Stewart Cheifet, the visionary creator and longtime host of PBS's landmark series 'Computer Chronicles,' has passed away at 87. His show documented the personal computing revolution for two decades, featuring tech legends like Gary Kildall while educating millions about emerging technologies. Cheifet's donation of the complete series archive to the Internet Archive preserved an irreplaceable record of Silicon Valley's formative years.
Stewart Douglas Cheifet, the creator and iconic host of PBS's groundbreaking series Computer Chronicles, died on December 28, 2025, at age 87. His two-decade run chronicling the personal computing revolution introduced mainstream audiences to emerging technologies through in-depth demonstrations and interviews with industry pioneers.
Documenting the Digital Revolution
Cheifet launched Computer Chronicles in 1981 at KCSM-TV in San Mateo, California—epicentered in Silicon Valley. After an initial season hosted by computer journalist Jim Warren, Cheifet took the reins in 1983 alongside co-host Gary Kildall, creator of the CP/M operating system. The show deliberately mirrored public-affairs formats like Washington Week, blending studio discussions with field segments to demystify hardware, software, and networking concepts.
"We moved from a televised computer user group meeting to a more polished, journalistic approach," Cheifet later reflected. This shift coincided with computing's move from hobbyist garages to corporate America.
Engineering a Tech Time Capsule
For its entire 20-season run, Computer Chronicles captured pivotal moments in tech history:
- Early demonstrations of the Apple Macintosh, IBM PC, and Amiga
- Interviews with Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and other industry architects
- Coverage of emerging trends like CD-ROMs, GUIs, and networking
Cheifet maintained an extraordinary bi-coastal commute from 1984–1993—flying weekly from his role as PBS station manager in Pennsylvania to tape episodes in California. In 1996, he expanded his tech coverage by launching Net Cafe, one of the first TV shows dedicated to internet culture.
Preserving Digital Heritage
When both shows ended in 2002 due to post-9/11 sponsorship challenges, Cheifet ensured their legacy endured. In 2004, he partnered with the Internet Archive to digitize and freely distribute nearly all episodes—creating an invaluable primary source for historians studying computing's evolution.
Cheifet's work transcended technical documentation; it captured Silicon Valley's ethos during its most transformative era. As developer and historian Linus Torvalds noted: "Shows like Computer Chronicles made the inaccessible accessible—they were our Wikipedia before the web."
Source: Computer Chronicles Blog
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