What In The World 1 (ca. 1952)

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This film and all of the films in the Penn Museum collection are copyrighted by the Penn Museum, and are not in the public domain.

PRODUCER: WCAU TV (CBS, Philadelphia)

HOST: Dr. Froelich Rainey

PANELISTS:
-Dr. Carleton Coon - expert on the Middle East; anthropologist; winner of Viking Medal for psychical anthropology
-Dr. Schuyler Cammann - expert on the far East; author
-Dr. Matthew Sterling

SHOTLIST:
Item #1
Volcanic glass---obsidian
3,000 B.C.;Northern Iraq
used to make razor like blades
similar material found in Mexico

Item #2
From Mexican tomb (Zapata, Mexico)
seated man
6-11 century A.D.

Item #3
Northern Japan
Ainu ceremonial quiver
late 19th century


Item #4
Late 19th century
wooden mask
represents a god
Ivory Coast of Africa

Item #5
Gold breast plate
Columbia
Date unknown---coming of Europeans

Item #6
Wooden dish
c/a early 1900s
Philippines
dog

Item #8
Northern Iraq
8-9 century B.C.
pottery dog

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Penn Museum
• What In The World

[jubawubaboy]

Aaaah... Carleton Stevens Coon, exactly as I imagined him, having read all his important books. Thanks for uploading. I never thought I'd see or hear him. I just wish they'd have shown him at a better angle.

[EugeneHamill]

Thanks very much. This was my favorite show when I was a kid. Any chance that you can put up later ones? In the 1960s Gene Crane was the announcer. As I remember it the experts sat at a table, and there was a simpler set. I think the effects were not quite so primitive either. Fortunately, the music was the same.

[frayedknotarts]

I have always cerdited this show with sparking my interest in archaeology and the sciences. Spelling, however, seems to have fallen by the wayside!

[maryjomcynapsus]

I remember watching this as a very young child - probably 5 or 6. I loved it. And think it's what instilled in me critical thinking skills and a love for science. I wish there were more shows like it on now and available for my grandchildren.

[professortheremin]

My kind of game show! It makes Jeopardy seem like Double Dare.

[vpfluke]

Further note, M. Sterling is actually Matthew W. Stirling, an ethnographer who specialized in Meso-American research. I think he had worked with the National Geographic.

[vpfluke]

I knew Dr. Schuyler Van Rensselaer Cammann when I was student at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960. He was as close to a mentor as I had at U of Pa. I remember seeing this show on National Education TV (NET) when my family lived in Jacksonvile, Florida in the late 1960's. I think the show ran a dozen years or so, and there is a short Wikipedia article about it.

[videochick770]

wow. that's just crazy. very interesting.