# Good night, Mr. Wizard, you taught me well. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797 "2007-06-13T01:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/1 "2007-06-13T01:03:35Z")
Don Herbert, aka Mr. Wizard, has died at 89 years old. [Yahoo! News link](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070612/ap_en_tv/obit_herbert). I watched the 1980’s version of his show on Nickelodeon. I loved it, especially the crazy opening. I remember especially an experiment where they set fire to breakfast cereal to calculate the calories in it. Share your memories of any variant of _Mr. Wizard_. ---
**Author:** ![Freezair\_SilverEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Freezair\_SilverEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freezair_SilverEye)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/2 "2007-06-13T01:07:06Z")
It was on Mr. Wizard where I first got to see how they made nylon. It looked so cool, pulling up string from a cup of apparent liquid! I actually cried a little when I heard this. Not only was he an excellent science show host, he paved the way for all the other wacky science show hosts out there. Rest in peace, Mr. Wizard. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/3 "2007-06-13T01:13:33Z")
Wow, I caught some of his 80s shows, and I was wondering just the other day if he was still with us. Hope Bill Nye’s health is good. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/4 "2007-06-13T01:18:01Z")
☹ I loved Mr. Wizard. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/5 "2007-06-13T01:20:10Z")
I just saw the headlines and I was really sad when I heard this! I mean, I have vivid memories of waking up at 5 or 6am to catch it on early Nickelodeon before I went to school. Here is an awesome picture of him: [Spooky yet fitting](http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/20116/2001360326773852122_rs.jpg) – IG ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/6 "2007-06-13T01:32:33Z")
First Mr. Rogers, and now Mr. Wizard? Which beloved childhood entertainer is next? Mr. Hooper? What?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/7 "2007-06-13T02:03:44Z")
I am sad. Here was someone who was teaching science on TV to kids before I was born … and was still teaching science on TV to kids when my now-adult daughter was watching him on Nickleodeon. I still remember what happens when you put marshmallows in a vacuum. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/8 "2007-06-13T02:06:14Z")
He was a superb teacher. We need more like him. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/9 "2007-06-13T02:09:19Z")
Wow. I remember watching his original show in the '50s, on our round-screen B&W Zenith. He was a great teacher. ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_No\_Saint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@I\_m\_No\_Saint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_No_Saint)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/10 "2007-06-13T02:31:55Z")
Damn…another piece of my childhood gone forever. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/11 "2007-06-13T03:40:20Z")
I watched his show in the 60s when I was a kid. Not long ago (a year or two), the Science Channel ran several of the old episodes. I put as many as I could on my DVR. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/12 "2007-06-13T09:08:17Z")
NPR just reported that he flew over 50 bomber missions in WWII. So he was a hero in more ways than one. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/13 "2007-06-13T10:26:19Z")
Damn, I loved that guy’s show. I was born in 1981, so I really grew up with him on TV. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/14 "2007-06-13T10:29:44Z")
I heard about him from my mother. Then, I got to watch him on Nickelodeon. I find myself hoping his memorial service includes one last science demonstration. I think it would be a fitting tribute. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/15 "2007-06-13T11:55:53Z")
His show was the ultimate t.v. program for a dorky geek like me. I watched his show religiously in the 80’s and learned so much from it. This is a sad day. ☹ My dad just now sent me a message about his death. It was practically a eulogy. He watched him back in the 50’s. ---
**Author:** ![Pithy\_Moniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8dc957/32.png) [@Pithy\_Moniker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithy_Moniker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/16 "2007-06-13T12:18:54Z")
Such sad news. I used to watch his 1980s show on Nickelodeon when I was a kid. When we got our first VCR, I learned to program it just so I could record his shows. I wore out so many tapes from watching his program over and over. Does/will Joost offer any of his shows? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/17 "2007-06-13T12:42:01Z")
I thoroughly enjoyed his show. I also liked the spoof of it on _Dinosaurs_. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/18 "2007-06-13T12:47:44Z")
Awe Mr.Wizard…R.I.P. You showed me that standing on ones head and trying to swallow is nearly impossible due to gravity… ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/19 "2007-06-13T12:50:25Z")
I watched him faithfully in the 50’s. My children watched him in the 80’s. RIP Mr. Wizard, my grandchildren will miss you. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797/20 "2007-06-13T13:04:38Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] I thoroughly enjoyed his show. I also liked the spoof of it on _Dinosaurs_. [/QUOTE] We’re going to need another Timmy! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-night-mr-wizard-you-taught-me-well/407797.md?page=2)