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

[et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Black)]

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