The Golden Jubilee of the electric light bulb is held to celebrate Thomas Alva Edison’s invention. The most famous industrial families are present, including the Rockefellers, Morgenthauses, Rosenwalds, Kahns, Orville Wrights, George Eastmans, and Henry Ford. Then comes President Hoover. Then comes Guglielmo Marconi’s telegram of congratulations, which is read in public. After Thomas Alva Edison’s speech, Albert Einstein takes the stage with his praise, in German, concluding with a few halting words in English: “Good night, my American friend.” This is Thomas Alva Edison’s first public speech in 50 years. He was terrified of public speaking due to his near-total deafness (total in his left ear and almost total in his right), which made him doubt whether he was maintaining the correct tone and volume of his voice. The following week, on October 29th, the famous Wall Street crash occurs, and many of the plutocrats sitting in the front rows will see much of their fortunes evaporate.
