1
00:00:01,245 --> 00:00:02,411
Narrator: THOMAS EDISON...
INCREDIBLE.
2
00:00:02,513 --> 00:00:04,513
...AMERICA'S
MOST FAMOUS INVENTOR.
3
00:00:04,615 --> 00:00:06,615
IT IS WHITER AND STEADIER
THAN ANY KNOWN LAMP.
4
00:00:06,717 --> 00:00:08,350
AND NIKOLA TESLA...
5
00:00:08,452 --> 00:00:10,919
ALTERNATING CURRENT
WILL HAVE THE SWAY.
6
00:00:11,021 --> 00:00:13,789
Narrator:
...AN IMMIGRANT GENIUS.
7
00:00:13,891 --> 00:00:15,290
GENTLEMEN,
RIGHT THIS WAY.
8
00:00:15,392 --> 00:00:16,658
WHAT EDISON AND TESLA DID --
9
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,927
THAT'S TRULY
REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE.
10
00:00:19,029 --> 00:00:21,163
THE WORLD
WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
11
00:00:21,265 --> 00:00:23,565
Narrator:
TWO MEN ON A COLLISION COURSE.
12
00:00:23,667 --> 00:00:26,501
DO NOT MENTION THE A.C. MOTOR
TO ME ONE MORE TIME.
13
00:00:26,603 --> 00:00:28,737
IT'S A SHOWDOWN
TO POWER THE WORLD.
14
00:00:28,839 --> 00:00:30,238
Houghton:
THIS IS TRANSFORMATIVE.
15
00:00:30,340 --> 00:00:31,640
THIS IS LAYING THE FOUNDATION
16
00:00:31,742 --> 00:00:34,076
FOR ALL NEW TECHNOLOGIES
COMING FROM IT.
17
00:00:34,178 --> 00:00:36,278
THIS IS TRANSFORMING
THE WAY PEOPLE WORK,
18
00:00:36,380 --> 00:00:37,646
THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE.
19
00:00:37,748 --> 00:00:39,681
WE WILL PROVE THE VALUE
OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.
20
00:00:39,783 --> 00:00:41,883
Ivester:
IT'S A WHOLE PLANET
21
00:00:41,985 --> 00:00:44,119
THAT EVENTUALLY
IS GONNA BE ELECTRIFIED.
22
00:00:44,221 --> 00:00:47,456
Narrator: THE STRUGGLE
BETWEEN A.C. AND D.C.
23
00:00:47,558 --> 00:00:49,724
TURNS INTO
A PUBLIC SMEAR CAMPAIGN.
24
00:00:49,827 --> 00:00:51,393
[ DOG YELPS ]
25
00:00:51,495 --> 00:00:55,063
BATTLE OF THE CURRENTS TAKES OFF
INTO ITS MOST COLORFUL MOMENT.
26
00:00:55,165 --> 00:00:56,832
THE ONLY PLACE
THAT AN ALTERNATING CURRENT
27
00:00:56,934 --> 00:01:00,001
OUGHT TO BE USED
IS THE DOG POUND,
28
00:01:00,104 --> 00:01:02,838
THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE,
AND THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
29
00:01:03,774 --> 00:01:06,308
[ MUFFLED SCREAMING ]
30
00:01:06,410 --> 00:01:09,878
Narrator:
THESE ARE THE EPIC STORIES
31
00:01:09,980 --> 00:01:14,516
OF MEN STRUGGLING FOR SUPREMACY,
BUILDING EMPIRES,
32
00:01:14,618 --> 00:01:19,688
AND CHANGING THE COURSE
OF AMERICAN HISTORY FOREVER.
33
00:01:19,790 --> 00:01:22,691
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
34
00:01:22,793 --> 00:01:25,694
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
35
00:01:25,796 --> 00:01:29,664
¶¶
36
00:01:29,766 --> 00:01:32,901
IN THE BASEMENT
OF AN AGING STATE PRISON,
37
00:01:33,003 --> 00:01:37,506
WILLIAM KEMMLER
IS ABOUT TO MAKE HISTORY.
38
00:01:43,413 --> 00:01:46,214
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
39
00:01:46,316 --> 00:01:49,351
¶¶
40
00:01:54,291 --> 00:01:57,125
KEMMLER,
A CONVICTED KILLER,
41
00:01:57,227 --> 00:01:59,895
IS THE FIRST MAN
TO FACE THE ELECTRIC CHAIR.
42
00:01:59,997 --> 00:02:03,665
GOODBYE, WILLIAM.
43
00:02:03,767 --> 00:02:06,501
IT'S MEANT TO BE
A NEW, MORE HUMANE FORM
44
00:02:06,603 --> 00:02:08,170
OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
45
00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,707
[ MUFFLED SCREAMING ]
46
00:02:12,809 --> 00:02:14,376
Narrator:
THIS ISN'T JUST A MILESTONE
47
00:02:14,478 --> 00:02:17,312
IN THE HISTORY
OF THE DEATH PENALTY.
48
00:02:17,414 --> 00:02:18,813
IT'S THE FRONT LINE
49
00:02:18,916 --> 00:02:23,385
IN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST
NOTORIOUS PUBLIC-RELATIONS WARS.
50
00:02:29,426 --> 00:02:31,593
1880s NEW YORK CITY
51
00:02:31,662 --> 00:02:33,528
IS THE EPICENTER
FOR THE BATTLE OVER
52
00:02:33,630 --> 00:02:36,998
A REVOLUTIONARY NEW
ENERGY SOURCE --
53
00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:38,400
ELECTRICITY.
54
00:02:38,502 --> 00:02:42,904
UP UNTIL NOW, MOST HOMES ARE LIT
BY KEROSENE LAMPS.
55
00:02:43,006 --> 00:02:47,676
BUT ELECTRICITY
IS ABOUT TO LIGHT UP THE WORLD.
56
00:02:47,778 --> 00:02:49,978
THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE'RE
REALLY AT THIS PRECIPICE OF
57
00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:51,346
WHAT DIRECTION
ARE WE GONNA GO IN?
58
00:02:53,116 --> 00:02:56,084
Narrator: THERE ARE TWO
COMPETING DELIVERY SYSTEMS --
59
00:02:56,186 --> 00:02:58,553
A.C. AND D.C.
60
00:02:58,655 --> 00:03:03,892
ON THE SIDE OF DIRECT CURRENT
IS FAMED INVENTOR THOMAS EDISON.
61
00:03:03,994 --> 00:03:07,262
ON THE SIDE OF
ALTERNATING CURRENT,
62
00:03:07,364 --> 00:03:11,032
THE VISIONARY GENIUS
NIKOLA TESLA.
63
00:03:11,134 --> 00:03:16,705
THESE TWO TITANS CLASH
IN THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS.
64
00:03:16,807 --> 00:03:19,407
Houghton:
THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS
IS A REAL GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
65
00:03:19,509 --> 00:03:21,876
IN AMERICAN HISTORY,
IN WORLD HISTORY.
66
00:03:21,979 --> 00:03:24,045
WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THIS
AS THE WINNER
67
00:03:24,147 --> 00:03:26,081
IS GONNA HOLD THE KEYS
IN THEIR HAND
68
00:03:26,183 --> 00:03:27,649
INTO THE MODERN WORLD.
69
00:03:27,751 --> 00:03:31,186
Narrator: EDISON
IS ALREADY A HOUSEHOLD NAME
70
00:03:31,288 --> 00:03:35,390
BECAUSE OF HIS IMPROVEMENTS
TO THE TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE.
71
00:03:35,492 --> 00:03:38,026
BUT HIS INVENTION
OF THE PHONOGRAPH
72
00:03:38,128 --> 00:03:41,196
CATAPULTS HIM TO ICONIC STATUS.
73
00:03:41,298 --> 00:03:43,265
PEOPLE LOOK AT THE PHONOGRAPH,
AND THEY SAY,
74
00:03:43,367 --> 00:03:45,433
"THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE DEVICE."
75
00:03:45,535 --> 00:03:47,969
AND SO HE HAS
A FABULOUS REPUTATION.
76
00:03:50,307 --> 00:03:51,806
REMEMBER, GENTLEMEN,
77
00:03:51,908 --> 00:03:57,712
GENIUS IS 1% INSPIRATION,
99% PERSPIRATION.
78
00:03:57,814 --> 00:04:01,049
Carlson: THOMAS EDISON
IS BEST REMEMBERED AS BEING
79
00:04:01,151 --> 00:04:06,288
AN INGENIOUS TINKERER WHO HAD
AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF BUSINESS.
80
00:04:06,390 --> 00:04:09,124
Narrator: IN 1876,
81
00:04:09,226 --> 00:04:11,559
HE SETS UP
A GROUNDBREAKING LABORATORY
82
00:04:11,662 --> 00:04:13,728
IN MENLO PARK, NEW JERSEY.
83
00:04:13,830 --> 00:04:16,131
Houghton: EDISON'S LAB
AT MENLO PARK IS REVOLUTIONARY
84
00:04:16,233 --> 00:04:18,166
NOT BECAUSE
THEY WERE INVENTING THINGS,
85
00:04:18,268 --> 00:04:21,770
IT'S BECAUSE THE WAY
THEY DEVELOPED A
METHODOLOGY FOR INVENTION.
86
00:04:21,872 --> 00:04:24,472
IT'S REALLY THE FIRST
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
87
00:04:24,574 --> 00:04:25,874
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
88
00:04:25,976 --> 00:04:28,977
ANY PROGRESS, GENTLEMEN?
89
00:04:29,079 --> 00:04:30,612
NO.
90
00:04:30,714 --> 00:04:33,682
THE MOST CERTAIN WAY TO SUCCEED
IS ALWAYS
91
00:04:33,784 --> 00:04:35,350
TO TRY
JUST ONE MORE TIME.
92
00:04:35,452 --> 00:04:36,718
YES, SIR.
93
00:04:36,820 --> 00:04:38,953
EDISON WANTED TO STREAMLINE
THE INVENTION PROCESS.
94
00:04:39,056 --> 00:04:40,588
HE WANTED TO WORK IN SUCH A WAY
95
00:04:40,691 --> 00:04:43,325
THAT IT COULD BE DONE
IN A VERY REGULATED BASIS.
96
00:04:43,427 --> 00:04:46,227
IT'S VERY MUCH EDISON
AT THE TOP OF A HIERARCHY,
97
00:04:46,330 --> 00:04:48,396
WHERE HE HAS UNDERLINGS
AND SUB-MANAGERS
98
00:04:48,498 --> 00:04:53,401
THAT ARE PRODUCING INVENTIONS
AT A SET, INDUSTRIALIZED PACE.
99
00:04:53,503 --> 00:04:55,337
EVEN IF YOU PRODUCE
SOMETHING MONUMENTAL,
100
00:04:55,439 --> 00:04:58,006
IT BECAME EDISON'S PATENT
OR THE COMPANY'S PATENT
101
00:04:58,108 --> 00:04:59,774
AND NOT NECESSARILY YOURS.
102
00:04:59,876 --> 00:05:04,546
Narrator: EDISON BANKS ON
A GAME-CHANGING INVENTION --
103
00:05:04,648 --> 00:05:08,016
A LONG-LASTING
INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB.
104
00:05:08,118 --> 00:05:12,654
UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT FILAMENT
WILL WORK IN HIS NEW BULB,
105
00:05:12,756 --> 00:05:14,756
EDISON KNOWS ONE THING --
106
00:05:14,858 --> 00:05:20,562
HIS NEW INVENTION WILL BE
POWERED BY DIRECT CURRENT.
107
00:05:20,664 --> 00:05:22,997
DIRECT CURRENT WAS MORE POPULAR
THAN ALTERNATING CURRENT
108
00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:24,332
AND IS OLDER THAN
ALTERNATING CURRENT
109
00:05:24,434 --> 00:05:25,900
BECAUSE IT STEMS FROM
THE USE OF BATTERIES
110
00:05:26,002 --> 00:05:27,635
IN THE MID-19th CENTURY.
111
00:05:27,738 --> 00:05:30,739
Narrator: ALL BATTERIES
PRODUCE DIRECT CURRENT --
112
00:05:30,841 --> 00:05:33,908
CURRENT THAT FLOWS
IN ONE DIRECTION.
