Al Bell and the long tail (or tale)
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 08:38PM 
Mike Kilen, a reporter for the Des Moines Register called me a week or so ago to talk about an old blog post of mine that has gotten a lot of response. (Mike's article is here: What Ever Happened to Al Bell? Inquiring Facebook fans want to know.)
The post, "Did You Know Al Bell" (Jan 29, 2007), wasn't about technology or libraries. It was an off-hand remembrance of a fellow who came to small Iowa schools to give "assembly" programs back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
As of today, this small post has generated 159 comments - nearly all from Boomer generation Iowans who shared fond memories of Mr. and Mrs. Bell's travelogues.
The "long-tail" theory says that no matter how obscure the topic, there is a group of individuals interested in it (and a market for it). From now on, Al Bell will be my true-life example of the long tail.
But I believe the real lesson to be learned here is just how great an impact single educators can have. Comment after comment to the post remark on how Al Bell opened the eyes of small town Iowa kids to a larger world, making global traveler and citizens of many of us.
Next time you go home thinking your teaching day has been a disaster, that a career in selling industrial chemicals would have been both more rewarding and lucrative, and you wonder if anything you've ever said to a kid has made the least difference, think of Al.
I suspect all teachers have a greater and more lasting impact that we will ever know.
Reader Comments (4)
Wow , that's a name I haven't heard for close to 40 years. I used to watch in such awe as Mr. Bell would tell his stories about his far away travels. Growing up a young boy in Brooklyn Iowa all you could do is dream of such adventures. Along comes this guy to your school and behold he would tell the story of his adventures and show items from far away lands. It was for an hour like you were on safari in remote Africa not setting in a gymnasium full of wide eyed kids , I remember not a whisper was heard as Mr. Bell went about his spinning of his adventures. Yes , Mr. Bell you made quite an impression on this once young mind. Oh to be able to go back to such carefree times and hear Mr.Bell describe his adventures . Mr. Bell was and is what growing up in Iowa back in the 50-60 and 70's was all about , he made many a young student dream big . The world misses people like the Bell's , we need more of them . Thanks Mr. Bell
I too grew up in rural Iowa waiting for the next Mr. Bell adventure. Our school had K thru 12 so the gym was always full for the asembly. Waiting for him to come running out a sidedoor onto the gym floor in some kind of costume showing where he had been and what exotic adventure we were about to hear about was like Christmas morning. From him I learned about places like China, India, South America and of course "Darkest Africa". His energy and enthusiam were contagious to most of us boys who thought they'd grow up to be an astronaut but found that there was plenty of adventure right here on earth.
I found this blog after telling a coworker about Mr Bell and thought what the heck let me see if there's anything on the net about the guy. Here it is and I'm sure there are many more out there that from time to time remember the thril of adventure as the film started with the Liberty Bell ringing out.
The article is very nice, “thank” you for sharing it! ?
What was Al Bell's net worth at the time of his passing?