Filmmakers interview Apple's "fifth Beatle"

When you think Apple's history, one name that probably doesn't come quickly to mind is Ron Wayne -- but he was there nonetheless. The makers the documentary Welcome to Macintosh say they've snagged the first video interview with Wayne about his experiences with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the early days of Apple. The filmakers say Wayne was a founder of the original Apple Computer company, which was later re-established by Mike Markkula as Apple Computer, Inc. According to the Apple Museum, it was Wayne who designed the very first Apple logo – a depiction of Sir Isaac Newton under the fabled apple tree – which was soon replaced with the famous striped version. The new venture was apparently too risky for Wayne, so he resigned in 1976 with a one-time payment of $800.

Co-Director Rob Baca says Wayne represents "a bit of history that few people witnessed," and besides his interview, he will share never-before-seen schematic diagrams of an Apple I production case. The interview will be included in a new version of "Welcome to Macintosh" which will be previewed at the Globians film festival next week in Germany. The filmmakers say they expect to have a DVD of the project available in the fall.

"You could think of Ron Wayne kind of like the fifth Beatle," Baca said. "He had a strong association with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the beginning, but was not a participant in their future success."

Filed under: Apple
Other story tags: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak