Limelight (also known as Drummond light or calcium light)[James R. Smith (2004). San Francisco's Lost Landmarks, Quill Driver Books.] is a non-electric type of stage lighting that was once used in theatres and . An intense illumination is created when a flame fed by Oxyhydrogen is directed at a cylinder of quicklime (calcium oxide),
History
Discovery and invention
The limelight effect was discovered in the 1820s by Goldsworthy Gurney,
[ Limelight – Leeds University , Retrieved 18 October 2013.] based on his work with the "oxy-hydrogen blowpipe", credit for which is normally given to Robert Hare. In 1825, a
Scotland engineer,
Thomas Drummond (1797–1840), saw a demonstration of the effect by
Michael Faraday and realized that the light would be useful for surveying. Drummond built a working version in 1826, and the device is sometimes called the
Drummond light after him.
Early use in the United Kingdom
The earliest known use of limelight at a public performance was outdoors, over Herne Bay Pier, Kent, on the night of 3 October 1836 to illuminate a juggling performance by magician Ching Lau Lauro. This performance was part of the celebrations following the laying of the
cornerstone of the Clock Tower. The playbill called it
koniaphostic light and announced that "the whole pier is overwhelmed with a flood of beautiful white light".
Limelight was first used for indoor stage illumination in the Covent Garden Theatre in
London in 1837 and enjoyed widespread use in theatres around the world in the 1860s and 1870s.
Limelights were employed to highlight solo performers in the same manner as modern spotlights.
Early use in the United States
During the American Civil War in July and August 1863 calcium lights were used during the siege of
Fort Wagner, allowing Union forces to illuminate their artillery target at night while supposedly blinding Confederate gunners and riflemen. Calcium lights were also installed on Union Navy ships.
[ In the Limelight: A Civil War Military Innovation]
Limelight was replaced by electric arc lamp in the late 19th century.
==Gallery==
See also
Bibliography
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