About
"[Philo Farnsworth] saw television being transmitted over the ocean. He saw countries being able to see what the other country is like, and their problems, and that they could settle their differences over a conference table rather than on the battlefield. He saw it as a big educational tool, and also entertainment."
In her seven-hour interview, Elma Farnsworth (1908-2006) discusses her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's first television invention - the image dissector tube - and the excitement of seeing its first moving image. She describes how Philo toiled to create the first electronic television, while RCA and Vladimir Zworykin worked on a similar invention, both trying to finish before the other. Farnsworth also talks about the heated competition and the ensuing patent fights between Philo and General David Sarnoff, then President of RCA. She talks about Philo's colleagues, laboratories, and companies, and speaks of the couple's home life, as well. Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview on June 25 and June 26, 1996 in Salt Lake City, UT.
Highlights
Elma Farnsworth on the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his Image Dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's battle with RCA for electronic television's patents, declaring that Farnsworth was the initial inventor of electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on RCA licensing Philo T. Farnsworth's patents in 1939 - the first time RCA ever licensed a patent
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's input on commercial broadcast standards for the United States
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On the story of the birth of her husband, Philo T. Farnsworth; on Philo's childhood, hobbies and talents; on her childhood
On Philo's family moving to Rigby, Idaho when he was a youngster; on Philo seeing electricity for the first time
On Philo reading Invention magazine as a child and first learning about mechanical television
Chapter 2
On Philo entering a contest in a magazine; on Philo's idea for electronic television and studying math and chemistry in school
On how she met Philo; on Philo's time in the Navy
Chapter 3
On getting engaged to Philo; on Philo telling her his idea for electronic television
On Salt Lake City's Community Chest; on Philo hiring George Everson, Les Gorrell, and Cliff Gardner; on getting married
On becoming Philo's assistant; on moving to Los Angeles to set up a laboratory
Chapter 4
On police mistaking Philo's lab for a home distillery; on moving to San Francisco and Philo patenting television in 1927; on securing funding for experimental television
On setting up their lab on Green Street; on Philo enlisting a professor at UC Berkeley to assist in glass-blowing; on her role in the laboratory
Chapter 5
On the race to invent electronic television; on the drawbacks to mechanical disc television and the obstacles Philo encountered when creating electronic television
On the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his image dissector tube; on perfecting the tube
On some of the first televised images - film strips; on Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and producer Joseph Schenck visiting Philo T. Farnsworth's lab to see television
On the press conference announcing electronic television and Philo being pursued by RCA; on famous visitors to Philo T. Farnsworth's lab, including Vladimir Zworykin
Chapter 6
On the press conference announcing Philo's invention, contd.; on Philco licensing Farnsworth's television for an experimental television station; on Philo leaving Philco and setting up the Eastern Division of Television, Inc.
On Vladimir Zworykin at RCA copying Philo T. Farnsworth's image dissector for RCA's electronic television system; on public demonstrations of television
Chapter 7
On how young Philo conducted his research when he was a child living on a farm; on how her husband Philo T. Farnsworth used to solve problems while he slept
On RCA's David Sarnoff's attempts to buy Philo T. Farnsworth's patent for television; on Philo's experimental television station W3XPF and the man who ran it, Bill Eddy
On makeup and talent they featured on experimental television; on problems with intense lighting and lobbying for a commercial television license
Chapter 8
On Philo's battle with RCA for electronic television's patents; on Philo's input on commercial broadcast standards for the United States
On the creation of the Farnsworth Radio and Television Corporation and their workings with John Logie Baird, creator of the mechanical spinning disc television system
Chapter 9
On the formation of the Farnsworth Television and Radio Company; on Philo's poor health circa 1940 and the 1939-40 World's Fair
On the expiration of Philo T. Farnsworth's original television patents and the beginning of manufacturing television sets; on the International Telephone and Telegraph Company purchasing the company
Chapter 10
On several of her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's inventions: baby incubator, electron microscope, and satellite technology; on Philo's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969; on his work in fusion and hydroponics
On Philo being asked to work on the Manhattan Project and his phone call with Albert Einstein; on Philo's work on fusion
On Philo's dwindling health
Chapter 11
On her husband Philo's work on fusion at the end of his life
On Philo's appearance on I've Got a Secret
On Philo's thoughts on commercial television towards the end of his life; on why history has largely forgotten Philo T. Farnsworth's name; on Philo's amazing achievements
Chapter 12
On her husband Philo's achievements at such a young age; on his personality
On Philo's colleagues and family members
B-roll photos from her life with husband Philo T. Farnsworth
Shows
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's colleagues, and Harry Lubcke naming the Emmy Awards after the image orthicon tube
I've Got a Secret
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's appearance on I've Got a Secret
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth avoiding the television demonstration at the 1939 World's Fair
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo reading Invention magazine as a child and first learning about mechanical television
Emmy Awards
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's colleagues, and Harry Lubcke naming the Emmy Awards after the image orthicon tube
Historic Events and Social Change
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth avoiding the television demonstration at the 1939 World's Fair
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
Memorable Moments on Television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
Moon Landing
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
Pivotal Career Moments
