Electronics-Themed Comics
December 1958 Radio-Electronics

December 1958 Radio-Electronics

December 1958 Radio-Electronics Cover - RF Cafe[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Electronics, published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

Being a big appreciator of good humor, and especially technology-related humor, I made sure to scan these tech-themed comics from the pages of vintage Radio-Electronics magazines. Some of the same themes from half a century ago are still applicable today - like inventing a device that will block television commercials (see the page 132 comic). There are a couple huge differences between then and now, though. For one thing, the percentage of each hour consumed by commercials has doubled or tripled since 1958. A Prime Time TV show in 1958 like The Untouchables ran 54 out of 60 minutes (90% show / 10% commercials). Big Bang Theory, a 2014 show, had a run time of 22 out of 30 minutes (73% show / 36% commercials).

Electronics-Themed Comics

Electronics-themed comic, December Radio-Electronics - RF Cafe

Page 38

And I want a color bar generator - RF Cafe

"And I want a color bar generator, a field-strength meter ..."
Page 48

This gadget automatically shuts off all commercials between programs - RF Cafe

"This gadget automatically shuts off all commercials between programs."
Page 132

Wait until you hear it at its full volume - RF Cafe

"Wait until you hear it at its full volume ..."
Page 79

St. Bernard with TV - RF Cafe

Page 88

 

 

Posted November 3, 2022
(updated from original post on 5/26/2014)


These Technically−Themed Comics Appeared in Vintage Electronics Magazines. I personally scanned and posted every one from copies I own (and even colorized some).