Mike "Madman" Marcum

                               


The Time Traveler


 Mike Marcum


      In 1995 Mike Marcum set out to build a Jacobs Ladder. He was using a modified CD laser to lower the resistance of the air in between the two poles. This would create a continuous arc, in his other experiments the arc, before using the CD, would stick.


  He noticed a strange effect when he turned it on. There was a heat signature, like the kind you would see off of a hot pavement, except this one was circular like a vortex. He decided to toss a sheet metal screw through the vortex to see what would happen.

 He claims it disappeared for about half a second.
 Just enough to notice it was gone.

After a few more tests the CD laser caught on fire. He figured if he was going to rebuild the machine again, he might as well use larger transformers. His original plan was to purchase the transformers, but they are quiet expensive. He resorted to the alternative. At the local power station there were 6 old transformers calling his name. And he answered.
His intention was to appropriate 3 transformers but he got carried away and took all 6.


Back at his 'laboratory':

Mike sets up the transformers to the outlets in his house. The cable wasn't strong enough to handle the high current and he knew it would draw suspicion if he were to call the power company to reinforce it. He was prepared to attempt to climb the pole on his own. Did he?
When Mike hooked up the new and improved Jacobs Ladder/Time Machine he drew more power then he expected and browned out half the town. There were reports of home appliances being destroyed because of it. Mike resorted to working at night when he would be less noticed.


The Police step in:

The local police department had a search warrant and entered Mikes house through unlocked doors where they found Mike asleep.
Among the things they found were:
an electric cigarette lighter made out of a microwave oven, an electric piggy bank, and 6 stolen transformers worth approximately $13,000.  Assuming he would face a large amount of jail time, Mike decides to claim he was building a time machine hoping he would wind up in the "loony bin."  He received 60 days in jail.  The account was described in the Kansas City Star and this news story is what led to Mike's interview on Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell.  Great interview.

How did the police know?

Mike's roommate broke a neighbor's sliding glass door with a bb gun.  When the police arrived, Mike blamed his roommate.  And out of vengeance his roommate squealed on Mike about the stolen transformers.

During the first Art Bell Interview:

Mike's arresting officer, Tom Hampton, called the show which seemed to surprise both Art Bell and Michael.  Some people claim the arresting officer set up the interview but that's all hearsay.  Mike tells Art that he is planning another experiment but he doesn't have the parts or money.  At the end of the show, Mike gives out his phone number and receives (as later mentioned) non-stop calls for three days.  The interview was very helpful for Mike because many listeners helped him with ideas, funding, and parts.

The Last Interview on Coast to Coast:

After the help from the listeners, Mike's next time machine project is much larger and more powerful than the original.  While the original machine worked on the level of kilowatts, this machine was designed for 3 million watts.  Also, instead of using a cd laser, Mike uses rotating magnetic fields just like they used in the Philadelphia Experiment.  His reasoning is that rotating magnetic fields are more efficient.  Art requests that Mike notify him before his jump through the vortex so that he could either document the first conclusive proof of time travel or the spectacular exit of a daring Mad Man.  At the end of the show, Mike decides to give out his address instead of his phone number.  Anyone interested can see his home on Google Earth.

The Mysterious Disappearing Couch:

During the last interview, one of Art's listeners,  who had helped Mike after the first show, asked Mike about the couch incident.  Mike wasn't sure if he had told the story on air, which he did not, so he related the story to Art.  One night when he was partying, one of his friends jumped up on the couch and asked for a beer.  When Mike retrieved the beer he noticed his couch was missing.  He said, "Hey Guys, where's my couch?"  He thought they were playing a joke on him but he looked everywhere for it including outside.  "A couch is a hard thing to hide," claims Mike.  The only other way out of the house was the back door which was blocked by his very large transformers.

What happened to the couch?









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