News Notes

Recent Obits

TCBA has been informed of the passing of Nicholas Kosanovich, the driving force in the formation and operation of the Tesla Memorial Society. The TMS is actively searching for a successor as a means for continuing the objectives of the organization.

It is also with regret that I report the passing of TCBA member George F. Kempher. Mr. Kempher was one of the old timers who were active in the electrical and radio fields during Tesla's time. His letters to TCBA were especially interesting when he reminisced about the early years of experimentation.

Col. Phillip J. Corso (U.S. Army, ret.) died of a heart attack on July 16, 1998. He was 83. In 1961, Corso was given command of one of the Pentagon's highly classified weapons development budgets and was made privy to the U.S. Government's greatest secret: the dismantling and appropriation of the Roswell extraterrestrial spacecraft by the Army. In 1997, Corso published a controversial book THE DAY AFTER ROSWELL. Unpublished manuscripts and other UFO-related information left by Col. Corso will be protected and made available in due course to researchers and the public, Phillip Jr. said. “This is what my father lived for,” he added.

The Tesla ‘Lost’ Papers

When Nikola Tesla died in 1943, the U.S. Government sent scientists and FBI agents to review his papers. It was publicly stated that there was nothing of merit regarding information of value to science or the military. We now know that this was not the case. The truth of the matter is that the government seized some 50 boxes of Tesla's papers and still has them as classified material. When I read Chapter 16 of Phillip Corso's THE DAY AFTER ROSWELL, I intended to write to him to inquire about the “lost” papers. He must have had them at his disposal or otherwise Chapter 16 wouldn't have been in the book. There are efforts being made to retrieve the Tesla papers before they are destroyed. Many valuable historical records have been shredded due to inept handling by government agencies.

‘Pinnochio's Violin’

The title above refers to a 28.5 minute video which features and introduction to the Theremin and includes rare footage of the Art Baker Show “You Asked For It.” Also shown are interviews with Theremin performers Paula Mary and Dr. S. Hoffman, etc. The video is available for $24.95 (shipping included in the price) from Plutonium Films, 8055 Lankershim #2, N. Hollywood, CA 91605. (tip from Betty Stoutenberg)

‘The Devil Commands’

This 1941 film stars Boris Karloff as a scientist who believes that brain waves continue to function even after death. He employs high voltage machines to record brain waves from his dead victims (who were very much alive before the spitzen und sparken began). The laboratory scenes are a delight to watch. The film is available on video from Teakwood Video, 7954 Transit Road, Suite 206, Williamsville, NY 14221. All features are $15 each or two for $25 (add $2 per order).

‘The Boogie Man Will Get You’

Also available from Teakwood is this spoof on an old mad scientist theme. It stars Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre (two villains of the highest order). Karloff plays a bumbling professor whose high voltage machines are used to transform men into supermen. Trouble is, the experiments backfire and appear to electrocute the participants. The professor stores the bodies in a cool cellar room in order to keep them in pristine (dead) condition. The good news is that the victims are not dead but in a state of suspended animation. This cute tongue-in-cheek horror/comedy includes some nice spitzen und sparken scenes. Price and shipping costs as stated above.

Tesla Statue Presentation

A statue of Nikola Tesla has been presented to the Serb National Federal Heritage Museum in Midland, PA. The statue will be placed in the new Tesla room of the museum. A plan is in the works to present a copy of the statue to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Guest speaker during the presentation was Mr. Gordon Reynolds Clark. (tip from Leland Anderson).