American Experience (1988)

Episode Overview

Edison’s lasting fame isn’t just about lightbulbs and phonographs—it’s the result of a strange, potent mix of personality, timing, and myth. This episode digs into that alchemy, re-examining the man behind the legend and the world that shaped him. It reveals how invention really worked in the late 1800s, and how Edison’s brand of genius helped propel a restless America headlong into the modern age.