Sky Projector Uses Clouds as Night Advertising Medium (Aug, 1931)
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1931
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Sky Projector Uses Clouds as Night Advertising Medium
“IT’S a dark and stormy night,” said John Doe to his wife after supper. “Let’s stay home and read the ads in the latest magazines.”
“I haven’t had a breath of air all day,” countered Mrs. Doe. “Why not put some gas in the costly motor and take a nice long drive? If we put the top down we can read the ads on the clouds, for clouds, my dear, have a silver lining at night as well as day.”
This conversation is purely imaginary, but is not so far-fetched as it seems, for advertisers may now display their persuasive arguments on the clouds by means of the new sky projector recently invented by Harry Orendell-Mathews and Helmar George.
This projector is recognized as the most powerful source of light, having a beam candlepower of four hundred million. At night it can project advertising on the clouds in color and motion at a distance of several miles.
And thus was born … the Bat-Signal!
Comment by Scott — November 4, 2008 @ 11:29 am
As soon as the “dark and stormy night” dumps its rain on John Doe’s cloth car seats, he’s gonna take it out on the missus.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — November 4, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
The Bat-signal looked so simple on the TV show.
Comment by Torgo — November 4, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
That’s been done with lasers.
Comment by David Moisan — November 5, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
“Why not put some gas in the costly motor and take a nice long drive? ”
These days, it would be phrased as ““Why not put some costly gas in the car and take a nice long drive?” Of course, the response from one’s spouse, upon hearing that the fuel was to be used to look at advertising, would be to have the person committed.
Comment by Eliyahu — November 6, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
“Let’s stay home and read the ads in the latest magazines.” Never let it be said of Mr. Doe he didn’t know how to have a good time!
Comment by B. Larsen — November 24, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
Harry Orendell-Mathews is a typo. His real name is Harry Grindell Matthews, the ‘Death Ray Man’.
And its not done with lasers this being 1931 – Its a carbon arc light.
I think you are bang on the money over the Bat Signal though. Batman appeared in 1939 and the Bat Signal was first used in 1941.
Comment by Ross Ashton — July 5, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
Can someone send me the diagram for this sky projection?
Thank you
Comment by Louis Bissiw — August 31, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
@Louis: How about if I send you a calendar? The article is from 1931!
Comment by Firebrand38 — August 31, 2009 @ 4:13 pm