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo reading Invention magazine as a child and first learning about mechanical television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his Image Dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on Vladimir Zworykin at RCA copying Philo T. Farnsworth's image dissector for RCA's electronic television system
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth demonstrating television at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia - the first public demonstration of television in 1934
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth's dollar sign demonstration of television for his financial backers
Elma Farnsworth on RCA licensing Philo T. Farnsworth's patents in 1939 - the first time RCA ever licensed a patent
Elma Farnsworth on the expiration of Philo T. Farnsworth's original television patents and the beginning of manufacturing television sets
Technological Innovation
Elma Farnsworth on Philo's idea for electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on moving to Los Angeles with Philo T. Farnsworth to set up a laboratory
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his Image Dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on the drawbacks to mechanical disc television and the obstacles Philo encountered when creating electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on Vladimir Zworykin at RCA copying Philo T. Farnsworth's image dissector for RCA's electronic television system
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth lobbying for a commercial television license
Elma Farnsworth on how certain fabrics transmitted on experimental television and problems with lighting
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's battle with RCA for electronic television's patents
Elma Farnsworth on RCA licensing Philo T. Farnsworth's patents in 1939 - the first time RCA ever licensed a patent
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's input on commercial broadcast standards for the United States
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
Television Industry
Elma Farnsworth on moving to Los Angeles with Philo T. Farnsworth to set up a laboratory
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth avoiding the television demonstration at the 1939 World's Fair
Professions
Inventor
Elma Farnsworth on Philo's idea for electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his Image Dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on the drawbacks to mechanical disc television and the obstacles Philo encountered when creating electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on how her husband Philo T. Farnsworth used to solved problems while he slept
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's input on commercial broadcast standards for the United States
Technology Innovators
Elma Farnsworth on Philo's idea for electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on the drawbacks to mechanical disc television and the obstacles Philo encountered when creating electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his Image Dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on how her husband Philo T. Farnsworth used to solved problems while he slept
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's input on commercial broadcast standards for the United States
Elma Farnsworth on several of her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's inventions: baby incubator, electron microscope, and satellite technology; on Philo's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969; on his work in fusion and hydroponics
Genres
News and Documentary
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
People
John Logie Baird
Elma Farnsworth on the creation of the Farnsworth Radio and Television Corporation and their workings with John Logie Baird, creator of the mechanical spinning disc television system
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's colleagues and people he looked up to in the field; on demonstrating electronic television for John Logie Baird (inventor of mechanical television)
Albert Einstein
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's phone call with Albert Einstein and Einstein's advice to him
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's phone call with Albert Einstein
George Everson
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth hiring George Everson, Les Gorrell, and Cliff Gardner
Elma Farnsworth on George Everson raising funds for Philo T. Farnsworth's experimental television
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth and George Everson raising funds to work on inventing television and forming the company, Television, Inc.
Elma Farnsworth on the creation of the Farnsworth Radio and Television Corporation and their workings with John Logie Baird, creator of the mechanical spinning disc television system
Philo T. Farnsworth
Elma Farnsworth on the story of the birth of her husband, Philo T. Farnsworth
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's talents
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's photographic memory
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's phone call with Albert Einstein
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo entering a contest in a magazine
Elma Farnsworth on Philo's idea for electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on getting engaged to Philo T. Farnsworth
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth telling her his idea for electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth hiring George Everson, Les Gorrell, and Cliff Gardner; on getting married
Elma Farnsworth on moving to Los Angeles with Philo T. Farnsworth to set up a laboratory
Elma Farnsworth on police mistaking her husband Philo's lab for a home distillery
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo patenting television in 1927
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo getting funding, and setting up materials and personnel for inventing television; on her role in the creation of television
Elma Farnsworth on the reaction of her and her husband, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth (and colleagues Cliff Gardner and Carl Christensen), on September 7, 1927 when he produced the first all-electronic TV picture (a simple straight line) with his Image Dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and producer Joseph Schenck visiting Philo T. Farnsworth's lab to see television (where they surmised its threat to the movie industry) circa early-1930s
Elma Farnsworth on the drawbacks to mechanical disc television and the obstacles Philo encountered when creating electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on famous visitors to Philo T. Farnsworth's lab, including Vladimir Zworykin
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth raising funds to work on inventing television and forming his company, Television, Inc.
