Where in Milwaukee can you get a fascinating show, a quick knowledge boost and an expert to answer your questions for just $2?
Why, at UW-Milwaukee’s Manfred Olson Planetarium, of course.
The planetarium, located adjacent to the university’s Physics Building on the corner of Kenwood Boulevard and Cramer Street, is used by UWM and MSOE for astronomy courses, but also for classes in philosophy and art and design.
During the day it also hosts gaggles of schoolchildren who arrive on field trips and hosts public programs on Friday nights at 7 p.m. for a mere two bucks.
Astrobreak, for ages 10 and up, takes place Wednesdays from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and at various times, as weather permits, there's stargazing for ages 5 and up. Both programs are free.
"The Planetarium was erected in 1965 and was named after Manfred Olson, a professor of physics from 1931 to 1963," says Jean Creighton, the current director of the planetarium.
"A native of Wisconsin, Olson’s 32-year career took him to such places as the University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, and to Los Alamos, N.M., as senior physicist in the research and development of Geiger counter systems. In 1943, Olson served as coordinator of the Air Force Training Program at the Milwaukee State Teachers College, and as chair of the Physics Department, serving many years until merger action formed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After retiring from UWM in 1963, he became the planetarium director and part-time lecturer in the Physics Department."
Though the planetarium looks tiny on the outside, it feels somewhat more spacious inside, with a few rows of seats encircling the imposing planetarium projector which sits atop a pedestal directly below the center of the domed ceiling, which is covered with a screen.
On a recent visit, we experienced a show for schoolchildren in which Creighton explores the major constellations. The program was rooted in the skies above Milwaukee, which really brought the presentation to life for the gathered first, second and third graders, who watched in rapt attention, their excitement occasionally leading them to burst out with a question or the name of a constellation they recognized.
Creigton’s knowledge is a major attraction. When the audience has questions, this is a planetarium that has answers. It’s not simply a canned presentation. Creighton can tinker the discussion to follow where she sees the audience wants to go.
"The program is live and presented by an astronomer, who can answer questions, and who can tackle complicated topics such as ‘The Birth of the Universe’ and fun ones too such as ‘Medusa and More Monsters,’ since I grew up in Greece," says Creighton.
"Our programs are inexpensive or free and open to everyone."
That combination of value, knowledge and fun has been a winning combination for the Manfred Olson Planetarium, says Creighton.
"Since 2007 when I started, we have doubled our attendance to over 11,000 last year."
Details on upcoming shows – "Fall Stars and their Myths" runs through Dec. 13, followed by "Colorful Nebulae," from Jan. 17 to March 7, 2014 and "A Night in Greece," April 4-May 10, 2014 – as well as other information can be found at planetarium.uwm.edu.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
