10 Dazzling the Multitude: Imagining the Electric Light as a Communications Medium Carolyn Maroin Maral Metashan, 2 popular medi prophet ofthe 1960s, eee thatthe itary of Westen culture shoul be ewe ao ct successive new echialogies of eonmnniation i the te of the ge Ieee ta nove Not the merage of cnsnnnation, Mean oes but the meu seutualeiarctrstis of the tel biues ‘and chines of information storage, recat tnssion=tad 3 eeminie uence tat oversiadwe! He pati eal ofthe content The medium, Mths dedared, "tapes ad font de sale and Tory of Teana acetal acon MeLulan's account of eral evolution i the Wes a un ile avo aang histo ba ha apreiaton fde eatin tre secinly sd clare snd his cool elt o aig a ea Anaip peas he pre acer Fat elt tape concer of sholraip in the hisry of ely ‘MeLatss deli of frat wis won rey Il He was Fd of ining that even the clei ih fe in ‘neo Tht this example was terns co stk McLane {sa measure ofthe hatorieal dance we he wave fo ths lin ‘would ot have seme manly a strange he pop the scenic false ofltenanetenti-centary Europe ad dhe United Sates alt ina somewhat diferent sence dha Meta fee Tis chapter ie an attempt to reconstruct tnt Frgoten dines of the soi History of cry by tracing some eal contin of the lc light the complex rasformaton of cotati that La ih the telegray, procosded through the elecronke mast re, aad ‘entinacs 2 the presen none in compating technology. Tithe te inte comry soe rope ft nage grea banks of etic speting ot kere and pes oto Pastry, or mammoth searchlight projecting, Henle estges Penne gee nnn Sede 207 nl images othe dfx he plese a norton al in the sora couse What was gle was ao acinaly The consuniaive wl ofthe lc yh dil aie isn sore ara wale guy nv arose sgl ety {Oe However ah rpc of the lee git oar The cet riety he eae hd ape or respecte os eat ou connnany grog by cae, onl, ol amp ito he gti indoor masa poder fart “Topo the Und State and. Western Ewope the pic inrodcton of he lcs ight exched intrest and coy. 1886 theca of the Hel Re seed the fx appetrance etic igh New York sh wows as ll Sum prome ve tobe th was worth a the neighboring Mores the tenon ef custeanets he geal ue och ett Ck iene were compete to elage tbe oak Owing the belay a th a iy ore a ee ed ‘il: Tu sete The neghtarng tors nese hey Stil fr the igh ye panel tm, whe ame he ‘hs ig pra te pe ay ananresy ped he seiemtits engines, and entepreneurs won whose comments aul pestis tay sly based fated thee expectations (fetetiy in ter ofthe only ebalogiel revltion Ear to {hee tha Dou slot by sean power Many thx the ise of elceiy woud exceed een dat great ep, cog leing is promise find slag appoints Abundant, ay dtrbute, ee “hl electichy wok eves the cntaliation of frost in Be fori eal the re of ean cntage nics, oi he one a the workplaces allover the dence at. By deve the pope ‘nyt woul ake de es green wi asks ad ystdens Some hintccth-conury observers ved tht the concentration f lor trun seapowcved ban Gatos lad nae he ble diflerces between te woring if ofthe city ad the sree ofthe coury starr than ever They looked to elec sanictring a Wane Frvation fo sveae 3 henner laa that onl eal thelech betwee snes whi sea had enacted They abe ste eecuity 1 denoxttine su ad elite comic based ‘n competion orate resources by producing pol chal “buona. Not ll predic were 20 opin, but ey ‘rev eantried wile posi, "As purveyor of rca contd he ele gh was Woh of a novel: i ainply extended the ear uses ose igs a ‘aman wating os ett etc i as leer an lap scsi el te amt ea amore elaborate, and have west at the ile bie (ich [rete he Mile Ages the Hoatngvkkol lnrathe tec entury gate te, o the cio are ln Like he tral pe decor: ler ight conveyed the message