Edison's
already considerable reputation, and his carefully orchestrated
publicity campaign, attracted international attention the
new laboratory. The many visitors West Orange were given free access
to the lab its early years.Ill- 1
CHAPTER THREE
LIFE AND WORK EDISON'S LABORATORY. They included newspapermen,
hangers-on, the curious bystanders who had heard about the
great events the lab, and gentlemen conducting their own
experiments with Edison's approval. Although many the visitors were merely
spectators, the famous people who visited the lab, whether
royalty popular entertainers, continued generate free
publicity for Edison and his work, keeping him the public
eye. Edison was celebrity and his laboratory public
place. was the new home the "Wizard Menlo
Park," and this gave aura mystery and power. The
impressive buildings and the "Wizard's" extravagant claims did
the rest.
The West Orange lab quickly became famous. Edison was careful to
cultivate good relations with the press; was very important
to generate favorable publicity this time because needed
to attract venture capitalists the laboratory finance his
experiments. These groups were carefully and lavishly entertained and
