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=                        Computer_Chronicles                         =
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                            Introduction
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'Computer Chronicles' (also titled as 'The Computer Chronicles' from
1984 to 1989) is an American half-hour television series that was
broadcast on PBS public television from 1984 to 2002. It documented
and explored the personal computer as it grew from its infancy in the
early 80s to its rise in the global market at the turn of the 21st
century. Episodes reviewed a variety of home and business computers,
including hardware accessories, software and other consumer computing
devices and gadgetry. Each episode ended with a news-like segment
reporting on new developments and announcements in the computer
industry. A wide range of computing topics were showcased and
demonstrated, ranging from home use, business, education, gaming,
digital music creation and editing, to networking and online
telecommunication.


                        History and overview
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The series was created by Stewart Cheifet (later the show's co-host),
who was then the station manager of the College of San Mateo's KCSM-TV
(now independent non-commercial KPJK). The show was initially
broadcast as a local weekly series beginning in 1981. The show was, at
various points in its run, produced by KCSM-TV, WITF-TV in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, and KTEH in San Jose. It became a national series on PBS
in 1984, running until 2002, with Cheifet as host. From 1994 to 1997,
the show was produced by PCTV, based in New Hampshire in cooperation
with KCSM-TV. Starting in the fall of 1997 and continuing to its end,
the show was produced by KTEH San Jose and Stewart Cheifet
Productions.

Gary Kildall, founder of the software company Digital Research, served
as Cheifet's co-host from 1984 to 1990, providing insights and
commentary on products, as well as discussions on the future of the
ever-expanding personal computer sphere. After Kildall left the show,
Cheifet would serve as solo host from 1991 onward. After Kildall's
death in 1994, the show paid tribute to him in a special episode.

'Computer Chronicles' had several supporting presenters appearing
alongside Cheifet, including:
* George Morrow: Presenter, commentator and occasional co-host, who
for a time headed the 'Morrow Design' company, Morrow was a well-known
face on the Chronicles until the 1990s. Morrow died in 2003.
* Paul Schindler: Featured predominantly in software reviews,
Schindler contributed to the series until the early 1990s.
* Tim Bajarin: author and columnist who appeared on a few of the 1990s
episodes as a co-host and contributor.
* Wendy Woods: Provided reports for many software and hardware
products, as well as talking with the main presenters in the studio
about specific topics.
* Janelle Stelson: presented the news and reviews segment.
* Jan Lewis: Former president of the Palo Alto Research Group (not to
be confused with Xerox PARC), served as both co-host and interviewee
throughout the 1980s.
*Herb Lechner: with SRI International, served as both co-host and
interviewee on some of the earliest episodes.


                               Format
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The 'Computer Chronicles' format remained relatively unchanged
throughout its run, except perhaps with the noticeable difference in
presenting style; originally formal, with Cheifet and the guests
wearing business suits (with neckties) customary in the professional
workplace in the early 1980s, it evolved by the 1990s into a more
relaxed, casual style, with Cheifet and guests adopting the "business
casual" style of dress that the Silicon Valley computer industry
arguably helped pioneer.

Beginning in 1984, the last five minutes or so featured 'Random
Access', a segment that gave the viewer the latest computer news from
the home and business markets. Stewart Cheifet, Janelle Stelson, Maria
Gabriel and various other individuals presented the segment. 'Random
Access' was discontinued in 1997. The 'Online Minute', introduced in
1995 and lasting until 1997, gave the viewers certain Web sites that
dealt with the episode's topic. It featured Giles Bateman, who
designed the show's "Web page" opening sequence that was used from
that period up until the show's end.

The opening graphics were changed in 1989, and the show was renamed
"Computer Chronicles", omitting the word "The". The graphics were
redesigned again in 1995, with the "Web page" graphics designed by
Giles Bateman, and redesigned again in 1998 to show clips from the
show in a "multiple window" format.

The theme tune from 1984 to 1989 was "Byte by Byte" by Craig Palmer
for the Network Music Library. From 1990 until the show's end, the
theme song was 'Zenith', composed for OmniMusic by John Manchester.

Another feature on the show was Stewart's "Pick of the Week", in which
he detailed a popular piece of software or gadget on the market that
appealed to him and might appeal to the home audience.


                            Availability
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The show ended its run in 2002. Almost all episodes of 'Computer
Chronicles' have been made available for free download at the Internet
Archive. There is also an unofficial YouTube channel with episodes.
Many episodes of the show have been dubbed into other languages,
including Arabic, French and Spanish.


                              See also
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* 'Net Cafe', de facto spin-off of 'Computer Chronicles' co-hosted by
Cheifet that aired from 1996 to 2002
* WDR Computerclub, similar show in German TV


                           External links
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*
*[https://archive.org/search.php?query=subject:%22Computer%20Bowl%22
archive.org - Computer Bowl archives]
*[http://stquantum.xtreemhost.com Computer Chronicles history and
information]
*


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