My childhood hero and role model. RIP, Dr. George!George Fischbeck, who became a phenomenon in Albuquerque as a television science teacher and meteorologist in the 1960s and early ’70s, before being lured to Los Angeles where he continued as a top rated TV weatherman, died early Wednesday from natural causes. He was 92.
Dr. George, as he was known, had been living in the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Fischbeck was recognized nationally for his bushy mustache, dark eyeglasses, signature bow tie and his funny, frenetic delivery.
He was born in New Jersey, where he was exposed to immigrant workers from around the world on his family’s farm. That sparked his interest in cultures. He later moved to Albuquerque to study and earn his bachelor’s degree in anthropology and archeology at the University of New Mexico. He subsequently received a master’s degree in education from UNM and became a teacher in the Albuquerque Public Schools for 23 years.
In 1959, a program director at local PBS station, KNME-TV, Channel 5, asked Fischbeck if he wanted to do a 30-minute TV science program for Albuquerque students. The program, “Science 5,” became so popular that it was picked up by schools in 25 cities around the country.
In 1970, Fischbeck was hired to be the 6 and 10 p.m. weatherman on KOB-TV, Channel 4, Within weeks, the station’s newscast moved from second to first.
In 1972, he moved to Los Angeles after accepting a position as weatherman for KABC-TV. In 1994, he moved to KCBS-TV, also in Los Angeles, where spent a few years doing feature stories.
Dr. George, as he was known, had been living in the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Fischbeck was recognized nationally for his bushy mustache, dark eyeglasses, signature bow tie and his funny, frenetic delivery.
He was born in New Jersey, where he was exposed to immigrant workers from around the world on his family’s farm. That sparked his interest in cultures. He later moved to Albuquerque to study and earn his bachelor’s degree in anthropology and archeology at the University of New Mexico. He subsequently received a master’s degree in education from UNM and became a teacher in the Albuquerque Public Schools for 23 years.
In 1959, a program director at local PBS station, KNME-TV, Channel 5, asked Fischbeck if he wanted to do a 30-minute TV science program for Albuquerque students. The program, “Science 5,” became so popular that it was picked up by schools in 25 cities around the country.
In 1970, Fischbeck was hired to be the 6 and 10 p.m. weatherman on KOB-TV, Channel 4, Within weeks, the station’s newscast moved from second to first.
In 1972, he moved to Los Angeles after accepting a position as weatherman for KABC-TV. In 1994, he moved to KCBS-TV, also in Los Angeles, where spent a few years doing feature stories.
It's nice to remember that it used to rain in California!
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