tat se a is we wan excing anal vi alike el atonal preven ewe Iighted events were often commercial spans sd xpi “The mos skin leigh pectic weve the et ini ealioions ofthe te ninth century. The Ching Wor’ at sna Columbian Exp of 1999 wx oe othe st ea ‘one ofthe most se comeuy lets By the tae ft a he promi of elcecty osc place near he cone pop sab, a exprese the popular ad rae ress, Te fat ha anadvanced telepiane ad tegrapi syst a era lena Communication; ler jomeel bat alles, alanis wats rea electric eter hat operated acy, eis the Ines lect invention ad 90,00 clei gens ctl ings walkways and unite lyn" One of he on poy altactons wap the 82a Eaton Tower of Uglies oveed with mulistovedincalescent. ll Ai asthe eve ting show at dhe Court of Hanae sf water fom ely powered fount atl Mashing cece This combine in and Ferns tthe igo dhe Coit of Haaren lacrer save “peat Hower sheaves of wheat, foes af gol showers of rae, fers and ametiystn” Another sewed early evant power fhe ightine dlaintion fee far adr the core ofthe great bling av de wate "ante spark that aint cee the Cu th el os te Bsn ih une the yrs rol ostignsbet theft domes with eying dpe ya the fess the fy ite cya nel heey se ae Hk gi ts ‘tol, Ad owe ke gest wt ute ment yen ar ‘hese ii eee hm i! er ae er ie ah Camatis r 206 tsa igh ass acai ping he aso shin Ai ath ett cr the daca ee ay ap we fem or aps tna pas te ei “The spectacular eet of eect in public paces was sujet {neces hn one sil lng bss ape Tim unl expentione bs ME Ela! Wald ie that ely the clei ight was “eonsiered worthy or stable to Huminate eo Spices ral spt ling” aa nt ects hing Ac only fon of decent being comidred fr the Statue of Liber. Herat Wr vert several paso ight he statue cling oe to projet vertical es of fig ypwarl Boa the toe ost “apr of fre by night” seco plan ws to place is “tke jee oun the lon” al a itd was o place then a he ft fof the log tonite the etre stat, so that "se nied Tice of Liery woul ain oot upon the dak waste of waters ad the inning Aloe voyager” A age jours Dad pr te hat estates Tot he wos gest lcci Laie he: hae hay sl even fo take Caney, lh wil gs nga of tights pistes on sumer right Uke age la, pe a iia a He the eveing sta whe the ta il a, Tn work there elect igs are prosically ar aa evtahably pleut seh desapons ay be understal aeaction {sng vel i he experience of clic abner Gv on 3 ew eae ofthe gr sony dhe let that lo tment cel eines soccss in oem wer cin Acted a weave tet aa 4 sane eben iid ru inane the egal pact of the etietigh seca 1 veniatg tre, the clctre Rg fered soon oievers oyalwedieinering i elleval heres nove means to manufacture fin! sl wha they deere 3 the Bproved experience of ature ‘New York Harbor wa te selling (ora nite of eight show the 1480s From the shore of Staten ba, Malan at righ wo sid 1 lack Tike 3 Tiyan” daring one sh show, with had leticlights dancing rom outa se of ky om, wih Ie al veces ad dere aero, eae ic ili age lesions stat eve a here wt phosphor fires the stets ‘sine wal er, wi ale towers laine aga he Fehon hon yond On Staten al M6 a lelHoough its pes: "At ae memset A was ey te Het feats then seedy gree, pple, gs id Hose ie the ts wn ew arn, a ena th char a evesy thes» arate ay cul tes hig he 9 ee ‘palate by ie eral Tv Aller vo the United Sates, Wil Pec, som to le Chi Enger of de its Pas Ole, and an attentive slnerver of Anica gery eee fortunes dhe conan psc he perspec of roby Bdge bt by 2 ae lan "tm bss nei Sense, that a ofthe ests Fry eoanracomyites a rig excursions ving the tater sean, ii ole anlvertie a de "eater of New York Ha by Els Lg pie OF anise, 10 ee" uidoors the lec lan was safer, caper, ol ne versatile shan cabo ae lighting Indo tiated