In The LimelightThe combustible chemistry that invented the spotlight
From the show
History of PhrasesDiscover the volatile technology that illuminated the Victorian stage. Before electricity, theaters used a dangerous mixture of oxygen, hydrogen, and superheated quicklime to create a blinding white beam. This "limelight" was the first spotlight, literally burning to make the lead actor shine. The episode reveals the hazardous origins of celebrity culture's brightest metaphor.
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