{"id":131934,"date":"2024-08-04T13:50:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T17:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/?p=131934"},"modified":"2024-08-07T15:30:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T19:30:44","slug":"bill-gates-broadway-star-you-never-knew-existed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/bill-gates-broadway-star-you-never-knew-existed\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Gates: Broadway Star You Never Knew Existed"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

\"Bill<\/a>Who would have thought that the mastermind behind Windows would ever trade coding for choreography? Ernie Smith<\/a> at Tedium<\/a><\/em> surfaced a video of Microsoft CEO Bill Gates on a Broadway stage<\/strong>. In the fall of 1992, Microsoft spent $2 million<\/a><\/strong> to turn Mr. Gates into a Broadway star. The show, “How to Succeed in Business with Workgroup Computing<\/a>,<\/em>” opened (and closed) at Broadway’s Gershwin Theater<\/a>, one of the biggest theaters in New York.<\/p>\r\n

\"Windows<\/a>The show celebrated and promoted Windows for Workgroups<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\r\n

What’s new in Windows for Workgroups 3.11<\/h3>\r\n

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was the first time Microsoft embraced connectivity on the PC<\/strong>. They added a Winsock<\/a><\/strong> 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<\/strong> in WFW 3.11. They also increased WFW connectivity with NetWare networks<\/strong>. Microsoft also introduced support for Open Data-Link Interface<\/a> (ODI) cards and Internetwork Packet Exchange<\/a> (IPX) drivers. Additionally, they introduced a Remote access service, allowing users to access their computers remotely.<\/p>\r\n

The commercia<\/del>l play highlights some of the greatest hits of the 1990s: yuppies, dance tunes, the Blues Brothers, 90s clothes, and\u00a0Bill Gates trying aerobics.<\/p>\r\n

Bill Gates acting debut<\/h3>\r\n

\"miracle<\/a>According to the Washington Post<\/em><\/a> review<\/a> 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<\/em>!<\/a>” in typical “Wayne’s World<\/em><\/a>” fashion. Gates even attempted a dance routine with some performers dressed as the Blues Brothers<\/a><\/em>, resulting in a symphony of misplaced steps and flailing arms.\u00a0Mr Gates said<\/a>,<\/p>\r\n

“That was so bad, I thought [then Microsoft CEO] Ballmer was going to retch<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

You can watch the entire production on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

If you don’t want to watch all 62 minutes, here are some links to the best parts:<\/p>\r\n