the geal aes of owecandlepower ga ling sal the tense pve snl wet safey ofa tihng Gradual ome calor eve ea a indoors to the seme sting fr whi case ls: eve ideally suite Fancy igs were ie fr suns al rep anu banquets and esterase appropiate te vet lt a 9 pevfonnane prop, 1 1384 the Elecie Gt Lighig Company eve wo supply“ laminated gis for indoor octane Young we el pt the dais ot hostess ering gi wile deck nt Hane lamp were aver prompt stone an “go ity canal power each in quantities to mat howling" The monte weve Fed an othe by the company, al etme: weve “pene 8 select atthe company’s warehouse whatever ile of gil may plese thei ney.” Kanes City employees uf the Rigen aa Kans “Telephone Company extn lic eaerahunen hn 1885 Methats' Eelsnge Hal which ws gravely an lec i ple fn exhiiton” along wi 4 nex awed a cep anges” "Heese gi” enbuatidbut the perma evan of psn age pert sya af aoc tatu a eee ig ramen abject dag a opt ry of soil Athen age me, personal liye lyn net pesona evans ad would make elec hing sil le Sona fr all dasesinstealafa badge of eon cosa Tocne dco etre gi wer alten tina sine they ee otro fay servants bt ere hie orth ecasonn Entertainers aio began to we ei igh to ado the bees in pubic perfornaee Ree nis vase i Shen eRe etnnaan Meun 7 ows 1801, Mie fy J Dale of te Lae Had Coen ae ‘uo sg renee abe ofthe Statue of iti, wtih the beeal newapapee sept deta Suen inate to se rom ton eh of ape Sulowerel wan frre elec sover ah ka impetus esa kr comple di soa The gee Ere el dn srl soa tt sores eae seco ‘hate with ea oie which Son td he peter As ‘wm arin ese eng igh, eval reed pe ‘of copa lance ad bey. atl pes pe a rig “Ive Gretet fet he hitry of Brookings, Sut Dabo” war the deeition xen by a Toca newspaper to 4 Mescs! Canal Te in 1800 athe Brokings opera hoe wich vaio instal crys were repeteie by apysoyrstely counted len One ‘fsa war Mre EE Gaylord wile ofthe mage i ec folie thks Hei Light Company. To represent that Maurin Trac of convenes, Mix Caloed wore Miners tie aw On thé ho fe stage wee ral incase i ya ‘swell rue oes tine een a eve ayes se pen i 1894 Geonge W. Paterson of Chicago create a ail wey a ‘telstra Tc ying thse can dened yon, he eet he ka of cies fle less of sli ight Dewi hi ac 1899, the otra ‘let sels "shin enor” ote coterie, the ee scheint a a ting pataly nein ie "gpd ithe al er by ence a ‘heft very sng neva companied de Fees hase, the soe dashing a iy Me atone fe Thing eign the Hine King” tenth cpp Thefc dee raison pally apa assy wae so Scrmuing derpem li ise ‘The falar dimensions f bly experience hae always pies 2 eference po or exploring th " Uae eligi The al nea mace an iy fe at cated bythe ne Action of nove, evi, a ety mysteries reduced ant apnoea vary offers by trot ‘ea ns al om. ecg app oy ‘New Yor exiton 188 us ey fom Pel iis ap odie sd tiny icing sce hs The eof etic is acts nt eal of Eon wa dei Ie atc 01 ‘ee Jeeey usa take he ao pte whic te we ats ie copes Gay, a hw a elec sk Hashing athe sol a is aly none the impulse fo date an sudionee with cece elects found expression ot only in entertainments n whch the spect sel ws {he mesage ho ft cmraction fen elect ight of i nine leer and single figural represeraios, Antecedents for ents of ight go bch at Tea to he laiated ig Se. James's Park, Lone in 1814, wb sea he words, "ie Feace of sop" were wei fromm snore tan 1.300 spout wick ol up tele Sony fas tee peat Kcr a) Thc of he Napoleonic Wars the lee fen yp mae Sel achieves super a inspied ll ore ambitious ones ‘hein in Alta in 1899 fete ated tetas deco tavpnss Te roomy an eet costeactor, bad dpe 200 nea {sen gas fom oe side ofthe cach othe ater: Del above the sae hung» wedding bell ahioued of flag ard 100 