The Official MCI Mail Blog

Videos from the Hagely Digital Archives (2024)

2024-03-01T10:19:00.011-05:00

With this post we're sharing a collection of corporate videos related to MCI Mail.

The videos are from the MCI Communications archives which are housed at the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware.

MCI Mail Launch Press Conference

MCI Mail Teleconference (36:15)
September 27, 1983

Press Conference coverage from Washington DC.
The conference introduces, explains and demonstrates the MCI Mail product. It also features a set of new MCI Mail commercials and is followed by a Q&A session.

Hosted by:
William G. McGowan, Chairman, MCIC
Robert Harcharik, President, MCI Digital Services

MCI Mail news segment

MCI Mail news segment (2:04)
1983

News segment explaining the MCI Mail service. Short statement from William McGowan, Chairman MCI.

MCI Mail: Master Tape Number 1 For Bill Stern

MCI Mail: Master Tape Number 1 For Bill Stern (58:47)
1984

Compiled news segments featuring MCI Mail.

The recording features a Video Magazine segment with a feature story about the MCI Mail announcement and press conference.

Followed by the following news stories and interviews:

MCI Video Magazine including news conference in New York City with MCI executives, William McGowan and Robert Harcharik. Includes two commercials for MCI Mail.

Interview with Bob Harcharik about MCI Mail.

Good Morning America segment about MCI Mail.

Channel 10 News Nightcast report on MCI Mail. Includes Ray Marks from MCI.

TV5 Eyewitness News Ohio report on MCI Mail. Interview with Marvin Margolin.

Channel 7 News at 5 report on U.S. Postal Service price hike of 3 cents. Includes excerpt from MCI Mail commercial.

CBS News Nightwatch Interview with J. Robert Harcharik, hosted by Liz Trotta. Mr. Harcharik gives a demonstration of how MCI Mail works.

Report on MCI Mail. Includes a statement from Ray Marks of MCI.

Channel 10 news report on MCI Mail. Includes a statement from Ray Marks of MCI.

Channel 2 News report on MCI Mail. Highlights computer voices.

Channel 5 ActionNews report on MCI Mail. Interview with Bill Stern from MCI.

Interview with Marilyn Mooley, MCI.

Channel 7 Eyewitness News report on MCI Mail. Interview with Robert Harcharik.

FNN, Financial News Network program 'The Market Today' interviews Robert Harcharik about MCI Mail.

The Personal Computer Show segment on MCI Mail.

Eyewitness News report on MCI Mail. Interview with Bill Stern, MCI.

MCI Mail TV Spots

MCI Mail TV Spots (4:28)
1983

In 1983 MCI prepared a number of short TV spots to advertise its new electronic mail service.

This collection contains four of the ads.

- "Building a New Postal System"

- "An Electronic Way to Send Mail

- "Museum"

- "Now!"

Promotional Piece about MCI Mail

Promotional Piece about MCI Mail (4:02)
1983

Informative/promotional piece about MCI Mail.

An Alternative to the Postage Stamp

An Alternative to the Postage Stamp (1:10)
1983

Informational piece about MCI Mail, its services and costs. Also a comparison to the postal system.

MCI Mail Applications

MCI Mail Applications (8:23)
1989

MCI executives and sales representatives discuss the various applications of MCI Mail.

Presenters include:
Bert Robert Jr, President, MCI Communications
David Spence, Sales, MCI International
Seth Blumenfeld, President, MCI International
Eben Block, Sr Sales Rep, MCI International
John Cosenza, VP, Sales, MCI International
Jerry DeMartino, VP, Sales & Marketing, MCI International
Margot Wall, Sales, MCI International
H. Brian Thompson, Executive VP, MCI Communications

MCI Mail Infomercial

MCI Mail Infomercial (2:02)
1983

News segment explaining the MCI Mail service. Stephen Dart, reports for Gordon News, San Francisco, California.

MCI Mail: Personal Computer Procedures

MCI Mail: Personal Computer Procedures (15:32)
1984

Explanation of MCI Mail PC documentation procedures, and their purpose. Also provides a demonstration of "the procedures." With Cindy Ryan.

