The History of the Mirror Ball
Mirror balls have a long history of use within the music and dance industry as a accenting decoration. Also known as a disco ball or glitter ball, mirror balls are spheres that reflect light into a number of different directions using a number of mirrored surfaces. They generally rotate on a vertical axis and are illuminated by stationary lighting placed near the ball itself.
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History
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The first mirror balls were introduced into nightclubs during the 1920s. As part of the general themes of the Roaring 20s, these balls were seen as a popular accent to performing artists such as dancers and musicians.
Features
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Throughout the 1930s and 40s, mirror balls were frequently seen in films as a representation of glamor and glitz. They accompanied the large-scale dance numbers seen in a number of movies of the era.
Significance
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The 1970s were the heyday of the mirror ball. Adopted by the disco culture, these devices were synonymous with the nightclubs and were commonly used with other features such as fog machines and strobe lights.
Size
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After the 1970s, disco balls began to be seen more as a novelty. Mirror ball designs were used as Christmas tree ornaments and dangling ornaments to be hung from the rear-view mirror of a car.
Fun Fact
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The rock band Pink Floyd set a record in 1994 on its world tour by presenting the largest disco ball in history. It measured 16 feet in diameter. Madonna also featured a mirror ball on her 2006 tour made of Swarovski crystal worth $2 million.
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- Photo Credit Ppntori, Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disco_ball.jpg