113
00:05:34,010 --> 00:05:37,178
LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE ACCUSTOMED
TO WORKING WITH BATTERIES,
114
00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:40,882
AND YOU HAD TELEGRAPH DEVICES
AND YOU HAD TELEPHONES,
115
00:05:40,984 --> 00:05:43,918
ALL OF WHICH
USED DIRECT CURRENT.
116
00:05:44,020 --> 00:05:46,121
BECAUSE THINGS
THAT WERE ELECTRIC AT THE TIME
117
00:05:46,223 --> 00:05:47,889
WERE POWERED BY BATTERIES,
DIRECT CURRENT
118
00:05:47,991 --> 00:05:50,258
SEEMED TO BE THE SMARTEST WAY
TO POWER THIS STUFF.
119
00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,327
Narrator:
WHILE EDISON WRESTLES WITH
120
00:05:52,429 --> 00:05:56,197
INVENTING A LIGHT BULB
POWERED BY DIRECT CURRENT...
121
00:05:58,201 --> 00:06:00,502
...YOUNG SERBIAN NIKOLA TESLA
122
00:06:00,604 --> 00:06:04,139
CONCENTRATES ON
ALTERNATING CURRENT.
123
00:06:04,241 --> 00:06:06,307
Houghton: ALTERNATING
MEANS IT'S GOING BACK AND FORTH.
124
00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:09,778
THAT'S A -- THAT'S A CONCEPT
THAT WASN'T OBVIOUS TO ANYONE,
125
00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,680
BUT FOR TESLA, IT WAS.
126
00:06:12,783 --> 00:06:14,682
Narrator: DURING THIS TIME,
127
00:06:14,785 --> 00:06:17,519
ALTERNATING CURRENT
IS MORE DIFFICULT TO GENERATE
128
00:06:17,621 --> 00:06:21,256
AND REQUIRES
SOME COMPLICATED ENGINEERING.
129
00:06:21,358 --> 00:06:25,493
WHEN YOU MADE A GENERATOR
IN THE 1860s AND 1870s,
130
00:06:25,595 --> 00:06:29,197
YOU ATTACHED ONE EXTRA DEVICE,
WHICH WAS CALLED A COMMUTATOR.
131
00:06:29,299 --> 00:06:31,399
Narrator: A COMMUTATOR CONVERTS
132
00:06:31,501 --> 00:06:34,536
ALTERNATING CURRENT
TO DIRECT CURRENT.
133
00:06:34,638 --> 00:06:39,340
BUT IT'S PROBLEMATIC
AND FREQUENTLY BREAKS DOWN.
134
00:06:39,443 --> 00:06:44,379
Carlson:
IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF STUDIES
AT GRAZ AT THE JOANNEUM,
135
00:06:44,481 --> 00:06:47,882
TESLA BECOMES GREAT FRIENDS
WITH PROFESSOR POESCHL,
136
00:06:47,984 --> 00:06:50,385
WHO WAS
THE PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS.
137
00:06:50,487 --> 00:06:53,087
AND POESCHL WANTS TO
SHOW THE STUDENTS
138
00:06:53,190 --> 00:06:56,024
THAT ELECTRICITY
HAS GREAT POTENTIAL,
139
00:06:56,126 --> 00:06:58,726
THAT IT IS REALLY GOING TO
BE THE NEXT UP-AND-COMING THING.
140
00:06:58,829 --> 00:07:02,230
Narrator: PROFESSOR POESCHL
EXPLAINS TO HIS STUDENTS
141
00:07:02,332 --> 00:07:05,533
THAT A GENERATOR
CAN ALSO BE USED AS A MOTOR
142
00:07:05,635 --> 00:07:08,369
IF YOU POWER IT
WITH ELECTRICITY.
143
00:07:08,472 --> 00:07:11,072
Carlson: SO HE SETS ALL THIS UP,
AND OF COURSE,
144
00:07:11,174 --> 00:07:14,342
THE GENERATOR-TURNED MOTOR
DOESN'T WORK ALL THAT WELL
145
00:07:14,444 --> 00:07:16,044
'CAUSE IT WASN'T DESIGNED
FOR THAT PURPOSE,
146
00:07:16,146 --> 00:07:18,413
SO IT STARTS SPARKING.
147
00:07:18,515 --> 00:07:20,849
Narrator:
THE PROBLEM IS THE COMMUTATOR.
148
00:07:20,951 --> 00:07:25,320
TESLA
PROPOSES A RADICAL NEW IDEA.
149
00:07:25,422 --> 00:07:29,657
I BELIEVE I COULD BUILD
AN ALTERNATING-CURRENT MOTOR
150
00:07:29,759 --> 00:07:33,928
BY UTILIZING THE OSCILLATING
CURRENT AS ITS DRIVING FORCE.
151
00:07:34,030 --> 00:07:37,765
AT THIS TIME,
MOTORS RUN ON DIRECT CURRENT,
152
00:07:37,868 --> 00:07:41,936
AND A MOTOR POWERED BY A.C.
IS CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE.
153
00:07:42,038 --> 00:07:44,739
Carlson: FOR TESLA TO IMAGINE
THAT HE WAS GOING TO PRODUCE
154
00:07:44,841 --> 00:07:48,510
A COMMUTATOR-LESS,
SPARK-FREE MOTOR
155
00:07:48,612 --> 00:07:51,679
WAS TRULY A VISIONARY IDEA
156
00:07:51,781 --> 00:07:54,849
BECAUSE THERE WERE MOTORS,
BUT THEY ALL HAD COMMUTATORS,
157
00:07:54,951 --> 00:07:56,684
AND THEY WERE ALL
MUCH MORE COMPLICATED
158
00:07:56,786 --> 00:07:58,553
THAN TESLA THOUGHT
THEY HAD TO BE.
159
00:07:58,655 --> 00:08:00,622
ALTERNATING CURRENT...
160
00:08:00,724 --> 00:08:03,091
Narrator:
RATHER THAN OFFERING PRAISE,
161
00:08:03,193 --> 00:08:06,694
TESLA'S PROFESSOR
SCOFFS AT HIS IDEA.
162
00:08:06,796 --> 00:08:12,500
MR. TESLA MAY WELL
ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS,
163
00:08:12,602 --> 00:08:17,639
BUT HE CERTAINLY
NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
164
00:08:17,741 --> 00:08:21,643
BUT THE AMAZING THING ABOUT
TESLA, EVEN FROM THAT YOUNG AGE,
165
00:08:21,745 --> 00:08:23,711
IS HE GETS UP THE NEXT MORNING
AND HE SAYS,
166
00:08:23,847 --> 00:08:26,681
"I'M GONNA
PROVE THE PROFESSOR WRONG.
167
00:08:26,783 --> 00:08:31,386
I AM GOING TO MAKE A SPARKLESS,
COMMUTATOR-FREE MOTOR."
168
00:08:31,488 --> 00:08:37,825
Narrator: AS TESLA IMAGINES
HIS A.C. MOTOR...
169
00:08:37,928 --> 00:08:41,996
EDISON IS ALREADY SELLING
HIS D.C.-POWERED LIGHTING SYSTEM
170
00:08:42,098 --> 00:08:43,031
TO THE PRESS...
171
00:08:43,133 --> 00:08:44,499
YOU ARE JUST IN TIME.
COME IN.
172
00:08:44,601 --> 00:08:46,668
...EVEN THOUGH
IT IS FAR FROM COMPLETE.
173
00:08:46,770 --> 00:08:50,238
Ivester: EDISON
WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON DELIVERING
174
00:08:50,340 --> 00:08:53,241
A PRACTICAL
INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB.
175
00:08:53,343 --> 00:08:56,511
OTHERS HAD DONE INCANDESCENT
LIGHT BULBS WITH FILAMENTS,
176
00:08:56,613 --> 00:09:01,082
BUT THE CORE SHORTCOMING
WAS THE LIFE OF THE BULB.
177
00:09:01,184 --> 00:09:03,618
TRUST ME --
YOU SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
178
00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,854
HE ALSO WANTED TO MODERNIZE IT
TO WHERE IT COULD BE CHEAP.
179
00:09:06,957 --> 00:09:08,089
RIGHT, MASS PRODUCTION.
180
00:09:08,191 --> 00:09:10,124
HE WANTED HIS LIGHT BULB
IN EVERY HOUSE IN AMERICA.
181
00:09:10,226 --> 00:09:12,193
GENTLEMEN,
RIGHT THIS WAY.
182
00:09:12,295 --> 00:09:14,228
EDISON WAS VERY AWARE
OF HIS BRAND.
183
00:09:14,331 --> 00:09:15,363
HE LOVED THE PRESS.
184
00:09:15,465 --> 00:09:18,333
HE CONSTANTLY FOUND WAYS
TO PROMOTE HIMSELF.
185
00:09:18,435 --> 00:09:22,937
Edison:
YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE THE FIRST
SUCCESSFUL INCANDESCENT BULB.
186
00:09:23,039 --> 00:09:24,405
THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW EDISON,
187
00:09:24,507 --> 00:09:26,541
THE MORE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO
TRUST HIM AND BUY HIS PRODUCT.
188
00:09:26,643 --> 00:09:28,343
¶¶
189
00:09:32,649 --> 00:09:34,349
BEHOLD.
190
00:09:34,451 --> 00:09:35,917
INCREDIBLE.
191
00:09:36,019 --> 00:09:38,553
MR. EDISON,
IT'S SO BRIGHT AND CLEAR.
192
00:09:38,655 --> 00:09:41,222
IT IS WHITER AND STEADIER
THAN ANY KNOWN LAMP.
193
00:09:41,324 --> 00:09:43,825
THE PRESS CAN BARELY
CONTAIN THEMSELVES.
194
00:09:43,927 --> 00:09:46,794
I WILL ATTRACT THE INVESTORS
I NEED TO CONTINUE MY WORK.
195
00:09:46,896 --> 00:09:48,529
OF COURSE, WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW
196
00:09:48,632 --> 00:09:53,968
IS THAT THIS LIGHT
ONLY LASTS FOR AN HOUR OR TWO.
197
00:09:54,070 --> 00:09:56,270
Ivester: THE FACT
THAT HE WENT TO THE PRESS
198
00:09:56,373 --> 00:09:58,773
AND DEMONSTRATED TO THEM
A LIGHT BULB
199
00:09:58,875 --> 00:10:03,978
WITH CLAIMS THAT WERE ARGUABLY
A HEAVY STRETCH FROM THE REALITY
200
00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,280
OF WHAT HE COULD ACTUALLY
ACHIEVE AT THAT TIME
201
00:10:06,383 --> 00:10:10,118
REALLY DEMONSTRATES
A POWERFUL SELF-CONFIDENCE
202
00:10:10,220 --> 00:10:12,720
THAT HE WOULD PREVAIL,
HE WOULD OVERCOME.
203
00:10:12,822 --> 00:10:15,323
WHEN DO YOU PLAN ON MARKETING IT
TO GENERAL PUBLIC?
204
00:10:15,425 --> 00:10:17,358
SOON.
205
00:10:17,460 --> 00:10:20,795
EDISON WAS SOMEONE
WHO MANIPULATED THE MEDIA.
206
00:10:20,897 --> 00:10:24,265
HE WOULD OVER-PROMISE
WHAT HIS PRODUCTS COULD DO,
207
00:10:24,367 --> 00:10:25,833
BUT THAT WAS
PART OF HIS SUCCESS.
208
00:10:25,935 --> 00:10:27,602
IT WAS PART OF WHAT HELPED HIM
209
00:10:27,704 --> 00:10:31,506
DEVELOP THIS IMAGE
AS AMERICA'S GREATEST INVENTOR.
210
00:10:33,810 --> 00:10:35,677
Narrator: HALF A WORLD AWAY,
211
00:10:35,779 --> 00:10:38,780
NIKOLA TESLA HAS A VISION
FOR AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
212
00:10:38,882 --> 00:10:41,182
THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING
213
00:10:41,284 --> 00:10:43,518
AND BRING THE WRATH
OF THOMAS EDISON.
214
00:10:43,620 --> 00:10:46,187
DO NOT MENTION THE A.C. MOTOR
TO ME ONE MORE TIME.
215
00:10:54,364 --> 00:10:55,463
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
216
00:10:55,565 --> 00:10:57,298
Narrator: IN THE 1880s,
217
00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,267
THE UNITED STATES
IS EXPERIENCING
218
00:10:59,369 --> 00:11:02,170
UNPARALLELED GROWTH
AND DEVELOPMENT.