MCI Mail: Personal Computer Procedures - Smartcom II

MCI Mail: Personal Computer Procedures-Smartcom II (10:07)
1984

A demonstration of the Smartcom II software package and how it is used with MCI Mail. With Cindy Ryan.

MCI Mail: 'Personal Computers'

MCI Mail: 'Personal Computers' (22:53)
1984

Doug Brackbill, Senior Manager of Marketing for MCI Mail, discusses the relationship between PCs and MCI Mail.

Provides an overview of the PC Market and specifics of PC usage with MCI Mail. Also explains how communicating PCs work.

MCI Mail: 'Telecommunications'

MCI Mail: 'Telecommunications' (14:33)
1984

Tim Oliver, Technical Support Group of MCI Mail, explains the physical components needed to use MCI Mail.

MCI Mail Direct: The Breakthrough

MCI Mail Direct: The Breakthrough (8:00)
1993

A promotional piece explaining MCI Mail Direct with customer testimonials.

Includes introduction by Don Marshall, Team Leader, Customer Service Support IMED, E.I. Du Pont De Nemours, Inc.

With Patrick Mayworm, Senior Manager, MCI Messaging

E-Mail: The World at your Fingertips

E-Mail: The World at your Fingertips (9:34)
1991

Video for MCI employees explaining the importance of the use of electronic mail within MCI.

Interested in seeing some of the other corporate videos that were created by MCI during its heyday? Visit this link:

Hagley Digital Archives | MCI

Page last updated: May 23, 2024

Gone, but Not forgotten

2022-01-15T17:03:00.023-05:00

On this page we've listed the names of people who were involved with MCI Mail and sadly are no longer with us.

May they rest in peace.

Phil Fellows † February 17, 2026

John Allen † May 2024

Bob Harcharik † August 25, 2023

William "Bill" Stern † July 7, 2014

Petra Kahn † July 18, 2013

Roberta Myers Mackintosh † February 28, 2013

Chiquita Fiedler McCauley † April 13, 2011

Dominick Daniele † February 5, 2011

Serge Wernikoff † October 24, 2009

Steve Coya † June 3, 2009

William G. McGowan † June 8, 1992

Neil Allison

Rick Bianco

Rod Bingham

The 30th Reunion (2013)

2013-10-28T22:00:00.000-04:00

The 30th MCI Mail reunion was held in Washington, DC on Saturday evening October 19, 2013. Here's a selection of images from the evening.

Craig, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Marcey, Charlie, Annemarie and Ben

Guests on their way to the roof top terrace.

Janet, Suzanne and Fred

Susan and Brian

Peggy, Pat and Lalla

Suzanne, Greg, Leslie, Eben and Marcos

Annemarie and Loren

Jud, Vint and Patricia

Gary, Vint and Carla

Vint

Debbie and Janet

Annemarie, Patricia and Julie

Customer service team

Bruce and Carla

Susie H, Charlie, Gary, Marcey and Dave

Debbie, Vint, Leslie, Brian and Susan G
NEW - Added 11/1

Mike, Ginger and Jim

Carol and Sally

Marcey and Carla

Susie H., Craig and Susan R.

Gary, Brian and Vint
(If we could only read Vint's mind...)

Lalla and Marcey

Sally, Mary Ann, Jud, Sharlet and Gina

Peggy, Vint and Pat

Vint with the reunion committee

Susie H and Craig

And as quickly as it began, it was over -- until next time!

If you wish to download these images please click this private Dropbox link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/33lcswvo5wuml5y/s299CUOLG1
and then click the "Download" button in the top right corner.

Other images from the 30th reunion can be found on this private Dropbox link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tlmwepg1s35pily/7_3YGhcSFF

If you would like a high-definition copy of an image please write to mcimailblog AT gmail.com and let us know which image(s) you would like.

A Footnote:

The video that was playing in the background, during the reunion -- you know, the one where we had the sound muted -- can now be viewed on YouTube in its entirety.

