"Big Dreams-Small Screen"

The documentary “Big Dreams-Small Screen” is an educational look into the history of television. Most people are not aware of who actually invented the television. Philo T. Farnsworth was the man noted for the invention of the television, although most people did not give him credit for this. This documentary explores the life and the struggles Philo T. Farnsworth went through in his effort to create the first television. The documentary goes into how the invention of the television was stolen from Farnsworth from a big name corporation, RCA. RCA, at the time, was a huge corporation that was not willing to accept that a small town nobody had invented the television. RCA was willing to beg, borrow or steal (as the documentary explained) in order to assure their claim to notoriety, which was the invention of the television. In order to make this happen, RCA needed to build a television before Farnsworth did. An RCA official, David Sarnoff and Russian scientist, Vladimir Zworykin raced against time and Farnsworth to build a television. The battle between Farnsworth and RCA would go on for years. Throughout this time, the documentary takes a look into Farnsworth’s personal life with his wife. They go on to interview several people who were closely related to Farnsworth. Eventually, Farnsworth finished and debuted to viewers his creation. Farnsworth didn’t get the recognition and RCA wouldn’t stop in its efforts because they wanted to be acknowledged for producing the television.
Throughout the years and countless long court battles, Farnsworth finally won the rights to the television. During this time, his health had declined over the years. He became involved in alcoholism as an escape from his struggles. RCA never stopped fighting for the power. Farnsworth became the little man endlessly fighting against the big man, RCA. Farnsworth’s victory would be short lived due to a ban that was put on commercial television by the government. His patent would run out and the rights for television production would become public.
This documentary is a good look into a small town nobody who had a vision that could change the world but he was only fourteen years old. Philo T. Farnsworth is a forgotten piece of a history that most people are unaware of. “Big Dreams-Small Screen” is an exceptional look into this piece of history. Throughout the documentary, several people are interviewed and quoted on Farnsworth’s misfortune. Philo T. Farnsworth was robbed of his vision that he had that could change the world. He never was able to reap the benefits of his intelligence. The documentary does a good job in thoroughly explaining the details of the story of little man verse big man. “Big Dreams-Small Screen” opens up your eyes to the same little man verse big man situations that still occur even in today’s society. This documentary was able to give me an insight into a piece of history that I had never been conscious of. Currently, there is a memorial for Farnsworth in his home state of Utah.