219
00:11:04,507 --> 00:11:08,042
FORTUNES ARE BEING MADE
IN STEEL...
220
00:11:08,144 --> 00:11:09,877
MINING,
221
00:11:09,979 --> 00:11:12,346
AND FINANCE.
222
00:11:14,117 --> 00:11:18,519
BY 1882, THE WORLD STANDS
ON THE CUSP OF A REVOLUTION...
223
00:11:18,621 --> 00:11:19,554
BEHOLD.
224
00:11:19,656 --> 00:11:21,022
...THAT WILL BRING
LIGHT AND POWER
225
00:11:21,124 --> 00:11:23,357
INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES
AND BUSINESSES,
226
00:11:23,460 --> 00:11:25,893
FOREVER CHANGING
THE WAY HUMANS LIVE.
227
00:11:25,995 --> 00:11:29,697
THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE THERE'S
A CLEAR BREAK FROM THE PAST,
228
00:11:29,799 --> 00:11:31,399
WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYONE SITS BACK AND SAYS,
229
00:11:31,501 --> 00:11:34,202
"OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS GONNA CHANGE THE WORLD."
230
00:11:34,304 --> 00:11:40,141
IF EDISON IS ALL ABOUT LIGHT,
TESLA IS ALL ABOUT POWER.
231
00:11:40,243 --> 00:11:44,812
Narrator:
NIKOLA TESLA IS IN BUDAPEST,
232
00:11:44,914 --> 00:11:46,380
STRUGGLING TO DESIGN A MOTOR
233
00:11:46,483 --> 00:11:50,485
THAT WILL CONVERT
ALTERNATING CURRENT INTO POWER,
234
00:11:50,587 --> 00:11:54,288
WHEN SUDDENLY,
HE HAS A GAME-CHANGING VISION.
235
00:11:54,390 --> 00:11:59,060
TESLA HAS WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS
WOULD CALL AN EIDETIC MEMORY.
236
00:11:59,162 --> 00:12:02,897
AND PART OF THE EIDETIC MEMORY
IS THE ABILITY TO VISUALIZE
237
00:12:02,999 --> 00:12:07,301
AT ABOUT ARM'S LENGTH
IN A BOX OR A CUBE OUT THERE
238
00:12:07,403 --> 00:12:09,570
WHATEVER YOU'RE SEEING
IN YOUR MIND'S EYE.
239
00:12:09,672 --> 00:12:14,175
AND IF YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD
VERSION OF THESE VISUAL SKILLS,
240
00:12:14,277 --> 00:12:16,277
YOU CAN ACTUALLY
PICTURE OUT THERE
241
00:12:16,379 --> 00:12:19,046
A THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT.
242
00:12:19,149 --> 00:12:22,850
Narrator: IN A FLASH OF GENIUS,
TESLA IMAGINES THE DESIGN
243
00:12:22,952 --> 00:12:26,087
OF HIS MOTOR
POWERED BY A.C. ELECTRICITY.
244
00:12:26,189 --> 00:12:30,958
SOMETHING ALLOWED HIM TO MAKE
THIS INCREDIBLE MAVERICK MOVE.
245
00:12:31,060 --> 00:12:32,560
IN OTHER WORDS, TO INVERT
246
00:12:32,662 --> 00:12:35,463
HOW EVERYBODY HAD MADE A MOTOR
UP TO THAT TIME.
247
00:12:35,565 --> 00:12:37,698
Narrator: TESLA'S BREAKTHROUGH
248
00:12:37,801 --> 00:12:41,769
FLIPS CONVENTIONAL THINKING
UPSIDE DOWN.
249
00:12:41,871 --> 00:12:43,171
IN A D.C. MOTOR,
250
00:12:43,273 --> 00:12:45,406
THERE'S A SPINNING ROTOR
AT THE CENTER
251
00:12:45,508 --> 00:12:50,611
MADE UP OF COILS OF WIRE
WITH MAGNETS ON THE OUTSIDE.
252
00:12:50,713 --> 00:12:52,346
FOR HIS A.C. MOTOR,
253
00:12:52,448 --> 00:12:54,916
TESLA MOVES THE COILS
TO THE OUTSIDE
254
00:12:55,018 --> 00:12:56,884
AND THE MAGNETS TO THE CENTER,
255
00:12:56,986 --> 00:12:59,821
CREATING A ROTATING
MAGNETIC FIELD.
256
00:12:59,923 --> 00:13:03,357
CONCEPTUALLY, THE INVENTION
OF THE A.C. MOTOR BY TESLA
257
00:13:03,459 --> 00:13:05,526
IS A MONUMENTAL BREAKTHROUGH.
258
00:13:05,628 --> 00:13:09,197
NOBODY HAD EVEN
THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE.
259
00:13:09,299 --> 00:13:14,468
Narrator: FOR NOW, IT'S ONLY
AN IMAGE IN TESLA'S MIND.
260
00:13:14,571 --> 00:13:16,404
TO BUILD ONE, HE NEEDS HELP
261
00:13:16,506 --> 00:13:18,506
FROM THE ONE MAN
WHO IS WORKING AGAINST
262
00:13:18,608 --> 00:13:21,409
EVERYTHING
TESLA DREAMS OF CREATING --
263
00:13:21,511 --> 00:13:23,211
THOMAS EDISON.
264
00:13:23,313 --> 00:13:26,948
EDISON HAS JUST MOVED HIS
HEADQUARTERS TO NEW YORK CITY.
265
00:13:27,050 --> 00:13:30,618
...WE WILL PROVE THE VALUE
OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.
266
00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,453
Carlson:
EDISON REALIZES THAT
267
00:13:32,555 --> 00:13:35,590
IF HE'S GOING TO FULLY DEVELOP
HIS SYSTEM AND COMMERCIALIZE IT,
268
00:13:35,692 --> 00:13:38,359
HE'S GONNA HAVE TO BUILD
A DEMONSTRATION PLANT
269
00:13:38,461 --> 00:13:39,560
IN NEW YORK CITY.
270
00:13:39,662 --> 00:13:42,029
AND HE DECIDES
TO BUILD THE PLANT
271
00:13:42,131 --> 00:13:44,532
IN AND AROUND WALL STREET.
272
00:13:44,634 --> 00:13:49,103
HE DOES SO BECAUSE HE WANTS THE
POWER PLANT TO PROVIDE LIGHTING
273
00:13:49,205 --> 00:13:54,308
TO THE VARIOUS BUSINESSES AND
BANKS THAT ARE ON WALL STREET
274
00:13:54,410 --> 00:13:57,011
SO THAT HE CAN GENERATE
MORE MONEY DOWN THE ROAD,
275
00:13:57,113 --> 00:13:59,814
MORE INVESTORS.
276
00:13:59,916 --> 00:14:05,086
Narrator:
WALL STREET IN THE GILDED AGE
BETWEEN 1870 AND 1900,
277
00:14:05,188 --> 00:14:07,555
IS A FINANCIAL JUGGERNAUT.
278
00:14:07,657 --> 00:14:12,693
MEN LIKE J.P. MORGAN HELP LAUNCH
THE MODERN AMERICAN ECONOMY
279
00:14:12,795 --> 00:14:17,331
AND PRODUCE STAGGERING WEALTH
FOR CORPORATIONS AND TITANS
280
00:14:17,433 --> 00:14:19,200
LIKE JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER,
281
00:14:19,302 --> 00:14:21,168
ANDREW CARNEGIE,
282
00:14:21,271 --> 00:14:23,704
AND JAY GOULD.
283
00:14:23,806 --> 00:14:28,042
WITH MY CENTRAL GENERATORS HERE,
WE CAN EXPAND OUTWARD,
284
00:14:28,144 --> 00:14:30,645
RUNNING OUR LINES UNDERGROUND
WHERE THEY WILL BE SAFE.
285
00:14:30,747 --> 00:14:33,281
I WILL HAVE NO HANGING WIRES
ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC.
286
00:14:33,383 --> 00:14:36,217
Narrator: EDISON IS BUILDING
A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
287
00:14:36,319 --> 00:14:38,953
BASED ENTIRELY ON D.C. --
288
00:14:39,055 --> 00:14:42,723
FROM THE GENERATOR THROUGH
TRANSMISSION TO THE LIGHT BULB.
289
00:14:42,825 --> 00:14:44,392
WHEN EDISON WAS WORKING ON
THE LIGHT BULB,
290
00:14:44,494 --> 00:14:46,093
HE WAS DOING MUCH MORE
THAN THAT.
291
00:14:46,195 --> 00:14:48,229
HE WAS WORKING ON
THE WHOLE SYSTEM
292
00:14:48,331 --> 00:14:50,331
TO DELIVER THAT PRODUCT
TO THE MARKET,
293
00:14:50,433 --> 00:14:54,635
SO HE HAD THE DYNAMOS GENERATING
DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRICITY.
294
00:14:54,737 --> 00:14:57,371
HE WAS TRANSMITTING
THAT ELECTRICITY.
295
00:14:57,473 --> 00:15:01,742
Narrator: EDISON'S SYSTEM
HAS ONE MAJOR FLAW.
296
00:15:01,844 --> 00:15:02,944
HOW FAR
CAN WE EXTEND SERVICE?
297
00:15:03,046 --> 00:15:04,445
UNLESS
THE PRICE OF COPPER DROPS,
298
00:15:04,547 --> 00:15:08,516
I WOULDN'T PUSH IT PAST ABOUT
HALF A MILE IN EVERY DIRECTION.
299
00:15:08,618 --> 00:15:09,517
VERY WELL.
300
00:15:09,619 --> 00:15:10,518
WITH DIRECT CURRENT,
301
00:15:10,620 --> 00:15:12,253
THE REAL PROBLEM
THAT YOU RUN INTO IS
302
00:15:12,355 --> 00:15:15,289
YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY SEND THE
POWER OUT OVER LONG DISTANCES
303
00:15:15,391 --> 00:15:17,124
BECAUSE YOU BLEED AWAY POWER
304
00:15:17,226 --> 00:15:19,994
AS THE CURRENT MOVES
ACROSS THE WIRES.
305
00:15:20,096 --> 00:15:23,698
Narrator: THE ONLY WAY
TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT BLEED OUT
306
00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:25,733
IS TO INCREASE
THE SIZE OF THE WIRE.
307
00:15:25,835 --> 00:15:27,168
AS YOU GO TO
INCREASE THE DISTANCE
308
00:15:27,270 --> 00:15:28,736
THAT YOU TRANSMIT
THE ELECTRICITY
309
00:15:28,838 --> 00:15:31,005
FROM THE STATION TO THE PLACE
WHERE YOU'RE GONNA USE IT,
310
00:15:31,107 --> 00:15:33,507
YOU HAVE TO USE
A LARGER AND LARGER COPPER WIRE.
311
00:15:33,609 --> 00:15:39,447
EVERY FOOT YOU GO FURTHER
COSTS YOU A LOT MORE MONEY.
312
00:15:39,549 --> 00:15:43,184
Narrator:
DESPITE THE LIMITS OF EDISON'S
D.C. ELECTRICITY SYSTEM,
313
00:15:43,286 --> 00:15:48,289
HIS UNSTOPPABLE NATURE
DRIVES HIM FORWARD.
314
00:15:48,391 --> 00:15:50,224
Edison: I WANT TO BREAK GROUND
WITHIN THE MONTH.
315
00:15:50,326 --> 00:15:53,928
Narrator:
EDISON KNOWS THAT ELECTRICITY
WILL CHANGE THE WORLD,
316
00:15:54,030 --> 00:15:56,697
AND HE WANTS TO CASH IN.
317
00:15:56,799 --> 00:15:58,966
Ivester: HE SEES THAT
IT'S NOT JUST NEW YORK.
318
00:15:59,068 --> 00:16:01,168
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT JUST AMERICA.
319
00:16:01,270 --> 00:16:02,737
IT'S A WHOLE PLANET
320
00:16:02,839 --> 00:16:05,606
THAT EVENTUALLY
IS GONNA BE ELECTRIFIED.
