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1500
Candles begin to be used
Candles began to be used in the early 1500s. The candles used were traditionally made of tallow (animal fat) and required constant maintenance by stage hands. they had to be trimmed, replaced, or relit at regular intervals. Both the stage and audience were lit, and the candles were augmented by lanterns and torches as the need arose. -
Period: 1500 to
Candle and lamps used
The candles used were traditionally made of tallow (animal fat) and required constant maintenance by stage hands. they had to be trimmed, replaced, or relit at regular intervals. Both the stage and audience were lit, and the candles were augmented by lanterns and torches as the need arose. -
Argand oil lamp begin to replace candles
The Argand lamp, created by the Swiss chemist Aime Argand, was the first "modern" lamp as we know it. It was a precursor to kerosene lamps. The lamps were still hung in clumps above the audience and bracketed to the walls as candles had been. -
Carbon-arc lamp invented
Even though this bright source of lighting was invented in 1808, it wasn't actually used for more than 30 years due to the practicality of getting electricity to it. -
Gas lights begin to be used in theaters
The first gas light system was installed at the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. -
Lime light invented
The lime light was invented by and wasn't a huge success like you would thik, given how the name persists today. It was made of -
Period: to
Gas lighting used
There were a number of pros and cons to gas lighting. The gas jet was brighter than lamps and candles were. It also had more control over the brightness. It had smooth brightening and dimming capabilities at controllable variable speeds. On the other hand it made the theaters very hot and was rather odorous. It was also an extreme fire hazard despite precautions taken, such as glass chimneys. -
Gas lighting experimental in western countries
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Gas table makes its appearance
The gas table is a type of control board that they used. Gas lighting was widely used at this time -
Incandescent light patented
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First electrical lighting system
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Electrical spotlight invented
This was an important point in theatrical history because it signaled the beginning of modern lights as we know them. -
Fresnel lens spotlight used
That style of lens, fresnel, is still used today in a lighting instrument named after it. These lenses are also used in lighthouses. -
Ellipsoidals Introduced
Ellipsoidal lights are a style of light that use reflectors and a concave lens to focus the light. This type of light is still commonly used today, with some new features of course. -
Altman introduces Axial ellipsoidal
An updated version of the old style, these have 4 shutters to trim the edges of the light to a straight side. They also include an a lense that can be moved forward or back to focus the light. -
ETC introduces Source4 Ellipsoidal
These are one of the last technological advances for the old world of tungston lights. The body of the instrument is much more sleek looking and the Source4 is now the industry standard for ellipsoidal lights. It's also lighter and easier to focus than previous lights. -
LEDs advance enough to begin to be used
One place they get used the most is at concerts -
Moving lights introduced
These were a game changer. They cut down on the number of instruments needed and are also heavily used in concerts and sporting events