"The Gong Show"
MCI International Sales Conference
1992

Here is an excerpt from the video, with the skit that was prepared by the MCI Mail marketing group.

"The Greatest Hits of MCI Mail"
1992

The PEN Newsletter

2013-10-17T13:00:00.002-04:00

With this posting we have republished the complete run of the Periodic Electronic Newsletter (PEN), which was published between 1985 and 1996..

All available copies of the PEN Newsletter are available on-line on this link:

https://archive.org/details/mci-mail-pen-newsletter

PEN was written and published by Gary Oppenheimer of Oppenheimer Software. Oppenheimer Software was an early and long time sales agent for MCI's public electronic mail service MCI Mail.

Periodic Electronic Newsletter
By Gary Oppenheimer

Gary started PEN as a vehicle to to inform and educate his customers. Over an eleven year span of time Gary wrote on topics as mundane and diverse as the difference between the Basic and Advanced services (on MCI Mail), how to send and receive Telex messages via MCI Mail, EMS and X.400 addressing, and MCI Mail Global Access.

Keep in mind that PEN was written during the 1980s and early 1990s -- at a time when most people had never even heard of electronic mail.

On a side note, PEN is one of the first, if not the first, newsletter to be distributed via e-mail.

We hope you enjoy taking a trip back in time with the Periodic Electronic Newsletter.

Post last updated: June 25, 2024

Gary Oppenheimer to be Honored !

2013-10-09T17:00:00.000-04:00

EXTRA EXTRA

Ampleharvest.org is to be recognized for exceptional service by the Points of Light organization at an awards ceremony at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC on Friday, October 11, 2013.

Points of Light, the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service, will also be giving the annual Tribute Awards to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, corporate service leader Citi and to Amy Paterson, a cancer survivor who came up with a novel child care solution for parents in treatment.

The Points of Light Tribute Awards honor individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to volunteering and service have made their communities and the world better – safer, greener, healthier, more equitable, more prosperous, more educated and less vulnerable – and whose leadership inspires others to discover their power to change the world.

According to AmpleHarvest.org Founder and Executive Director Gary Oppenheimer, “We are delighted and honored to be recognized by Points of Light. AmpleHarvest.org, a four year old charity, enables millions of backyard gardeners nationwide to donate their excess garden produce to a nearby food pantry when they have harvested more than they can use. It functions as a resource enabling any backyard gardener to help end hunger, malnutrition and food waste in their own community."

The event, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Neil M. Bush and His Excellency, The Ambassador of Italy, Claudio Bisogniero and Mrs. Laura Denise Bisogniero, will be emceed by Fox New’s Greta Van Susteren and Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis.

Gary Oppenheimer was a long time MCI Mail sales agent during the 1980s and 1990s.

Update - 10/15/2013

From left, Francesco Vanni d’Archirafi, Gov. Chris Christie, Gary Oppenheimer and Amy Paterson

"Gov. Chris Christie and Fellow Honorees Shine at Points of Light Tribute Awards"
Point of Light Blog - 10/14/2013

Roberta Myers Mackintosh † February 28, 2013

2013-05-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

The Speakeasy Party (1989)

2009-10-15T20:34:00.000-04:00

Recently reposted, with freshly scanned images.

Annemarie, Gini and Cathy

Dodi, ?, ? and Judy

Doug and Suzanne

Doug (with Jack in the rear)

Charlie and Leslie

Suzanne and Julie

f: Gary and Eben
R: Patricia, Doug, Susie, ?, Regina and ?

Bruce, Carla and a mystery man

Charlie, Doug, Loren and the waiter!

Dodi,?, ?, and Gary

Dodi, Monique and Peter

Doug and Annemarie

Jack and Gary

Doug and Loren

Doug, Patricia, Gary, Susie and Regina

?, Doug and Gary

Lisa, Gary, Marcie and ?

You know who you are...

Clearly a good time was had by all.

please log in . . .

2009-08-29T17:40:00.018-04:00

Port: 5
Please enter your user name: mcimail
Password: ********

Connection initiated . . .

Opened.

