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The judges are going to accept this answer (story inside)
Was actually looking for "electric light bulb", but as the story was related in the episode I think home electric in general was implied.
So at this point in time....late 1880s or so...a rudimentary electric grid was established in lower Manhattan, and electric light bulbs were available. Consumer skepticism and hesitancy were HIGH. People were a little freaked out about the danger, usefulness, etc. A feller by the name of Johnson, one of Edison's right hand men at the floundering electric company rigged up a string of colored light bulbs and placed his lighted tree on a rotating pedestal in a large window. At the time, people lit their trees with candles, which led to countless fires, messy fire extinguishing setups and such.
Anyway, the tree was a big hit...people came from miles around to see the very first "Christmas Lights", and soon people began to warm to the idea of electric lights in their house....
Thread Replies (26)
Supplemental late morning Christmas Tree associated trivia
-- JoesterVT
Dec 16, 2025 at 09:43 AM ET
JoesterVT
•
12/16/25 09:43 AM ET
non-caloric, silicon-based kitchen lubricant**
-- Tank
Dec 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
Tank
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12/16/25 12:00 PM ET
Another guess aluminum foil**
-- jdkhokie
Dec 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM ET
jdkhokie
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12/16/25 11:59 AM ET
Answer is below as a reply to @VT_Skier**
-- JoesterVT
Dec 16, 2025 at 12:01 PM ET
JoesterVT
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12/16/25 12:01 PM ET
+1 because I didn't think about that one the common dildo ornament. **
-- jdkhokie
Dec 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM ET
jdkhokie
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12/16/25 11:14 AM ET
Strands of electric multi-colored lights?**
-- santafe
Dec 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM ET
santafe
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12/16/25 10:25 AM ET
Does it have anything to do with plastics?**
-- vthhhi
Dec 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM ET
vthhhi
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12/16/25 10:22 AM ET
ooh....another good guess. This place has a lot of smart people.**
-- JoesterVT
Dec 16, 2025 at 10:33 AM ET
JoesterVT
•
12/16/25 10:33 AM ET
The judges are going to accept this answer (story inside)
◄
-- JoesterVT
Dec 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM ET
JoesterVT
•
12/16/25 10:32 AM ET
really good guess, but not what we're looking for....**
-- JoesterVT
Dec 16, 2025 at 09:53 AM ET
JoesterVT
•
12/16/25 09:53 AM ET