AboutTed Nesbitt Expertise I have an interest in the meanings of words and phrases, as well as how and when they became part of the English language. I enjoy
researching idioms, colloquialisms, dialects, and obscurities of
all kinds. I prefer short questions on a particular subject, and
I will not accept lengthy research projects or term papers. NOTE: ALLEXPERTS CLAIMS THAT I TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LATIN AND FROM LATIN TO ENGLISH. I DO NOT. ALLEXPERTS REFUSES TO DELETE THE LATIN-TO-ENGLISH SERVICE -- ONE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE.
TRUST ME ON THIS: ALLEXPERTS IS WRONG. I DO NOT TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LANGUAGE. LOOK FOR A LANGUAGE EXPERT INSTEAD. ETYMOLOGY AND TRANSLATING SERVICES ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. ALLEXPERTS SHOULD KNOW THAT. ALLEXPERTS DOES NOT KNOW THAT. I HAVE TRIED FOR MANY YEARS TO GET THEM TO CHANGE. THEY WILL NOT. SORRY, BUT I DO NOT TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LATIN.
Experience I am the bibliographic instruction and reference librarian at a public
college. My master's thesis concerns William Faulkner's tragic novels. I formerly taught advanced placement English at two schools in the Philadelphia area.
I have been a member of the grammar and writing section of Allexperts
for more than a year.
Education/Credentials Masters degrees in English, philosophy, and library science.
Question A few times in the book, the author Theodore Dreiser refers to "fire signs" over theaters and such. The book is set in the 1890's. What is he referring to? It is used seemingly as today we might say neon sign.
Answer Dear William:
The "fire signs" were like today's neon signs. Your interpretation is correct. They were the first electric theater marquees. There is a little bit of history about the "electrification" of New York and, especially, its theater district.
There is a book, edited by Jerilou and Kingsley Hammett -- "The Suburbanization of New York."
One of the essays included in the book is entitled "Guys, Dolls and Deals: Old and New Times Square." The author is Marshall Berman.
I am giving you the link to "Google Books" below. It is very lengthy, so it may not work. If it does not, trying doing a google search with Berman "fire signs" and you should retrieve the article.
With Edison's invention of the light bulb, Times Square and the theater district of New York City started to thrive. In Berman's essay, he describes these giant electric signs as "fire signs." He even mentions Theodore Dreiser in his essay, saying that Dreiser was a frequent visitor to this new area -- an "electric city," so to speak.
I apologize for not answering sooner. I travelled out of town yesterday to attend the spectacular wedding of a former student . . . one who struggled with his grammar and writing. When I met the bride, I got a big hug and kiss as she said, "Justin loves you, even though you were tough on him!" Justin is beginning his master's degree program and will be contacting me for help with his papers. I will continue "to be tough."
