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AC-DC War of The Currents
[1880s-1890s]
| short history |  |
Thomas Edison invented direct current electricity and working light bulbs and expected to make his fortune installing power plants one-half to two miles apart; Nikola Tesla invented alternating current electricity which could be transmitted for long distances, and industrialist George Westinghouse bought Tesla's patents in 1888. Over the following decade, Edison fought ruthlessly to stop the ascendence of AC but was eventually defeated.
short history
t e x t
h e r e
'War of The Currents' entry at Wikipedia
inventor Thomas Alva Edison [1847-1931] Page
visionary inventor Nikola Tesla [1856-1943] Pages
industrialist George Westinghouse, Jr. [1846-1914] Page
Non-Fiction Works
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 | "Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse & The Race To Electrify The World" [2003] by Jill Jonnes
Random House 8x5¼ pb [10/2004] for $10.85 Random House 9&frac2x6½ hardcover [8/2003] out of print/used |
 | "AC/DC: The Savage Tale of The First Standards War" [2006] by Tom McNichol Jossey-Bass 9x6¼ hardcover [9/2006] for $18.21 Blackstone Audiobooks UNABR CD-ROM [5/2008] for $22.76 |
 | "The Power Makers: Steam, Electricity & The Men Who Invented Modern America" [2008] by Maury Klein
Bloomsbury Press 9½x6½ hardcover [5/2008] for $19.79 |
 | "Power Struggles: Scientific Authority and The Creation of Practical Electricity Before Edison" [2008] by Michael Brian Schiffer
Kindle Edition from M.I.T. Press [1/2011] for $8.31 M.I.T. Press 9x7 pb [1/2011] out of print/many used M.I.T. Press 9x7 hardcover [8/2008] for $8.75 |
 | "War of The Currents: Thomas Edison vs. Nikola Tesla" [ages 12-17; 2012] by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson Twenty-First Century Books 8¾x6 library hardcover [8/2012] for $33.27 |
 | "Topsy: The Startling Story of The Crooked-Tailed Elephant, P.T. Barnum, and The American Wizard Thomas Edison" [2013] by Michael Daly Topsy the Elephant was a victim of the 'War of The Currents', electrocuted at Coney Island, New York in 1903; Edison was desperate to prove that his direct electric current system was best, that the alternating current system of his opponents George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla was dangerous; the execution of Topsy was successful, but Edison ultimately failed. Kindle Edition from Atlantic Monthly Press [7/2013] for $9.99 Grove Press 8¼x5½ pb [6/2014] for $12.09 Atlantic Monthly Press 8¼x5½ hardcover [7/2013] for $8.00 Topsy the Circus Elephant [1875-1903] entry at Wikipedia Edison Film Mfg. Co. record of the 1903 execution [1:17] online at YouTube |
 | "The Current War: A Battle Story Between Two Electrical Titans, Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse" [2017] by Adam Cline 52-page Kindle Edition from Amazon Digital Services [10/2017] for $2.99 52-page CreateSpace 9x6 pb [10/2017] for $6.99 |
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"Tesla vs. Edison: A Captivating Guide To The War of The Currents and The Life  of Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison" [2018] from Captivating History Two sections that describe the lives of Thomas Edison [1847-1931] and of Nikola Tesla [1856-1943] Kindle Edition from Amazon Digital Services [2/2018] for $4.99 CreateSpace 10x8 hardcover [2/2018] for $14.76 |
The Electric Chair
 | "Edison and The Electric Chair: A Story of Light & Death" [1980] by Mark Essig Faced with competition against his direct current power system by the superior & cheaper alternating current system of Tesla & Westinghouse, Thomas Edison convinced the state of New York to switch capital punishment to electrocutions by 'lethal' AC (while insisting that DC was perfectly safe). Kindle Edition from Walker Books [5/2009] for $8.49 Walker & Co. 8¼x5½ pb [9/2005] for $11.70 Walker & Co. 8¾x5¾ hardcover [2004] out of print/used Sutton Publng hardcover [1980] out of print/used |
 | "Blood and Volts: Edison, Tesla & The Electric Chair" [1997] by Th. Metzger Autonomedia pb [6/97] for $12.00 |
 | "The Electric Chair: An Unnatural American History" [1999] by Craig Brandon Kindle Edition from McFarland & Co. [9/2009] for $9.99 McFarland & Co. 9x6 pb [9/2009] for $19.99 McFarland & Co. 9¼x6½ library hardcover [8/99] out of print/used |
