October 27th, 2012 
Ever wonder what state-of-the-art oceanography was like in 1963? If so, watch as an intrepid bunch of oceanographers track waves generated in the Antarctic all the way across the Pacific to Alaska in this total period piece “Waves across the Pacific.” Highlights include: Plotting by hand! Ticker tape! FLIP! Scientists smoking! A dude named Gaylord that always wears V-neck sweaters! Women in menial roles! Famous oceanographer Walter Munk in his bathing attire! Data visualizations in plexiglas!
How can you resist?
Parts 2 and 3 are here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WDbc4ENfbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9xqXnv1zT4
And it has come to my attention that Walter Munk sounds exactly like Ludwig Van Drake.
:D This is hilarious! Thank you for sharing :))
The funny story I’ve heard about this was that the oceanographers were arrayed across the Pacific by seniority – poor Gaylord was a grad student & got stuck in Alaska, while the more senior scientists reclined upon tropical islands.
Walter Munk is still an emeritus at Scripps – he’s about 90 & still occasionally gives talks. He is much beloved.
Alaska, where waves go to die. Also, I love that oceanographic equipment was lowered from an outrigger canoe.
Hey, Alaska isn’t that bad! Thanks for that factlet.