MAY 2017 RETAILOBSERVER.COM
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have made along the way. This anniversary is the perfect milestone
to thank and celebrate our incredible industry partners and the
individuals and companies who have been with us for five decades."
The first CES, held in June 1967 in New York City, attracted
roughly 17,500 attendees and featured 117 exhibitors demonstrating
products such as transistor radios, stereos and small-screen black-
and-white TVs, including the first solid-state TV. Top companies
exhibiting at the first CES included: 3M, Memorex (now MEM-CE),
Motorola with Lenovo, Panasonic – Matsushita, Philips, RCA (now
a Technicolor brand), SANYO Fisher (now part of Panasonic),
Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Westinghouse and Zenith (now part of LG).
Several prominent tech leaders have presented keynotes at CES,
including Microsoft, Intel, Google, Apple, and Samsung.
CES recognized 37 companies that have exhibited for 40+ years
as part of their 50th Anniversary Celebration. Ten of those were at
the first CES in 1967 and will again be at CES 2017 in January: 3M,
Lenovo, Memorex (now MEM-CE), Philips, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba,
Voxx International and Westinghouse. Panasonic is the sole
exhibitor to have exhibited in all 50 consecutive CES shows, and
received special recognition onsite.
Big Hair, Shoulder Pads and
Big Tech in the '80s—
The progress made in the
tech industry was undeniable.
As CES entered the 1980s,
the show continued to display
the latest in all consumer
technology products.
Digital watches were a
big part of technology and
fashion in the '80s.
Car stereos, cordless phones,
VCR tech and early models
of computers filled the CES
show floor in the 1980s. The
exhibitors showing off the latest
and greatest included Nintendo,
Toshiba, Sony, Fisher, Pioneer,
and Panasonic.
The Consumer Technology
Association (CTA) – formerly
EIA – was instrumental in
protecting consumers' rights
to view and record video in
the '80s. The Home Recording
Rights Coalition booth was
proudly on display at CES 1983.
1980-89
