In the Limelight | Smartest Year Ever (Jan 4, 2025)
About this episode
1/4/25 - In the Limelight
Step back to the early 19th century to discover how lime revolutionized the stage. In today’s episode, Gordy dives into the origins of the phrase “in the limelight,” revealing how a block of quicklime (calcium oxide) and an open flame created the first stage spotlight. Learn about Thomas Drummond’s invention, its dramatic rise in theaters, and its surprising use during the American Civil War. While its fiery dangers eventually retired lime from center stage, the phrase has kept its glow in our language. Don’t miss this illuminating tale of science, history, and theater!
Sources:
"Limelight." Oxford English Dictionary.
Lienhard, John H. "The Lime Light." Engines of Our Ingenuity, University of Houston.
Greco, Gina. “In the Limelight.” Theatre History Review, 2017.
Image source: Wellcome Images.
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