In the late 1880s, Thomas Edison launched a public campaign against alternating current. In 1903, an elephant named Topsy was electrocuted on Coney Island, and ever since, this bizarre execution has reverberated through popular culture with the whiff of urban legend. An illustration of Topsy, a female Asian elephant killed at a Coney Island, New York park by electrocution on January 4, 1903. Topsy the elephant was electrocuted at Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island in 1903. As the 19th century turned into the 20th, one of the biggest attractions at Coney Island's "Luna Park" was its private herd of elephants… Topsy was an elephant captured in Africa as a baby and brought to America to entertain cheering circus crowds. They watch a video of the elephant’s execution, and eventually there’s a whole musical number about Topsy and Edison being in love… It doesn’t have all the correct information, but it’s still interesting and has a fun song. Gun Control – Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted? She performed at the Forepaugh Circus for 25 years, and after killing a spectator in 1902, she wound up at Coney Island. A book about Topsy and … Topsy the elephant, born in 1875, was a female Asian elephant who had been brought to the United States. In recent years Topsy has reappeared in pop culture, namely the television show Bob’s Burgers and the 2009 video game Assassin’s Creed II. It is arguably the most famous animal execution ever—the killing of Topsy the elephant at Luna Park on Coney Island in January 1903. 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Videos 4 References 5 External links When Wagstaff School has their fourth-grade science fair coming up, Louise wants to turn in her baking soda and vinegar volcano again from last year. You clicked the video because you wanted to see it! The circus, the competition between circus owners to acquire elephants, the general acquiring of elephants, and the story of Topsy make up the full book. All rights reserved. Topsy: From a Wild Elephant to Circus. Luna Park’s founders parlayed Topsy’s notoriety in the press for months as free publicity and treated her death as a publicity stunt. Topsy the Elephant. Topsy was a domesticated elephant with the Forepaugh Circus at Coney Island's Luna Park. The execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. The librarian whispers “Topsy” to Louise, causing the kids to look up Topsy. She was captured by elephant traders while still a baby and smuggled into the United States by 1877 . ", ProCon.org. The film “Electrocuting an Elephant” shows Topsy the elephant being electrocuted to death in well under 30 seconds by AC. Her new owner Adam Forepaugh (1831-1890) claimed that she was born in captivity and advertised her as the first American-born baby elephant. It was filmed and released under the title of 'Electrocuting an She had a reputation for being difficult, but you know — she was an elephant. Topsy the elephant was electrocuted at Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island in 1903. A book about Topsy and … Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison, 2013, JoAnn Bren Guernsey, Death Penalty: Fair Solution or Moral Failure?, 2009, Tony Long, “Jan. Thomas Edison electrified an elephant named Topsy - YouTube And an incident Topsy had with the Coney Island police, which was brought on by a ruthless trainer, made the elephant a big problem for her owners. Topsy was about 35 years old at the time of her death, which is about half the expected life span for an elephant with a decent life in the wild. School Uniforms – Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? The footage was filmed by the Edison Moving Picture Company and distributed as a 24 second film. The Forepaugh Circus also featured an elephant band number, an elephant pyramid, and the elephant "dancing quadrille" in which Topsy and the others did a square dance. On Aug. 6, 1890, New York State performed the first execution by electrocution with the assistance of Thomas Edison’s engineers. The event was originally witnessed by an estimated 1,500 people.On July 20, 2003, a memorial for Topsy was erected at the Coney Island Museum.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231523CHANGE BEFORE GOING PRODUCTIONS:http://www.cbgp.comhttp://www.facebook.com/changebeforegoingproductionshttp://www.twitter.com/cbgproductionshttp://www.gplus.to/changebeforegoinghttp://www.pinterest.com/cbgproductionsMore classic silent films added daily to the channel. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. Edison’s cameraman filmed the entire scene, and the motion picture, titled Electrocuting an Elephant, was released later in 1903. On January 4, 1903 Topsy the elephant was executed through a combination of strangulation, poison, and a liberal application of the new technology of electric current. Medical Marijuana – Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option? Thomas Edison: Exposed Topsy the Elephant By: Kasey Bolling Rivalry: AC vs DC Topsy's Execution: Topsy: Possible Myth: Edison, however, was not finished. Anonymous Coward User ID: 1556313 United States 09/19/2011 05:20 AM Report Abusive Post ... Topsy the circus elephant electrocuted by Thomas Edison (video) I clicked on it because i thought it was one of those funny fake video. In recent years Topsy has reappeared in pop culture, namely the television show Bob’s Burgers and the 2009 video game Assassin’s Creed II. Barnum, and the American wizard, Thomas Edison Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. So they decided to capitalize on the situation by staging and publicizing a live electrocution of an elephant … Electrocuting an Elephant (also known as Electrocution of an Elephant) is a 1903 American, short, black-and-white, silent documentary film of the killing of the elephant Topsy by electrocution at a Coney Island amusement park. A crowd of 1,500 had gathered to see Topsy, billed as “the man-killing elephant,” executed with 6,000 volts of electricity. Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries. The precautions were unnecessary, as Topsy was killed instantly. Topsy the Elephant. Topsy (circa 1875-January 4, 1903), was a circus elephant killed by electrocution on January 4, 1903. The video above about Topsy the Elephant is the first episode in ProCon.org’s Critical Thinking Video Series. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Topsy belonged to the Forepaugh Circus and spent the last years of her life at Coney Island's Luna Park. The tragic story of Topsy began sometimes around 1875. Thomas A. Edison is remembered as the inventor of the first practical electric light bulb and the motion picture camera. While there, Topsy was involved in several incidents and again deemed unmanageable. Possibly, Edison did not participate in the video. Brooklyn, New York. Died 1903. "Topsy" is the sixteenth episode in Season 3, being the thirty-eighth episode overall. Topsy was about 35 years old at the time of her death, which is about half the expected life span for an elephant with a decent life in the wild. Topsy was a female Asian elephant who was born around 1875 and secretly imported into the United States. of the phrase "would have" to describe how Topsy "would have" been born and captured. Topsy the Elephant belonged to the Forepaugh Circus and spent the last years of her life at Coney Island's Luna Park. ], ProCon.org. Death Penalty – Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed? Topsy, the elephant died by electrocution in January 1903. "Critical Thinking Video Series: Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903." I just released another FRINGE video. Welcome to our FRINGE INTERMISSION. The librarian whispers “Topsy” to Louise, causing the kids to look up Topsy. She was deemed a threat to people by her owners and they discussed several means of execution. . Edison dispatched three of his top electricians to serve as Topsy’s executioners. But Topsy was expensive to maintain. Topsy was originally a wild elephant, born in Southeast Asia c. 1875. The video above about Topsy the Elephant is the first episode in ProCon.org’s Critical Thinking Video Series. Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and the Sad Case of ‘Topsy’ the Circus Elephant. On Jan. 4, 1903, as a precaution in case the electrocution was ineffective, Topsy was fed cyanide-laced carrots before over 6,000 volts shot through her body in front of a crowd of 1,500 spectators. Her new owner Adam Forepaugh (1831-1890) claimed that she was born in captivity and advertised her as the first American-born baby elephant. Directed by Edwin S. Porter. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. . It received national coverage in the newspapers, and the Edison Manufacturing Co. sent a film crew to document it. The animal seems to be notable mostly by virtue of having been whacked by Edison. Topsy was a female Asian elephant who was born around 1875 and secretly imported into the United States. ... Topsy : the startling story of the crooked tailed elephant, P.T. A lithograph depicting the trains used to transport "The Great Forepaugh Show" in 1877. gained a reputation as a “bad” elephant and, after killing a spectator in 1902, was sold to Coney Island’s Sea Lion Park. The precautions were unnecessary, as Topsy was killed nearly instantly. gained a reputation as a “bad” elephant and, after killing a spectator in 1902, was sold to Coney Island’s Sea Lion Park. Edison’s involvement in the electrocution of Topsy has been disputed, mainly because DC power had essentially lost the “War of Currents” to AC by the time Topsy was killed. So they decided to capitalize on the situation by staging and publicizing a live electrocution of an elephant … Deemed a “problem” elephant because she killed a man who fed her a lit cigarette, she was sentenced to die. As the 19th century turned into the 20th, one of the biggest attractions at Coney Island's "Luna Park" was its private herd of elephants, which roamed freely. The fire was called “Topsy’s Revenge.” The Coney Island Museum honored Topsy with her own memorial sculpture on July 20, 2003. The electricity used to kill the elephant—alternating current, of course—would be supplied by Coney Island’s own generator that provided power and light to the amusements.”