We've talked before about how ABC used to have children's programming on Sundays. There used to be a full block of programming, just like on Saturdays, albeit smaller, and the cartoons were usually reruns shifted over from the Saturday block. ABC News contributed by producing a series of live-action programs with an educational bent from 1962-81. We've previously looked at Make a Wish and Animals, Animals, Animals, as well as the variety series, Kids Are People, Too. Now, however, it's past time to go back to the beginning.
Producer Jules Power came over from NBC (Watch Mr. Wizard), and developed Discovery, which anchored the bottom of the block from 1962-71, until it was succeeded by Make a Wish. Comedian Frank Buxton was the original host, paired with Virginia Gibson. Buxton left after four seasons (1962-6), replaced by newsman Bill Owen.
I do recall seeing some episodes from the Owen/Gibson era. None of Buxton's episodes are currently available, presumably lost to the mists of time.
Discovery's logo bears some resemblance to the one for Kenner's Spirograph drawing apparatus. Go figure. Anyway, the show covered a wide range of topics in its nine seasons. This sample, from Bill Owen's YouTube channel, covers "The Constitution":
Rating: A.
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