MCI Mail Version 4.0

There is 1 message waiting in your INBOX.

Press (RETURN) to continue

You may enter:

SCAN for a summary of your mail
READ to READ messages or LISTS
PRINT to display messages nonstop
CREATE LIST to make a distribution list
DOWJONES to Dow Jones News/Retrieval
ACCOUNT to adjust terminal display
HELP for assistance

Command (or MENU or EXIT): re 1

Date: Mon Apr 01, 2013 08:42 am EDT
From: The MCI Mail Blogger / MCI ID: 309-4996
TO: * You / MCI ID: 111-1111
Subject: The MCI Mail Blog
Message Id: 92080317014229/0003094996N53EM

This blog is dedicated to those people who worked tirelessly to design, build, code, market, sell, support, and operate the electronic mail service known as MCI Mail.

The MCI Mail service was formally launched by MCI's Chairman and founder Bill McGowan, in Washington, DC on September 27, 1983 -- and it was decommissioned, after almost 20 years of service, on June 30, 2003.

This blog was created to collect and share the history of what was MCI Mail - one of the first commercial e-mail services in the United States.

If you were involved with the MCI Mail product over the years please consider helping us to preserve the history of MCI Mail.

You can do this by,

(a) Helping to write and edit the MCI Mail entry on Wikipedia; and/or

(b) Sharing some of your memories via this blog.

We're looking for historic material, i.e.-- images, written memories, stories, "historic" documents and e-mails from MCI Mail's history.

If you wish to contribute material to the MCI Mail blog please send an e-mail to contact listed under the "View my complete profile" hyperlink - on the right - and we'll be in touch.

Thanks!
Command: ex

The Original MCI Mail TV Advertisements

2009-08-29T17:35:00.016-04:00

"The Nations New Postal System" (Video 1)
MCI Digital Information Services Corp.
October 1983

"The Nations New Postal System" (Video 2)
MCI Digital Information Services Corp.
October 1983

"The Nations New Postal System" (Video 3)
MCI Digital Information Services Corp.
October 1983

A Footnote:
The videos you see above were sourced from a VHS cassette (½ inch magnetic tape) that was originally produced in 1984 for the MCI Mail sales organization. The image quality is rather poor because the actual video tape is now over 25 years old, and consumer VHS magnetic tape normally starts to degrade within 10-25 years.

If anyone happens to have a copy of the broadcast/studio tape of these ads (which was probably recorded on 1-inch tape) please let us know.

Also - thanks go out to Kathy in Chicago for making it possible for us to post these ads on YouTube. It was her tape that we used as the source of the ads.

MCI Mail Open its Print Site in Brussels - 1/7/1985

2009-08-29T17:35:00.015-04:00

On January 7, 1985 MCI introduced MCI Mail hard copy delivery via its first international print site in Brussels, Belgium. To honor this event, this limited edition First Day Cover was created by MCI's local partner on the project, Régie des Postes (the Belgian national postal authority.)

The service allowed an MCI Mail electronic mail service to sent messages via MCI's print site in Brussels for onward delivery via courier or postal services.

At the time, in 1985, this service was rather revolutionary since it allowed anyone who had a desktop computer and an MCI Mail account to deliver a high quality letter overnight to Europe. This was in the days before the commercial Internet, before the wide spread use of facsimile machines, and at a time when telex was still widely used to transmit real-time text-based written communications.

MCI Mail on the Wayback Machine

2009-08-29T17:30:00.010-04:00

Here's a listing of archived MCI Mail related web pages,
and other stuff, from the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Prices and Services Guide (PDF)
February 1996

The MCI Mail Glossary
ca. 1998

Communication Software by Pete MacLean
ca. 2002

The Beginnning of the End
February 2003

Legally Approved Disconnect Letter for MCI Mail
May 2003

Also, here's a "3 dimensional index" of mcimail.com
(for the period January 13, 1997 - August 7, 2003)

