Electricity at Coney Island
"In spite of its instrumental purposes, industrial organization, and rational design, even artificial lighting can produce an ecstatic feeling of liberation from restraints"- Schivelbusch (Register 133)
The Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 inspired the use of electricity to illuminate the parks and power the rides at Coney Island. However, the entrepreneurs of Coney Island surpassed the White City in creating an environment conducive to whimsical amusement (Mergen Online). Electrical engineers worked vehemently to keep up with modern advancements in order to portray an inviting yet peculiar fantasy escape. An excerpt from an article in the New York Times describes their success: “Yawning on the dingy old pleasure thoroughfare was a monster arch, covering half a city block. The interior of this arch was a solid mass of electric lights and raising many feet into the air were four monster monoliths, traced in electric lights and surmounted by great balls of fire (New York Times Online). This description of Coney Island, daunting as it may seem, revealed the drama beyond the gates of the “Electric City.”
Electricity not only prolonged entertainment for a full twenty-four hours, but also provided entertainment for a full twenty-four hours. Electricity was the force behind the rides at Coney Island. It was also the force behind one of the most famous expositions at Coney Island—the electrocution of Topsy the Elephant.
Topsy was a three-ton female elephant that gave rides to customers and performed in circus-like attractions. She was also a bad-tempered elephant that killed two of her previous handlers. Then, one night in Coney Island, she killed another handler, J.F. Blount. Supposedly he was drunk and tried to feed her a lighted cigarette (New York Times Online). The owners of Luna Park decided that Topsy had to be put to sleep. Frederick Thompson advertised the event as another sideshow attraction, and fed the elephant cyanide-laced carrots. Unfortunately, they had no effect.
Mr. Thompson decided that electrocuting Topsy would be a better idea. He enlisted the help of Thomas Edison, who saw this as an opportunity to show everyone just how deadly the effects of alternating current could be.
WARNING: Video contains disturbing images of animal cruelty
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