 | "Executioner's Current: Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse & The Invention of The Electric Chair" [2002] by Richard Moran
Vintage 8x5¼ pb [11/2003] for $15.00 Knopf 9½x6½ hardcover [10/2002] out of print/used |
1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago
In many ways, the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 was the real beginning of the Twentieth Century. It was open for six months, was visited by 28 million people, and actually made a small profit. Dignitaries & celebrities noted as designing or attending or speaking include: suffragist Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton (The Red Cross), L. Frank Baum, Alexander Graham Bell, utopian author Edward Bellamy, Annie Besant, architect D.H. Burnham, Frederick Douglass, inventor Thomas A. Edison, George W.G. Ferris, retailer Marshall Field, Edward Everett Hale, Army Gen. Nelson A. Miles, actress Helena Modjeska, architect F.L. Olmsted, U.S. President Grover Cleveland, Prince Albert of Britain & Wales, wagonmaker Clement Studebaker, inventor Nikola Tesla, U.S. Vice President Adlai Stevenson I, Gen. Lew Wallace, and industrialist George Westinghouse •
entry at Wikipedia
Columbian Exposition / Chicago World's Fair 1893 archive at Living History of Illinois [est. 2012]
 | "Glimpses of the World's Fair: A Selection of Gems of The White City Seen Through A Camera" [1893] from Laird & Lee Publishers, Chicago
Kindle Edition from HardPress Publng [8/2014] for $9.95 HardPress Publng 9x6 pb [1/2012] for $21.95 Chicago Tribune Souvenir hardcover [1893] out of print/used |
 | "World's Fair Notes: A Woman Journalist Views Chicago's 1893 Columbian Exposition" [1893] by Marian Shaw nice cover - long out of print - not found on Amazon (2016) |
 | "World's Fair Album of Chicago 1893" [Rand McNally 1893]
Forgotten Books 9x6 pb [8/2016] for $9.57 Palala Press 9¼x6 hardcover [4/2016] for $22.95 Andesite Press 9¼x6 hardcover [8/2015] for $22.95 |
 | "Electricity At The Columbian Exposition: Including An Account of The Exhibits In The Electricity Building, The Power Plant In Machinery Hall, The Arc Lighting of The Grounds and Buildings, Etc." [R.R. Donnelley 1894] by John Patrick Barrett
Nabu Press 9¾x7½ pb [2/2010] for $19.99 Sagwan Press 9¼x6 hardcover [8/2015] for $29.95 available as free online etext at Internet Archive |
 | "The Magic City: A Massive Portfolio of Original Photographic Views of The Great World's Fair and Its Treasures of Art" [1894] by J.W. Buel
Arno Press 10&fracx12 hardcover [6/75] out of print/used Historical Publns 11x13¼ hardcover [1894] out of print/used |
 | "Chicago's White City of 1893" [1976] by David F. Burg Univ Press of Kentucky 9x6 pb [11/2009] for $27.00 Univ Press of Kentucky 9x6¼ hardcover [7/82] out of print/used |
 | "The Chicago World's Fair of 1893: A Photographic Record" [1980] with text by Stanley Appelbaum George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla won a contract to electrify part of the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exhibition, and the astounding result was given the name 'The White City'. Dover Publns 10¾x8¼ pb [6/80] for $10.36 |
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"The World's Columbian Exposition: The Chicago World's Fair of 1893" [1992] by Norman Bolotin & Christine Laing Univ Illinois Press 11x8½ pb [6/2002] for $17.78 Preservation Press 10¼x8¾ hardcover [10/92] out of print/used |
 | "Grand Illusions: Chicago's World's Fair of 1893" [1993] by Neil Harris, Wim De Wit, James Gilbert & Robert W. Rydell Chicago Historical Society/Sewall Co. 8¾x10½ pb [5/93] out of print/many used |
 | "Contesting Images: Photography and The World's Columbian Exposition" [1994] by Julie K. Brown The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 was a major opportunity for expansion of the new medium of photography: stereopticon and motion pictures were taken at the Fair and shown around the world, Eastman Kodak and other manufacturers displayed their latest products, and photographs from France and other countries were offered as art. Univ Arizona Press 11x8½ pb [2/94] out of print/60+ used Univ Arizona Press 11¼x9 hardcover [2/94] out of print/used |
 | "Images of America: America At The Fair - Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition [2008] by Chaim M. Rosenberg Kindle Edition from Arcadia Publng [2008 edition] for $6.49 Arcadia Publng 9x6½ pb [2/2008] for $24.99 |
