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You're right-the flashmatic used light to trigger remote functions. The remote was basically a pistol-shaped flashlight, that you pulled the trigger on to activate the light beam.
The television had four light sensors, one in each corner of the screen, so you pointed the remote beam at the corner that represented the function you wanted to activate. Wireless and magical, yes, but not without some major issues. The biggest one being that you needed to view the set in a darkened tomb. It seems any stray light would set off the remote sensors, and god forbid the setting sun crept into your living room and across the face of the set, because then it would act possessed as all the sensors would kick on at once.
Needless to say, Zenith went back to the drawing board, and came up with the Space Command line of remotes. Until modern IR remotes came along, it was the ultrasonic remotes like the Space Command that everyone used. So Zenith did get it right on the second try.
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