321
00:16:05,708 --> 00:16:08,442
Carlson: SO, THERE ARE EARLY
EDISON SYSTEMS IN LONDON,
322
00:16:08,544 --> 00:16:10,378
IN BERLIN, AND IN PARIS,
323
00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,947
ALL OF WHICH
ARE PRIME MARKETS FOR EDISON
324
00:16:13,049 --> 00:16:16,784
BECAUSE THE SYSTEM'S GONNA WORK
WELL IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS.
325
00:16:16,886 --> 00:16:21,055
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
326
00:16:21,157 --> 00:16:23,224
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
327
00:16:23,326 --> 00:16:27,094
Narrator:
EDISON'S EUROPEAN LIGHT COMPANY
NEEDS SKILLED EMPLOYEES,
328
00:16:27,196 --> 00:16:29,663
AND THERE IS ONE MAN
WHO FITS THE BILL.
329
00:16:29,766 --> 00:16:32,133
Ivester:
TESLA STARTED WORKING FOR EDISON
330
00:16:32,235 --> 00:16:34,668
AND ENDED UP IN STRASBOURG.
331
00:16:34,771 --> 00:16:39,473
Narrator:
AT THE STRASBOURG RAIL STATION,
332
00:16:39,575 --> 00:16:42,610
AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM
CAUSES AN EXPLOSION,
333
00:16:42,712 --> 00:16:44,011
BLOWING OUT A WALL
334
00:16:44,113 --> 00:16:47,515
DURING A VISIT BY
GERMAN EMPEROR WILHELM I.
335
00:16:47,617 --> 00:16:50,051
EDISON'S COMPANY IS CALLED IN
336
00:16:50,153 --> 00:16:52,686
TO UPGRADE
THE OLD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
337
00:16:52,789 --> 00:16:54,588
BUT NEEDS SOMEONE
WHO SPEAKS GERMAN
338
00:16:54,690 --> 00:16:58,125
AND KNOWS HOW TO
INSTALL THE EDISON SYSTEM --
339
00:16:58,227 --> 00:16:59,860
NIKOLA TESLA.
340
00:16:59,962 --> 00:17:03,197
FOR TESLA,
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A JOB.
341
00:17:03,299 --> 00:17:04,465
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
342
00:17:04,567 --> 00:17:07,835
TO ADVANCE HIS THEORIES
BASED AROUND A.C. POWER.
343
00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:13,407
TESLA FINDS AN OLD
ALTERNATING CURRENT GENERATOR
344
00:17:13,509 --> 00:17:15,509
AND DECIDES
TO BUILD AN A.C. MOTOR
345
00:17:15,611 --> 00:17:18,345
TO PUT HIS THEORY TO THE TEST.
346
00:17:18,448 --> 00:17:22,216
HE TAPS INTO
THE ALTERNATING CURRENT MAINS,
347
00:17:22,318 --> 00:17:24,752
THE WIRES THAT ARE STILL THERE
FROM THE OLD SYSTEM.
348
00:17:24,854 --> 00:17:28,322
HE PLUGS IN HIS MOTOR,
AND HE IS GOING TO SEE
349
00:17:28,424 --> 00:17:30,491
WHETHER EVERYTHING
THAT HE HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT
350
00:17:30,593 --> 00:17:32,693
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK.
351
00:17:32,795 --> 00:17:35,129
HE'S READY, HE PLUGS IT IN...
352
00:17:36,799 --> 00:17:38,399
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
353
00:17:38,501 --> 00:17:41,936
...AND LO AND BEHOLD,
THE WHEEL DOESN'T TURN.
354
00:17:44,740 --> 00:17:46,273
AND THEN HE SUDDENLY REALIZES
355
00:17:46,375 --> 00:17:49,076
THAT HE'S BEEN THINKING ABOUT
THIS WITHOUT CONSIDERING
356
00:17:49,178 --> 00:17:53,614
THE MATERIALS BY WHICH HE MADE
ALL OF THOSE COILS.
357
00:17:53,716 --> 00:17:56,117
Narrator: TESLA REALIZES
358
00:17:56,219 --> 00:17:59,086
HE'S USING A MATERIAL
THAT CANNOT BE MAGNETIZED
359
00:17:59,188 --> 00:18:03,057
TO CREATE
THE ROTATING MAGNETIC FIELD.
360
00:18:03,159 --> 00:18:07,061
SO HE FINDS A STEEL FILE
THAT CAN BE MAGNETIZED
361
00:18:07,163 --> 00:18:09,964
AND JAMS IT INTO THE COIL.
362
00:18:10,066 --> 00:18:14,502
AFTER YEARS OF THEORY,
TESLA'S DREAM COMES TO LIFE.
363
00:18:16,205 --> 00:18:18,305
AND HE'S ABOUT TO
COME TO AMERICA
364
00:18:18,407 --> 00:18:21,609
TO TURN THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY
ON ITS HEAD.
365
00:18:23,079 --> 00:18:26,147
[ BELL RINGING ]
366
00:18:30,353 --> 00:18:31,886
BY THE 1880s,
367
00:18:31,988 --> 00:18:34,488
TRANSPORTATION
AND THE BOOMING ECONOMY
368
00:18:34,590 --> 00:18:37,291
NOT ONLY FUEL
AMERICAN EXPANSION OUTWARD,
369
00:18:37,393 --> 00:18:40,327
BUT LAUNCH POPULATION EXPLOSIONS
IN THE CITIES
370
00:18:40,429 --> 00:18:41,896
WITH AN INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS
371
00:18:41,998 --> 00:18:44,932
FROM SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN EUROPE.
372
00:18:46,936 --> 00:18:49,236
TESLA JOINS THESE IMMIGRANTS
373
00:18:49,338 --> 00:18:53,073
AND ARRIVES IN AMERICA
TO WORK FOR EDISON.
374
00:18:53,176 --> 00:18:55,075
HE CARRIES WITH HIM
A LETTER OF REFERENCE
375
00:18:55,178 --> 00:18:59,446
FROM TIVADAR PUSKáS,
A PERSONAL FRIEND OF EDISON'S.
376
00:18:59,549 --> 00:19:01,482
Carlson:
PUSKáS WRITES, "DEAR MR. EDISON,
377
00:19:01,584 --> 00:19:03,651
THERE ARE TWO GREAT MEN
IN THE WORLD.
378
00:19:03,753 --> 00:19:05,052
YOU ARE ONE,
379
00:19:05,154 --> 00:19:09,356
AND THE YOUNG MAN STANDING
IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE OTHER."
380
00:19:09,458 --> 00:19:12,560
YOU COULD NOT ASK FOR A BETTER
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
381
00:19:15,498 --> 00:19:16,664
Narrator: TESLA BANKS ON
382
00:19:16,766 --> 00:19:19,667
DEVELOPING HIS PLANS
FOR A.C. POWER WITH EDISON.
383
00:19:21,671 --> 00:19:23,537
MR. EDISON.
384
00:19:23,639 --> 00:19:28,876
IT IS A PLEASURE
TO FINALLY MEET YOU IN PERSON.
385
00:19:28,978 --> 00:19:31,912
I'M NIKOLA TESLA.
386
00:19:32,014 --> 00:19:34,148
[ CHUCKLES ]
387
00:19:34,250 --> 00:19:36,650
PUSKáS
SPEAKS HIGHLY OF YOU.
388
00:19:36,752 --> 00:19:40,821
LIKE YOU,
I AM A MAN OF IDEAS.
389
00:19:40,923 --> 00:19:44,058
GREAT IDEAS ORIGINATE
IN THE MUSCLES, MR. TESLA --
390
00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:45,559
HARD WORK.
391
00:19:45,661 --> 00:19:46,961
HARD WORK IS THE KEY.
392
00:19:47,063 --> 00:19:51,131
I'LL HAVE JOHNSON
GET YOU STARTED WITH US.
393
00:19:55,471 --> 00:19:59,373
Narrator: TESLA BEGINS WORK
ON EDISON'S D.C. GENERATORS
394
00:19:59,475 --> 00:20:02,476
AND IMMEDIATELY
PROVES HIS WORTH.
395
00:20:02,578 --> 00:20:04,245
Carlson:
DRAWING ON HIS EXPERIENCE
396
00:20:04,347 --> 00:20:08,349
AS A TROUBLESHOOTING
FIELD ENGINEER IN EUROPE,
397
00:20:08,451 --> 00:20:11,285
TESLA GOES TO WORK
IN THE EDISON MACHINE WORKS,
398
00:20:11,387 --> 00:20:14,521
REDESIGNING THE GENERATORS
AND THE EQUIPMENT
399
00:20:14,624 --> 00:20:17,725
SO THAT THEY WILL OPERATE
MORE EFFICIENTLY.
400
00:20:17,827 --> 00:20:20,527
IF WE REPLACE
THE LONG MAGNETS
401
00:20:20,630 --> 00:20:25,032
WITH, UH, SHORTER,
MORE EFFICIENT ONES...
402
00:20:25,134 --> 00:20:26,400
HE'S ONE OF
THE FEW PEOPLE
403
00:20:26,502 --> 00:20:30,604
THAT HAS SOME BASIC MATHEMATICS
AND PHYSICS BACKGROUNDS,
404
00:20:30,706 --> 00:20:32,940
SO HE CAN APPLY
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SCIENCE
405
00:20:33,042 --> 00:20:35,576
AND APPROACH THESE PROBLEMS
SYSTEMATICALLY.
406
00:20:35,678 --> 00:20:37,745
WE CAN TRIPLE THE OUTPUT.
407
00:20:37,847 --> 00:20:39,613
Ivester: HE HAD DONE
ALL SORTS OF IMPROVEMENTS
408
00:20:39,715 --> 00:20:42,016
TO DIFFERENT MACHINES
AND DEVICES
409
00:20:42,118 --> 00:20:43,951
THROUGHOUT
THE D.C. SYSTEM --
410
00:20:44,053 --> 00:20:47,087
MADE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT,
MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE RELIABLE.
411
00:20:47,189 --> 00:20:51,191
REALLY PROVEN HIMSELF ENORMOUSLY
USEFUL TO THE EDISON ENTERPRISE.
412
00:20:51,294 --> 00:20:53,994
Narrator: ACCORDING TO TESLA,
413
00:20:54,096 --> 00:20:58,866
EDISON PROMISED TO PAY HIM
A $50,000 BONUS FOR HIS WORK.
414
00:20:58,968 --> 00:21:01,969
AND NOW HE WANTS TO COLLECT.
415
00:21:02,071 --> 00:21:03,637
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
416
00:21:03,739 --> 00:21:07,908
FORCES THESE TWO TITANS
INTO A DIRECT CONFRONTATION
417
00:21:07,977 --> 00:21:09,443
IN THE WAR
OF THE CURRENTS.
418
00:21:09,545 --> 00:21:12,179
I WAS PROMISED
$50,000.
419
00:21:20,556 --> 00:21:22,256
Narrator: IN 1884,
420
00:21:22,358 --> 00:21:25,993
THOMAS EDISON EXPANDS HIS
DIRECT CURRENT LIGHTING SYSTEM
421
00:21:26,095 --> 00:21:28,128
INTO THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY.
422
00:21:28,230 --> 00:21:32,032
IT'S THE BEGINNING
OF THE NATION'S POWER GRID.
423
00:21:32,134 --> 00:21:34,001
THIS IS LAYING THE FOUNDATION
424
00:21:34,103 --> 00:21:36,437
FOR ALL NEW TECHNOLOGIES
COMING FROM IT.
425
00:21:36,539 --> 00:21:38,272
THIS IS TRANSFORMING
THE WAY PEOPLE WORK,
426
00:21:38,374 --> 00:21:41,375
THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE,
MODERN APPLIANCES.
427
00:21:41,477 --> 00:21:42,643
WHAT THIS DOES IS
428
00:21:42,745 --> 00:21:45,846
IT ALLOWS THESE HOUSEHOLD CHORES
TO BE DONE AUTOMATICALLY.
429
00:21:45,948 --> 00:21:49,717
IT ALLOWS WOMEN A LOT MORE TIME
TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE.
430
00:21:49,819 --> 00:21:52,486
THIS IS TRULY BRINGING US
INTO THE MODERN WORLD.
431
00:21:52,588 --> 00:21:57,358
Narrator: NIKOLA TESLA IS
A VALUABLE EMPLOYEE TO EDISON,
432
00:21:57,460 --> 00:22:01,462
EXPANDING HIS PRODUCT LINE
AND INCREASING EFFICIENCY.
