# Old science show for kids (that may have been produced in Ohio)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652 "2010-04-28T18:25:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/1 "2010-04-28T18:25:45Z")
I’m trying to find the title of a late '60s/early ‘70s kids’ science show that reruns of which used to be broadcast in the '90s during the afternoons on the local PBS station (WPTD in Dayton, and _maybe_ WCET out of Cincinnati). I can describe it thusly: the host was a severe man in his late 50s or 60s, who had a receding hairline; what hair he did have was bushy and gray, and he had this intense stare that was made all the more effective because his eyebrows were so bushy. He tended to favor short sleeved dress shirts, in the breast pocket of which he’d hang his microphone (very similar to the microphones you see the senators and representatives use on C-Span when they have the floor). Again, he was very, very severe and intense, and the show was, as a result, absolutely wonderful! I would give _anything_ if someone could recognize the show I’m talking about and give me a title. I would be beside myself with joy if anyone could point me in the direction of clips from the show, or, even better, whole episodes. Anybody have _any_ idea of what I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/2 "2010-04-28T19:14:33Z")
Science Demonstrations with Dr. Julius Sumner Miller. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/3 "2010-04-28T19:23:38Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > Science Demonstrations with Dr. Julius Sumner Miller. I want to kiss you right about now! A googolplex thanks, sir! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/4 "2010-04-28T19:27:55Z")
That would not be very scientific. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/5 "2010-04-28T19:35:51Z")
Almost all the [Julius Sumner Miller](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV8oK_x1_aI&feature=PlayList&p=10ED1BADAF69310A&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=4) one could ever want! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/6 "2010-04-28T19:43:20Z")
Looks like he had another show called _Why Is It So?_. There are some clips [here](http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/whyisitso/). ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/7 "2010-04-28T19:51:36Z")
Many thanks, all. Seriously, you don’t know how many years I’ve been trying to find out about the good doctor and his show, but I had no names, only description. You’d be surprised how many people recognized him from the description, but, like me, were unable to come up with either his name or the show title(s). And the reason I thought it might be a state production is, well, one of the reasons I love the show so much: the bargain basement production values. ::Sigh:: I’m now that much closer to being able to die a happy man. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/8 "2010-04-28T20:13:20Z")
Hah! I remember that guy. I loved public television during the daytime when I was a kid. Write On! Letter People! Think About! There was another guy I used to watch – younger, sort of looked like Stephen Wright. The one I remember in particular was the episode where he demonstrated the vapor layer of very quickly boiling water which protected him when he dipped his hand in molten lead. You could see him thinking on screen “Am I absolutely fucking sure I did this right?” right before the hand went in. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/9 "2010-04-28T20:34:12Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > … There was another guy … [Jearl Walker!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jearl_Walker) CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/10 "2010-04-28T23:18:00Z")
He was also known as [Professor Wonderful](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2009/07/julius-sumner-miller-tv-aka-wonderful.html) for a series of things he did for Disney. He also made appearances on **The Tonight Show** ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/11 "2010-04-29T12:21:09Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > [Jearl Walker!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jearl_Walker) > > CMC fnord! Hasn’t Cecil/Ed (since they _are_ one and the same, correct?) used him as a source a number of times over the years, especially in the earlier days? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-science-show-for-kids-that-may-have-been-produced-in-ohio/537652/12 "2010-04-29T20:41:36Z")
Awesome. Thanks. Walker doesn’t appear to be on YouTube, alas. But I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. –Cliffy