RE: frank and other monsters

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Vanderputten, Gary by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <gvp-at-pvaintl-dot-com>

Bill,

You are right about what was included. And thanks for the link. He also use
a Wilmhurst static machine as well. No TC, though.  I recently completed a
Frankenstein set with several ladders, gaps (one was donated by Con Ed - two
8" solid brass balls on an oak rack) , smoke, and a Tesla coil for three
important scenes (Creation, Henry's (the real Igor) demise, and the
destruction of the lab.  Lots of knife switches including a 50kv/300 amp
job. The crowd loved it!. The coil was well protected, as were the dimmer
and sound system.

Gary

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com] 
Sent:	Monday, October 08, 2001 8:07 PM
To:	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject:	Re: frank and other monsters

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

Frankly, my own cynical comment is that the motion picture production
business (including TV, etc.) isn't really known for it's slavish adherence
to worker safety rules, etc. so the death rate due to accidental
electrocution probably hasn't changed much in the last 70 years.  Part of
the reason Jeff Parisse has such a challenge in front of him is convincing
production companies that safer really is cheaper in the long run (since he
runs a safe operation...). That said..

The guy for HV effects back then was a gentleman by the name of
Strickfadden  who did the effects for Frankenstein, etc.  Rotary spark
gaps, Jacob's ladders, various spark gaps of weird and wonderful shapes,
etc. were all called into play, as well as standard electrical switchgear
of the era (i.e. open knife switches on a switchboard, etc.

Bill Wysock (http://www.ttr-dot-com/) can probably give you a lot more info on
this.
Take a look at:
http://www.ttr-dot-com/history_Strickfadden.htm
http://www.ttr-dot-com/history_Strickfadden_page2.htm

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Mildewhaus-at-aol-dot-com>
> 
> Hi guys! A kinda tesla question..
> Does anyone know what kind of "stuff" the movie makers used in those old
30's
> monster movies? Other than Jackobs ladders,there is a lot of hot sparking
going
> on.Talk about safety now,i wonder how many bit players got fried then?
>                                                  john in nyc