433
00:22:06,936 --> 00:22:10,170
AND THESE ARE
NEW IMPROVEMENTS
434
00:22:10,272 --> 00:22:15,943
THAT WILL VASTLY INCREASE
EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE COST.
435
00:22:16,045 --> 00:22:19,947
Carlson: TESLA THINKS, "I'M
GONNA GET REWARDED FOR THIS,"
436
00:22:20,049 --> 00:22:23,917
AND THINKS HE'S GONNA GET
A BONUS OF $50,000.
437
00:22:24,019 --> 00:22:26,987
THIS IS ALL VERY GOOD,
NIKOLA.
438
00:22:27,089 --> 00:22:30,424
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
ANOTHER IDEA OF MINE,
439
00:22:30,526 --> 00:22:34,194
ONE I THINK
YOU WILL FIND FASCINATING.
440
00:22:34,296 --> 00:22:39,566
I HAVE DESIGNED
AN A.C. MOTOR.
441
00:22:39,668 --> 00:22:41,368
Narrator:
EVEN WHILE WORKING FOR EDISON,
442
00:22:41,470 --> 00:22:42,903
TESLA REMAINS CONVINCED
443
00:22:43,005 --> 00:22:45,939
THAT ALTERNATING CURRENT
IS THE POWER OF THE FUTURE.
444
00:22:46,041 --> 00:22:47,875
BUT EDISON WAS VERY COMMITTED
445
00:22:47,977 --> 00:22:49,710
TO THE IDEA OF
USING DIRECT CURRENT.
446
00:22:49,812 --> 00:22:51,378
Houghton:
DIRECT CURRENT HAD BEEN AROUND
447
00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:53,180
A LOT LONGER
THAN ALTERNATING CURRENT HAD,
448
00:22:53,282 --> 00:22:55,749
AND IT'S WHAT EDISON ACTUALLY
OWNED A LOT OF PATENTS ON.
449
00:22:55,851 --> 00:22:57,918
SO THE MONEY WAS THERE
WITH DIRECT CURRENT.
450
00:22:58,020 --> 00:23:01,922
YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME AND MY
TIME DISCUSSING THIS NONSENSE.
451
00:23:02,024 --> 00:23:04,958
BUT AN ALTERNATING CURRENT
SYSTEM WOULD ALLOW YOU
452
00:23:05,060 --> 00:23:08,061
TO EXPAND BEYOND THE LIMITATIONS
OF A D.C. CURRENT SYSTEM.
453
00:23:08,164 --> 00:23:12,399
DO NOT MENTION THAT A.C. MOTOR
TO ME ONE MORE TIME.
454
00:23:12,501 --> 00:23:13,801
Carlson: EDISON IS SO INTENT
455
00:23:13,903 --> 00:23:17,805
ON DEVELOPING HIS D.C.
INCANDESCENT LIGHTING SYSTEM
456
00:23:17,907 --> 00:23:22,376
THAT HE REALLY COULDN'T
CARE LESS ABOUT AN A.C. MOTOR.
457
00:23:23,913 --> 00:23:26,447
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
WE SHOULD DISCUSS.
458
00:23:26,549 --> 00:23:27,948
YOU HAVE DONE
A MARVELOUS JOB
459
00:23:28,050 --> 00:23:30,551
MAKING IMPROVEMENTS
TO MY SYSTEM.
460
00:23:30,653 --> 00:23:33,120
AND I'VE GOT SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
461
00:23:33,222 --> 00:23:36,557
I WOULD LIKE TO
PROPOSE A TOAST
462
00:23:36,659 --> 00:23:41,495
TO YOU
FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
463
00:23:41,597 --> 00:23:43,697
WHAT IS THIS?
464
00:23:43,799 --> 00:23:46,099
WHERE'S MY MONEY?
465
00:23:46,202 --> 00:23:47,301
WHAT MONEY?
466
00:23:47,403 --> 00:23:49,670
MY $50,000.
467
00:23:49,772 --> 00:23:51,972
[ LAUGHS ]
468
00:23:52,074 --> 00:23:55,242
I WAS PROMISED
$50,000.
469
00:23:55,344 --> 00:24:00,080
MY DEAR TESLA, YOU CLEARLY DON'T
UNDERSTAND OUR AMERICAN HUMOR.
470
00:24:00,182 --> 00:24:03,450
Narrator: IT'S THE END
OF TESLA WORKING FOR EDISON.
471
00:24:03,552 --> 00:24:06,553
GOODBYE TO EDISON.
472
00:24:06,655 --> 00:24:09,790
Carlson: TESLA DECIDES
TO QUIT THE EDISON ORGANIZATION,
473
00:24:09,892 --> 00:24:14,228
AND HE GOES OUT AND FINDS
HIMSELF A NEW SET OF BACKERS.
474
00:24:14,330 --> 00:24:17,531
Narrator:
ALFRED BROWN AND CHARLES PECK
475
00:24:17,633 --> 00:24:20,334
BELIEVE TESLA
CAN HELP MAKE THEM MONEY,
476
00:24:20,436 --> 00:24:23,136
BUT ARE UNCERTAIN THAT
AN ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR
477
00:24:23,239 --> 00:24:24,438
IS WORTH BACKING.
478
00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:29,276
GENTLEMEN, YOU'VE HEARD THE
STORY OF THE EGG OF COLUMBUS.
479
00:24:29,378 --> 00:24:33,447
COLUMBUS APPEARS BEFORE
QUEEN ISABELLA AND HER COURT
480
00:24:33,549 --> 00:24:35,182
TO STRIKE A DEAL.
481
00:24:35,284 --> 00:24:39,386
IF HE IS ABLE TO
MAKE AN EGG STAND ON END,
482
00:24:39,488 --> 00:24:43,624
SHE AGREES TO PROVIDE FINANCING
FOR A FLEET OF SHIPS.
483
00:24:43,726 --> 00:24:47,961
THE EGG OF COLUMBUS IS A PARABLE
FOR DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE
484
00:24:48,063 --> 00:24:50,163
AND DEMONSTRATING
DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE TO SOMEBODY
485
00:24:50,266 --> 00:24:52,032
SO THAT THEY'LL FINANCE
YOUR UNDERTAKING.
486
00:24:52,134 --> 00:24:57,404
COLUMBUS LIGHTLY CRACKS
ONE END OF THE EGG
487
00:24:57,506 --> 00:25:00,240
AND MAKES IT STAND
UPRIGHT.
488
00:25:00,342 --> 00:25:04,144
AS A RESULT
OF THAT DEMONSTRATION,
489
00:25:04,246 --> 00:25:06,547
COLUMBUS GETS THE MONEY
TO SAIL TO THE NEW WORLD.
490
00:25:06,649 --> 00:25:11,752
I PROPOSE
TO MAKE AN EGG STAND ON END
491
00:25:11,854 --> 00:25:16,857
BUT WITHOUT CRACKING IT.
492
00:25:16,959 --> 00:25:18,725
Narrator: TESLA'S GENIUS
493
00:25:18,827 --> 00:25:21,461
IS HIS UNDERSTANDING
OF ELECTROMAGNETISM.
494
00:25:21,564 --> 00:25:24,431
AS HE APPLIES A.C. CURRENT
TO HIS CONTRAPTION,
495
00:25:24,533 --> 00:25:26,900
THE EGG DOES THE UNTHINKABLE.
496
00:25:27,002 --> 00:25:31,271
TESLA CREATED A SYSTEM
UNDERNEATH THE TABLE
497
00:25:31,373 --> 00:25:34,708
THAT CREATED
THE RIGHT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD.
498
00:25:34,810 --> 00:25:36,143
AND THEY SAID,
499
00:25:36,245 --> 00:25:40,113
"WELL, IF YOU CAN MAKE OBJECTS
SPIN ON THE TABLE LIKE MAGIC,
500
00:25:40,215 --> 00:25:41,548
THEN WE'RE REASONABLY CONFIDENT
501
00:25:41,650 --> 00:25:44,084
YOU CAN DO SOMETHING USEFUL
AND PROFITABLE,
502
00:25:44,186 --> 00:25:45,652
AND WE'LL INVEST
IN YOUR COMPANY."
503
00:25:45,754 --> 00:25:50,490
Carlson: IT WAS TESLA'S ABILITY
TO TELL THE RIGHT STORY
504
00:25:50,593 --> 00:25:54,127
TO ENGAGE
PECK AND BROWN'S IMAGINATION.
505
00:25:54,229 --> 00:25:56,563
AND THAT WAS PROBABLY
TESLA'S GREATEST GIFT,
506
00:25:56,665 --> 00:25:57,898
IS THIS ABILITY TO
507
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,934
LINK THE TECHNOLOGICAL
WITH A COMPELLING STORY.
508
00:26:01,036 --> 00:26:04,338
Narrator:
WITH BROWN AND PECK'S BACKING,
509
00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,275
TESLA FINALLY HAS THE FUNDS
TO DEVELOP HIS A.C. MOTOR.
510
00:26:08,377 --> 00:26:11,845
AND THEY KNOW JUST THE MAN
TO SELL IT TO.
511
00:26:11,947 --> 00:26:14,715
Carlson: GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE
HAS MADE A FORTUNE
512
00:26:14,817 --> 00:26:18,819
WORKING ON AIR BRAKES
AND ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS
513
00:26:18,921 --> 00:26:20,287
FOR THE RAILROADS.
514
00:26:20,389 --> 00:26:24,057
HE WANTS TO MOVE INTO
ANOTHER INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.
515
00:26:24,159 --> 00:26:27,160
HE WANTS TO MOVE INTO
ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND POWER,
516
00:26:27,262 --> 00:26:28,795
AND HE NEEDS TO BUY THE PATENTS
517
00:26:28,897 --> 00:26:31,331
IN ORDER TO BASICALLY
LAUNCH HIS BUSINESS THERE.
518
00:26:31,433 --> 00:26:34,267
SO WESTINGHOUSE
LOOKS AT THE TESLA PATENTS
519
00:26:34,370 --> 00:26:36,436
AND DECIDES THAT
HE'S REALLY GOING TO
520
00:26:36,538 --> 00:26:39,539
GO ALL IN
FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT.
521
00:26:39,642 --> 00:26:41,241
AND IF IT'S GONNA
BE AN A.C. SYSTEM
522
00:26:41,310 --> 00:26:42,809
THAT'S GONNA SERVE
LOTS OF CUSTOMER,
523
00:26:42,911 --> 00:26:46,713
YOU NEED AN A.C. MOTOR,
AND TESLA IS HIS GUY.
524
00:26:46,815 --> 00:26:49,916
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD
OF WHAT YOU'VE BUILT.
525
00:26:50,019 --> 00:26:52,452
Ivester: IT WAS REALLY
A MATCH THAT MADE ITSELF.
526
00:26:52,554 --> 00:26:55,122
TESLA HAD THE MOTOR, AND HE
NEEDED SOMEBODY WITH A SYSTEM.
527
00:26:55,224 --> 00:26:56,890
WESTINGHOUSE HAD THE SYSTEM,
528
00:26:56,992 --> 00:26:59,793
AND HE NEEDED
SOMEBODY WITH THE MOTOR.
529
00:26:59,928 --> 00:27:01,628
Narrator:
WESTINGHOUSE HAS A SYSTEM
530
00:27:01,730 --> 00:27:04,498
THAT'S DESIGNED TO TRANSMIT
POWER OVER LONG DISTANCES.
531
00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:09,269
AND NOW WITH TESLA'S A.C. MOTOR,
HIS SYSTEM WILL WORK.
532
00:27:09,371 --> 00:27:10,737
Houghton: IF YOU'RE DOING
ALTERNATING CURRENT,
533
00:27:10,839 --> 00:27:16,076
YOU COULD SEND 15,000 VOLTS OVER
MILES IF NOT HUNDREDS OF MILES.
534
00:27:16,178 --> 00:27:18,545
IT DIDN'T BLEED OFF
AS MUCH OF THE POWER
535
00:27:18,647 --> 00:27:20,914
TRAVELING
THOSE KINDS OF DISTANCES.
536
00:27:21,016 --> 00:27:22,749
THAT WAS ONE OF
THE REAL ADVANTAGES HERE.
