Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1950s Television
    1950s Television 1960s Television 1970s Television Kids TV Shows W 2 Mins Read

    Watch Mr Wizard

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 1 – 1 9 6 5 (USA)
    1 9 7 1 – 1 9 7 2 (USA)

    Explaining the mysteries of science for nearly forty years, Mr Wizard became the most recognisable science teacher in the USA. Don Herbert was a World War II pilot and a radio and television actor before he gained his greatest fame as Mr Wizard.

    Presenting over 10,000 experiments during his career, Mr Wizard covered everything from air travel to sound speed to chemical reactions and much, much more.

    watchmrwizard2

    Sometimes, the experiments went awry or didn’t do anything, which could have been a cause of major embarrassment on live TV.

    But Mr Wizard never got discouraged. He would repeat the experiment week after week until it behaved as he knew it should.

    Part of the show’s success was the fact that everyday household items could be used to conduct the experiments. Instead of using a beaker or flask, for example, Mr Wizard used a milk bottle.

    The idea was to show that science was something tangible and accessible to everyone. The philosophy worked, and many people over the years have credited Mr Wizard with their career choices in science and electronics.

    Since Mr Wizard was a teacher, he needed students, and so the show gathered a group of “neighbourhood kids,” who were actually young actors hired to be inquisitive.

    Although Mr Wizard had file cards with one-word reminders on them, most of the dialogue was improvised, although the audience could always count on at least one “Gee, Mr Wizard!”

    watchmrwizard4

    Broadcasting from Chicago, the original Watch Mr Wizard ran on NBC for fourteen straight seasons from 1951-65, then left the air for several years.

    A one-season revival ran in 1971, but the show came back in force as Mr Wizard’s World on the fledgeling cable network Nickelodeon in 1983. Seven new seasons were produced, stretching Mr Wizard’s legacy into its fifth decade.

    After his time on television, Herbert continued his educational work by writing a series of books on his favourite subject.

    Mr Wizard
    Don Herbert
    Tommy 

    Hugh Dunne
    Susan 

    Pamela Fitzmaurice
    Bruce
    Bruce Lindgren
    Alan
    Alan Howard
    Jimmy 
    Stanley Crochowski
    Mike 

    Ralph Robertson
    Buzz 

    Bruce Podewell
    Betsy 

    Susan Levin

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Mighty Hercules, The
      Mighty Hercules, The
      1 9 6 3 (USA) 130 x 5½ minute episodes In the 1960’s, Steve Reeves made Hercules a popular matinee idol…
    • Looking and Seeing
      Looking and Seeing
      1 9 5 7 (UK) 8 x 30 minute episodes Looking and Seeing was the very first television programme specifically for…
    • Dexter's Laboratory
      Dexter's Laboratory
      1 9 9 6 - 2 0 0 3 (USA) 79 x 23 minute episodes Dexter is a young boy who also…
    • Smurfs, The
      Smurfs, The
      1 9 8 1 - 1 9 8 9 (Belgium/USA) 256 x 30 minute episodes These lovable powder blue characters were…
    • Monster Squad
      Monster Squad
      1 9 7 6 - 1 9 7 7 (USA) 13 x 30 minute episodes Walt (Fred Grandy) was a college…
    • Science Fiction Theatre
      Science Fiction Theatre
      1 9 5 5 - 1 9 5 7 (USA) 78 x 25 minute episodes This early science fiction anthology series…
    • Mr Merlin
      Mr Merlin
      1 9 8 1 (USA) 22 x 25 minute episodes Max Merlin (Barnard Hughes) was the ancient magician, who by the…
    • King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
      King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
      1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 3 (USA) From the creators of Underdog came the story of King Leonardo, a  lion…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleNew Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series, The
    Next Article Terrahawks

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.
    Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    You may also like

    • Galen Drake Show, The
      Galen Drake Show, The
      1 9 5 7 (USA) 30 minute episodes Galen Drake, the great storyteller of radio, moved to television as the host…
    • Bil Baird Show, The
      Bil Baird Show, The
      1 9 5 3 (USA) Husband and wife team Bil and Cora Baird were two of the hardest-working puppeteers on American…
    • Wizard of Oz, The
      Wizard of Oz, The
      1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 1 (USA) 13 x 30 minute episodes The astonishing popularity of the 1939…
    • Wizard, The
      Wizard, The
      1 9 8 6 - 1 9 8 7 (USA) 19 x 40 minute episodes Simon McKay (David Rappaport) is the…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.