Why Do We Say Steal My Thunder?

Previous to the invention of synthesized sound, sound results within the theater needed to be produced mechanically. For instance, as Theatre Crafts explains, the sound of footsteps could possibly be created by an offstage machine that used rotating cams to knock plungers in opposition to a field, making a loud “thud.” When it got here to thunder, SFX artists may produce the sound by, say, rolling steel balls down a trough or shaking a skinny piece of steel, in line with Psychological Floss. 

Within the early 1700s, John Dennis invented a brand new manner of manufacturing the thunder impact for a manufacturing of the John Webster play “Appius and Virginia.” As an alternative of grinding lead balls in a bowl, Dennis used steel balls in what was often called the “mustard bowl” method. Webster’s play got here and went with no actual consideration paid to it, however Dennis’ new thunder impact was sensational.

A while later, Dennis was at a manufacturing of “MacBeth,” when he heard his new thunder sound impact. “That’s my thunder, by God! The villains is not going to play my play however they steal my thunder,” he shouted from his seat, inflicting a raucous in the course of the manufacturing, but on the identical time giving delivery to a brand new phrase for the English language.