Light the Night
During the 1880 Christmas season, Thomas Edison introduced the first outdoor electric Christmas light display to the world. He displayed lights outside his laboratory compound, and this was the first “official” outdoor Christmas light display that was separate from decorating the Christmas tree. A few years later, an inventor named Edward Johnson created the first string of Christmas lights under the supervision of Edison. The string of lights was made out of 80 small electric light bulbs. By 1890, the strings of lights were being mass produced and department stores started using them in their Christmas window displays. By the 1950s, string lights became more affordable for the masses, and by the 1960s, families from all over were lining the roofs of their tract homes in brightly colored lights.
Jim Roberts grew up in one such family. His parents would decorate the house with lights, and starting at around the age of 8, he would start to change and improve the lights after them. You might say a spark was ignited.
Six decades later Jim still puts up a spectacular display that has grown quite a bit over the years. He usually begins around November 20th, getting everything out and assembling some pieces ahead of time. The day after Thanksgiving is go time and he does his best to be finished by December 1st, although it sometimes gets pushed out a couple days. Every year is a bit different, with elements being added and changed along the way. His display includes snowmen, Santa Claus, icicles, candy canes, several inflatables, and hundreds of lights, many of which are synchronized to music.
Jim and his wife, Jonze, have been KFM Clients for 8 years and Jim has been a friend of the Kemp Financial Family for about 20 years. They enjoy playing golf and are regular attendees at KFM events. They live in a 55+ neighborhood where their Christmas light display is enjoyed by their neighbors, their families, and thanks to pictures and video, us!
Thank you, Jim and Jonze, for sharing your dazzling light display and Christmas Spirit with us all.
Take a look at the video below to see Jim’s light display in action!