Leon Theremin was famous for inventing and demonstrating the theremin, a unique electronic instrument played entirely without physical contact by moving one's hands through the air. This footage shows him gracefully manipulating electromagnetic fields to produce the instrument's signature, eerie, and oscillating sound. | History In Pictures

The theremin, created in the 1920s by Soviet inventor Léon Theremin, is a unique instrument played without physical contact. Its haunting sound made it a favorite for sci-fi film scores and experimental music, though it was initially designed for classical music. It later appeared in everything from eerie movie soundtracks to rock records. | Historyinmemes