. Critical Thinking Video Series: Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903. This was one of many short "actuality" films shot by the Edison Manufacturing Company from 1897 onwards at Cone… Topsy. States with the Death Penalty, Death Penalty Bans, and Death Penalty Moratoriums, International and American Methods of Execution, States That Authorize the Death Penalty for Crimes Other than Murder, Major Death Penalty Cases in the US Supreme Court, Critical Thinking Video Series: Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903. Who is the author? . ProCon.org. After this her reputation worsened, partly because of her alcoholic handler and the decision of her owners Frederick Thompson and Elmer Dundy to exploit her for PR purposes. The elephant traders in Southeast Asia seized the baby elephant weighing 200 pounds. . Professor Brown illegally purchased a Westinghouse generator and with two surges of electricity, one of them lasting more than one minute, electrocuted murderer William Kemmler to death. Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked-Tailed Elephant, P. T. Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison - Kindle edition by Daly, Michael. However, many people don’t remember that Edison electrocuted cats, dogs, horses, and an orangutan with alternating current (AC) electricity as part of a campaign to bolster support for his allegedly safer direct current (DC) method of electricity distribution. The Luna Park Zoo at Coney Island decided that Topsy the Elephant was a danger to visitors after the 10-foot-high Indian elephant killed three trainers in three years. Edison used the film in his campaign against George Westinghouse and AC technology.Initially, Topsy was supposed to be hanged, but other ways were considered when the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals protested. A baby elephant, brought to New York’s Coney Island amusement park in 1902, under the guise of wholesome family-friendly entertainment, would become a tragic and shameful symbol of man’s unfathomable cruelty towards animals. An illustration of a 3.5" floppy disk. . . Mandatory National Service – Should the United States Have Mandatory National Service? Did Edison really electrocute Topsy the Elephant? Electrocuting an Elephant (Edison, 1903) - video Dailymotion Retrieved from https://deathpenalty.procon.org/critical-thinking-video-series-thomas-edison-electrocutes-topsy-the-elephant-jan-4-1903/, ProCon.org, "Critical Thinking Video Series: Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903,", ProCon.org, "Critical Thinking Video Series: Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903. These are the sort of "Elephant Tricks" that Topsy and her kind were trained to perform. Sources Because she had killed three men in as many years (including a … The making of most of it was without any instructions. “I remember Tom [Edison] telling them that direct current was like a river flowing peacefully to the sea, while alternating current was like a torrent rushing violently over a precipice,” Westinghouse recalled. They watch a video of the elephant’s execution, and eventually there’s a whole musical number about Topsy and Edison being in love… It doesn’t have all the correct information, but it’s still interesting and has a fun song. It may have been the first time a death was ever captured in a motion picture film. The story of Thomas Edison electrocuting Topsy the Elephant is featured in the first episode of ProCon.org’s “Critical Thinking Video Series.” The series highlights little known facts in the 42 controversial topics covered by ProCon.org. ], [Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. 1904– To show the effects of how dangerous Nikolai Tesla’s Alternating current was, Thomas Alva Edison filmed the electrocution of the elephant, Topsy.This was falsely advertised as the first Elephant to … But it really happened, and many historical forces conspired to bring Topsy, Thomas Edison, and … As the story goes, Edison found his target in Topsy, a murderous circus elephant that was slated for death. A terrifying film made the event infamous, leading to confusion over whether this was part of the epic battle between Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla known as the "War of the Currents" . Topsy the Elephant. Last modified on December 10, 2016. 4, 1903: Edison Fries an Elephant to Prove His Point,” wired.com, Jan. 4, 2008, Tom McNichol, AC/DC: The Savage Tale of the First Standards War, 2006, “New York Honours Electrocuted Elephant,” BBC website, July 21, 2003, Roadside America, “Topsy, Electrocuted by Edison,” Roadside America website (accessed July 14, 2010), © 2020 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. In a highly publicized dramatic event, Edison organized and helped supervise the filming and electrocution by AC current of Topsy, a Coney Island circus elephant which had recently killed three men. His “War of Currents” rivalry with George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla, both AC proponents, ultimately led to the electrocution of a six-ton zoo elephant named Topsy on Jan. 4, 1903. On January 4, 1903, Thomas Edison’s company filmed the execution of Topsy the Elephant, the largest purported casualty in the “War of the Currents”! After killing a spectator in 1902, she was sold to Coney Island. Topsy the elephant, born in 1875, was a female Asian elephant who had been brought to the United States.
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