Impersonator brings Thomas Edison back to life

Some people grow up to be real estate agents, publishers, writers, public speakers … or even Thomas Edison impersonators.

Frank Atwood decided to do all of the above — all the while never really growing up.

While Atwood says he’s chronologically in his 60s, he jokes that he’s “actually” in his 20s.

“If you never grow up, you never grow old,” Atwood says, quoting Thomas Edison — a man he’s considered his hero since he was 6-years-old, and whom he now makes a living impersonating.

In a way, Atwood has re-invented his favorite inventor; as a historic interpreter and actor, he recreates Edison’s persona, which he’s developed through extensive research. In his educational performances, Atwood highlights Edison’s accomplishments and reflects on lesser-known facts about his personal life.

His recent gigs have taken him around the globe, from New York City to Auckland, New Zealand. Last Thursday, Atwood made an appearance at the Goldenrod Chamber of Commerce for “Stories and Apple Pie with Thomas Edison,” an event hosted by the Goldenrod Historical Society.

Throughout his performance, Atwood engages his audience as Edison, visiting the future of today. He strolls between the tables where audience members are seated, casually addressing whomever he locks eyes with. He’s dressed in what at first appears to be a formal suit, but upon closer inspection he says is tattered with holes burned in the material from acid spills.

“I’m not a formal man,” he says, adjusting his straw hat with one hand, and twirling a cigar in other.

Glancing around the room, which used to be part of a fire station, he remarks, “It would take me ’til next Saturday to tell you about all the fires I caused in my life.”

Further adapting his performance to his surroundings, he explains Edison’s ties to Goldenrod. Goldenrod is actually a weed, he says, which he (Edison) used to create latex.

As expected, he discusses Edison’s most famous work — over 1,000 inventions including phonographs, movie cameras, incandescent lamps and electric power plants — but then delves into the lesser-known aspects of Edison’s life, including his short-lived education.

“I had enough of an education at 12-years-old,” he says. “Education in my day was a relic of the past. They taught you what to think, but not how to think.”

After only three months in school, Edison’s mother removed him from the education system and taught him herself.

“I liked the fact that he told us so much about Edison’s personal life. I had no idea that he had very little education,” said Sarah Miller, a member of the Historical Society, who worked at Atwood’s real estate company in the ’80s and arranged the event.

After his performance, the Goldenrod Historical Society awarded Atwood as an honorary trustee. He also accepted questions from the audience — both as Edison and as himself — while attendees indulged in apple pie, Edison’s favorite.

“He’s done a really good thing to bring history to people,” Miller said.

The Goldenrod Historical Society is in the planning stages of a new series that will combine storytelling and history.

In the meantime, Atwood will continue to educate and entertain audiences, wherever his journey takes him. And even though he says a lot of people don’t think he has a grown-up job, he takes pride in his work.

“I’ve got a purpose in my life and that is to inspire people, to influence people.”