1917

- July 10, born in Waconia, Minnesota.

1923

- Started school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1929

- Started Junior HS in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

1934

- Central High School, La Crosse, Wisconsin. - Achieved HS athletic letter in football.

1935

- Lead role in school play.
- Graduated High School.
- Enrolled in La Crosse State Teacher's College.

1936

- Counted cars & planted trees for National Youth Administration, a federal assistance program.

1937

- Active in college dramatics.

1938

- Director of Pioneer Players.

1939

- Started Lawsonia Summer Theater at Green Lake, Wisconsin.
- Married Maraleita Dutton.

1940

- Graduated from college with majors in English and General Science.
- Acted opposite Nancy Davis (Reagan) at Coach House Summer Theater.

1941

- Stage hand and actor in Minnesota Stock Company.
- Magician and Master of Ceremonies in Winnipeg, Canada.
- Registered for the draft.
- Moved to New York City.

1942

- Worked as a guide at Rockefeller Center.
- Department Manager at Macy's.
- Volunteered for US Army Air Corps.

1943

- Began training as aviation cadet & classified as pilot.

1944

- Learned to fly at bases throughout southern US.

1945

- Graduated as Second Lieutenant.
- Flew a B-24 four engine bomber & crew to Italy.
- Completed 56 bombing missions over Northern Italy, Germany and Yugoslavia.

1946

- Actor, model and radio writer based in Chicago, IL.

1947

- Taught radio writing at Chicago Radio Institute.

1948

- Radio director at the Community Fund of Chicago.
- Developed radio shows based on interviews with audio tape recorder.

1949

- Interviewer & editor of tape recorded radio show, It's Your Life.

1950

- Developed early version of science TV show based on science demonstrations.
- Presented it to potential advertisers; none interested.
- Turned presentation over to Jules Power.

1951

- First ever Watch Mr. Wizard episode airs on WMAQ, Chicago's NBC station, underwritten by The Cereal Institute.
- First review by Variety.
- Feature story in Life Magazine.
- Produced 28 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.

1952

- Added girl to cast of Watch Mr. Wizard.
- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Feature stories in:
- Pageant Magazine, American Boy, Open Road, Science Digest, Child Life and TV Guide.
- Mr. Wizard's Science Secrets published by Popular Mechanics.
- Begin appearing on CBS Sunday nights as Progress Reporter on the General Electric Theater.
- Start Mr. Wizard Science Clubs.
- Billboard survey of TV stations rates Watch Mr. Wizard as the leader in popularity of educational films.

1953

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Watch Mr. Wizard reviewed in Variety.
- Feature stories in:
- Children's Television Magazine, McCall's Magazine, Boy's Life Magazine and Time Magazine.

1954

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Received The Peabody Award.
- Produced a color film version for distribution to schools.
- Feature story in TV Guide.
- Adopted son Jeffrey.

1955

- Adopted son Jay.
- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows from New York City.
- Moved to Bronxville, New York.
- Cereal Institute cancels sponsorship of Watch Mr. Wizard.
- NBC underwrites show as public affairs program from it's news division.
- First award from Ohio State Institute for Radio & Television.
- Watch Mr. Wizard reviewed in Variety.
- Feature stories in: - Newsweek, New York Times, Redbook and Radio & TV Magazine.
- Mr. Wizard Science clubs grew to 5,000, including Canada & Mexico.

1956

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Show featured in Junior Scholastic Magazine.

1957

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Watch Mr. Wizard reviewed in Variety.
- Feature stories in: - New York Herald Tribune and TV Guide.
- LaCrosse Tribune story on return to home town.

1958

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Featured in Glamour Magazine.
- Watch Mr. Wizard & GE Commercials listed as public sources of science in 'Science, The News & The Public' survey by New York University Press.

1959

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Mr. Wizard's Experiments for Young Scientists published by Doubleday and eventually translated to Spanish, French and Japanese.
- Guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen.
- Feature stories in: - Parade Magazine, Calling All Girls, TV Junior Magazine, Minneapolis Tribune, New York City News, Popular Photography (featuring darkroom setup), Detroit News, Washington Post, TV Guide, American Girl, Campfire Girls, New York Times, Child Life and Catholic Youth.

1960

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Developed Mr. Wizard Science Kits involving Chemistry, Ecology, Crystals and Hydroponics; marketed by Owen Illinois.

1961

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Guest Appearances: - Today with Dave Garroway & Play Your Hunch w/Merv Griffin.

1962

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Guest Appearance: - The Perry Como Show.

1963

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Guest Appearance: - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

1964

- Produced 39 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- Feature stories in: - Variety, Child Life and Scholastic Teacher.

1965

- Produced 12 live Watch Mr. Wizard shows.
- NBC Canceled Show.
- Received grants from National Science Foundation and The Arthur P. Sloane Foundation to produce Experiment Series, which aired on National Educational Television stations.
- Guest Appearance: - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
- Experiment Series featured in The New York Times.
- With Dr. Shamos, wrote and illustrated 10 articles in series: 'Science for the Classroom from Mr. Wizard' in Instructor Magazine.

1966

- Experiment Series feature stories in Time Magazine, Milwaukee Journal & Boston Sunday Globe.
- Produced Science 20 series in which students take down data while watching films.
- Guest Appearance: - The Tonight Show with Sam Levenson and Florence Henderson.

1967

- Consultant and on-camera presenter on CBS National Science Test.
- Guest Appearances: - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. - The Mike Douglas Show (Philadelphia). - The Today Show with Dave Garroway. - The Today Show with Hugh Downs.

