Why Were Remote Controls Invented?

I looked for this due to an irksomely inaccurate episode of a sci fi program I'd gotten in cable depicting that no TV remote controls existed in the 1950s, when I'd known perfectly well that ultrasonic versions with vacuum tubes most definitely did exist, as I'd personally used them...sometimes, sci fi, while at times charmingly speculative, I've found, can also at the same time, vary maddeningly between the Pollyanna, to the ludicrously and woefully as well as absurdly, crazily nonsensical, I just love picking apart such instances as in this specific case, you kmow? There was also an interesting little sidenote mentioned in here, a surprise for all of you, that I'll also be looking it up separately, see if you can find it in the article, I don't want to give any hints, I'd give away the effect, heh heh heh.....