Last minute gifts from MAKE - Maker Shed gift certificates & gift subscriptions are now available!

Don Herbert, 'Mr. Wizard' (July 10, 1917 - June 12, 2007)

Wein600-450


Donald Jeffrey Herbert "Mr. Wizard" (July 10, 1917 - June 12, 2007) brought science and fun to millions in the 50s, then again in the 80's. I wasn't allowed to watch TV for the most part, but Mr. Wizard was one of the shows which was always perfectly OK. After the news of Mr. Wizard passing away at the age of 89 today many makers sent in the news and brief comments like "I wouldn't be where I am today without Mr. Wizard" - Post up your favorite memories, stories and more.

Watch Mr. Wizard (1951) had 547 live episodes. The show won a Peabody Award.
Mr. Wizard's World (1983 -1990) was the longest running show on Nickelodeon.
In 1955 there were about 5,000 Mr. Wizard Science Clubs nationwide with more than 100,000 members.

  • Don Herbert, Los Angeles Times obituary - Link.
  • Donald Jeffrey Herbert, Wikipedia - Link.
More:
  • Mr. Wizard Studios - Link.
  • Watch Mr. Wizard - Link.
  • Mr. Wizard's World - Link.
  • Interview with Mr. Wizard on The Sound of Young America - Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Jun 12, 2007 09:00 PM
Announcements | Permalink | Comments (7) | Email This | Bookmark and Share | Digg this!


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Fredex on June 12, 2007 at 9:40 PM

What I learned from Don Herbert was that the world could be understood - and should be understood. So I built crystal radios, pinhole cameras, parachutes, magnets, and most of the other science toys available to a child of the fifties. I still want to know how things work. I still make my own toys.

When I saw Gilligan's Island I was sure that Russell Johnson had modelled his role as The Professor after Mr. Wizard. Ya think?


Posted by: dummptyhummpty on June 13, 2007 at 12:07 AM

I remember waking up early (5 or 6am) to watch him on Nickelodeon in the mid to late '90s. I remember when he came to my elementary school to do a show because his grand daughter was in my class (I'm sure she's upset right now). Wow, I wish I could remember more of his shows though.


Posted by: dummptyhummpty on June 13, 2007 at 12:07 AM

I remember waking up early (5 or 6am) to watch him on Nickelodeon in the mid to late '90s. I remember when he came to my elementary school to do a show because his grand daughter was in my class (I'm sure she's upset right now). Wow, I wish I could remember more of his shows though.


Posted by: ericcherry on June 13, 2007 at 2:17 AM

I had watched his program on Nickelodeon as a youth, there was a particular episode about using buttermilk or lemon juice to write a 'secret message' that could be revealed by holding a the note over a candle.

"Cool!" "Get an adult to supervise as fire can be dangerous" "Will do Mr.Wizard!"

So I ran and got my Mother, who is the sweetest old lady in the world, but also far from the sharpest crayon in the box.

She put the note directly in the flame, then she panicked, dropped the burning secret note and set our carpet ablaze.

Didn't burn the house down, but ruined the carpet to the point we had to hide it with a floor rug.

But that's not Mr.Wizzards fault, I should have been smart enough with his careful aid to have found a 'responsible' adult :)

God speed Don.


Posted by: ericcherry on June 13, 2007 at 2:17 AM

I had watched his program on Nickelodeon as a youth, there was a particular episode about using buttermilk or lemon juice to write a 'secret message' that could be revealed by holding a the note over a candle.

"Cool!" "Get an adult to supervise as fire can be dangerous" "Will do Mr.Wizard!"

So I ran and got my Mother, who is the sweetest old lady in the world, but also far from the sharpest crayon in the box.

She put the note directly in the flame, then she panicked, dropped the burning secret note and set our carpet ablaze.

Didn't burn the house down, but ruined the carpet to the point we had to hide it with a floor rug.

But that's not Mr.Wizzards fault, I should have been smart enough with his careful aid to have found a 'responsible' adult :)

God speed Don.


Posted by: Skip_N2EI on June 13, 2007 at 5:36 AM

I watched him in the 50's and 60's and learned many things.
I had the pleasure of watching him again in the 80's with my son, seeing the twinkle is his eyes that I, no doubt, had when I was his age.
Mr. Wizard will live on in the fertile minds of many folks who learned about the world through his TV show.
Many of those folks are Makers.
Thanks for everything Don.
Sorry about the sink Mom and Dad.


Posted by: TheCheatOSX on June 13, 2007 at 8:31 AM

I watched him a lot on Nickelodeon in the 80s. It was the coolest thing on TV at the time. A couple of episodes I really remember was putting a coke bottle in a ultrasonic bath which makes the coke shoot out like the new mentos/diet coke combination. When he brought out the HERO-1 robot I about wet myself. I had to have one of those! It was a freaking robot you could build yourself! I asked for it every christmas...but alas...never got one. Maybe it's time to check eBay. I'll miss you Mr. Wizard.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

How-to videos for Makers and Crafers!


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out... Welcome to the Make Blog!



Make: television
The online premiere of Make: television is January 3rd 2009, visit makezine.tv or iTunes to see the entire first episode! The broadcast premiere will follow shortly after depending on when your local Public Television station airs it.

Happy New Year from MAKE!

MAKE's 2009 New Year's message.
What we're making in 2009.


MAKE's RSS feed is here.
Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
How to add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Add MAKE on Twitter.
MAKE's fan page on Facebook.
Add MAKE on FriendFeed


Advertise here with FM.

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Nvidia Rail

Makezine authors!

Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Twitter / AIM

Gareth Branwyn
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Chris Connors
Collin Cunningham
Marc de Vinck
Mike Dixon
Peter Horvath(intern)
Kip Kay
Luke Iseman
John Park
Patti Schiendelman
Becky Stern
Jason Striegel

Suggest a Site!

Current Podcast

itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Simple Laser Communicator (PDF) Secretly shoot your voice across the room on a laser beam. Thanks go to Simon Quellen Field for the original article in Make: Volume 16 View the PDF... More...

Get the Make blog sent via email

Enter your email to receive the Make blog each day:



WOW! Thanks to everyone involved with Maker Faire Bay Area and Maker Faire Austin in 2008: attendees, makers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and crew...it was an AMAZING year! Over 1,000 Makers and 87,000+ attendees total! Be sure to check out the photos @ Flickr, and our Maker Faire posts for all the action! Check back for dates for 2009 soon!

Make Categories

www.flickr.com
photos in MAKE More photos in MAKE Flickr Pool
www.flickr.com
photos in Craft More photos in Craft Flickr Pool

Advertise here.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog

Recent Posts from the Hackszine Blog