Clore Fgh: Fother dea were reported ‘As dhe inser romouncd the pr a a il single leer {in pink canescens apr on the bell burned wth a sl Teas al figwes construe fam let ight Hane popular Fon venting A eomnon deve was the ay ig” wich opt ‘ow the ne a rm pronase or eatin a ge ses the Dank wal ln espe abitons ign was fv in 1492 on the side of the B-tory Fon Bang a he Conflience of Boadway ard Fifh Avene wilh 28rd Sweet in New Merk hic sew eons of 1st’ Peres and green, arrange in seven sentences flees 346 fet high fof the seven sentences It up in suerte ef ‘sk untl TL etdock eich night sad Imai“ the tention soelering pullie dhe fet that Coney ad..-ie swept iy sxe reer” rejoeed Weert Fler "So kate age se Leng” the account contin“ ple Hats al ss watching the sig, bu as soon as de whole evn sentensebia and allowed 18 remain so, the poople mre vie way al hr ‘owed dese. Till tt only ane en ‘ou when all the ps ae ted i ely argo ih ho sper vibe fom sys "To ateact crowds a the tects of linge cite, averters fi sed incandescent igs al agi lari obi, On “age lantern avenoes” in Par, commer mae were peje shop widows high above the tect. Laven es Aplays of the same Ki were ae inthe Sava sa Leste Stare as euy at 1800." Magic ltt als pte “vin ‘ograph”advertbencit lll an penn a en on ‘Nelion's Column ante Office Works tai chien in 1898" on Edinburgh, amelie gtd in foto he Enya Pace Their Mash on 130 eel tthe ve Pp the Rc ait Communal 2H alc serately, 90 that “one word fappeate in the potion pe Stowly cei bythe ete" Pati and plea events were also occasions for eet messages bn 1891 the nina convention ofthe Grand Ary ofthe Aju at Detoit was inated by 8 outdoor ceil es Ah pin feanae of which wat Bdge of i 48 Tes high 2a We foe wale, dc with neal 4 Hag ve ann 1 swords a, Visors Any wet shown in eter ce fe high {00 Tecan poe lant reed fr th aloe. ait the GA. Re onupran toe sw hs 12.fot ters of red, wie Sind bie gs, Tas was vl, was sa; for tone down the Dei sve, There was alo am achor,repeescating the eye a 1 hovse’s end tanding fo te aval, Those took about 100 Tihs ach" bn ation, 3,009 fights mounted on and surrounding ity Ta ereated a glow sat coul! le see for 5 erin every cet, 1s 1897 dhe chy of en elbted de nett bio Enero wilton wi gan ination” Muleloved Tis eanged in The nis ofthe smyrna he express a he niga dates tes eg were tg roe pie lings prt hows Ine Unie Sites the tena fel Rd by Adal Dewey Phin in 1899 was eee dre dp ys re county, In New Yor, the cee af the set ro the {tlic up all over wa’ rump boring an enormous "Welene Dewey” Singlets 36 fect high ws steed $10 fet sens he Iki ridge Tne ter W alone conte of 1,000 igh" Chi- fag sted an eles yh pre of esey's Haship, dhe ‘pn, salina te cone of Sate Stet nl Maan. The sip sell was ned by 720 cecal power anys, 200 sea ua 150 bel ap begun A 10.0090 cand power St-anpuve tne was placed the tbo testi. Pats tt Dewey an! McKisey weve cated by inanescent Lope" Wir the development of 2 atonal telegraphic network in dhe United States srg the sect all ofthe tec ery Tecan anowiany for crowds t gather he sues of sy towns snl ic on pesca lotion nights pty Frente aa ply to oop track of ste turns whih were poste ous Toa ews lice where the wires ra 1896, a estinated 250,000 Few Yorker celebrated McKinley's icon i the tees 3 nig ‘teal allen weve projected iy eam gon buldings ll ves the iy. Returns were projected on the ouside ofthe New Yor Tine Ting neath the aA he News has Fic Pi” wisos pea out i tie igs Hex oa myer ptt the sete Ia news ad cits were peste dramticly a in sap wapence, dn see nies areca dt trslgure de elearonic broadest of the tw eur. The sow singin the sect were ray mans ae Pers Mel ook ts rather