The Absent-Minded Professor The Absent-Minded Professor The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 American comic science fiction family film produced by Walt Disney Productions based on the short story "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor. The title character was based in part on Hubert Alyea, a professor emeritus of chemistry at Princeton University, who was known as "Dr. Boom" for his explosive demonstrations. The film stars Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard. The film was a huge success at the box-office, and two years later became the first Disney film to have a sequel, 1963's "Son of Flubber". The original 1961 film
William E. Brainard House William E. Brainard House The William E. Brainard House is a historic house in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Mount Tabor neighborhood was one of Portland's prestigious residential districts in the late 19th century, and this 1888 Italianate structure is one of the few stately homes remaining from that period. It was occupied by a series of residents prominent in business, including farmer, real estate investor, and banker William E. Brainard; stock broker and investment banker George W. Davis; and dentist and dental supplier John C. Welch. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.