Limelight is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2012. We asked Bill Beautyman to reflect back over those 40 years. - Editor
When/how was Limelight started?
It really started with my work as grip, gaffer and film loader for a documentary film about Norman Rockwell. The film, "Norman Rockwell's World An American Dream" won an Academy Award in 1972 for "Best Short Subject Live Action Film." I supplied some Berkey Colortran lighting equipment used for some of the scenes. Limelight still has those original Berkey Colortran kits in its inventory. My van was used for transporting all the gear and some of the shots were taken from a platform on top of the van. The back of my TR-6 served as the camera car for some of the moving shots. I even made my film debut in the “Arrow Shirt Man” scene. In the film credits, I was listed as “Assistant to the Cameraman.”
So you had a couple of Berkey Colortran location lighting kits. What else was in the early “inventory” at Limelight.
If I recall correctly, the original theatrical lighting inventory consisted of a couple dozen Kliegl 1355 ellipsoidals, some Kliegl 3606 fresnels and two Berkey Colortran dimmer six packs. Those early dimmer packs were beasts compared to today's equipment – a six pack of 2.4K dimmers weighed in at 85lbs. At some point – I don't remember which came first – I also had a Kliegl kliegpac 9. The kliegpac weighed in at 88lbs.
Anyone who's been around long enough can tell you, those 1355 were tough to work with – big fat bodies, stepped lenses that really undermined the whole concept of what an ellipsoidal was supposed to be able to do. Forget about a sharp shutter cut. I think we still have one hanging around the shop.
For comparison, what is the rental inventory like today?
Limelight has well over 1000 fixtures in the current inventory. We've got large quantities of all the popular fixtures including, of course, Source Fours in all varieties, and virtually every accessory available – color changers, auto yokes, etc. We've also got a lot of film equipment from Arri, Strand, etc, including a HUGE Arri 20K fixture.
Dimmer wise we've got everything from self-contained six packs for small clubs and DJs to 96-Dimmer Racks for touring applications. We also have a range of control options with the ETC Ion currently being the popular favorite.
Do you remember who your first rental customer was?
Limelight's first rental customer was probably the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and we've worked with them continuously for 40 years now. The Berkshire Theatre Festival was also an early client.
If you had to guess, what is the oldest item that you still have in your active inventory.
Well I know that we do have at least one Kliegl 1355, but that's out of service. The oldest working equipment is probably a tie between a mirror ball and a lobsterscope. The lobsterscope is one of those odd pieces of vintage equipment that seems to come back into vogue periodically. In fact, recently we had enough demand that we had several more made. For all I know, Limelight may be the only rental house that still has lobsterscopes.
I've also got a collection of vintage gel books (Cinemoid, Roscolar), shelves full of spec sheets, old dimmer parts for Luxtrol auto-transformers, etc. We've also still got some vintage Roscolene and Gelatran color sheets in our sales inventory.
What the newest addition to inventory?
The newest equipment worth noting would have to be the ETC Ion consoles. But check back next week, because we always seem to be adding something . . .
About Limelight Productions
Since 1972, Limelight has provided lighting equipment and supplies for theatrical, film, television and special event productions throughout the northeast. Limelight also provides consultation and equipment installation, including manual and automated rigging systems for renovations and new construction, as well as custom curtain fabrication for theatres, studios, houses of worship and architectural applications.
Limelight is a recognized Employer of ETCP Certified Technicians.
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