Watch Charles and Ray Eames debut their iconic lounge chair on NBC in 1956
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In 1956, Charles and Ray Eames debuted their iconic lounge chair on NBC's Home, a 1950s show intended for housewives. Check out the original 11-minute segment above.
 
On the program, the Eames, who've become iconic for their innovative architecture and furniture design, discuss design, materials, and their work relationship before debuting the lounge chair. The plywood chair marked the couple's entrance into the high-end furniture market.
 
A newly produced Eames Lounge Chair
 
Since the chair was first introduced by Herman Miller in the 1950s, it has never gone out of production. It currently sells for around $4,600, with originals going for upwards of $7,000.
 
Home ran in-between the Today Show and The Tonight Show from 1954 and 1957 and was hosted by Arlene Francis. NBC predicted that 10 percent of television-equipped households would watch the program and invested $1 million. When that number fell to 3 percent in 1957, it was cancelled. The show was nominated for an Emmy in 1956 for Best Contribution for Daytime Programming.
 
Charles and Ray Eames made significant historical contributions to the development of modern architecture and furniture. In 1943, the couple even developed a wooden veneer leg splint for WWII medical officers serving in combat zones. 
 
Their designs are owned by Herman Miller.

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Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].