Mechanical Man Amazes ‘Frisco (May, 1931)
Mechanical Man Amazes ‘Frisco
A MECHANICAL man almost nine feet tall is frequently seen parading the streets of San Francisco. He talks, he walks, he sings songs, and he tells amazed pedestrians all about the local movie shows.This robot, however, is all a delusion and a snare. In truth, he is not a robot at all, but a real man all dressed up in a metal suit, who “talks” through a big loud speaker mouth.
San Francisco STILL has people who pretend to be robots for spare change.
@ Nightsky – And it also has men dressed up pretending to be somthing they’re not.
At least he has a job. More than I can say of those depression era bums standing around him.
I hope someone at least said “domo arigato” to him.
@Mike – Considering Sino-Japanese relations in the 30′s if the robot said “domo arigato” in Chinatown he probably would have got the solonoids kicked out of him.
I recently found video of this fella:
Does anyone else think that this looks like a political cartoon caricature of President Obama? I think it’s the ears.