The mad scientist in most monster movies, particularly the earliest serials and low budget "dreadfuls," was originally based on Tesla. Edison, who controlled many critical patents for the film industry, used his influence to get them to caricature and defame eastern European born scientists as dangerous kooks as part of his long rivalry with Tesla. Look at the serials for archetypes, particularly ones threatening wide spread destruction with "death rays." Not directly related to that argument, but note the family resemblance with Michael Rennie, of The Day The Earth Stood Still fame.
| Nikola Tesla | Michael Rennie | Harry Reid | Joseph Goebbels |
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And since Tesla was born in eastern Europe in 1856 and died in the US in 1943 (after having lived in the American southwest for several years) he could easily be the ancestor to all of these men. However, except for Rennie, that is a totally unjust calumny against Tesla, IMO.