13, 2007 at 5:59 pm

    A very nicely written story on Mr. Wizard, Sam.

    I grew up watching Mr. Wizard in the 1980’s and he is one of the many reasons I chose to study physics in college.

    Mr. Wizard will be missed.

    Reply
  2. CarrieP says

    June 13, 2007 at 7:01 pm

    Thanks for this post. From one science geek to another, it’s much appreciated.

    Reply
  3. Ed from Texas says

    June 14, 2007 at 3:25 am

    This was tough news to here. I hope this one makes in on next week’s show. I’ll want to hear what the rest of the FPM crew thought of him.

    Reply
  4. Steve Jacobs says

    June 16, 2007 at 10:40 pm

    Thanks for the kind mention of Don’s passing. I will miss him dearly. He trained me to take his place. He called me his WIT…..Wizard in Training. I know I can walk in his footsteps, but will never be able to fill his shoes.

    Regards. Steven Jacobs Wizard IV

    Reply
  5. John says

    September 10, 2008 at 11:35 am

    This is a very informative post, i was searching in google for brain Cancer and came across this post. My niece is suffering from Bone Cancer, information mention in this article will greatly help me in offering her some advice.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. World’s Foremost Scientist Passes According to Bloggers « Going Like Sixty says:
    June 14, 2007 at 1:40 am

    […] Mr. Wizard Remembered 8 hours ago by Sam   Don Herbert, for me, will always be “Mr. Wizard.” He was a great scientist and instructor and an even better human being — one of my generation’s greatest teachers and we will miss him. “Mr. Wizard” dead at 89. Slice of Scifi – http://www.sliceofscifi.com – References […]

    Reply

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