MovieChat Forums > The Current War (2019) Discussion > Pity the animals

Pity the animals

posted 8 years ago by Hondo-Batjac
9 replies | jump to latest

One footnote of the War of the Currents was that Edison's side electrocuted dogs and other creatures to 'demonstrate' that Tesla's A/C power system was 'dangerous to the public', even though Edison's own D/C system could burn flesh and kill at high voltages. Kids were paid to bring stray dogs to be electrocuted. Demonstrations were made to show the A/C power system killing these unfortunate animals. One of the biggest animals electrocuted using A/C and the appalling event recorded on Edison camera equipment and credited to Thomas Edison was that of Topsy the elephant, who had killed a spectator, and was electrocuted to death some years after the end of the War of Currents, and footage of which can be found online.

Also, let's not forget the electric chair, which was in part created during the War of the Currents to make bad publicity for Tesla, indirectly, as Death Row prisoners would be electrocuted using the A/C system.

[–] benbakelaar-02000 8 years ago

There is a lot of mythology out there about Edison and Tesla. In actuality, the Topsy story is more about society at that time and less about Edison.

http://edison.rutgers.edu/topsy.htm

Topsy was sentenced to death by Luna Park officials after she had killed three men over a three-month period. That she had, under the goading of her drunken handler, menaced the local police and some workmen likely also influenced amusement park officials in their decision to rid themselves of the elephant.

Luna Park management initially planned to hang Topsy. But the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals objected, claiming that this method of execution was unnecessarily cruel. To meet these objections, park officials, with the approval of the SPCA, subsequently decided to use a combination of poisoning, strangulation, and electrocution.

[–] Steefnesss 8 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtE-EmXUmnY

Take your flunky and dangle.

[–] MagdaFR 8 years ago

That was funny.

[–] kreizimam 8 years ago

That was funny.

Lol. It was.

- om telolet om-

[–] hilaryjrp 8 years ago

One of the biggest animals electrocuted using A/C and the appalling event recorded on Edison camera equipment and credited to Thomas Edison was that of Topsy the elephant, who had killed a spectator, and was electrocuted to death some years after the end of the War of Currents, and footage of which can be found online.

There's an excellent documentary series about billionaires of the Gilded Age. I couldn't continue watching one--I'm not sure which (Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Morgan, etc.)--because it went into such detail about Edison torturing animals. Who in the name of God is this film's audience?

[–] sgev 8 years ago

Who in the name of God is this film's audience?

Which movie? The one with the elephant? The documentary? The Current War?

[–] hilaryjrp 8 years ago

I realize you're one of Benedict Cumberbatch's true believers and that your question is not serious. The thread title is "Pity the Animals," on a board for a sickening project called "The Current War." The film's audience I ask about is the audience for it.

Thomas Edison tortured animals. He tortured them. He tortured them.

It is horrifying and illustrative of the sickness of the Cumberbatch cult, and its star, to think that this film will be made and worshipped for the sake of an aging British actor of questionable morals who apparently seeks out roles celebrating cruelty or sadism. Most sickening of all is that people almost certainly predominantly of one gender will overlook that this film is about an animal torturer, for his sake.

Sick beyond words, and very disturbing.

Don't bother responding; I won't be returning here.

[–] sgev 8 years ago

Wow! I'm the crazy one, right? And amoral, apparently!

Don't bother responding.

I guess you won the argument! LOL.

Anyway:

Sorry to be so offensive and being fan of an offensive guy who do offensive movies. TBH movies about perfect heroes who always do the right thing sounds really boring. I like complex things, sorry. If it's any consolation, I'm sure THEY WON'T KILL REAL ANIMALS. They won't kill any human being in the electric chair, neither.

[–] onebluestocking 8 years ago

Better that the movie show Edison's true colors. Do you think movies should only be about happy subjects?

Arthur, put the kettle on and dig out those lemon hand wipes.