Rupert the Robot (1938)
Rupert the Robot was supposedly the creation of German inventor Albert Creuziger. The alleged automaton showed off his skills at the Savoy hotel in London on January 12, 1938. Newspapers from the time were thoroughly convinced Rupert was the real deal.
In demonstrations, Rupert would smoke, pour a drink, put on his hat, and could even take you for a drive. One article even claimed Rupert cost $20,000 to construct, over $400,000 when you adjust for inflation.
The problem, of course, is that Rupert was just a man in make-up who walked with a stilted gate. Just look at that photo and remember that in 1938 the technology of television was still very much in its infancy. This “robot” was a complete fake.
