He Had a Secret

Mark Evanier's blog features today a fascinating clip from "I've Got a Secret," broadcast a little over fifty years ago. The contestant is Philo T. Farnsworth, who -- as viewers of Johnny Carson and readers of the book CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL know -- invented modern television. His discussion with the host after his identity is revealed indicates that even back in the fifties he was working on what would be come high-definition TV -- as well as an attempt to use nuclear fusion as a peacetime energy source (which alas has not yet been acheived -- as far as we know).