Re: Anyone remember an old TV show, "The Computer Room"?

["Greg Andrzejewski" <pressyourluck85@yahoo.com>]

"Bill Garber" <willy46pa@comcast DOT net> wrote in message
h7-dnTW7v6UggF_d4p2dnA@comcast.com">news:h7-dnTW7v6UggF_d4p2dnA@comcast.com...
>
> "Michael Black" <et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
> news:c9t5oi$clk$1@freenet9.carleton.ca...
> : Zorin the Lynx (yakko@zorin.org) writes:
> : > I figure this may be a good group to ask this in, since this
> show was on
> : > during the real heyday of the Apple II.
> : >
> : > Back when I was younger, I clearly remember seeing a show on
> PBS, which
> : > came on once a week, called "The Computer Room". It had a
> catchy
> : > synthesized theme song, and an opening segment which had an
> animation of
> : > going between 2D rooms, each with a different subject.
> : >
> : > They went into many subjects, including programming, using
> computers in
> : > industry, etc., and had lots of great video of 1980's
> mainframes, and
> : > loads of Apple II stuff as well.
> : >
> : > Does anyone remember this show? I can't find ANYTHING about
> it searching
> : > on Google, and I just wanted more information, like who
> produced it and
> : > where I can possibly get copies of a few episodes on tape or
> disc (for
> : > nostalgic purposes)
> : >
> : > I deeply regret not taping it back then!
> : >
> : > -Z
> :
> : But was it a local show?  Obviously, a lot of PBS programming
> is local,
> : though of course some of that local is pretty large, and the
> shows then
> : go network.
> :
> : But if it was local, it might be harder to find people familiar
> with it.
> :
> : The only program I remember on PBS was The Computer Chronicles,
> that ran
> : right up till recent years.  Originally, Gary Kildall of CP/M
> fame was a host,
> : or regular.  Obviously, it was a much more interesting show in
> the early
> : days, when small computers were new, great changes could happen
> since
> : things started out so basic, and my memory tells me that when
> the show
> : started it was much more an insider thing; as the years go by
> obviously
> : more and more of the population uses computers, but on a
> everyday level.
> :
> : Of course, it wasn't dedicated to the Apple II.
> :
> : Or maybe you saw an imported show.  In the early eighties, TV
> Ontario
> : had a series that was an introduction to computers, complete
> with the host
> : typing away at an Apple to show how to do things.  I imagine
> there were
> : plenty of other such shows from other countries, and perhaps
> PBS (or your
> : PBS station) imported it.
> :
> :   Michael
>
> Speaking of shows with Apple IIs in them. I've been
> seeing a lot more Apple IIs in movies and old series.
> Saw one the other day where a parent told their son
> to turn that thing off and get to bed. I believe it
> was an Apple II+, with a Duodisk drive and a tilt-up
> green screen monitor. I thought, " Kool ".  :o)

A IIc was a frequent a prize on game shows in the 1980s. It was the "Mystery
7" prize a few times on the $100,000 Pyramid, given away as part of the
grand prize on the Newlywed Game, and a staple of the kids' game show Double
Dare.

"...comes with standard 128k memory!"
-Greg