1968

- Delivered the commencement address at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
- Mr. Wizard's 400 Experiments in Science published by Book-Lab, Inc.
- Formed Mr. Wizard Enterprises, Inc. to raise money for production and distribution of Mr. Wizard classroom films.
- Guest Appearances: - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. - The Today Show with Hugh Downs. - The Today Show with Joe Garagiola. - The Tonight Show with Alan King.

1969

- Produced 10 classroom films in the Science 20 series (each film being 20 minutes long), and 9 classroom films of various lengths.
- Exhibited films at convention of National Science Teachers Association.
- Guest Appearances: - The Skitch Henderson Show. - Noon Show with Dennis Wholey (Cincinnati, OH). - The Merv Griffin Show. - The Today Show with Hugh Downs. - The Mike Douglas Show (Philadelphia). - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. - The Tonight Show with Orson Bean. - Tempo Boston Show.

1970

- Produced 26 Mr. Wizard shows in color in Ottawa, Canada
- Mr. Wizard Science Center opens in Boston suburb.
- Guest Appearances: - 50-50 Show (Cincinnati, OH). - Kennedy and Co. (Chicago, IL). - Jim Conway Show (Chicago, IL). - The Mike Douglas Show. - The Merv Griffin Show. - The Virginia Graham Show.
- Four page feature in Physics Today.

1971

- Moved to Camarillo, CA
- Guest appearance on The Dinah Shore Show.

1972

- Married Norma Kasell.
- Produced 50 'Mr. Wizard Close Ups' (30 second spots that aired on NBC Saturday mornings).

1973

- Guest Appearances: - Noontime Los Angeles. - The Regis Philbin Show.

1974

- Wrote & appeared in four 90 second commercials explaining electricity on The GE Theater.
- Guest Appearances: - The Tonight Show with McLean Stevenson. - At Stanford Physics Dept. as request of Dr. Arthur Schalow. - Kennedy and Company (Chicago).
- Sterling Educational Films takes over distribution of Mr. Wizard classroom films.

1975

- Guest Appearance: - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

1976

- Produced Challenge pilot for NBC.
- Guest Appearance: - The Mike Douglas Show. - Bought property in Bell Canyon, CA.

1977

- Built a home & moved from Camarillo to Bell Canyon.
- Mr. Wizard Close-Up seen on ABC affiliated stations.
- Grant from National Science Foundation to produce 26 reports as samples in the 'How About...' series.

1978

- Mr. Wizard Close-Up receives nomination for "Outstanding Individual Achievment in Children's Programming" from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
- Mr. Wizard Enterprises, Inc. dissolved.
- Produced 26 reports in the 'How About...' series. - Set up production unit for other reports.

1979

- Present 'Energy Around The House' show to 4 cities in Michigan, ending in Detroit.
- Met Dennis Harlan and signed contract with his Educational Consultants of America to begin presenting live performances by Mr. Wizard's assistants to elementary schools.
- Norma signs General Motors as co-underwriters of the 'How About...' series.

1980

- Produced and distributed 52 'How About...' reports to commercial TV stations.
- Mr. Wizard's Supermarket Science published by Random House.
- Mr. Wizard's Supermarket Science awarded certificate of publication as "Outstanding Science Book for Children" from The National Science Teachers Association.
- Guest Appearance: - The John Davidson Show.

1981

- Produced and distributed 52 'How About...' reports to commercial TV stations.
- Produced Mr. Wizard's 'Whadayaknow' Show in Philadelphia in cooperation with Alcare Comunications, Inc.

1982

- Produced and distributed 52 'How About...' reports to 130 commercial TV stations.
- Mr. Wizard's 'Whadayaknow' Show pilot seen by Cy Schneider at Nickelodeon.
- Guest Appearance: - Late Night with David Letterman (Premier Show).

1983

- Produced and distributed 52 'How About...' reports to 140 commercial TV stations.
- Signed contract with Nickelodeon for 'Mr. Wizard's World', a new version of Mr. Wizard in a magazine format.
- Begin production of 'Mr. Wizard's World' in Calgary, Canada.
- 'Mr. Wizard's World' begins airing on Nickelodeon throughout the United States and on public television stations in Canada.
- Nickelodeon picks up option for production of 26 more episodes of 'Mr. Wizard's World'.
- Guest Appearances: - AM LA with Ann Martin and Harold Green. - The Merv Griffin Show.
- 'How About...' receives award from Ohio State University for "Excellence in Educational, Informational and Public Affairs Broadcasting".

1984

- Produced and distributed 52 'How About...' reports to 150 commercial TV stations.
- Began production of second group of 'Mr. Wizard's World' shows in Calgary, Canada.
- Featured article in Discover Magazine.
- Guest Appearances: - The Today Show with Connie Chung. - The Morning Show with Regis Philbin. - Late Night with David Letterman.

1985

- Produced and distributed 100 'How About...' reports to 150 commercial TV stations.
- Continued production of 'Mr. Wizard's World' shows in Calgary, Canada.
- Guest Appearance: - Late Night with David Letterman.

1986

- Produced and distributed 100 'How About...' reports to 145 commercial TV stations.
- Continued production of 'Mr. Wizard's World' shows in Calgary, Canada.
- Received Golden Anniversary Award from Ohio StateUniversity as an "Outstanding Individual who has madea significant contribution to broadcasting and whose activity represents the highest order of work which has allowed broadcasting to educate, inform and culturally enrich audiences".
- Mr. Wizard's World receives Ohio State University award "for support of excellence in educational, informative and public affairs broadcasting".
- Received award for "Distinguished Television Science Reporting" from AAS/Westinghouse Science Journalism Awards.
- Guest Appearances: - Five episodes of The Hollywood Squares. - The Morning Show with Regis Philbin. - Late Night with David Letterman.

1987

 

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