537
00:27:22,851 --> 00:27:26,620
JUST AS WESTINGHOUSE
SEEMS TO GAIN THE ADVANTAGE
538
00:27:26,722 --> 00:27:28,955
WITH TESLA'S A.C. MOTOR,
539
00:27:29,058 --> 00:27:32,426
FEAR OVER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
ELECTRIC WIRES
540
00:27:32,528 --> 00:27:34,695
GRIPS NEW YORK CITY.
541
00:27:34,797 --> 00:27:35,962
THERE'S JUST WIRES
542
00:27:36,065 --> 00:27:38,198
GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE
BETWEEN BUILDINGS.
543
00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:39,800
AND THEY INCREASINGLY WERE
JUST GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT
544
00:27:39,902 --> 00:27:41,401
WHERE THEY WERE GONNA PUT
THE NEXT WIRES.
545
00:27:41,503 --> 00:27:43,904
Carlson: THE EDISON COMPANY
546
00:27:44,006 --> 00:27:48,041
INSTALLS THEIR DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM UNDERGROUND.
547
00:27:48,110 --> 00:27:50,944
Narrator: EDISON'S SYSTEM
RUNS ON LESS THAN 300 VOLTS,
548
00:27:51,046 --> 00:27:55,348
AND IS MUCH SAFER THAN
HIGH-VOLTAGE SYSTEMS OVERHEAD.
549
00:27:55,451 --> 00:27:56,883
Houghton: AS THESE SYSTEMS
ARE BEING PUT IN,
550
00:27:56,985 --> 00:28:00,620
PEOPLE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND
THE REAL DANGER HERE.
551
00:28:00,723 --> 00:28:02,389
YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
BEING ELECTROCUTED,
552
00:28:02,491 --> 00:28:03,990
A LOT OF ACCIDENTS TAKING PLACE.
553
00:28:04,093 --> 00:28:05,592
[ ELECTRICITY BUZZING ]
554
00:28:05,694 --> 00:28:07,027
DID YOU SEE
WHAT HAPPENED?
555
00:28:07,129 --> 00:28:08,261
I SAW THE WIRE.
556
00:28:08,363 --> 00:28:10,063
HE'S NOT BREATHING.
I DON'T THINK HE'S ALIVE.
557
00:28:10,165 --> 00:28:11,164
YOU GOT TO GET HELP.
558
00:28:11,266 --> 00:28:13,533
Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 1888,
559
00:28:13,635 --> 00:28:16,703
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF A BOY
BY A DANGLING WIRE
560
00:28:16,805 --> 00:28:20,140
STRIKES FEAR
IN THE HEARTS OF NEW YORKERS.
561
00:28:20,242 --> 00:28:21,608
EXTRA, EXTRA!
562
00:28:21,710 --> 00:28:26,680
DEATH-BY-WIRE HEADLINES SPLASH
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPERS.
563
00:28:26,782 --> 00:28:30,617
IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THOSE OPPOSING A.C. POWER.
564
00:28:30,719 --> 00:28:35,922
AND ONE MAN, HAROLD BROWN,
SEIZES THE MOMENT.
565
00:28:36,024 --> 00:28:38,358
ALTERNATING CURRENT
IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS
566
00:28:38,460 --> 00:28:43,096
TO BE ALLOWED INTO OUR CITIES
UNREGULATED AND UNRESTRAINED.
567
00:28:44,299 --> 00:28:46,299
Narrator: BROWN
HAS PREPARED A DEMONSTRATION
568
00:28:46,401 --> 00:28:49,002
FOR THE NEW YORK
BOARD OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL.
569
00:28:49,104 --> 00:28:51,037
HIS PLAN IS TO BAN THE USE
570
00:28:51,140 --> 00:28:54,174
OF ALTERNATING CURRENT
ABOVE 300 VOLTS --
571
00:28:54,276 --> 00:28:57,043
SOMETHING THAT WOULD
DESTROY WESTINGHOUSE
572
00:28:57,146 --> 00:28:59,780
AND HIS HIGH-VOLTAGE
A.C. SYSTEM.
573
00:28:59,882 --> 00:29:04,417
Brown: I REPRESENT NO COMPANY
AND NO FINANCIAL INTEREST.
574
00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,387
I WAS DRAWN TO THE CONTROVERSY
BY THE SENSE OF WHAT IS RIGHT.
575
00:29:07,489 --> 00:29:10,791
Narrator:
BUT BROWN DOES HAVE AN INTEREST.
576
00:29:10,859 --> 00:29:14,694
Houghton:
HAROLD BROWN WAS AN EMPLOYEE
OF THOMAS EDISON AT MENLO PARK.
577
00:29:14,797 --> 00:29:16,396
HE IS A TRUE BELIEVER
578
00:29:16,498 --> 00:29:20,100
IN THE FUTURE POTENTIAL
OF DIRECT CURRENT,
579
00:29:20,202 --> 00:29:22,102
AND HE COULD BE CONSIDERED
A ZEALOT IN MANY CASES,
580
00:29:22,204 --> 00:29:23,703
MUCH IN THE SAME WAY
THAT EDISON WAS.
581
00:29:23,806 --> 00:29:29,042
YOU WILL SEE TODAY THE DEADLY
RESULTS OF ALTERNATING CURRENT.
582
00:29:29,144 --> 00:29:32,212
Narrator: HAROLD BROWN
DEVISES A GRISLY DISPLAY
583
00:29:32,314 --> 00:29:36,082
TO PROVE THAT A.C.
IS MORE DEADLY THAT D.C.
584
00:29:36,185 --> 00:29:38,885
Carlson: BROWN BEGINS TO DO
A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS
585
00:29:38,987 --> 00:29:44,124
WHERE HE ELECTROCUTES ANIMALS
USING ALTERNATING CURRENT.
586
00:29:44,226 --> 00:29:46,560
AND HE DOES SO
IN A FAIRLY GRUESOME WAY.
587
00:29:46,662 --> 00:29:49,963
BUT I ASSURE YOU,
THE DOG IS QUITE HEALTHY.
588
00:29:50,065 --> 00:29:52,732
HE WEIGHS
APPROXIMATELY 80 POUNDS.
589
00:29:52,835 --> 00:29:58,171
I WILL BEGIN TODAY WITH
300 VOLTS OF DIRECT CURRENT.
590
00:30:01,510 --> 00:30:04,244
Narrator:
BROWN STARTS WITH D.C. CURRENT.
591
00:30:04,346 --> 00:30:08,081
THE DOG IS IN OBVIOUS PAIN,
BUT SURVIVES THE CHARGE.
592
00:30:08,183 --> 00:30:10,383
Man: THE ANIMAL
IS CLEARLY IN PAIN, SIR.
593
00:30:10,485 --> 00:30:14,521
NOW, THE REAL ISSUE IS
FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT
594
00:30:14,623 --> 00:30:16,890
IS NOT
WHETHER IT'S A.C. OR D.C.
595
00:30:16,992 --> 00:30:18,425
IT'S THE VOLTAGE.
596
00:30:18,527 --> 00:30:22,529
1,000 VOLTS OF D.C.
AND 1,000 VOLTS OF A.C. --
597
00:30:22,631 --> 00:30:24,164
BOTH WILL KILL YOU.
598
00:30:24,266 --> 00:30:26,399
IT'S THE LEVEL
OF THE VOLTAGE THAT'S DEADLY,
599
00:30:26,501 --> 00:30:30,136
NOT WHETHER IT'S
A.C. VERSUS D.C.
600
00:30:30,239 --> 00:30:33,440
I WILL NOW
ADMINISTER ALTERNATING CURRENT.
601
00:30:33,542 --> 00:30:37,210
BROWN'S STRATEGY
IS TO GET PEOPLE ALL WORKED UP
602
00:30:37,312 --> 00:30:39,379
AND ASSOCIATE
THAT THE HIGH VOLTAGES
603
00:30:39,481 --> 00:30:42,482
THAT ARE OFTEN USED WITH A.C.
ARE GONNA KILL YOU.
604
00:30:42,584 --> 00:30:46,186
HE WANTS A.C. AND DEATH
TO GET CONFLATED.
605
00:30:46,288 --> 00:30:50,757
Narrator: BROWN NOW ADMINISTERS
ALTERNATING CURRENT...
606
00:30:50,859 --> 00:30:51,825
[ DOG YELPS ]
607
00:30:51,927 --> 00:30:53,159
...BUT AT A HIGHER VOLTAGE
608
00:30:53,262 --> 00:30:57,297
THAN HIS PREVIOUS DEMONSTRATION
WITH DIRECT CURRENT.
609
00:30:57,366 --> 00:30:59,933
IT'S A GRAPHIC DISPLAY.
610
00:31:00,035 --> 00:31:02,702
THE DOG IS DEAD
BEFORE IT HITS THE FLOOR.
611
00:31:02,804 --> 00:31:04,337
THE ONLY PLACE
THAT AN ALTERNATING CURRENT
612
00:31:04,439 --> 00:31:07,374
OUGHT TO BE USED
IS THE DOG POUND,
613
00:31:07,476 --> 00:31:11,111
THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE,
AND THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
614
00:31:11,213 --> 00:31:15,081
Narrator:
EDISON'S CAMP RAISES THE STAKES.
615
00:31:15,183 --> 00:31:18,518
IF A.C. CURRENT
IS SO GOOD AT KILLING ANIMALS,
616
00:31:18,620 --> 00:31:22,555
WHY NOT USE IT
TO EXECUTE CONVICTS?
617
00:31:22,658 --> 00:31:24,557
THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS
618
00:31:24,660 --> 00:31:26,293
IS HEADED TO
A GRUESOME SHOWDOWN.
619
00:31:26,395 --> 00:31:27,394
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
620
00:31:34,269 --> 00:31:37,837
Narrator: BY 1887,
THERE IS A FIERCE BATTLE
621
00:31:37,940 --> 00:31:41,441
BETWEEN INVENTORS THOMAS EDISON
AND NIKOLA TESLA
622
00:31:41,543 --> 00:31:43,009
OVER WHAT KIND OF CURRENT
623
00:31:43,111 --> 00:31:45,478
WILL BE USED
TO DISTRIBUTE ELECTRICITY --
624
00:31:45,580 --> 00:31:47,314
A.C. VERSUS D.C.
625
00:31:47,416 --> 00:31:50,216
BRINGING ELECTRICITY
TO THE MASSES
626
00:31:50,319 --> 00:31:51,851
FOR PURPOSES OF BOTH LIGHTING
627
00:31:51,954 --> 00:31:54,254
AND MECHANICAL MOTION
THROUGH MOTORS.
628
00:31:54,356 --> 00:31:58,258
THAT REPRESENTED A REALLY
PROFOUND CHANGE IN SOCIETY.
629
00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:00,927
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD
OF WHAT YOU'VE BUILT.
630
00:32:01,029 --> 00:32:02,896
Narrator:
TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT CHANGE,
631
00:32:02,998 --> 00:32:06,466
NIKOLA TESLA JOINS FORCES
WITH GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE.
632
00:32:08,303 --> 00:32:09,536
AT THE SAME TIME,
633
00:32:09,638 --> 00:32:13,073
HAROLD BROWN, AN ENGINEER
WORKING WITH THOMAS EDISON,
634
00:32:13,175 --> 00:32:15,308
EXPLOITS RECENT HEADLINES
635
00:32:15,377 --> 00:32:17,677
AND BEGINS
A PUBLIC SMEAR CAMPAIGN
636
00:32:17,779 --> 00:32:19,713
TO DESTROY ALTERNATING CURRENT.
637
00:32:19,815 --> 00:32:22,015
[ DOG YELPS ]
638
00:32:22,117 --> 00:32:24,985
BROWN'S TIMING
COULDN'T BE BETTER.
639
00:32:25,087 --> 00:32:26,319
THE NEW YORK PRISON SYSTEM
640
00:32:26,421 --> 00:32:28,154
DECIDES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
EXPERIMENT WITH
641
00:32:28,256 --> 00:32:30,724
A MORE HUMANE WAY OF EXECUTION.
642
00:32:30,826 --> 00:32:35,829
Houghton:
BROWN AND EDISON ACTUALLY
WERE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY.
