Posted by Bob Thompson on Monday, September 18, 2006 at 11:33PM :
In Reply to: How about "Close the light."? posted by apb in NY on Monday, September 18, 2006 at 10:34PM :
one had to turn off the gas at individual fixtures by closing the valve. Or at least that's what I was told when I took exception to that phrase some years ago.
There was also an alternative source that refers to theatrical stage lighting . The foot lights were contained in boxes with a movable shutter. To darken the stage one closed the lights.