lity so ‘pen such experiien ad spectaces Faure sees of co maton by ei were ete i et nna ara Tor owih ctr aecmone vay eno nl were the ropomst ferbe the ig sis wah powell tt {ul ese by al nba ofthe sro sume hig ‘propos whic appear in any waits, wa a plow ed promising techtclogal extrapolation frm ening alleen Estee both he far nl of cane eon sa ‘xing appizations of ele econ. ncug oe en Ince attempts to inrove he tellalty sa sary a yng The fic that vessel sing the coast ce lense te ete of towns fran the etn of thet nigh ise neon Sls nie sre experince nh vin rec lashes mere propeted veri nel vse nen exert the fishes were decpherable tare of 6 een ota an asorished rove filed the aati the vy ofthe See Hale factory in Bevin, where loping spars ten, ‘nough w aninat handwrng tthedstance ole we se Se sky. With the hap age ven os pe a thelghc were “repeated, foun on ages tele" The prospect of ianinted messages on the sate of te heaven fucnated expen and laymen ake Tong te flee” i he EXeretRe, “ifs lon pple sawing shareters ane the cols such words as "UEWARE OF PROTECTION sd FREE TRADE LEADS TO HL The wing il be male ays lees of a ery color" Acca 10 one eecelenpery "Yes ould hae disoving igor on the a gis ug a tr in he sy, for stances yp lc irs at Sn ed teeny me ay SSnce ch projets were unl undraen for commer he pour tern or ede pectin was "aerial tn 1889 an Ameianiwetor ed be nea wi seer firms shat wished 1 "ay ther cand” om the sky A fee yon Tater in alan a expert nes ge ane he id ote tat he oe Mee Ligh conan dn 21) roduc the lees BUF wp the clay tah hs age mae Ce to sw acoomadte hen the esse FALO IMIS Wh St" being sa cd 1 Jolson, oe of Esc’ cose asuacnten, wasp a ere dei met gegen pw pope ile inne as ta os iro od Swanton ling dae nee Fe tas Sead tw hive been ace he dos” ated ene ect ‘Nha he ret dt mo sy how grat the vesonblnce wa "Wile contin enjiment wes yeni soy Mot wishin iv overs pnd of tt, 2 Coal ecu gine, one Le Rogers, rev ees fn viewers a fa Sway an 0 mic eared to hk he shnae oe ‘Tee mene emer oth one gle spt wating for the as create ethene eyes Rflsingen he Mot Was figum espero a artery Avon oles one he bers Fey ay hon ete ho i Sn woul! be pepe for grating he oul adver Shee wi ets nove ey 1 fo Tg tht cl be ed me {tne say. non wens Raven mn be“ iy 2 Stee of fses of bn and stot dation, conan code of ‘Suis The ewe ercome of Rogers's expen incon "Tien he cous a hoge lay powered ge lumen teen 1992 at Joy Pues Wading. the the {ales aig in Mew Yor ds lation fee 30,000 {Sle an k weit wll over 9.000 pour i ee po Joc sea plare ses uf figures wor and aeriemens upon tcl om en ih the dings ney ‘ljetns wo he ug of avenge ky were aon tn 10, une the poy pal aga of he Het paling lve by ton vl cll the pty yg ile ht wont a‘Amwthe Dsh journal dae lea ring ftw: the ols ae to etme at ioe al ie alg i {atten dies wet oe te or ‘tinsel wht te ren wodcemts eta ame A esky was one surface won which to projet mesoges forthe nas the osteo fag 9 fn Arevcan nae we pannel to et sg ena fom London New Yor byway of ton Using heey se vale in 195, Hawi ha concen rane teil. The vac is he anne iy covet tong, but eetety woul be ied for eda fo he ecg tir Is Baa eh cn shown upon the moos to be vile othe naked eye rey ‘woman and eid inal the work win iran col ad essen atthe code i ple a canbe ocy comme to Signaling schemes to tke up wiles caesatio wi ex ‘ere cngs recived wie pully. "With ur perfil sae os wok be i mane whe Ha 1952, ih abn chance oe poe sth eters rol xpd with igs and tlescope te we are" Otters rope Semaphore areangenents of lh Hsing bn Morse ‘ques ive Wires ine wonuhly mw tle ew he Ppaeasaciaion between extent, nove, anal hati [ore that Si Francis Caton