It was at the Savoy Theatre in London that the term “fairy lights” was first coined.
Opened in 1881, the Savoy was the first public building in the world to be lit entirely by electricity, fitted out with 1,200 incandescent light bulbs created by Swan.
A year later, Swan was commissioned by the theatre’s owner Richard D’Oyly Carte to create miniature lights for the dresses of the lead fairies on the opening night of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe.
The dresses were adorned with lights powered by small battery packs hidden beneath the folds of the cloth.
Sweaty sweaty bulbs! Must have been hot carrying that lot around? How did those fairies take off? Another fine use of electrickery and another fine collage!
ReplyDeleteGreat story. It couldn't be Christmas without the lights. Good to see them back.
ReplyDeletethank you...I was considering putting up the fairy lights so it seemed timely....
DeleteLove the image and the story!
ReplyDelete