This is the archive, no???

Sunday YouTube Video – History of Stage Lamps

A late but great Sunday Youtube Video. This past week I learned a LOT. But why does it have to end? Let’s keep learning! Take a look at this great video about the history of stage lighting and lamps. No, nothing is wrong with your speakers, there is no sound. Prepare to read and learn just a little bit about our interesting industry.

Have a great rest of your weekend and take charge of the week ahead.

#LDI2010: Rosco Celebrates 100 Years and Announces Two New Products

2010 Marks the 100th anniversary of Rosco Labs.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ROSCO!  Congratulations on 100 years, here is to hundreds and hundreds more!  At LDI 2010, Rosco had 100 years of history of the company on display.  WOW, there were some pretty interesting facts and old products and swatch books on display. Joel Svendsen of Rosco has a great post on the recently launched Rosco Spectrum Blog about some of the History of Rosco and were the labs part of the name came into play.

Rosco’s New York Sale Rep, Chad Tiller was kind enough to do yet another on camera appearance for me to go over some of the history of Rosco and some of the latest technology and products that Rosco is continuing to develop.  Take a look at the video and then head over to www.rosco.com to learn more. Thanks Chad for being a great sport, you’re awesome man!

Book Review: The Designs of Jules Fisher

The history of lighting design is taught in almost every entry level theatre appreciation class at the college level in the states.  It almost every textbook associated with that level of class gives a brief and limited lesson of the history of lighting design and the pioneers of the our field. It’s in these classes that we begin to hear the names Appia, Melziner and other designers that shaped our future and formed the foundation of what we know and understand today.

But what about current designers and leaders in our industry?  Information and the history of designers of the late 20th century can be difficult to locate. The United States Institute for Theatre Technology is out to change that.  In the past year, USITT has released two books that help shed light on our not to distant past.  One of these books is The Designs of Jules Fisher by Delbert Unruh. As you might be able to tell from the title, the books is about the life and designs of legendary Broadway lighting designer, Mr. Jules Fisher. The book is a biography of sorts detailing the early life of Mr. Fisher and how magic influenced his life long passion for the arts and specifically lighting design.

John Lahr, senior drama critic for the New York Times and a a well-respected connoisseur of theatre in New York provided the foreword to The Designs book and writes with great passion and praise of one of Broadway’s leaders in lighting design. His words set the stage perfectly:

“If Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat, it could be said that Fisher, who has done the lighting design to over a hundred Broadway productions as well as the lights for such iconic New York pleasure domes as Studio 54, is the Sultan of Watt.  If he were one of his lights, in terms of his accomplishments (he has eight Tony Awards), Fisher should be a pin spot: bright, intense isolated in his uniqueness from every one around him. But Fisher, who is a gent as well as a giant in his field, gives off a cooler radiance: he’s an amber gel, I think: limpid, subtle, blending with the world around him.”

With praise and affection like this, it warms my heart that somebody truly recognizes what we do is an art. Fisher deserves this type of recognition as he has worked in the industry for most of his life and has dedicated his time and energy to innovation in lighting and developing techniques to accomplish dazzling effects and moods on stage. It is with this sentiment that The Designs as written.

With any biography, you can expect to learn and understand more about a person. This, of course, holds true for The Designs of Jules Fisher, but in a different way. While the book begins with the early years of Fisher’s life, we learn how magic and curiosity played a huge roll in developing one of the most well-known lighting designers Broadway stages and the silver screen has ever seen. After learning what has and continues to influence Fisher’s passion about lighting design, the book begins with his early career starting off with his summer job at Valley Forger Music Fair in 1954, his move to New York City in 1959 to work off-Broadway, and forward through the years.

The book is a time line of Fisher’s distinguished lighting design career and each show he’s lit. Along the way, the authors interject Fisher’s fondest and most memorable moments of each show and provides a bit of insight into what it was like.

[singlepic id=1124 w=320 h=240 float=left]All throughout the book, there are numerous amounts of production photos, lighting plots, and drawing details are included to help illustrate Fisher’s hard work, determination, and drive to advance the art of lighting design. Fisher is an innovator and throughout his career, he’s developed unique devices and lighting solutions that had never been though of before.  Scattered in the book are drawings of these solutions to problems that Fisher faced, such as designing a light that is able to pan and tilt remotely. Something that today’s designers take for granted was only just a dream until pioneers like Fisher started daring to dream big and take a chance on developing these types of off-the-wall ideas for their time.

