The Gadgets Page

I love this advertisement for the 1956 Flash-Matic Tuning television from Zenith.

It reads:

You have to see it to believe it!
Flash-Matic Tuning by Zenith
Only Zenith has it!

A flash of magic light from across the room (no wires, no cords) turns set on, off or changes channels… and you remain in your easy chair!
You can also shut off long, annoying commercials while picture remains on the screen!

Here is a truly amazing new television development – and only Zenith has it! Just think! Without budging from your easy chair you can turn your new Zenith Flash-Matic TV set on, off or change channels. You can even shut off annoying commercials while the picture remains on the screen. Just a flash of light does it. There are no wires or cords. This is not an accessory. It is a built-in part of several new 1956 Zenith television receivers. Stop at your Zenith dealer’s soon. Zenith-quality television start as low as $149.95.

It was a remote control television that used light signals to change the channels. Additionally, it had a mute button, a feature so new, it didn’t have a name yet. When you take into account inflation, that $150 television in 1956, would cost about $1133 now. For about the same price you can get a Zenith 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV at Amazon.com. Isn’t it funny how quickly things change?

Ad via: Where’s My Jetpack?: We’ve Always Hated Advertising