One hundred and thirty five years ago today, on January 27, 1880, America’s world famous inventor, Thomas Alva Edison, received the patent for his long-lasting, indoor electric light bulb.

Just weeks earlier, on New Year’s Eve 1879, Edison had unveiled his incandescent lamp to great acclaim at a media event he staged at his Menlo Park research laboratory in New Jersey.

Edison would eventually receive more than 1,000 U.S. patents for his inventions, including one for an early motion picture device and the phonograph, which recorded and reproduced sounds like the human voice.

The Takeaway speaks with Michelle Ferrari, the writer, director and co-producer of the new PBS American Experience documentary, “Edison,” produced by our partner WGBH, and Nancy Koehn, a historian at the Harvard Business School and a contributor to the film.

Ferrari and Koehn explain the reasons for Edison’s enduring fame, including his early success at self promotion and personal branding, and discuss the darker side of Edison's fiercely competitive nature.

"Edison" premieres on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE PBS, Jan. 27, at 9PM ET.