by Leonore Dicker
The Red Carpet: that pathway to fame everyone has daydreamt of gliding through, at least once in their life. It incessantly comes out at every single entertainment award, glamour event or VIP section. It somehow makes us feel special when we spot it – but have you ever wondered why the heck it’s red, and why it came to exist in the first place?
Some speculate that the earliest reference to “walking the red carpet” goes as far back as 458 BC, the year it was featured in the play “Agamemnon” written by Aeschylus. When the arrogant eponymous character returns from Troy, his bitter wife greets him with dark red tapestries to walk upon – which were usually reserved for the Gods. Although Agamemnon knowingly protests at first, he then gives in.
The color red then took a royal turn – also perhaps because it shares the same tint as blood and royalty is transferred through blood from one generation to the next. Kings in the Renaissance were often painted wearing red velvet with red carpets laid out on the steps of their thrones.
After the Gods and royals, political leaders came next! In 1821, in Georgetown, a grand red carpet was rolled out to welcome President James Monroe as he disembarked a riverboat.
In 1902, the New York Central launched the 20th Century Limited: an exclusive express train from New York to Chicago that greeted guests with a red carpet laid out along the platform – which allegedly inspired the “red-carpet treatment” expression. At this point, the red carpet was no longer exclusive to head of states, or royals, and became a treatment that could somewhat be acquired or bought.
If there is one group of people who like the idea of being treated like royalty, that’s Hollywood! So on April 17th 1961, the red carpet made its debut at the 33rd Academy Awards Oscars Ceremony at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium – to become the phenomenon that it is today. However, it is only in 1966 that it truly had its impact, as that was the year that the Oscars was first broadcasted in color, giving millions of viewers a glimpse of the real thing – which has recently gotten an upgrade and is of 16,500 square feet.
Nowadays – every other ceremony followed in the Oscar’s footsteps and rolls out their very own Red Carpet for its VIPs.
The Red Carpet: that pathway to fame everyone has daydreamt of gliding through, at least once in their life. It incessantly comes out at every single entertainment award, glamour event or VIP section. It somehow makes us feel special when we spot it – but have you ever wondered why the heck it’s red, and why it came to exist in the first place?
Some speculate that the earliest reference to “walking the red carpet” goes as far back as 458 BC, the year it was featured in the play “Agamemnon” written by Aeschylus. When the arrogant eponymous character returns from Troy, his bitter wife greets him with dark red tapestries to walk upon – which were usually reserved for the Gods. Although Agamemnon knowingly protests at first, he then gives in.
The color red then took a royal turn – also perhaps because it shares the same tint as blood and royalty is transferred through blood from one generation to the next. Kings in the Renaissance were often painted wearing red velvet with red carpets laid out on the steps of their thrones.
After the Gods and royals, political leaders came next! In 1821, in Georgetown, a grand red carpet was rolled out to welcome President James Monroe as he disembarked a riverboat.
In 1902, the New York Central launched the 20th Century Limited: an exclusive express train from New York to Chicago that greeted guests with a red carpet laid out along the platform – which allegedly inspired the “red-carpet treatment” expression. At this point, the red carpet was no longer exclusive to head of states, or royals, and became a treatment that could somewhat be acquired or bought.
If there is one group of people who like the idea of being treated like royalty, that’s Hollywood! So on April 17th 1961, the red carpet made its debut at the 33rd Academy Awards Oscars Ceremony at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium – to become the phenomenon that it is today. However, it is only in 1966 that it truly had its impact, as that was the year that the Oscars was first broadcasted in color, giving millions of viewers a glimpse of the real thing – which has recently gotten an upgrade and is of 16,500 square feet.
Nowadays – every other ceremony followed in the Oscar’s footsteps and rolls out their very own Red Carpet for its VIPs.
Share Article 
