The first remote was from Zenith in 1950, the "Lazy Bones". It was a simple wired remote which operated a motor on the TV's dials.

Next was the Zenith "Flash-o-Matic" in 1955, which was basically a flashlight you aimed at sensors on the four corners of the TV (so technically wireless). The problem was other lights could also activate the TV, which was a little inconvenient.

Then came out the Zenith "Space Command" in 1957. This was the first ultrasonic (not RF or UHF) remote control ever, and despite the apparant rapid growth of new technologies up until this point, the same system was into the 1980's when, finally, the first infrared remote came out.