RIP, Jack Horkheimer, "Star Gazer" and TV astronomer
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Hustle on to the heavens, good sir. You will be missed.
Jack Horkheimer, enthusiastically quirky host of the astronomy show currently called Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer, has died. The show started on local Florida PBS stations in 1976 as Jack Horkheimer: Star Hustler. The name was changed in 1997, allegedly in response to connotations of the term “hustler.” The episode below demonstrates a number of the show’s charming themes, including Jack sitting on the rings of Saturn and his somewhat Rip Taylor-esque delivery.
His work probably got a lot of young people interested in astronomy through his accessible and entertaining explanations. Sic itur ad astra, Jack!
Miami Science Museum’s YouTube channel of the show
