How did people talk before cell phones? | History Remade with Sabrina

How did a simple series of dots and dashes transform worldwide communication? To find out, Sabrina recreates the telegraph, Samuel Morse's groundbreaking 1832 invention (and your cell phone's cool great-grandparent). Learn more in this episode of History Remade with Sabrina.

#HistoryRemadeWithSabrina

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HISTORY® is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming.

CREDITS

Executive Producer
Sabrina Cruz
Melissa Fernandes
Taha Khan

Producer
Molly Williams

Researcher
George Lawson

Craft Engineer
Jade Codinera

Writer
Sabrina Cruz

Host
Sabrina Cruz

Director
Melissa Fernandes

B-Cam / DIT
River Shepperd

Production Assistant
Gabrielle Augustin
Varman Nava

Story Editor
Stephanie Castillo

Editor
Chase Madsen

Animators
Krisztina Varga
Olivér Varga

Executive Producers
Sarah Walker
Brian Huffman

Executive Creative Director, A+E Networks
Tim Nolan

VP, Marketing Production, A+E Networks
Kate Leonard

VP, Brand Creative, History
Matt Neary

Music Courtesy of
Audio Network

Additional Footage and Photos Provided By
Wikimedia Commons
Library of Congress

Produced by Answer in Progress for HISTORY®
©2021 A&E TELEVISION NETWORKS, LLC
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SOURCES
Dot-Dash to Dot.Com How Modern Telecommunications Evolved from the Telegraph, (2011) A. Wheen, Springer New York.

“Essay on the development of Morse telegraphy by Werner von Siemens 'induction telegraphy and enhanced magnetic systems’” (2021) in Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, Vol.138 (4-5).

ReMaking History, Volume 2: Industrial Revolutionaries (2016) W. Gurstelle, Maker Media.

Samuel F. B. Morse and the Dawn of the Age of Electricity, (2015) G. Botjer, Lexington Books.

“The Influence of the Telegraph in the United States Society in the 19th Century” (2010) by F. Saez de Adana in 2010 Second Region 8 IEEE Conference on the History of Communications available at DOI: 10.1109/HISTELCON.2010.5735291





Wiring the World: the Social and Cultural Creation of Global Telegraph Networks (2016) S. Muller, Colombia University Press.

“The Transatlantic Telegraph Cable” (2000) by G. Cookson, in History Today, Vol.50 (3).

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Welcome to the joke under the fold!

When I was a kid, I really wanted to learn Morse Code... My hopes were dashed.

[DanValentineFilms]

History Channel: more of Sabrina and less of Pawn Stars and Ancient Aliens and endless WW2 documentaries that you've been putting out for years.

[deefdragon]

Its a genuine joy watching Sabrina just pull literally EVERYTHING out of her boilersuit. Just one of those little things that makes this series great.

[BlueCysStudios]

I'm so proud of Sabrina out here making moves

[mastercheif]

Love the format of this program, the informal nature, the energetic host, it is like watching a highschool project that makes it so fun and interesting.

[dallasstrilcuk]

Magic Schoolbus move over! It is refreshing to see actual history on the History Channel

[suderp]

with the amount of stuff sabrina pulled out of her pocket i wouldnt be suprised if she just pulled a 2x4 or the state of Wyoming

[ashleyflamion]

If Answer in Progress is adults doing book reports, History Remade is adults doing science fair projects. That's also a summary of why I love both

[jackroutledge]

This is great! As someone who understands all the theory but, well, has about the same practical skills as Sabrina does, this is kind of cathartic to watch

[blue_champignon]

I'd love to see an episode on the first camera! Maybe make a pinhole camera?

[simianimp]

IT USED TO HAVE VISUALS?! I get that some people got it by sounds alone way back when, but as a person with audio processing problems, I wish that the printed version stuck around so I could at least have tried to learn Morse code a little easier.

[SD_FANZ]

Actually been enjoying Sabrina try all the re-makes...😂😂👍. Kudos young lady!

[trashraccoon]

sabrina in this episode is just like...
"so today" *pulls wires from breast pocket* "we're making this very cool thing" *pulls batteries from front pocket* "and it's gonna require some work but that's ok, that's the fun part" *pulls hammer from other front pocket* "but it's gonna be cool and we're gonna learn about cool stuff so" *pulls wood blocks from back pocket* "imma just. do this thing." *pulls a toolbox from inner pocket*

[SterremanWillie]

Cool video (coming from a retired electronics technician). My dad (born is 1930) first job after leaving school, was a telegrapher on the railways! He obviously knew morse code like it was a 2nd language!

[OG_Wakanobi]

When I was 12, I built a telegraph out of wires, tin foil, and batteries. I ran the wire through the heating ducts to my brother's bedroom.

[tabathaarria]

"i have so many trains in my butt"
- sabrina, 2021

[gracechen]

Love this video! It’s extremely interesting! Very helpful that you combine history and science together.

[williamfield]

Wasn't yodeling among mountain valleys a form of communucation?

[grantknott]

I zoned out straight away when the producer asked for goggles. What a Nancy world we live in😂

[christopherstimpson]

I found a telegraph office that was still functioning in 1996 in remote southern Mexico. The town was in a bit of a time warp because they only had one bus per day at 5 am and everything else was by foot or horse. I forgot the name of the town but it was about 50 miles north of Chiapas.

[yayciencia]

This is really entertaining to watch and also I'm learning. I love the "shhh" when the wood block swirled out of the way. Good video editing and labeling, too.