Eugene Polley
Source: Wikipedia: Eugene Polley
Sciences & Discovery • Historical Archive • 🇺🇸 United States • 8 views

Eugene Polley 🇺🇸

Eugene Joseph Polley
Engineer, Inventor of Wireless Remote Control, Emmy Winner
Born Nov 29, 1915 🇺🇸 Chicago, United States
Passed Away May 20, 2012 Downers Grove, United States
Lifespan 96 years old
8 views
Notice / Correction
"It was like a green ray gun. You pointed it at the corner of the set, and click—the commercial was gone."

Archival Overview

American engineer at Zenith Radio Corporation who invented the Flash-Matic in 1955, the world's first wireless television remote control, changing the way humanity consumes media.

Biographical Record

Eugene Joseph Polley was born in Chicago and joined the Zenith Radio Corporation in 1935 as a stockroom boy, rising through self-taught brilliance to become a senior research and development engineer holding 18 patents.

In 1955, Polley invented the 'Flash-Matic', a handheld ray-gun-shaped device that beamed visible light onto photo-electric cells in the television's corners to change channels, adjust volume, or mute annoying commercials. In 1997, Polley and fellow Zenith engineer Robert Adler were awarded an Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Key Life Milestones

1955

Invention of the Flash-Matic Remote Control

Created the world's first wireless television remote control, inaugurating the era of channel surfing.

1997

Technology & Engineering Emmy Award

Honored with an Emmy Award recognizing his foundational contribution to the development of television control.

Memorial Guestbook & Tributes

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
Hillside, United States
GPS: 41.8681, -87.9042
View on Memory Atlas
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