Hedy Lamarr

By Charlotte

Hedy Lamarr had a double life. The public knew her as a glamorous movie star; she was known worldwide. But in her private life she was a brilliant inventor, only her closest friends knew. Today you will learn about Hedy’s childhood, acting career, inventions, and final her World War 2 efforts. Let's dive in.

First, will we learn about her childhood. Hedy Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914. She was a daughter of a Jewish family and had a calm childhood. Hedy Lamarr has aways been very curious like Trying to impro things. Hedy’s Farther shared his love of science with her on their walks at the park in Vienna, Austria and so did Hedy. Young Hedy was crazy for motion pictures, whenever possible she’d sneak off to a movie theater when returning home, Hedy reenacted her favorite scenes, playing all the parts herself. Always dreaming, Hedy wanted to escape into the movie. By the time Hedy was a teenager, she decided to drop out of school and seek fame as an actress. She was a student of the theater director. Her first role was a bit part in 1930 “Money on the street.”

Let's head on over to Hollywood! Hedy’s first job was as a script girl at a movie station in Vienna, when the opportunity came up to be an extra in a movie. She won a minor role in a restaurant scene, this bit part, giving Hedy her first steps. Hedy Lamarr 5th film in German set her on fire! The film was called "Ecstasy". The notoriety of the film brought Hedy to HOLLYWOOD!!!!!!!! Some of Hedy's most famous films are Samson and Delilah, “Boom Town”, “Tortilla Flat”, “White Cargo”, “Ziegfeld Girl”, and “Ecstasy”, but her biggest box-office success was “Algiers”. Hedy also had a lot of jobs including acting, producer, additional crew, soundtrack, and archive footage. She is mainly known for being an incredibly famous actress. Hedy Lamarr also had some amazing nicknames from Hollywood - “Hollywood's loveliest legendary Queen of Glamour.” She was 5’7.

Next let's see what Hedy Lamarr invented The Hollywood movie star had a passion for science and engineering, “her brain overflowed with idea after idea for useful inventions.” Hedy Lamarr invented many useful inventions such as a new traffic signal, yellow light, glow in the dark dog collar, and many more. Hedy’s greatest invention is the frequency hopping spread spectrum. This is a breakthrough for scientists; it helps keep things private on our cell phones and defends computers from hackers. Hedy did not get much recognition for her amazing invention. In 1997 she and George Anthiel were honored with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and later that same year, Lamarr became the first female recipient of the BUBIE spirit of Achievement Award. Hedy Lamarr shattered stereotypes and earned a place among the 20th century’s most important women inventors.

Now let's learn what Hedy Lamarr did in World War 2. Hedy Lamarr helped a lot in World War 2, let's go see what she did. Hedy Lamarr's movies helped people escape the talk of war, if only for a few hours. Lamarr wanted to help with the war, so she worked really hard and came up with the Hopping system with Goege. Then they sent the patent application to the government they waited and waited, then more than a year later they received the patent they immediately handed it to the United States Navy unfortunately, the Navy had neither the time nor money. They refused to develop the invention, then they classified the technology secret!!! This prevents anyone including the inventors, from using it.

So, Hedy looked for another way to help her adopted country defeat the evil Nazis. She realized she could use her popularity to help win. She traveled across the country and held sale rallies. She sold 25 million dollars' worth of war bonds. Hedy also volunteered at the Hollywood canteens, a club for American servicemen soon to be sent into battle. To lift spirits, she would chat and dance with them. She was happy to have helped the soldiers and sailors.

Hedy Lamarr is a really cool lady and accomplished so many things. I loved researching her. I learned so many amazing things. She is a real role model; I admire her. I hope you enjoyed learning about Hedy Lamarr.


Bibliography:
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life by Laurie Wallmark
IMDB