What started out as an egg timer at a London pub became a furnishing for bachelor pads before it took its rightful place as the most recognizable icon of psychedelia. The lava lamp became popular with people on LSD not once, but twice, decades apart.
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# Lava Lamps: The Groovy Story Behind Your Favorite Mesmerizing Blob
This episode dives into the surprisingly fascinating history of the lava lamp, tracing its origins from a quirky egg timer spotted in a 1950s English pub all the way to becoming the ultimate psychedelic accessory. You'll learn how RAF pilot Edward Craven Walker took that inspiration and spent years perfecting the chemistry of floating wax and water to create the hypnotic mood lamp that conquered the world, and how a savvy 22-year-old entrepreneur named Cressida Granger rescued the brand from obscurity in the late 1980s. The hosts break down the actual physics behind those mesmerizing blobs, share hilarious stories about the lamp's unexpected connection to LSD culture, and give you practical tips for keeping your own lava lamp in groovy working order.
"Probably Avatar is the last one. — Continuing the discussion about movies with extended theatrical runs, suggesting Avatar as another example."
— Josh
Barbarella
1968
1h 38m
★ 6.0
"She renamed the company Mathmos which apparently was a tip of the hat to Barbarella. — Explaining the origin of the company name Mathmos, which references an element from the film Barbarella."
— Josh
Casino Royale
1967
PG
2h 11m
★ 5.3
"Maybe that Woody Allen spoof Casino Royale, but I couldn't find any mention of Lava Lamps in that movie either. — Speculating about which James Bond film may have featured lava lamps, suggesting the Woody Allen spoof."
— Josh
"A red model debuted in a 1978 episode of Doctor Who. — Mentioning that lava lamps appeared in Doctor Who as part of product placement in the 1970s."
The Avengers
2012
2h 23m
★ 8.0
"Appearances in The Prisoner, The Avengers, and James Bond. — Listing TV shows where lava lamps appeared as product placement alongside Doctor Who."
Titanic
1997
3h 14m
★ 7.9
"Titanic. Maybe. It was lucky. — Comparing how rarely movies get extended theater runs, using Titanic as an example of a recent film with a long run."
— Chuck
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