Talk:Old Sparky

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Why Florida?[edit]

Many states have called their electric chair "Old Sparky". I would like to know why anyone thinks this usage is specific or primary to Florida. Wahkeenah 12:59, 2 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Probably because it's the most famous (cf. the Tiny Davis buissiness). 68.39.174.238 16:58, 18 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Trivia[edit]

Which "Old Sparky" is it that is made from the gallows it replaced? I'm assuming that's a reference to the Florida chair, simply because so much of the page is taken up by Florida references, but it should really be made clear, if anyone knows. Lilitou 21:17, 27 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I have a Guinness World Records 2002 book that says that Old Sparky "was built in 1923-24 by an inmate who was facing the death penalty, and used until 1964"; it was also "the first chair used for electrocutions in Texas." Unfortunately, I'm having trouble looking it up on the GWR website, so can you help me to look for the Texas "Old Sparky" there? Thank you. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Angeldeb82 (talk • contribs) 19:25, 23 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

expansion tag[edit]

The article lists other states with electric chairs nicknamed "Old Sparky." So why no info on them?--293.xx.xxx.xx 19:37, 30 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've added Texas, Georgia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. I'll do others if I can find adequate info. Heather (talk) 01:46, 25 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The part about South Carolina is wrong. Act No. 43 makes electrocution the default method of execution of the sentence of death. Act No. 43 clearly says that: "A person convicted of capital crime and [sentenced to death, abridged] shall suffer the penalty by electrocution, or, at the election of the convicted person... If the convicted person waives the right of election, the penalty shall be inflicted by electrocution." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.71.38.169 (talk) 18:34, 28 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Ted Bundy[edit]

I'm surprised nothing is here about Ted Bundy's exeuction. His hair caught on fire also, and they needed to electrocute him several times before he actually died. Another botched Florida execution.

Are you sure that you are not confusing Bundy with Jesse Tafero? Tafero's hair caught fire. I have never heard of any "drama" attending Bundy's execution, in fact all of the secondary sources I have read indicate that Bundy was "subdued" in attitude and gave his love to his family as his last words. Nothing at all about flames. Tafero was executed the next year (1990) and he isn't as well known as Bundy. Oglach na hEireann (talk) 03:59, 2 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Old Smokey[edit]

Why is there a sentence indicating the nickname of some electric chairs as "Old Smokey" in the Old Sparky article? I was going to add "Yellow Mama" the nickname of Alabama's chair, but figured that it was off topic. Old Smokey and Yellow Mama should be in the Electric chair article, and probably are. Not sure that they need to be here.Oglach na hEireann (talk) 04:02, 2 March 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Origin of nickname[edit]

Why is the chair named old sparky? Is there some history behind that? Nakonana (talk) 19:18, 17 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Correction to Kentucky Ole’ Sparky Article[edit]

Your article about Ole Sparky's first use in "Kentucky" is incorrect. You list James Buckner from Marion County as the first man electrocuted in Kentucky but it was actually a Black Man named Shay Penman from Lincoln County and my reference is from the Interior Journal Newspaper from Stanford, Kentucky in Lincoln County Friday, May 5, 1911 version. He was convicted of assaulting a 10 year old girl.

The man you name wasn't executed until July 1911. You can find the reference in the Library of Congress as Interior Journal Volume XXXVIII, NO. 35 Friday May 5, 1911 and he was executed the next day.

Anyway keep up the good work. I also know because I grew up in that County and it's well known there. Jslogan0244 (talk) 23:29, 11 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]