10 million views: The Curiosity Show gets a new lease of life as a YouTube sensation

It was loved by tens of thousands of South Australian kids, now a landmark children’s science show is being viewed by millions more on YouTube.

So what are the creators of the much loved The Curiosity Show up to these days?

I’m glad you asked.

After some years in legal limbo, trailblazers Rob Morrison and Deane Hutton have found a huge new audience for their landmark children’s science show on YouTube, with one clip of a single experiment clicking up more than 10 million views.

Americans have suddenly discovered the show – some 50 years after it was created in Adelaide — and are the show’s biggest YouTube audience.

Several other clips have had multimillion views as Americans embrace the concept, although it appears some are a little unsure if it is a modern show made to look retro or if it really is a treasure being brought out of the archives.

Dr. Rob Morrison (l) and Dr. Deane Hutton from Channel 9 TV program "Curiosity Show" in May 1985.

The US success gives the presenters particular satisfaction.

While the show was a huge success in more than a dozen countries and won accolades including the coveted Prix Jeunesse in 1984 as the best factual program for children, American TV moguls could not grasp the appeal a show where two men conducted scientific experiments with a touch of fun.

That was before shows like MythBusters became massive hits in the US — where men conduct scientific experiments with a touch of fun.

The Curiosity Show was produced in Adelaide by Banksia Productions for the Nine Network and ran for 19 seasons from 1972 to 1990, syndicated to some 14 countries after a humble start in the Here’s Humphrey show.

Dr Morrison and Dr Hutton owned half the rights and Banksia Productions the other half – but the company went into liquidation and years dragged on as the liquidators sought buyers for its assets including the show’s rights.

The two presenters eventually bought the remaining rights then had the quandary of what to do with them, launching their own YouTube channel in 2013.

Dr Morrison said each show had individual segments lasting around four, three and one minute.

“We realised these were the ideal time for YouTube clips,” he said.

“We split the show into the segments and it was slow to pick up but then it fired up about two years ago, and we’ve now got about 362,000 YouTube subscribers.

“We’ve had 10 million views of one segment, 4 or 5 million of some others. It’s enormously satisfying — who would not be pleased to have their work appreciated after 50 years, it is very flattering.”

The clip with 10 million views, “The mysterious isochronous curve” is a classic example of why Americans are fascinated with the program and are confused about whether it is retro or a gem out of a time capsule.

It uses sticky tape, a ruler, the end of a lead pencil, a rubber band, an old tobacco tin, two ball bearings, a matchstick and some cardboard to show the extraordinary properties of an unusual curve linked to riding a bicycle. As always, people can replicate the experiment at home without needing an expensive science laboratory.

Clips which have had multimillion views include segments on the self-starting siphon, on handy illusions, and on the “magical, mystical, mind-boggling Ames Window.”

The presenters did 11 books together based on the show and Dr Morrison recently published a memoir, Curious Recollections.

Dr Hutton noted the show used things that could be easily found in most houses — although changing times means some parents question the use of things like disposable straws, matches or tobacco tins.

“It was a matter of putting things in front of them and letting them see how it could be done,” Dr Hutton said.

“We used everyday materials to set up experiments like jam jars and rubber bands so they were more likely to try it for themselves.”

The presenters noted that while technology changes, essential science doesn’t, making many of their clips timeless.

Dr Morrison says he often was complimented for “turning young people on to science” but says the issues runs deeper.

“What kids don’t like volcanoes, animals, rockets and things like that?” he noted. “But by the end of primary school many have left some of that behind, so the problem is not turning kids on to science, it is stopping kids getting turned off science.

“If they like sport there is so much around to affirm that sport is fine, but kids who like science risk being labelled nerds when in fact it is great fun and fascinating.

“You just have to keep kids engaged.”