The Designs of Jules Fisher provides an excellent overview of one of our industries leading designers, what influenced him then and still does today, and how he became one of the most successful lighting designers of our time. I have mentioned this before, but in order to understand where we are going and what is to come in our industry’s future, we must learn from past — learn about where we came from. History has a funny way of repeating itself. With the knowledge of our past, we can move forward and innovate in the same spirit as our predecessors and do the same for future generations of designers.

As a history buff and lighting designer, I recommend reading The Designs of Jules Fisher.  Not only does it paint a wonderful picture of the life of a great designer, but provides lessons for future designers on what it takes to not only practice our craft, but to be great at it.

In addition, Fisher shares his knowledge and passion of lighting by educating and developing the minds of future lighting designers through the Broadway Lighting Master Classes.  Mr. Fisher serves as the Creative Director of the event held in the spring time in New York City and hosted by Live Design. Mr. Fisher brings in some of the most well respected Broadway lighting designers of our time to share their passion and understanding of light.

With the book, The Designs of Jules Fisher and contributing his time and knowledge of the industry with the Broadway Lighting Master Classes, Mr. Fisher is ensuring the development of not just our industry, but the designers of today and into the future.

You can purchase a copy of The Designs of Jules Fisher through the USITT website.  Current USITT members pay $30 USD while non-members can purchase the book for $35.00.

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Books: Late & Great: American Designers 1960-2010

I am a huge history buff.  I just can’t get enough learning about our past!  ESPECIALLY when it comes to our industry. I’ve mentioned it before and I’ll say it again.  I feel that we should look to the past and learn about where we can from to help us move forward. History has a way of foretelling our future in some way shape or form.  Will history tell us what the next great thing is, probably not, but think about trends.

Back to the book.  USITT has announced the release of their latest book, Late & Great: American Designers, 1960-2010.  The book is written by Bobbie Owen but 27 authors contributed to producing this look into our history. Here is a little more from the description.

Designers participate in the creation of art and entertainment productions with the same level of professionalism as performers and directors, but their names are less often remembered and their contributions can often recede into the collective memory. Late & Great: American Designers 1960-2010 helps to raise designers’ public profile by honoring 25 designers with a record of their artistry.

The book is published by Broadway Press and is available through the USITT website, www.usitt.org for $40 USD for current USITT members and $45 USD for non-members.

Fred Foster and the History of ETC Consoles at USITT

The history lessons just don’t stop when you are on a roll!  During USITT in Kansas City, Fred Foster, CEO of Electronic Theatre Controls happen to be wondering around the 50 years of Lighting Display by the USITT Lighting Commission.  Mr. Foster was kind enough to take some time out and walk us through a little bit of ETC’s console history.

These are the times that I really love what I am doing here.  How often do you get a chance to hear about how something was developed or the history of a company directly from the source?  Rather then hogging this memory to myself, I cranked out the Flip and got him on camera to share with you. I have to do it… Thank you again to the USITT Lighting Commission. A most EXCELLENT job!

UPDATE:

Thanks everyone for letting me know about the video not playing.  I just fixed it so enjoy Mr. Foster’s history lesson!

Anne Valentino & Console History at USITT 2010

Yesterday I post the first of a copy of history lessons from USITT starting with Gordan Pearlman talking about the Kliegl Performer.  Anne Valentino, an industry legend and console goddess was kind enough to walk me through some of her history with almost all of the console on display at the USITT 50 years of Lighting Display. On top of talking about Anne’s part in developing the consoles, she gives us a rare look into some of the stories behind the consoles.  Come on, who doesn’t like a little load in nightmare stories?

Thanks again to the USITT Lighting Commission for this wonderful display. You did a great job! I can’t wait to see all of the missing consoles and fixtures that were not there this year.

Gordan Pearlman Explains the Kliegl Performer at USITT 2010

One of the most exciting and well attended booths at USITT was the USITT Lighting Commission’s, 50 years of lighting display, or better known as the lighting museum.  Joshua Williamson, Todd Proffitt, Tracey Fitch, Andrea Bilkey and Jennifer Griffin put in countless hours to pull all this together for us. One of the most exciting times of the show was seeing industry legends talk about their involvement and history with the different consoles that were on display.

The first of these history lessons comes from Mr. Gordan Pearlman.  He was one of the two people behind developing the Kliegl Performer Lighting Console. It was amazing to watch these industry legends talk and reminisce about these consoles and retell some of the stories about how their consoles came to life.

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