A Selection of News Clips

2009-08-29T17:20:00.010-04:00

"Remembering MCI Mail"
Wade-Hahn Chan (February 26, 2007) Federal Computer Week

"MCI to Slash Service Prices"
(January 18, 1989) The New York Times

"Sending a Telex from Your Desk"
Peter H. Lewis (August 14, 1988) The New York Times

"MCI Mail to link with Compuserve"
(February 23, 1986) The New York Times

"Relief Is In Sight"
William F. Buckley Jr. (January 14, 1984)
Universal Press Syndicate

"MCI Mail Changes The Nature Of Letters"
L. R. Shannon (November 9, 1983) The New York Times

"MCI Plan to Deliver Messages"
(September 23, 1983) The New York Times

Videos from the Past

2009-08-27T09:58:00.004-04:00

"MCI Mail" (2:05)
Brian Cooley - WIBW News
via Vimeo
ca. 1984

"Electronic Mail"
"The Computer Cronicles"
(June 18, 1987) KCSM-TV (28:53)

A look at new email systems, comparative advantages and pitfalls and new email accessories and tools.

Stuart Davidson, MCI; Jeff Anderholm, Lotus; Lloyd Kreuzer, Kreuzer Software; Carl Berney, Speech Plus; Charles Foskett, Natural Microsystems; Jan Lewis, Palo Alto Research Group

Products/Demos: Lotus Express, MCI Mail, The Source, Call for Text, Watson

"The Greatest Hits of MCI Mail"
1992

A spoof MCI Mail ad.

The 25th Reunion (2008)

2009-08-25T17:00:00.001-04:00

Vint and Sigrid

Julie, Bill and Dave

Bob, Merle and Brian

Vicki and Patti

Terry

Andi and David

Suzanne

Suzanne and Ben

Sigrid, Fred and Fred's wife

Serge and Vint

Susie, Carla and Suzanne

Roberta and Ben

Phil

John and Marcia

Petra and Susan

Merle, Chiquita, Lalla, Nina and Ben

Mary Ann and Terry

Marla

Marianne, Carla and Jack

Maria and Mary Ann

Marcey, Tia and Michael

Bill's guest, Marla (in the center) and Bill

Lee

Lalla

Kevin and Andy

Katie and Mike

Vint and Bill

Judy and Mike

John, Carmen and Mary

Joe

Janet and Jack

Marianne and Bob

Patricia and Craig (in the foreground)

George and Vicki

Gary, Suzanne and Ben

Marcey and Charlie

Detra and Tia

Debbie and Dave

John and Mario

Dave and Phil

Carol, Marcia and Craig

Carmen and Mary

Carla, Gary and Craig

Annie

Vint, Mario and Julie

Petra, Andi and Lee

Susie and Suzanne

Mike and Sharon

Marianne, Marilyn, Dayna and Sharlet

Marcey and Tia

Kevin

Joe, John and Debbie

Carol and Gary

Bob (standing on the chair)

Janet and Bill

Jack

Ginger and Julie

Gary and Vint

Digital People - ?, Ray, Kevin and Jeff

Dave, Marianne and Marilyn

Dave and Homayoon

Mary Francis and Sheryl

Charlie and David

Ben, Nancy (Serge's wife) and Serge

Andi, David and Sharon

Ben and Jane

Allan and Homayoon

Customer Support

2008-07-06T21:10:00.008-04:00

Tech Support - ca. 1985

Lisa, Gary, Tia and Marcey

MCI Mail Engineering & Operations

2008-07-06T21:09:00.005-04:00

Vint

the early years...

John

- - -

We think that these pictures were taken around 1985.

MCI Digital Information Services HQ

2008-07-06T21:08:00.023-04:00

Stuart and Doug

Peggy

Bill

Melissa

Julie

Ray and Dave

Stuart

Patricia and Steve

Dave

Barbara

Leslie

Marianne

Eugene

Dodi and Joe

Alice

Andi

Bill

Dodi

Eugene

Dave and Leslie

A very important meeting

Greg, John and Vint

Stuart and Ronald

- - -

We think that these pictures were taken around 1985.

