History of Limestone Lamps Used in Stage Lighting

Limestone lamps were once commonly used for stage lighting.

Limestone lamps, or limelights, were used in theaters in the middle to late 19th century as a source of stage illumination. Limelights allowed a bright light to be concentrated on a particular place on stage

What is Limelight?

The principle of burning limestone to produce light was discovered in 1825 by a Scotsman named Thomas Drummond. Limelight is created by heating a block of quicklime using a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen. This produces an intense white light, which, when projected from a lantern with a reflector and lens, is highly directional.

How was it Used in Theater?

Limelight was first used in 1837 for the pantomime season at Covent Garden in London, England. It was generally used for effects or following performers around the stage. Because the quicklime block needed to be adjusted constantly to maintain an even beam from the limelight, each one required an operator.

What Replaced Limelight?

Limelights were replaced with electric arc lamps as follow spots in the early 20th century, although their legacy remains. Follow spots and their operators are still sometimes referred to as "limes" in theaters, and the phrase "in the limelight" refers to their use to highlight a particular person onstage.

References

• "Handbook of Lighting Design, ERCO Edition;" Rudiger Ganslandt and Harald Hofmann; 1992
• "Stage Lighting:The CD ROM;" History--19th Century, The Gaslight Era; Dan Redler
• A Web of English History; Thomas Drummond; Dr. Marjorie Bloy