hi! propose the cou ef 5 by-1o0 cgeapie mio to adr» replay ping tayo stnlgh to Mars hares Coss thot he Lea ofa powetelcee he mig be gathered sal concise aa singe yt by ae parabolic rellors* There wats ropa ha "ncndesen ls tren ovr the des ofthe Gre Fyn nd wt be ade sect on fig congo Wr“ ate elit ate yan Thom lst anleFanearon mg ropa immensely jer igh ‘nthe pater of the Big Dips to ach the eyes excrete lservers. The igs cold be placed Bove, Maso Sie bourg, Pars, Amsterdam, Capenagen, and Sct, “Bat oe fas ye been ful ni eve ih ach of an dn he Athen tah nme ean 309 canllepower” exlined Lise re. A agen 1 work at geo Inet poet in ight forthe stnusernet of galactaly ree lowers as inpracta, Zie Hite concedes tie lines of hey figure woul ve tobe at Tent 60 ies wide aad “use of sola tighe” bs W, Maude, Great Britains Asixant Asronomee Hoyal Specltel shat "ite lin aight, eal uf oe Bae Tus cane-power woe set up ot Mars we might see 2 da" '\ repented astmpson in inaginatveportayas of mass nance ofthe fare was that suck ences propely Leong outdoor Sil hat tweret-cery dia would provide rule oes or ‘outdoor asses tn hese peas ania etcent-cety Snags of spectators laser slot (reste Uksniaton were ex pine te pamer sce dete suitable for Hanae eesti Usps A hs ture nt nae ions do ot collec outdoors toview cll sewer te ight shy Howes, oe ees ‘linse spevalatons and of thecal sania garerings elie the mst Taiyo soem public spectacles tle Inds ‘estar The socalled tlevbson special and oes breast, fees ill wwe dramatic antangerents of egy eared ighs to Tei’ inane fw de ele ght tcl as sel sod Thu poly wns tthe ty he rg estonia the tin l,m ete a lec ny one va al a he enn thet tht we om Intome the pina whi of aun The develope {Sint he 9 ye a lid ae thy tace-tice public puberingsnaly mopertsns 8 ans tered dot to wah on thr private cei sts he de sofas ofthe pbc speck at once wo ave eee teva fended te seanln, Sy eae Ga sca Tonnes two serge the a thy Become ew eves ae toc gs wx ic ne anor ary uc gh itSeim sues they ab vansfonned nny lng cor conan faving no indor pate oes th eo sig ‘hese communica a dns wach cae fn ur eur nore one ecto aide ‘nnccentvecny ves that themes the ae might be ress ofc sac sees the Beane Dy seh at barks of sg nce ap: Oneness estinony Ee tendency to rend story baka ro the presen—to See Pale pores whi stants def and graltoner tater than as ascent uf een aunts ‘fra ot, each ih ow Fase conker dst peu se of habit ect he inl ope Ia istry every present stents to coe the past i i syst abo appropriates the tre wth pa ens The ns ‘ecutcentuy otvition tl ipo centr mela souk! kak ike nang ao nih so the nineteen cera elec Sight wet lage betray te cmp eae ead ep ‘es glanorons erat andthe fare on ann ven the preset Inthe satay the iy of was yet ws least ofall on ts accuracy 4 poner tothe fur: sans cl nore on what i eommuniates about the perception’, ales, sta “nsgiiive reactions of sceis changes whith they nx only at esse ways of epi ith and ang to Tat wh dey glare pac abo tape, {Shah a dnd eat fan wk Me 2. haere arene hassel ed iain ‘rang aa grat hang Coser aed Cd Tero Fath alm Eye aye Uy HP nda pe eh 4. Tel wit an Wai ten he Wo Cans Ppe ng {op inst are Soe Sein ron eh nop arnt fis an Ve fe pin ik 8. ae Rro,a 181y 2 Row tie Me yi he 1 "ey nwa” Wt Bn, £2 18, 6 [gE Reena he ig rn ty 1, 8 1S. *Peral Spot ee” ir rn ‘ethno natin Ne “rote Je. td si eS, 11 te re Ni 9 1 Wit ee a ty 9 a a Sena al pn” cin oni 8 {St ater” Pl ag nn 8,6 38 amu ma ep Ir fei ew Ya ey, res 0 apm wl fee rue ee re ede Epo Bah Seg wm ia ning by eso Sainte yin Many St Sp esl 2 Sept i ete apy, se Sp 25 3. tirnecn time sunnoyee oA Maye De he tn Som Sg, Ne 1 18K ‘Nouns Ay hep oe Spe a