Who would have thought that the mastermind behind Windows would ever trade coding for choreography? Ernie Smith at Tedium surfaced a video of Microsoft CEO Bill Gates on a Broadway stage. In the fall of 1992, Microsoft spent $2 million to turn Mr. Gates into a Broadway star. The show, “How to Succeed in Business with Workgroup Computing,” opened (and closed) at Broadway’s Gershwin Theater, one of the biggest theaters in New York.
The show celebrated and promoted Windows for Workgroups. Microsoft released Windows for Workgroups 3.11 in November 1993. It introduced support for 32-bit file access, drive sharing, and group calendaring. It also had built-in fax capabilities.
What’s new in Windows for Workgroups 3.11
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was the first time Microsoft embraced connectivity on the PC. They added a Winsock package for dial-up connectivity. Winsock is an API that allows Windows network software to access network services, especially TCP/IP. Microsoft later replaced Winsock with a 32-bit stack add-on package that provided TCP/IP support in WFW 3.11. They also increased WFW connectivity with NetWare networks. Microsoft also introduced support for Open Data-Link Interface (ODI) cards and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) drivers. Additionally, they introduced a Remote access service, allowing users to access their computers remotely.
The commercial play highlights some of the greatest hits of the 1990s: yuppies, dance tunes, the Blues Brothers, 90s clothes, and Bill Gates trying aerobics.
Bill Gates acting debut
According to the Washington Post review of the extravaganza. The show cast Gates as a hero computer consultant who saves two employees, Jake and Max, from an impossible deadline. Gates demonstrated the miracle of computer networking to the beleaguered Kitty Carnival Amusement company employees using Windows for Workgroups. One of the actors exclaimed, “We’re not worthy!” in typical “Wayne’s World” fashion. Gates even attempted a dance routine with some performers dressed as the Blues Brothers, resulting in a symphony of misplaced steps and flailing arms. Mr Gates said,
“That was so bad, I thought [then Microsoft CEO] Ballmer was going to retch.”
You can watch the entire production on YouTube.
If you don’t want to watch all 62 minutes, here are some links to the best parts:
- “My VGA can hardly wait for your CPU to reciprocate” musical number.
- Bill Gates starts his pitch for Windows for Workgroups.
- “Get ready, get set” musical number.
- Bill Gates does jumping jacks.
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Bills Gate’s Broadway debut did not do much for Windows for Workgroups. Microsoft Lore says that the WFW product was called Windows for the warehouse in Redmond. WFW was superseded by Windows NT, which was released while WFW was still available.
Bill’s presence improved, and he is frequently seen on CNBC. Here are some more Gates videos from Wired.
Related article
- Yes, It’s True – Bill Gates’ 275,000 Acres Of Farmland Grows The Potatoes For McDonald’s French Fries (Benzinga)
Ralph Bach has been in IT for a while and has blogged from the Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that has caught my attention since 2005. You can follow me on Facebook. Email the Bach Seat here.