643
00:32:35,931 --> 00:32:37,931
THEY DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS A HUMANE THING
644
00:32:38,033 --> 00:32:39,099
TO PUT PRISONERS TO DEATH,
645
00:32:39,201 --> 00:32:41,334
BUT BROWN FIGURED
THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
646
00:32:41,436 --> 00:32:44,637
THAT HE COULD DEMONSTRATE THE
DANGERS OF ALTERNATING CURRENT
647
00:32:44,740 --> 00:32:46,673
IS TO CREATE A MACHINE
648
00:32:46,775 --> 00:32:49,275
THAT WOULD EXECUTE PEOPLE
USING ELECTRICITY.
649
00:32:49,378 --> 00:32:53,747
Narrator: BROWN WANTS TO USE
ALTERNATING CURRENT,
650
00:32:53,849 --> 00:32:55,382
BUT WESTINGHOUSE
651
00:32:55,484 --> 00:32:58,485
REFUSES TO SELL HIS
ALTERNATING CURRENT GENERATORS
652
00:32:58,587 --> 00:33:00,587
TO BROWN OR THE PRISON SYSTEM.
653
00:33:00,689 --> 00:33:04,357
Carlson:
BROWN GOES OFF AND QUIETLY BUYS
ON THE SECOND-HAND MARKET
654
00:33:04,459 --> 00:33:06,493
A COUPLE OF
WESTINGHOUSE GENERATORS,
655
00:33:06,595 --> 00:33:10,263
AND HE INSTALLS THEM.
656
00:33:10,365 --> 00:33:12,799
Narrator: BROWNS PROPOSAL
TO USE THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
657
00:33:12,901 --> 00:33:16,069
SPARKS CONTROVERSY,
AND A LEGAL BATTLE ENSUES
658
00:33:16,171 --> 00:33:19,472
TO DECIDE IF ELECTROCUTION
IS HUMANE.
659
00:33:19,574 --> 00:33:23,777
THE STAR WITNESS
IS THOMAS EDISON.
660
00:33:23,879 --> 00:33:26,146
EDISON IS THE COUNTRY'S
MOST FAMOUS INVENTOR,
661
00:33:26,248 --> 00:33:28,014
AND HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST
FAMOUS INVENTORS IN THE WORLD.
662
00:33:28,116 --> 00:33:29,616
AND SO WHEN PEOPLE GO TO HIM
663
00:33:29,718 --> 00:33:33,153
AND ASK HIM FOR HIS ADVICE
ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
664
00:33:33,255 --> 00:33:36,656
ABOUT NEW INVENTIONS,
HIS WORD ESSENTIALLY IS IT.
665
00:33:36,758 --> 00:33:39,926
IN YOUR JUDGMENT,
CAN ARTIFICIAL ELECTRIC CURRENT
666
00:33:40,028 --> 00:33:42,095
BE GENERATED
IN SUCH A WAY
667
00:33:42,197 --> 00:33:47,200
TO PRODUCE DEATH IN HUMAN BEINGS
IN EVERY CASE?
668
00:33:47,302 --> 00:33:49,469
YES.
669
00:33:49,571 --> 00:33:50,837
WHEN HE SAID YES,
670
00:33:50,939 --> 00:33:52,639
THAT'S REALLY
ALL THEY NEEDED TO HEAR.
671
00:33:52,741 --> 00:33:55,408
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
672
00:33:55,477 --> 00:33:57,043
Ivester:
IT'S HARD NOT TO READ INTO
673
00:33:57,145 --> 00:34:00,914
HIS PRESENCE AROUND A.C.
AS THE MODE FOR ELECTROCUTION
674
00:34:01,016 --> 00:34:04,150
AS AT LEAST NOT BEING
SOMEWHAT INFLUENCED
675
00:34:04,252 --> 00:34:05,485
BY HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS.
676
00:34:05,587 --> 00:34:08,321
YOU WANT THE NEWS? WE GOT IT!
677
00:34:08,423 --> 00:34:10,557
Narrator:
THE COURTS AGREE WITH EDISON.
678
00:34:10,659 --> 00:34:11,991
BROWN'S ELECTRIC CHAIR
679
00:34:12,094 --> 00:34:17,297
IS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT
TO CARRY OUT AN EXECUTION.
680
00:34:17,399 --> 00:34:20,934
THE FINAL ACT TO LINK
ALTERNATING CURRENT TO DEATH
681
00:34:21,036 --> 00:34:24,704
IS SET TO PLAY OUT
IN THE AUBURN PENITENTIARY.
682
00:34:24,806 --> 00:34:26,106
WILLIAM KEMMLER
683
00:34:26,208 --> 00:34:29,509
IS THE FIRST MAN SENTENCED
TO DIE BY ELECTROCUTION.
684
00:34:29,611 --> 00:34:31,044
AND THANKS TO BROWN,
685
00:34:31,146 --> 00:34:33,213
IT WILL BE
IN A WESTINGHOUSE CHAIR
686
00:34:33,315 --> 00:34:35,014
POWERED BY ALTERNATING CURRENT.
687
00:34:35,117 --> 00:34:38,251
Houghton: THE EXPECTATION
FOR THE EXECUTION
688
00:34:38,353 --> 00:34:39,452
WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD BE SHORT,
689
00:34:39,554 --> 00:34:42,255
IT'D BE QUICK,
IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE JOLTS.
690
00:34:42,357 --> 00:34:45,692
IT WOULDN'T BE SCARY.
IT WOULDN'T BE GROSS.
691
00:34:45,794 --> 00:34:48,027
IT WOULDN'T BE A LOT OF BLOOD.
692
00:34:48,130 --> 00:34:50,563
IT WOULD BE QUICK, EFFICIENT,
693
00:34:50,665 --> 00:34:53,133
AND THEN
THE PRISONER WOULD BE DEAD.
694
00:34:53,235 --> 00:34:56,469
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
695
00:34:56,571 --> 00:34:59,606
¶¶
696
00:35:10,519 --> 00:35:13,186
GOODBYE, WILLIAM.
697
00:35:18,126 --> 00:35:19,025
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
698
00:35:19,127 --> 00:35:20,360
[ MUFFLED SCREAMING ]
699
00:35:20,462 --> 00:35:22,929
Narrator: 1,000 VOLTS
SHOOT THROUGH KEMMLER'S BODY,
700
00:35:23,031 --> 00:35:26,099
SENDING HIM INTO
VIOLENT CONVULSIONS.
701
00:35:26,201 --> 00:35:27,567
[ ELECTRICITY STOPS ]
702
00:35:27,669 --> 00:35:32,472
AFTER 17 SECONDS,
HIS BODY APPEARS LIFELESS.
703
00:35:35,277 --> 00:35:36,276
HE IS DEAD.
704
00:35:42,083 --> 00:35:45,385
Man: MY GOD,
HE'S STILL ALIVE.
705
00:35:48,557 --> 00:35:50,590
Ivester: IT DOESN'T REALLY
WORK OUT AS PLANNED.
706
00:35:50,692 --> 00:35:53,159
THE FIRST ATTEMPT DIDN'T WORK.
707
00:35:53,261 --> 00:35:54,594
SO THEY HAD TO
GO AT IT AGAIN.
708
00:35:54,696 --> 00:35:57,063
STAND CLEAR.
709
00:35:57,165 --> 00:36:00,767
[ MUFFLED SCREAMING ]
710
00:36:00,869 --> 00:36:03,836
Houghton: HE'S STILL BREATHING
AFTER SEVERAL JOLTS.
711
00:36:03,939 --> 00:36:06,539
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BOTCHED
EXECUTIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
712
00:36:06,641 --> 00:36:08,975
THERE ARE WITNESSES
WHO ATTEST TO
713
00:36:09,077 --> 00:36:12,712
WILLIAM KEMMLER'S SPINAL CORD
BURST INTO FLAMES,
714
00:36:12,814 --> 00:36:16,182
AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE CLEAN, EFFICIENT.
715
00:36:16,284 --> 00:36:17,116
IT WAS THE OPPOSITE.
716
00:36:17,219 --> 00:36:19,385
ELECTRICITY
KILLS AX MURDERER
717
00:36:19,487 --> 00:36:21,187
IN GRUESOME SPECTACLE!
718
00:36:21,289 --> 00:36:22,855
Houghton: PEOPLE ASSOCIATED THIS
WITH EDISON
719
00:36:22,958 --> 00:36:24,057
BECAUSE HE HAD SAID
720
00:36:24,159 --> 00:36:26,859
IT WAS THE SOLUTION TO
EXECUTIONS IN THE FUTURE.
721
00:36:26,962 --> 00:36:29,395
SO IT WAS A REAL
PUBLIC-RELATIONS FIASCO
722
00:36:29,497 --> 00:36:31,197
FOR EDISON'S GROUP.
723
00:36:31,299 --> 00:36:35,101
Narrator: THE FALLOUT
FROM THE FAILED SMEAR CAMPAIGN
724
00:36:35,203 --> 00:36:38,238
IS THE LEAST
OF EDISON'S WORRIES.
725
00:36:38,340 --> 00:36:40,773
THE ABILITY TO TRANSMIT
726
00:36:40,875 --> 00:36:44,177
HIGH-VOLTAGE ALTERNATING CURRENT
OVER LONG DISTANCES
727
00:36:44,279 --> 00:36:48,748
SPREADS THE USE OF A.C. POWER
ACROSS AMERICA.
728
00:36:48,850 --> 00:36:52,318
WESTINGHOUSE
IS PRIMED FOR SUCCESS,
729
00:36:52,420 --> 00:36:56,389
AND THE ORDERS
FOR HIS A.C. SYSTEM POUR IN.
730
00:36:56,491 --> 00:36:58,625
WESTINGHOUSE IS GONNA
STEAL THE MARCH ON EDISON
731
00:36:58,727 --> 00:37:03,096
BECAUSE HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO
SELL ELECTRICITY FOR COMPANIES
732
00:37:03,198 --> 00:37:06,966
WHERE THEY WANT
MOTORS TO RUN ELEVATORS,
733
00:37:07,068 --> 00:37:10,737
HAUL ORE UP OUT OF MINES,
OR RUN MACHINE TOOLS.
734
00:37:10,839 --> 00:37:13,573
SO WESTINGHOUSE
IS IN A GREAT POSITION.
735
00:37:13,675 --> 00:37:16,142
Narrator:
BUT THERE IS ONE FINAL FACE-OFF
736
00:37:16,244 --> 00:37:20,847
BETWEEN EDISON'S D.C. SYSTEM
AND TESLA'S A.C. SYSTEM --
737
00:37:20,949 --> 00:37:24,717
A DRAMATIC FINAL SHOWDOWN
IN THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS.
738
00:37:24,819 --> 00:37:26,286
...OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
739
00:37:35,430 --> 00:37:37,230
Narrator: IN THE LATE 1800s,
740
00:37:37,332 --> 00:37:40,700
AS AMERICA'S GILDED AGE
CONTINUES TO SHINE,
741
00:37:40,802 --> 00:37:43,670
THOMAS EDISON AND NIKOLA TESLA
742
00:37:43,772 --> 00:37:46,506
ARE IN A BATTLE
OVER ELECTRICITY.
743
00:37:46,608 --> 00:37:51,177
AND IT APPEARS
TESLA'S A.C. SYSTEM IS WINNING.
744
00:37:51,279 --> 00:37:54,947
THE FINAL FACE-OFF TAKES PLACE
745
00:37:55,050 --> 00:37:58,751
AT THE 1893 WORLD'S FAIR
IN CHICAGO.
746
00:37:58,853 --> 00:38:02,955
ELECTRICITY WILL AMAZE MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
747
00:38:03,058 --> 00:38:07,393
THE ONLY QUESTION --
WILL IT BE A.C. OR D.C.?
748
00:38:07,495 --> 00:38:08,828
Houghton:
WHOEVER LIT THE EXPOSITION
749
00:38:08,930 --> 00:38:11,164
WAS GOING TO BE
ESSENTIALLY KNIGHTED
750
00:38:11,266 --> 00:38:14,100
AS THE ELECTRICITY PROVIDER
OF THE FUTURE.
751
00:38:14,202 --> 00:38:17,937
Narrator: EDISON'S
DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
752
00:38:18,039 --> 00:38:20,239
IS UP AGAINST
THE ALTERNATING CURRENT SYSTEM
753
00:38:20,342 --> 00:38:25,611
DESIGNED BY TESLA
AND NOW OWNED BY WESTINGHOUSE.
