Videophone turns 50: A look at the Mod 1 Picturephone, the first phone that could make video calls

It was 50 years ago, when Bell Telephone on April 20, 1964 showed off the Mod 1 PicturePhone that would let users make video calls. The videophone, that was a precursor to today's Skype, Hangouts and Facetime, turns 50 this year.

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‘Yvonne King Interviewed by Helen Dubar, NY Post (Bell System Picturephone Service promotion)’ – Shoot date in 1965. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)

‘Yvonne King Interviewed by Helen Dubar, NY Post (Bell System Picturephone Service promotion)’ – Shoot date in 1965. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)

‘Yvonne King Interviewed by helen Dubar, NY Post(Bell System Picturephone Service promotion)’ – Shoot date in 1965. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)