Here is what I consider a special treat on a special date.
Today, my good friend Gary Thuerk and I created the email thread below. You might not know who Gary is, but I am sure you know what he was the first do do. Gary sent the world’s very first Spam email back in 1978!
Gary Thuerk is considered “The Father of Email Marketing”! And… May 3rd is its 35th anniversary!
Below is our email conversation about that event and the actual, first spam message ever sent. And… if you would like, click on Gary’s image below to watch the video interview I did with Gary about that momentous event.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and Happy 35th Anniversary Email Marketing!
Lon
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Hi Lon,
As we move from the 2.5-B users/people currently on the InterNet, to the expected 5-Billion users/people expected in the next 2 or 3 years, opportunity abounds.Yet so many do not know what to do, or where to start, to profit from this explosion of technology based opportunity.
Remember that 3 May 2013 is the 35th anniversary of the first e-spam. So skip the donuts and get some SPAM to celebrate.
Good luck and good selling, Gary T. FoS
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Hello Gary,
Oh, wow! 35 years!!! How Cool!!!
Happy 35th Anniversary!
Did you keep the very first SPAM?
Lon
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Hi Lon,
I did not save it, but all the early research info on the ARPAnet was digitally archived. It came to light when one of the old programmer & researcher from SRI wrote an article on “unsung hero of the InterNet”, for PC WORLD magazine.
Some one who I was working with came into work with the article and started asking me about it and my role in this event. Then the gig was up ! ! !
I have not been successful in reaching any of the recipients of that first e-spam, except Vint Cerf (co-inventor of the Internet), but I have talked to may who had heard about it.
Here is the very first Spam message ever sent, below.
Gary
—————————– Text of first Espam ——————————–
Mail-from: DEC-MARLBORO rcvd at 3-May-78 0955-PDT
DIGITAL WILL BE GIVING A PRODUCT PRESENTATION OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY; THE DECSYSTEM-2020, 2020T, 2060, AND 2060T. THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY OF COMPUTERS HAS EVOLVED FROM THE TENEX OPERATING SYSTEM AND THE DECSYSTEM-10 <PDP-10> COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE. BOTH THE DECSYSTEM-2060T AND 2020T OFFER FULL ARPANET SUPPORT UNDER THE TOPS-20 OPERATING SYSTEM.
THE DECSYSTEM-2060 IS AN UPWARD EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT DECSYSTEM 2040
AND 2050 FAMILY. THE DECSYSTEM-2020 IS A NEW LOW END MEMBER OF THE
DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY AND FULLY SOFTWARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER
DECSYSTEM-20 MODELS.
WE INVITE YOU TO COME SEE THE 2020 AND HEAR ABOUT THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY AT THE TWO PRODUCT PRESENTATIONS WE WILL BE GIVING IN CALIFORNIA THIS MONTH. THE LOCATIONS WILL BE:
TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978 – 2 PM
HYATT HOUSE (NEAR THE L.A. AIRPORT)
LOS ANGELES, CA
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978 – 2 PM
DUNFEY’S ROYAL COACH
SAN MATEO, CA
(4 MILES SOUTH OF S.F. AIRPORT AT BAYSHORE, RT 101 AND RT 92)
A 2020 WILL BE THERE FOR YOU TO VIEW. ALSO TERMINALS ON-LINE TO OTHER
DECSYSTEM-20 SYSTEMS THROUGH THE ARPANET. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE NEAREST DEC OFFICE
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXCITING DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY.
—————————————————————-
Gary Thuerk can be reached at: Email: DadEspam @ Yahoo.com
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