A light and sound sign

As part of its special Christmas decoration last year, one of the large Parisian Department Stores (Grands Magasins du Louvre) erected on the face of its building a large electric sign (about 160 ft. long and 80 ft. high) representing in colors a panoramic view of a fete on the River Seine. On the distant bank of the river, an impressive display of fire works was produced by flashing Tamp effects, the appearance of the rockets, fountains, pinwheels, etc., being accompanied by realistic noises and explosions mechanically produced, and by smoke effects produced by steam. The cycle of operation required about twelve minutes, and then repeated. There were 15,000 lamps (ranging in size from 15 to 400 watts) used in the sign, which required nearly 50 miles of wiring and 35 motors for operating switches. The sign was made by the “Etablissements Jacopozzi.”