Hedy’s Folly by Richard Rhodes comes with the unwieldy and misleading subtitle of “The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr…” Her co-inventor was avant-garde composer George Antheil. The book is evenly split between the two inventors. However, following the 1941 story by the National Inventors Council story: “HEDY LAMARR INVENTOR, Actress devises “Red Hot” apparatus…,” Rhodes also ignores Antheil in his title.
Hedy is famous for saying, “Any girl can be glamorous, all you have to do is stand still and look stupid.” Lamarr’s biography demonstrates the conflict between brains and beauty. Her first husband was an Austrian arms manufacturer. Clearly, she was privy to many top-secret discussions and smart enough to understand the details. So, when it came to her invention, history is ambivalent as to whether she was an inventor or a spy.
This tendency to not give her credit was based on her beauty and success as an actor (what is the connection?), and ignored that she preferred to stay home with her drafting table rather than go to parties. She only gets credit because of her patent, which required good lawyers funded by the money she made in movies.
The Navy screened many inventions during World War II and less than 1% were considered. Hedy’s invention was selected, but then classified and shelved. Part of the problem was that her application to torpedo guidance was beyond the Navy’s capabilities. They had more basic problems with their torpedoes. “60 percent of U.S. torpedoes were duds. Japanese ships steamed into port with unexploded torpedoes stuck in their hulls like arrows.” An unjammable guidance system was beyond their concerns.
Antheil lived in Paris during the 1920s and knew many famous people such as James Joyce. One of his early compositions called for 16 synchronized player pianos and airplane propellers.
This book is recommended for anyone interested in the 1920s, women’s or technology history. Though it jumps around and lacks a specific focus, it is full of interesting details and observations.
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.
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