A former film maker — his films promoted the nudist lifestyle — Walker made so much money from Traveling Light, a nude underwater “ballet” film, that he was able to bankroll another business: the manufacture of an item he took 10 years to perfect, the “Astro Lamp”, now better known as the Lava Lamp.
It hit the market in 1963 and quickly became a hit thanks to its “psychedelic” look. In fact, Walker said of its mesmerizing motions, “If you buy my lamp, you won’t need drugs.” He died August 15 in London from cancer. He was 82.