What nickname did newspapers give Thomas Edison after his 1877 phonograph success?

Newspapers called Thomas Edison the “Wizard of Menlo Park” after his phonograph success.

The nickname referred to Edison’s New Jersey laboratory, where his research team developed the phonograph and other inventions. The machine’s ability to record and reproduce sound seemed almost magical to contemporary audiences, making “wizard” a memorable description of Edison’s creative reputation.

The phrase became closely associated with Edison during the late nineteenth century. It also helped turn the laboratory itself into a symbol of organized invention, rather than portraying inventions as isolated flashes of individual genius.

Edison later moved his main operations to West Orange, but “Wizard of Menlo Park” remained the famous nickname. “Wizard of West Orange” is therefore a plausible-sounding but incorrect variation.