In 1910, French writer Gaston Leroux penned a popular novel about a phantom creeping below an opera house who had definite opinions about who should be cast in lead roles for the performances playing above him. It was a hit.
The concept was made even more popular by the 1925 film of the same name, starring Lon Chaney. The Phantom was inspired by Leroux’s detailed journalism coverage of the investigation of the Paris Opera (now the Paris Ballet). While he wrote it as a novel, Leroux insisted the story was true, even on his deathbed. That opera basement was known to be haunted. It had also contained a cell that had held the prisoners of the Paris Commune. The underground lake that he wrote about does indeed exist beneath the opera house. It is still used today for training firefighters to swim in the dark. The famous scene of the chandelier falling was a real recorded event.
On this day in 1986, the award-winning musical Phantom of the Opera premiered in London, written and scored by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, and starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. It was the longest running show in Broadway history.
Official site for the musical, The Phantom of the Opera.
The original novel, by Gaston Leroux.
Music Du Jour: The Phantom of the Opera playlist.
Films Du Jour:
The Phantom of the Opera (the musical)
The Phantom of the Opera (original 1925 film)
La Cave de Gaston Leroux is a Parisian bistro managed by the author’s great granddaughter, Véronique Leroux.
Snacks Du Jour: Phantom Pretzels
Décor ideas for a Phantom Theme Dinner.
If you need to kill time with something strange, but totally on topic.
Cocktail Du Jour – The Mask
This recipe comes from So Many Damn Books.
2 oz scotch whiskey
1 oz honey syrup (half honey and half water, heated)
0.5 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
0.5 oz Carpano Antica Vermouth
Add ice, scotch, honey syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass with one large ice cube. Pour vermouth gently over the back of a bar spoon.
Mocktail Du Jour – The Mask Mocktail
2 oz Mugicha Barley Tea
2 drops vanilla extract
1 oz honey syrup (half honey and half water, heated)
0.5 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
0.5 oz apple juice
Add ice, tea, vanilla, honey syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass with one large ice cube. Pour apple juice gently over the back of a bar spoon.
Beer Du Jour
Belching Beaver Deftones Phantom Bride IPA or Rogue Dead Guy Lager
Wine Du Jour
Bogle Phantom Red or Livingston Cellars Red Rose
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
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Photo attributions: “Her Majesty’s Theatre – Haymarket, London – The Phantom of the Opera” by ell brown is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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