" Ironically, while Edison was being lionized at
the Festival Light 1929, his customers were deserting the
products based his traditional values and aesthetics. 1930 was
confined wheelchair but still continued working the
rubber experiments.XIV-19
36
human life. President Hoover had asked for daily bulletins. national outpouring grief followed. was
. died
on October 1931. The
phonograph business shows that was out step with the
consuming public the 1920s. But 1931 his health was
so poor that his return was delayed until June. Some progress was being made in
producing rubber from goldenrod and was well pleased. The fact that had close
down the phonograph operation— humiliating step for the
inventor the talking machine— while being honored the
great innovator, indication the gulf that had arisen
between between the Edison image and reality.
The great inventor's last days had been followed the world's
press. When his staff
asked him what was shipped back New Jersey, one word
. normally returned West Orange from
Florida the spring, around March. Yet Edison was
still determined keep experimenting.
The newsreels taken the Festival Light show that
age and illness had begun take their toll. 37
answer indicated that the end was near: "Everything." Edison
did return the laboratory the summer 1931 and reported
for work several times.
In September Edison was confined his bed and the
family began prepare for the funeral arrangements
