Casselberry in Seminole County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Hedy Lemarr
Photographed By Jerry Klinger
1. Hedy Lamarr Marker
In the vicinity of this marker, famed actress and inventor Hedy Lemarr, died on January 19, 2000 at her home on Wesson Drive in the Orange Grove Park neighborhood. Born Hedwig Eva Marie Kiesler on November 9, 1914, in Austria to Emil and Gertrude Kiesler, her parents raised her in the Jewish faith. She came to the U.S. in 1938 and became a naturalized citizen in 1953. She starred in over two dozen movies, including Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah." In 1942, she and George Antheil received U.S. patent number No. 2,292,387 for the "Secret Communication System." They designed the system for the Allied Powers to use against Nazi Germany during World War II by allowing "frequency jumping" of radio waves in torpedo guidance systems. It later helped to make Wi-Fi and cellular phone technology possible. The National Inventor's Hall of Fame posthumously inducted Lemarr and Anthiel in 2014.
Erected 2023 by The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation with support from the Casselberry Historical Society and the Seminole County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • War, World II
this page online
Location. 28° 38.943′ N, 81° 17.433′ W. Marker is in Casselberry, Florida, in Seminole County. Marker can be reached from Merivale Drive north of Red Bug Lake Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located adjacent to the Red Bug Lake Park playground's parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3600 Red Bug Lake Road, Casselberry FL 32707, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Brightwater (approx. 2.2 miles away); Gabriella (approx. 2½ miles away); Veterans Park (approx. 3 miles away); Fort Concord (approx. 3.1 miles away); Belgian Azalea Gardens (approx. 3.2 miles away); Casselberry (approx. 3.2 miles away); Jamestown (approx. 3.3 miles away); Concord Cemetery (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Casselberry.
More about this marker. Conceived and funded by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, erected with the support of the Casselbery Historical Society and the Seminole County Historical Society. The vertical interpretive marker is the
Photographed By Jerry Klinger
2. Hedy Lemarr Marker
Regarding Hedy Lemarr. Hedy Lemarr lived a remarkable and varied life. Her life typified the disparity and disadvantages male-centered society abrogated women to. She married at 18 to an older Austrian munitions manufacturer as "arm candy.", Lemarr moving freely within Austrian high society was introduced to Nazi Josef Goebbels and Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini. Recognizing her life and opportunities were impossibly at risk in Austria, she escaped to England, where she met Louis B. Mayer. Mayer promptly placed her under Hollywood Studio contract and tight control.
Lemarr was considered the most beautiful and best actress of Hollywood's Golden Age. She made over two dozen movies but never was able to profit from her talent and marketing. She was another female victim of the infamous Studio system.
Though she never attended University, she was gifted with extraordinary natural scientific genius. Lemarr worked closely with George Anthiel to develop radio guidance technology that made American submarine warfare significantly more effective. She later worked with Howard Hughes to redesign his racing aircraft wings to enhance flight performance and speed.
Lemarr patriotically donated her patent for “frequency jumping”
3. Hedy Lamarr
Her personal life was difficult. She was taken advantage of repeatedly. She was never able to find or sustain an enduring personal relationship, having married five times. She passed away in Casselberry, a recluse, near bankruptcy. Only posthumously was this remarkable woman and her varied accomplishments finally recognized.
Also see . . . Hedy Lamarr. National Women’s History Museum (Submitted on March 13, 2023.)
Additional commentary.
1. Lemarr or Lamarr?
The marker title is misspelled. "Lamarr" is correct.
— Submitted March 13, 2023.
Additional keywords. Jewish American Women, Hollywood, Genius inventors, technology, Holocaust refugee, Golden Age of Hollywood
Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2023, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 711 times since then and 245 times this year. Last updated on March 13, 2023, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 13, 2023, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
