The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera became the prize possession of Gaston Leroux, who was born in 1868 in Paris, France.

On the 6th May, he wrote the novel about a disfigured man who dresses in masks, and capes and terrorizes the opera house, while falling in love with the leading lady.

The phantom was much based upon Leroux’s own experiences during his early years as a journalist in the late 1800’s where Leroux spent time visiting the Paris opera house and watching performances and was influenced by Charles Gounod’s Opera, “Faust”.

"Faust" is an opera about a man who sells his soul to the devil.

On one occasion, the chandelier, which featured prominently in the opera house, accidentally fell upon the audience.

Combining the singers, Faust, and the chandelier together, Gaston created the Phantom of The Opera.

In 1923 Carl Lemmale head of the new Universal Pictures in Hollywood made the silent film version of the Phantom of The Opera with Lon Chaney in the lead role.

Since then, the Phantom of the Opera has become so popular that it has inspired 5 feature remakes, one in 1943, then in 1962, and again in 1989.

A television version in 1990 was also made and then recently remade in 1999.

Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of The Opera” has played to over 100 million people in 22 countries, 113 cities around the world since its first performance.

The New York production alone has enchanted over 10 million audience members in its over19 years run.

Gaston Leroux died on the 15th April of acute urinary infection.