Actress to Inventor: Hedy Lamarr
Ask the average person today about something they need every day: some answers would surely be Wifi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The reason we can have these necessities in our lives is because of the genius Austrian-American inventor and actress Hedy Lamarr.
Portrait by László Willinger for M-G-M’s adventure film, Boom Town (1940).
Written by Julia Cao
Hedy Lamarr, also known as Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, was born in Austria on November 9th, 1914 in a small Jewish family. Starting from the early age of five, Lamarr began her interest in invention. She would take apart and reassemble a music box, curious to understand how it worked. This would be the start of it all.
Despite her smarts, her looks would come first, especially when director Max Reinhardt recruited her. Her first role in a film would be in 1930, called Geld auf der Straβe (Money on the Street). It was only a small role, however; Lamarr started gaining more attraction in 1932 because of the film Ecstasy. Later, Fritz Mandl appreciated her acting and married Hedy Lamarr in 1933. Unfortunately, the marriage would not last, as Lamarr said that he was extremely controlling of her. It was said he tried to buy and get rid of every single copy of her controversial film, Ecstasy. Soon, she would leave for London to escape anti-semitism and her past marriages. As a turn of fate, Hedy Lamarr would meet a man named Louis B. Mayer, who was the head of M.G.M (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). This was her first introduction to Hollywood. She would go on to gain popularity and fame while making important connections with important characters. What no one would expect would be the start of her even more successful career as an inventor.
Hedy Lamarr signing autographs, 1940s
At the start of World War II, Lamarr wanted to create a device that could stop the opposing ships from cramming guiding signals. Lamarr and George Anthiel, another smart force, were able to find how to make the radio transmitter and the torpedo receiver continuously jump from one frequency to another. The enemies would not be able to find and successfully block a message since it would have already gone to the next frequency, a technique called frequency hopping. Frequency hopping is used frequently in the current day in wireless communication technology, helping create our essential Wifi, GPS, and Bluetooth. Lamarr would contribute to World War II through her charisma; she sold over $25 million in war bonds by swiftly traveling through 16 cities in a little over a week. She would also send letters and sign autographs for soldiers, boosting their morale.
A publicity still for Hedy Lamarr in The Heavenly Body (1944).
As Hedy Lamarr starred in more and more films, her fame grew but innovative genius was overlooked by the masses. Her patent for frequency hopping would expire before it could be used everywhere. She would not receive any recognition for her achievements until 1997, when she was given the Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Lamarr never received any money for her invention, but frequency hopping was estimated to be worth over $30 billion. Also deemed the ‘Mother of Wifi’, Hedy Lamarr passed away on January 19, 2000. Her legacy will never be forgotten, as her films and inventions are still relevant to this day.
Wikipedia / Public Domain / en.wikipedia.org / MGM
Sources
2018, Colleen Cheslak |. “Biography: Hedy Lamarr.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/hedy-lamarr. Accessed 06 Jan. 2024.
Magazine, Smithsonian. “Thank This World War II-Era Film Star for Your Wi-Fi.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 4 Apr. 2019, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/thank-world-war-ii-era-film-star-your-wi-fi-180971584/. Accessed 06 Jan. 2024.
Jacob, Aron. “Hedy Lamarr.” New Scientist, www.newscientist.com/people/hedy-lamarr/. Accessed 06 Jan. 2024.
“Biography.” Hedy Lamarr, www.hedylamarr.com/about/biography/. Accessed 07 Jan. 2024.
User. “Hedy Lamarr’s Forgotten, Frustrated Career as a Wartime Inventor.” Hedy Lamarr, 26 July 2022, www.hedylamarr.com/hedy-lamarrs-forgotten-frustrated-career-as-a-wartime-inventor/. Accessed 07 Jan. 2024.