Marketing Material

2008-07-06T21:07:00.002-04:00

From the original TV spot
(left click on the image for full size view)

One of many sales promotions

Naperville Operations

2008-07-06T21:06:00.002-04:00

Worldmail - a.k.a. International MCI Mail

2008-07-06T21:05:00.011-04:00

March 1990
CeBIT trade show - Hannover, Germany
Bill, showing MCI Mail to a potential customer and
Allan (checking his mail)

March 1990
CeBit trade show - Hannover, Germany
Mitch Hellman
Mitch traveled the world for MCI International in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an International Support specialist for MCI Mail - in the days before the public internet, international dial-up access and e-mail attachments. He worked tirelessly training and supporting the MCI Mail distributors and MCI International's offices.

March 1990
CeBIT - Hannover, Germany
Dana (caught checking her mail on the stand!)

span >
1991
Telecom '91 - Geneva, Switzerland
Remember something called X.400?

September 1991 - Lyon, France
Mitch Hellman presenting at a meeting of the MCI Mail International distributors in Lyon.

April 1994
Società Italiana Telematica Applicata S.r.l (S.I.T.A.)
the MCI Mail distributor for Italy
Which oddly still has an active link related to MCI Mail:
http://www.sita.it/mci.htm

April 1994
Renato and Francesco - S.I.T.A. Italy

April 1994
Vishna - S.I.T.A. Italy

April 1994
TenFour Sweden, which became TFS Tech
the MCI Mail distributor for the Nordic region of Europe
Krister and Göran
TenFour Sweden- ca. 1997

April 1994
MTDS
the MCI Mail distributor for Morocco
the MTDS web site - today
the MTDS web site - ca. 1998

1994
a group photo from the last International MCI Mail
distributor meeting in Dallas, Texas

And on this link you can find a copy of the last listing of MCI Mail's International Distributors, from 1996.

The 20th reunion (2002)

2008-07-06T20:09:00.017-04:00

The Official MCI Mail 20th Reunion Cake

A selection of MCI Mail t-shirts

Tia (customer service)

The AMS Team

Susan and Doug from marketing and Bill from operations

Susan and Bob

Susie and Suzanne from marketing

Brian and Vint

Nina and Peggy from customer service

Terry (legal) and Phil (sales) - what a combination!

Ben and Suzannne

Gary, decked out in MCI Mail Agent attire

Jean, who was there on the very first and the very last day!

Jim, one of the many great agents

Bob, Serge and Vint

Judson

Michelle, David, Leslie and Eben - a mix of customer service and sales

Carla, Debbie and Petra

Cliff (NY sales)

Dave, Carla and Terri (DEC, marketing and TSS)

Dave, Dayna and Jack (engineering, marketing and agents program)

Don and Andy

Joe (sales)

Bill and his wife Janet

The Digital Team

Carol and Jack

Bill, Vint, Mario and Ben

Vint, Andy, Bill and David

Dave, his wife Pat, and Marilyn

Mike, Ben and Fred (the print side of MCI Mail)

Marcia and Kim (HR)

Stuart

Mary Ann and Gina

Marianne, Barbara, Susie, Cliff, Terry and Janet

Libby and her husband Chris

Leslie and Bob

Charlie

Bill and Debbie

Annemarie

Julie and Bob

Steve and Mary Beth

The 18th Reunion (2000)

2008-07-06T20:08:00.004-04:00

The cake

Ray and Bob

Bret and Bob

Customer Service guys

Debbie and Stuart

Dick and and his wife

Gina and Debbie

Marilyn

the cake and Stuart

Bob

10th Reunion (1992)

2008-07-06T20:07:00.006-04:00

Patricia, Annemarie, Sally and Margo

George

Mike

Susie (on the left)

Suzanne, Terry and Kevin

Vint

Various events - e.g. parties

2008-07-06T20:06:00.008-04:00

Fred, Margorie and Suzanne

Bill, Tim, Greg, John, Susan and Robyn

Celeste, Joe, and Terry

Andy, Bill and Barbara

A Picnic

Clem

Andi, Patricia, Randy and ?

The softball team -- ca. 1983