754
00:38:25,714 --> 00:38:29,349
BUT BEFORE WESTINGHOUSE
CAN ENTER THE BIDDING PROCESS,
755
00:38:29,451 --> 00:38:33,319
HE MUST RESOLVE
HIS FINANCIAL ISSUES.
756
00:38:33,421 --> 00:38:36,389
Carlson: WESTINGHOUSE TAKES ON
LOTS OF CONTRACTS
757
00:38:36,491 --> 00:38:38,324
AND GETS LOTS OF BUSINESS,
758
00:38:38,426 --> 00:38:41,694
BUT THE COMPANY
DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH CAPITAL,
759
00:38:41,796 --> 00:38:45,031
AND SO WESTINGHOUSE
IS REALLY IN A BAD SPOT.
760
00:38:45,133 --> 00:38:47,967
THE WESTINGHOUSE BANKERS
761
00:38:48,069 --> 00:38:51,204
ARE WORRIED ABOUT LIABILITIES
THAT THEY HAVE ON THE BOOKS,
762
00:38:51,306 --> 00:38:52,705
AND ONE OF
THE LIABILITIES IS
763
00:38:52,807 --> 00:38:56,542
FOR EVERY HORSEPOWER OF ELECTRIC
MOTORS THAT GET INSTALLED,
764
00:38:56,644 --> 00:39:00,213
THE COMPANY HAS TO
PAY TESLA $2.50.
765
00:39:00,315 --> 00:39:02,115
THE BANKERS SAY,
766
00:39:02,217 --> 00:39:04,350
"YOU'VE GOT TO
GET RID OF THIS CONTRACT."
767
00:39:04,452 --> 00:39:06,652
I'M NOT ABLE TO
SECURE THE INVESTMENTS I NEED
768
00:39:06,755 --> 00:39:07,720
BECAUSE
THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT
769
00:39:07,822 --> 00:39:12,058
HOW MUCH THIS MAY COST
IN THE FUTURE.
770
00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:14,594
YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME,
771
00:39:14,696 --> 00:39:19,065
AND I HAVE FAITH IN YOU
AND WHAT WE'VE BUILT TOGETHER.
772
00:39:19,167 --> 00:39:22,201
¶¶
773
00:39:29,010 --> 00:39:31,477
AND HE TEARS UP
THE CONTRACT,
774
00:39:31,579 --> 00:39:34,680
AND HE WALKS AWAY
FROM A STEADY REVENUE STREAM.
775
00:39:34,783 --> 00:39:40,319
Narrator:
TESLA IS MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT HIS VISION THAN MONEY.
776
00:39:40,422 --> 00:39:44,123
BUT THAT DECISION
COULD COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.
777
00:39:44,225 --> 00:39:45,525
Ivester:
TESLA WAS AN INVENTOR
778
00:39:45,627 --> 00:39:49,595
THAT REALLY WANTED TO TRANSFORM
SOCIETY FUNDAMENTALLY.
779
00:39:49,697 --> 00:39:51,764
AND HIS INTERESTS
WERE REALLY DRIVEN BY
780
00:39:51,866 --> 00:39:53,800
INTELLECTUAL
AND SCIENTIFIC VISION.
781
00:39:53,902 --> 00:39:58,838
Narrator:
WITH TESLA'S CONTRACT TORN UP,
782
00:39:58,940 --> 00:40:01,507
WESTINGHOUSE CAN NOW ENTER
THE BIDDING PROCESS
783
00:40:01,609 --> 00:40:04,777
FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR.
784
00:40:04,879 --> 00:40:09,882
Houghton:
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION
IN CHICAGO OF 1893
785
00:40:09,984 --> 00:40:12,418
WAS THE WORLD'S
LARGEST EXPOSITION
786
00:40:12,520 --> 00:40:13,886
THAT HAD EVER HAPPENED.
787
00:40:13,955 --> 00:40:17,056
IT'S ACTUALLY THE CLIMAX
OF THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS.
788
00:40:17,158 --> 00:40:21,461
GENTLEMEN,
THIS IS THE FINAL BID BETWEEN
789
00:40:21,563 --> 00:40:23,996
GENERAL ELECTRIC
AND WESTINGHOUSE
790
00:40:24,098 --> 00:40:26,265
TO PROVIDE ALL MANNERS
OF ELECTRICITY
791
00:40:26,367 --> 00:40:28,968
TO THE
WORLD COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
792
00:40:29,070 --> 00:40:31,537
Men: HEAR, HEAR.
793
00:40:31,639 --> 00:40:34,740
IT WOULD ALSO BE THE SHOWCASE
FOR ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES
794
00:40:34,843 --> 00:40:36,909
THAT ARE GOING TO BE RUN
THROUGH ELECTRICITY.
795
00:40:37,011 --> 00:40:38,845
Narrator:
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
796
00:40:38,947 --> 00:40:41,581
TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD
THAT YOU CAN BUILD
797
00:40:41,683 --> 00:40:45,985
A COMPLETE SYSTEM
FOR A LARGE TOWN OR SMALL CITY.
798
00:40:46,087 --> 00:40:49,288
GENERAL ELECTRIC'S BID
TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY
799
00:40:49,390 --> 00:40:57,029
IN THE FORM OF DIRECT CURRENT --
$577,485.
800
00:40:57,131 --> 00:40:59,932
[ APPLAUSE ]
801
00:41:00,034 --> 00:41:03,135
WESTINGHOUSE'S BID
802
00:41:03,238 --> 00:41:10,276
FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT
ELECTRICITY IS $399,000.
803
00:41:10,378 --> 00:41:12,245
WESTINGHOUSE WINS THE CONTRACT.
804
00:41:12,347 --> 00:41:14,847
[ APPLAUSE ]
805
00:41:14,949 --> 00:41:19,819
Narrator:
IT IS A RESOUNDING VICTORY
FOR WESTINGHOUSE AND TESLA.
806
00:41:19,921 --> 00:41:22,088
IT'S ALSO A GAMBLE.
807
00:41:22,190 --> 00:41:25,892
HIS REAL COSTS COULD BE
MUCH HIGHER THAN HIS BID.
808
00:41:25,994 --> 00:41:27,326
BUT IF HE PREVAILS,
809
00:41:27,428 --> 00:41:31,330
WESTINGHOUSE KNOWS
IT WILL BE WORTH THE PUBLICITY.
810
00:41:33,768 --> 00:41:35,768
FOR NIKOLA TESLA,
811
00:41:35,870 --> 00:41:40,306
IT'S THE CULMINATION
OF 17 YEARS OF HARD WORK.
812
00:41:40,408 --> 00:41:44,143
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA LIKE WHAT
WE'VE DONE WITH YOUR GENERATORS.
813
00:41:44,245 --> 00:41:45,745
Carlson:
THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR
814
00:41:45,847 --> 00:41:48,114
IS A PLACE WHERE
THE WESTINGHOUSE ENGINEERS
815
00:41:48,216 --> 00:41:51,651
ARE ABLE TO FULLY REALIZE
TESLA'S VISION.
816
00:41:54,522 --> 00:41:57,557
Narrator: THE RESULT
OF TESLA'S LIFE'S WORK
817
00:41:57,659 --> 00:42:02,261
IS LAID OUT INSIDE
THE GIANT ELECTRICITY HALL.
818
00:42:02,363 --> 00:42:07,900
EACH OF TESLA'S GENERATORS
CAN LIGHT 30,000 BULBS.
819
00:42:08,002 --> 00:42:11,203
IT IS THE LARGEST SINGLE EXHIBIT
OF OPERATING MACHINERY
820
00:42:11,306 --> 00:42:13,072
EVER DISPLAYED.
821
00:42:13,174 --> 00:42:17,176
ON MAY 1, 1893,
822
00:42:17,278 --> 00:42:19,078
PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND
823
00:42:19,180 --> 00:42:23,082
THROWS THE SWITCH
THAT HERALDS A NEW AGE.
824
00:42:23,184 --> 00:42:26,619
WITH SOME
200,000 ELECTRIC LIGHTS,
825
00:42:26,721 --> 00:42:29,488
THE WORLD'S FIRST FERRIS WHEEL,
826
00:42:29,591 --> 00:42:32,525
AND A SPECTACULAR
ELECTRIC WATER FOUNTAIN,
827
00:42:32,627 --> 00:42:35,194
27 MILLION PEOPLE
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
828
00:42:35,296 --> 00:42:37,530
WITNESS THE WONDER
OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
829
00:42:37,632 --> 00:42:39,799
POWERED BY ALTERNATING CURRENT.
830
00:42:39,901 --> 00:42:42,201
SO,
IT SEEMS THAT IN ALL...
831
00:42:42,303 --> 00:42:45,538
Carlson:
THE OTHER THING THAT TESLA DOES
AT THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR
832
00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:47,807
IS A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS
833
00:42:47,909 --> 00:42:50,710
USING HIGH-VOLTAGE,
HIGH-FREQUENCY A.C.,
834
00:42:50,812 --> 00:42:53,512
WHICH HE GENERATES
FROM HIS NEWEST INVENTION,
835
00:42:53,615 --> 00:42:54,513
THE TESLA COIL.
836
00:42:54,616 --> 00:42:57,016
[ APPLAUSE ]
837
00:42:57,118 --> 00:42:58,918
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
838
00:43:01,089 --> 00:43:05,691
Ivester: HE WAS DEMONSTRATING
THE ALMOST MAGICAL-LIKE NATURE
839
00:43:05,793 --> 00:43:08,094
OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE
WITH ELECTRICITY,
840
00:43:08,196 --> 00:43:13,599
BUT THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR
WAS A TRIUMPHANT VICTORY
841
00:43:13,701 --> 00:43:16,435
BY WESTINGHOUSE
AND ALTERNATING CURRENT
842
00:43:16,537 --> 00:43:18,738
OVER EDISON AND DIRECT CURRENT.
843
00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:21,774
Narrator:
THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION
844
00:43:21,876 --> 00:43:25,611
SECURES A.C. AS
THE ELECTRICITY OF THE FUTURE.
845
00:43:25,713 --> 00:43:29,615
ALTHOUGH EDISON LOST
THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS,
846
00:43:29,717 --> 00:43:32,051
HE CONTINUES INVENTING
847
00:43:32,153 --> 00:43:35,921
AND BECOMES ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST RECOGNIZED NAMES
848
00:43:36,024 --> 00:43:39,659
AND AN AMERICAN FOLK HERO.
849
00:43:39,761 --> 00:43:43,195
TESLA
CONDUCTS GRAND EXPERIMENTS,
850
00:43:43,297 --> 00:43:46,966
INCLUDING
WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION.
851
00:43:47,068 --> 00:43:50,636
BUT HIS DREAMS AND VISIONS
WIN OUT OVER HIS BUSINESS SENSE,
852
00:43:50,738 --> 00:43:54,974
AND HE DIES PENNILESS AND ALONE
IN A NEW YORK HOTEL.
853
00:43:55,109 --> 00:43:59,745
TESLA'S REPUTATION
HAS RECENTLY SEEN A REVIVAL,
854
00:43:59,847 --> 00:44:04,517
AND HIS CONCEPT OF AN A.C.
SYSTEM ULTIMATELY PREVAILS.
855
00:44:04,619 --> 00:44:09,388
Ivester: EDISON AND TESLA
BOTH HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT
856
00:44:09,490 --> 00:44:11,857
ON OUR SOCIETY
AND THE WAY WE LIVE TODAY
857
00:44:11,959 --> 00:44:14,026
IN THE FORM OF THEIR INNOVATIONS
IN ELECTRICITY.
858
00:44:14,128 --> 00:44:18,864
Houghton: EVERYTHING WE HAVE
TODAY RUNS ON ELECTRICITY.
859
00:44:18,966 --> 00:44:22,334
THERE ARE VERY FEW OF US THAT
COULD LIVE A DAY, A COUPLE HOURS
860
00:44:22,437 --> 00:44:25,171
WITHOUT SOMETHING THAT'S
PLUGGED IN OR BATTERY-POWERED.
861
00:44:25,273 --> 00:44:28,407
WHAT EDISON AND TESLA DID --
862
00:44:28,509 --> 00:44:31,410
THAT'S TRULY
REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE.