jAdis

A Cabinet of Pre-Digital Wonders

The storefront window telegraphs what waits inside. Giant gears spin behind glass. A metallic replica of the robot from Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis stands guard. Model boats with motorized flapping wings hang overhead. Walk through the door and you enter a space that manages to be both museum and functioning prop house.

Shelves climb from floor to ceiling. Every surface holds something: anatomical models, antique microscopes, brass telescopes, electrical generators, measuring devices with dials and gauges. The aisles are narrow. Objects compete for attention. A working Van De Graaff generator sits near preserved specimens in glass jars. Tesla coils tower in corners. Optometry equipment from the early 1900s fills display cases.

This collection represents more than 40 years of gathering. Parke Meek, an accomplished furniture designer who worked with architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, opened Jadis in 1976 with partner Susan Lieberman. His fascination with pre-computer technology shaped every acquisition. Many items he built himself, inspired by films like Young Frankenstein. Others came from antique shops, estate sales, and scrap yards across the country.

Working Props, Real History

Hollywood discovered Jadis in the 1990s. Prop masters hunting for authentic mad scientist equipment found everything they needed here. The collection has outfitted laboratories in Batman and Robin, X-Files, and Waterworld. The dream-stealing headpiece from City of Lost Children rests in a glass case. Knife switches, electromagnetic machines, early electrical equipment, and bizarre medical devices have all made their way from these shelves to film sets.

The props work. Some items you can touch and operate. Staff members (including longtime friend Mel Bloch, who often greets visitors with stories about Meek) explain the history behind pieces. The Nikola Tesla generator in the window functions but remains unpowered. Bloch notes it would violate regulations to fire it up, though it remains in working condition.

What to Expect

Plan to spend 30 to 60 minutes browsing. The space is small but incredibly dense. Every glance reveals something new. You might spot anatomical skeletons, vintage cameras, aviation models, planetary diagrams, or early recording equipment. Many items carry handwritten labels explaining their origin or function.

The door sometimes appears locked even during posted hours. Knock and someone will let you in. The $1 admission fee has remained unchanged for years. Staff members welcome questions and often share stories about specific pieces or the films they’ve appeared in.

Photography is allowed. The visual density makes compelling images. Lighting can be dim in corners, so patience helps when composing shots. The most photographed piece is likely the Metropolis robot, though the Tesla generator and various coils draw plenty of attention.

More Than Nostalgia

Jadis works as a reminder of what scientific inquiry looked like before digital displays. These instruments required mechanical precision, careful craftsmanship, and direct physical interaction. They represent an era when understanding technology meant seeing gears turn and watching electricity arc through air.

The collection draws film buffs, science enthusiasts, steampunk fans, and curious passersby. Some visitors come for specific items they’ve seen in movies. Others simply wander, discovering objects they didn’t know existed. The space encourages both approaches.