 | "Spectacle In The White City: The Chicago 1893 World's Fair" [2009] Text by Stanley Appelbaum, Introduction by Peter B. Hales Calla Editions 9x12 hardcover [2/2009] for $20.50 |
 | "Historic Photos of The Chicago World's Fair" [2010] Text & Captions by Russell Lewis hardcover [5/2010] for $44.95 |
 | "World's Greatest Sleuth!: A Holmes On The Range Mystery" [#5 = 2011] by Steve Hockensmith 'Big Red' Amlingmeyer is summoned to the Chicago World's Fair to compete for the title of World's Greatest Sleuth; the Amlingmeyer brothers do not relish the long trip but are eager to again meet the elusive Diana Corvus. But they barely arrive in Westinghouse and Tesla's electrified 'White City' before the contest organizer is found dead – face down in the Mammoth Cheese from Canada. Kindle Edition from Minotaur/Macmillan [1/2011] for $7.59 St. Martin's Minotaur 9¼x6 hardcover [1/2011] out of print/used |
 | "Chicago's 1893 World's Fair (Images of America)" [2012] by Joseph M. Di Cola & David Stone Arcadia Publng 9¼x6½ pb [10/2012] for $18.62 Arcadia Library Editions 9½x6¾ hardcover [10/2012] for $26.99 |
 | "Chicago's Greatest Year, 1893: The White City and The Birth of A Modern Metropolis" [2013] by Joseph Gustaitis
Kindle Edition from Southern Illinois Univ Press [5/2013] for $16.17 Southern Illinois Univ Press 9x6 pb [5/2013] for $24.65 |
 | "World's Fair 1893 Board Game" [2016] by J. Alex Kevern card-collecting game for 2-4 players ages 10-15 Renegade Game Studios board game in 10½x8¼x2-inch box [5/2016] for $30.06 |
 | "Folly At The Fair: An Annie Oakley Mystery" [2020] by Kari Bovée 1893 Chicago World’s Fair: 'Little Sure Shot' Annie Oakley has to keep her eyes peeled after a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens to do her harm; and when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie must prove her defender is innocent. Meanwhile, an old friend asks Annie to protect her young daughter, and as more bodies turn up around the fairgrounds, Annie is going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive Kindle Edition from Bosque Publng [5/2020] for $3.99 Bosque Publng 8½x5½ pb [5/2020] for $14.99 |
movie clips of the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair
amatuer {cellphone?} capture of the amazing 1893 silent movie clips shown on the walls at the 2014 exhibition at Chicago's Field Museum
watch 9/2014 video [3:07] online at YouTube
"EXPO: Magic of The White City" [indep Sept 2005]
 | Detailed 2-hour documentary film about the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 using color postcards and contemporary photographs • Exec-produced by Michael Bussler; co-produced, directed & edited by Mark Bussler; written by Brian Connelly; narrated by Gene Wilder
Janson Media widescreen color DVD [8/2016] for $19.95 Inecom Ent. widescreen color DVD [9/2005] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch full movie [1/2016 upload; 1:55:49] online at YouTube |
"Columbian Exposition 1893: A Visit To Chicago's White City" [2013 slideshow]
a nice series of b&w still photographs (you can turn down/off the intrusive music)
watch 9/2013 video [6:15] online at YouTube
1895 Niagara Falls Power Plant
entry at Wikipedia
Fiction Works
 | "The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness At The Fair That Changed America" [2003] by Erik Larson While Chicago architect Daniel Hudson Burnham built the Columbian Exposition on swampy Jackson Park, medical doctor Henry H. Holmes lured single women to his hotel and tortured and killed scores of them. Kindle Edition from Vintage/Random House [2004 edition] for $10.99 Vintage Books 8x5¼ pb [2/2004] for $9.04 Vintage Books 8x5¼ pb [2/2003] out of print/90+ used Crown 9½x6½ hardcover [2/2003] for $17.09 publisher's official bookpage |
FEATURE FILM IN DEVELOPMENT STARRING LEONARDO DiCAPRIO /tt0959300/
 | "The Last Days of Night: A Novel" [2016] New York Times bestseller by Graham Moore 'an electrifying historical thriller about the battles between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse'; George Westinghoue hires just-graduated lawyer Paul Cravath to sue Thomas Edison over the right to electrify American homes & industry . . . Kindle Edition from Random House [8/2016] for $14.99 Random House pb [8/2016] out of print/used Random House 9½x6½ hardcover [8/2016] for $16.80 |
