R.I.P. for Mr. Wizard

I note with considerable regret the passing of "Mr. Wizard," Don Herbert. He was on TV back when I was growing up (which dates me, I know), and I remember his show fondly - it was mostly about chemistry, and it may be a reason why I wanted very much to be a chemist until I grew up and learned that I really didn't have a talent for it.

For no particular reason, it also brought back memories of another early childhood TV show - "Captain Video," which was broadcast over the old Dumont Network. It was science fiction (Mr. Wizard was science fact), and featured the adventures of Captain Video and his sidekick, known only as "Video Ranger." I remember the theme was Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" overture. In my mind, the music has always been associated with Captain Video. I remember once, some years ago, walking into a room where the Flying Dutchman overture was playing, grabbing a chair and inverting it over my head, and calling out "Captain Video to Video Ranger." People in the room looked (a) mystified and (b) embarrassed, and I left shortly thereafter, looking for an older crowd...