# How did “red carpets” come to be adopted as the fancy color?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-red-carpets-come-to-be-adopted-as-the-fancy-color/1003266>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Tags:** movies\
**Created:** [June 24, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-red-carpets-come-to-be-adopted-as-the-fancy-color/1003266 "2024-06-24T10:33:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-red-carpets-come-to-be-adopted-as-the-fancy-color/1003266/1 "2024-06-24T10:33:16Z")

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It’s seen at movie premieres and big events, and the phrase “roll out the red carpets.” Why did red specifically become the color to welcome the rich n’ famous?

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-red-carpets-come-to-be-adopted-as-the-fancy-color/1003266/2 "2024-06-24T12:08:02Z")

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[Red Carpet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_carpet)

> A red carpet was rolled out to a river to welcome the arrival of United States president [James Monroe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe) in 1821.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_carpet?useskin=vector#cite_note-2) In 1902, the [New York Central Railroad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Central_Railroad) began using plush crimson carpets to direct people as they boarded their _[20th Century Limited](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century_Limited)_ passenger train. This is believed to be the origin of the phrase “red-carpet treatment”.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_carpet?useskin=vector#cite_note-3)
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> By the late 1920s the red carpet had become synonymous with [Hollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_States) and film [premieres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premiere). A crimson-hued carpet was used for the first ever Hollywood premiere, the 1922 premiere of _[Robin Hood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fairbanks_in_Robin_Hood)_, starring [Douglas Fairbanks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fairbanks), in front of the [Egyptian Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grauman%27s_Egyptian_Theatre). For the following decades, the red carpet was one of the few places the public could catch a glimpse of stars like [Clark Gable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Gable), [Jimmy Stewart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Stewart) and [Grace Kelly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Kelly).[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_carpet?useskin=vector#cite_note-auto-4)
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> In 1961, the red carpet was introduced at the [Academy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards) at the [Santa Monica Civic Auditorium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Civic_Auditorium). In 1964, the broadcasters of the ceremony opted to film outside the venue, showing the arrival of guests as they stepped out of their limousines. From this point forward, the red carpet became a globally acknowledged focal point for actors and actresses to make a grand entrance and showcase themselves at the Oscars.[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_carpet?useskin=vector#cite_note-auto-4)

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-red-carpets-come-to-be-adopted-as-the-fancy-color/1003266/3 "2024-06-24T21:25:41Z")

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> [@Love\_Rhombus](#):
>
> Why did red specifically become the color to welcome the rich n’ famous?

Because it was already the colour of the rich and famous long before those kind of events? Basically after Tyrian purple no longer was the thing, kermes and cochineal and similar, _very_ expensive, dyes were the indication of wealth and luxury. Even after synthetics became a thing, the associations no doubt lingered.