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Jacob's Ladder
This is perhaps the most simple high voltage device that does something other than create a simple arc. While still just an arc, a Jacob's Ladder makes the arc move up two poles as seen in Frankenstien type movies. Once it reaches a point where it can not sustain itself any longer, the spark breaks and starts anew at the bottom.
I made mine by using two copper rods. They had a loop put into them to mount the high voltage wire using some washers, a bolt, and a nut. They then go upward like a pair of antennas on an old TV and their distance is fixed with a large piece of plastic irregation pipe which has a variety of holes to adjust the distance.
Since my design doesn't lend to be perfectly parallel, certain adjustments have to be made to get a spark that moves. This involved rotating the assembly so the two rods are askew instead of parallel. This can be used to vary the distance at both the top and bottom of the rods, although making them no longer parallel. Do not try to do this in an area with any small wind currents as any wind whatsoever will destroy the sparking process.