This was once Edison Day. We re-visit his creepy talking doll

NPR | By Jennifer Vanasco

Published October 21, 2026 at 4:42 PM EDT

For years, the country celebrated Oct. 21 as "Edison Day," throwing parades for the famous inventor whose devices changed the world. His phonograph was the first device to play back a recorded human voice--and that invention led to his creepy talking doll, which is now considered one of his biggest failures.

Jennifer Vanasco

Jennifer Vanasco is a senior editor on the NPR Culture Desk.

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