The transformation of Broadway from a regular New York City street to the world's preeminent theater district began in earnest during the last two decades of the 19th century. While theatrical performances had been a part of New York life since the 1750s, several technological and cultural developments converged to create what we now recognize as Broadway. In 1880, when our story begins, Broadway was still primarily lit by gas lamps. The installation of Thomas Edison's electric lights along the theater district in the early 1880s created the brilliant white glow that gave the area its enduring nickname. The Bijou Theatre, where Clara was headed that evening, became one of the first theaters in the world to be fully powered by electricity in 1882.