More on my research on the math on TV point:
Petrea was not only interested in college teaching but in the teaching of high school mathematics. Together with Arnold Nolstad he developed a television course on high school algebra and trigonometry which was broadcast on the University of North Carolina public television station, WUNC, for five years in the early 1960's. This was the first open circuit broadcast of high school mathematics in North Carolina. It was also carried in Virginia and South Carolina. (emphasis mine) http://www4.ncsu.edu/~njrose/Special/Bios/Petrea.html
So it IS possible...