UNIVAC Computer | Dr. John Mauchly TV talk (1952)

This 1952 episode called “Can Machines Think?” is a kinescope recording of “The Johns Hopkins Science Review” which aired weekly from 1948 until 1956.

Dr. Mauchly was co-inventor of ENIAC, UNIVAC, BINAC, and co-founder of Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company, with J. Presper Eckert.

This film is likely the earliest, most detailed talk on an early digital computer by its co-creator ever given on television. It provides a fascinating look at the inner workings of the UNIVAC I, seldom seen.

In 1952, many people were barely getting used to "television" and it must have been amazing to watch this demonstration of the first publicly broadcast documentary on a large-scale digital computer. UNIVAC 1 was a great technical advancement over their first computer, the ENIAC, which was made public in February 1946.   

By 1952, the date of this film, Mauchly and his co-inventor, J. Presper Eckert, had become part of REMINGTON RAND, which had purchased their company ("Eckert-Mauchly Computer Company") in 1950. (REMINGTON RAND is one of the legacy companies of today's Unisys, Inc., the global information services company.)

Hosted by Lynn Poole, who created, produced and hosted this live half-hour series.

From 1950 to 1955, the TV program was syndicated nationally by the DuMont Television Network, and won several wards. Various scientists were highlighted over the years. Episodes were saved on Kinescope and preserved at the Johns Hopkins University.

Presented by The DuMont Television Network, one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS . Owned by Allen B. DuMont Labs, a very early television set maker. DuMont Network began operations on June 28, 1942, and continued until August 6, 1956.

It's massive Television program library, which was on kinescope film (predating video recording tape) was unfortunately destroyed by the 1970’s to reclaim the silver content in the film materials.

Note: We edited out approximately 4 minutes of introductory material and commercials.

All of Dr. Mauchly’s original talk is included in the above video.