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING EDDIE REDMAYNE /tt5718944/
Movies & Television, Other Media
 | "Tesla vs. Edison: War of Currents" board game [2015] "A Game of Dire Enemies" • exceeded Kickstarter 2015 funding request; game for 2-5 players, ages teen to adult Artana game in 12x12x3-inch box [11/2015] for $45.21 Artana game from third-party vendor [11/2015] overpriced! publisher's official game page |
"Man, Moment, Machine: Thomas Edison & The Electric Chair"
TV docudrama [History Channel Sept 2005]
 | Edison wants to prove that Westinghouse's alternating current is much deadlier than the Edison direct current; to prove the dangers of AC, Edison builds an electric chair powered by Westinghouse's AC system and axe murderer William Kemmler is its first victim - in an extended and horrific death. Written by Sarah Kass & Josh Rosen; hosted by Hunter Ellis 50-minute A&E TV Networks color DVD [7/2008] for $13.50 episode credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia |
"Clash of The Electric Currents, 1877-1897: Thomas Edison vs. Nikola Tesla"
TV docudrama [National Geographic June 2015]
 | Hour-long episode #8 of the "American Genius" TV mini-series {series credits at IMDb} shown on the National Geographic Channel; full biography of Tesla with emphasis on the battle over the AC versus DC electricity technologies • Directed by Paul Abascal; starring Eric Rolland {as Edison}, Anthony Misiano {as Tesla}; featuring interviews with W. Bernard Carlson, Paul Israel PhD, Dr. Michio Kaku, and Tom McNichol
VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb • official movie website watch full movie [8/2015 upload; 47:52] online at YouTube |
"American Titans" TV mini-series [AHC-TV Aug-Sept 2015]
 | Six little-known stories of the men who made America what it is today: Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford, Edison, Stanford, and Hearst (sic); their ferocious drive, innovation, and often sheer recklessness took them from obscurity to the top of the list of rich and powerful men. Episode titles: "Carnegie vs. Frick" (steel & coal), "Rockefeller vs. Scott" (petroleum), "Edison vs. Tesla" (AC-DC current), "Clark vs. Daly" (Montana copper), "Vanderbilt vs. Drew" (Erie Railroad), and "Hearst vs. Pulitzer" (New York newspapers)
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • Amazon Instant Video [8/2015] series purchase $9.99 messed-up credits at IMDb • official movie website |
"Nikola Tesla: Genius Inventor [of] Electric Alternating Current - Fast Facts" [History Channel]
watch short promo [3/2016 upload; 2:50] online at YouTube
"The Current War" [The Weinstein Company Oct 2019]
 | Electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse compete to create a sustainable power system and market it to the American people • Announced 5/2012: Producer-director Timur Bekmambetov and his Bazelevs production company bought Michael Mitnick’s spec script, which was listed on the screenplay Black List; the story follows the real-life public clash between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse about the future of the new electric power industry; added 11/2016: actor Tom Holland signed on to portray Samuel Insull • Co-produced by Timur Bekmambetov, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, and others; directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon; co-produced & written by Michael Mitnick; starring Benedict Cumber-batch {as Edison}, Nicholas Hoult {as Nikola Tesla}, Michael Shannon {as Westinghouse}, Tom Holland, Katherine Waterston, Tuppence Middleton, John Schwab, Matthew Macfadyen {as J.P. Morgan}, Damien Molony, Tom Bell, Tom Sweet, Conor MacNeill, Iain McKee, Jason Matthewson, Celyn Jones, Woody Norman, Faye Ormston, Phil Hodges, Ekow Quartey, Adam Lazarus, Simon Connolly, Joseph Balderrama, Steven I. Dillard
Universal Pictures Home Ent. widecreen color Blu-ray/DVD combo [3/2020] 2 disks for $22.99 Universal Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [3/2020] for $39.30 Universal Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [3/2020] for $14.96 full credits at IMDb • watch 9/2017 official trailer [2:33] at YouTube |
Image Gallery
L i n k s
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Australian rock band "AC/DC" [est. 1973]: on Amazon.com | official website | entry at Wikipedia
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