The red carpet has become synonymous with Heads of State, Celebrities and award shows of all types. But, where did the custom of putting out a red carpet origininated from, why is it considered so glamorous?
The first known mention of a red carpet comes from the 458 B.C. play Agememnon by Aeschylus. In the play when Adememnon returns to Troy his Wife, Clytemnestra, greets him with a “crimson path”. Agememnon fears walking on the path as it would look like an act of hubris.
Later in works of art from the East and the Renaissance depict carpets with designs in red in them. These carpets were usually leading to a throne or to a dais where acts of religious importance were to take place. While the carpets weren’t always solid red the main background was usually a shade of red.
The phrase “Red Carpet Treatment” is believed to come from The New York Central Railroad. In the early 20th century a red carpet was used to guide passengers boarding exclusive train cars. Since travel on these cars were usually limited to wealthy passengers the practice caught on as a way of discerning elite treatment, or importance.
In Hollywood the first known use of a red carpet was by Sid Grauman who painted the entryway to his Egyptian Theater red for the first Hollywood premiere for a movie, 1946’s Robin Hood starring Douglas Fairbanks as the titular character.
In 1961, the Academy Awards began putting a red carpet on the entryway to the award show. The fact that most home viewers at the time still had black and white television sets did not take away from the meaning. Today red carpets are used during the Academy Awards as a place for paparazzi and reporters to interview and photograph celebrities on their way to the award show. For the Oscar awards the Red Carpet has become the opening event of the night with celebrities talking about what designer’s clothes they are wearing or how they prepared for the night.
The term “Red Carpet Treatment” has become synonymous with hospitality or exclusive treatment for special guests.
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