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth's dollar sign demonstration of television for his financial backers
Elma Farnsworth on public demonstrations of television to interest people in licensing Philo T. Farnsworth's patents; on Philco licensing Farnsworth's television for an experimental television station and Phil leaving the company
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth starting the Eastern division of Television, Inc., the patents the company held, and Philo's aspirations for television
Elma Farnsworth on Philo T. Farnsworth demonstrating television at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia - the first public demonstration of television in 1934
Elma Farnsworth on how young Philo balanced conducting research and doing chores while growing up on a farm
Elma Farnsworth on how her husband Philo T. Farnsworth used to solve problems while he slept
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth putting her image on television
Elma Farnsworth on RCA's David Sarnoff's attempts to buy Philo T. Farnsworth's patent for television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth lobbying for a commercial television license
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's battle with RCA for electronic television's patents
Elma Farnsworth on RCA licensing Philo T. Farnsworth's patents in 1939 - the first time RCA ever licensed a patent
Elma Farnsworth on the creation of the Farnsworth Radio and Television Corporation and their workings with John Logie Baird, creator of the mechanical spinning disc television system
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's difficulties with disloyal personnel and the formation of the Farnsworth Television and Radio Company
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's poor health circa 1940
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth avoiding the television demonstration at the 1939 World's Fair
Elma Farnsworth on the expiration of Philo T. Farnsworth's original television patents and the beginning of manufacturing television sets
Elma Farnsworth on the International Telephone and Telegraph Company purchasing Farnsworth Television and Radio Company and Philo T. Farnsworth working on satellites and space exploration
Elma Farnsworth on several of her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's inventions, including the baby incubator
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's camera tube being a part of the Apollo mission to the moon in 1969
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's fusion and hydroponic work, and his love of science fiction
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth being asked to work on the Manhattan Project
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's phone call with Albert Einstein
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's work on fusion at the end of his life
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's appearance on I've Got a Secret (the same night Buster Keaton was on the program)
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's thoughts on commercial television towards the end of his life
Elma Farnsworth on why history has largely forgotten her husband, Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on what she thinks her husband Philo T. Farnsworth might have changed if he had the chance to do so; on whether or not an underdog can win in the American system
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's determination and spirit
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's achievements with electronic television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's achievements at such a young age
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's personality and strengths
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's colleagues
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's colleagues and people he looked up to in the field; on demonstrating electronic television for John Logie Baird (inventor of mechanical television)
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's family members and their contributions to his work
Elma Farnsworth on a photo of a statue of her husband Philo T. Farnsworth holding an image dissector tube
Elma Farnsworth on a photo of her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's television demonstration at the Franklin Institute
Buster Keaton
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's appearance on I've Got a Secret (the same night Buster Keaton was on the program)
Harry Lubcke
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's colleagues, and Harry Lubcke naming the Emmy Awards after the image orthicon tube
Garry Moore
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's appearance on I've Got a Secret (the same night Buster Keaton was on the program)
Mary Pickford
Elma Farnsworth on Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and producer Joseph Schenck visiting Philo T. Farnsworth's lab to see television (where they surmised its threat to the movie industry) circa early-1930s
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth giving Mary Pickford a demonstration of his television system
Don Pike
Elma Farnsworth on a photo of Don Pike using an early Farnsworth television camera
David Sarnoff
Elma Farnsworth on RCA's David Sarnoff's attempts to buy Philo T. Farnsworth's patent for television
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's battle with RCA for electronic television's patents
Elma Farnsworth on RCA licensing Philo T. Farnsworth's patents in 1939 - the first time RCA ever licensed a patent
Joseph Schenck
Elma Farnsworth on Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and producer Joseph Schenck visiting Philo T. Farnsworth's lab to see television (where they surmised its threat to the movie industry) circa early-1930s
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.
Elma Farnsworth on Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and producer Joseph Schenck visiting Philo T. Farnsworth's lab to see television (where they surmised its threat to the movie industry) circa early-1930s
Vladimir Zworykin
Elma Farnsworth on famous visitors to Philo T. Farnsworth's lab, including Vladimir Zworykin
Elma Farnsworth on Vladimir Zworykin at RCA copying Philo T. Farnsworth's image dissector for RCA's electronic television system
Elma Farnsworth on her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's battle with RCA for electronic television's patents