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Brief History of the Red Carpet 

Greeks..or the East? 

The first known reference to the red carpet comes from a line in Agamemnon, the 458 B.C. play by Greek writer Aeschylus: 

“Now my beloved, step down from your chariot, and let not your foot, my lord, touch the Earth,” the play reads. “Servants, let there be spread before the house he never expected to see … a crimson path.”

However, some scholars believe the idea of a red carpet was introduced to Aeschylus from the East. 

Why Red?  

At the time of Aeschylus, the crimson color was reserved for non-mortal men: Gods and Goddesses. The color has always been associated with royalty. But why? 

Religion was one major reason. In the 13th century, the Pope decreed only cardinals could don the color red. 

The economics behind red dye was another major reason pre-Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. Red was too expensive to stock until it synthetical chemicals made it cheaper. The automation of carpet-weaving also allowed for the non-aristocracy to afford red rugs and other red fabrics.  

The red carpet upheld all value in society. The actual 'treatment' of rolling out the red carpet started with express train passengers riding from NYC-Chicago in the 20th century. 

The first instance of the red carpet in Hollywood came for the 1922 premiere of Robin Hood at the Egyptian Theatre. About 50 years later, the Academy awards rolled out the first red carpet for the 1961 Oscars. However, it took 3 more years, in 1964, for Americans to stream the ceremony and the carpet in color.

And now 60 years later, the red carpet tradition continues with the 96th Oscars! 

 

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