Discovery (American TV series)
An ABC News children's series exploring science, culture, and history.
From October 1962, ABC News produced Discovery, a show for children and teens that aired weekday afternoons. A year later, in September 1963, it moved to Sunday midday, where it stayed until the series ended in September 1971.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Education; Children's television series
- Company
- ABC
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Executive producers
- Jules Power
- First aired
- 1 October 1962
- Last aired
- 1971, 09
Facts from the source article.
Overview
The program was hosted by actor/announcer Frank Buxton and actress/vocalist Virginia Gibson. ABC staff announcer Bill Owen, who replaced Buxton as host in 1966, continued through 1971. Buxton's episodes were mostly studio productions, videotaped in black-and-white with occasional out-of-studio segments on 16mm film. Owen's episodes were shot in color and involved extensive travel to on-site locations worldwide.
The on-air title changed each year, from Discovery '62 to Discovery '71; syndicated reruns used only Discovery. Executive producer Jules Power had previously co-produced NBC's Mr. Wizard. The early format featured Buxton and Gibson in studio with a hound dog named Corpuscle, exploring science, culture, history, and the arts with special guests. Later seasons had the hosts traveling on location without Corpuscle in a documentary style.
Discovery was canceled in 1971 and replaced by another ABC News production, Make a Wish, which was later replaced by Animals, Animals, Animals from 1976 to 1981.
More in American Children's Education Television Series
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced