Make sure you are not blocking content.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop

Thanks Fred. In Safe Mode, the problem did not occur. But I don't want to operate in Safe Mode. Nonetheless, it gave me the clue to look at extensions, themes, add-ons, etc. to see if the issue was linked to one of those. A refresh proved to eliminate the problem, so I will cautiously look at the few extensions, themes, and add-ons I was using and eliminate the culprit.

Firefox shows an highlighted shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case Tracking Protection is blocking content.

• click the shield icon for more details and possibly disable the protection

You can check in the Web Console what content is blocked.

• "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Web Developer
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.

• make sure your extensions and filters are updated to the latest version
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems

If it works in Safe Mode and in normal mode with all extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) disabled then try to find which extension is causing the problem by enabling one extension at a time until the problem reappears.

Close and restart Firefox after each change via one of these:

• "3-bar" menu button -> Exit (Power button)
• Windows: File -> Exit
• Mac: Firefox -> Quit Firefox
• Linux: File -> Quit