Mad Men Offers Glimpse at 1960s Office Technology

Computer — The IBM System/360 super computer installed at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in 1969 was “Mad Men’s” biggest antagonist. At least physically. It was huge, requiring a dedicated room to be constructed. The idea was that the agency’s investment in the computer would provide an edge in providing analytics for clients as they entered a new decade. For creative ad men like Don Draper, however, the computer represented diminishing demand for their services. It ultimately led to paranoid copywriter Michael Ginsberg going off the deep end and cutting his nipples off. And you think you get frustrated with IT.