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NEWS
In Brief
The USITT-USA Exhibit Committee is
preparing for the next Prague Quadrennial
in June 2011 and is looking for an Exhibit
Tour Director, Manager, Student Exhibit
Mentor, National Exhibit Designer and Videographer.
Applicants should apply by Sept.
15, 2008. For more info, contact abonds@
uoregon.edu … The Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America (IES)
has received 400 entries for its International
Illumination Design Awards (IIDA) program
and will present eight International Awards
and 151 Awards of Merit at the IES Annual
Conference on Nov. 9, 2008 in Savannah,
Ga. … ETC announced its 2008 LDI Student-
Sponsorship recipients: Rosemarie Cruz,
Kent State University (KSU); Greg Goff, NYU’s
Tisch School of the Arts; Sarah Kamender,
Bob See / Norman Leornard
When I read the line, “Norman
Leonard single-handedly
changed the industry” (PLSN
Interview: Bob See, Aug. 2008) I
was hit like a bolt with a very
vivid memory of my very first
THE EDITOR
tour. It was the 1970s, and I was
anxious to go on the road after
working a couple of years as a
local stagehand. The opportunity arrived in the form of the 1975 U.S.
Tour of The Soviet Circus. It had been out for about two stops, and they
wanted to hire a guy to set up the the small 208VAC power distro system
that ran a variety of Russian props and gags and call follow spots.
I was encouraged by my Local’s B.A. to grab the chance, so I did. I was
greener than grass, 20 years old, no experience, but willing. The third
stop after I joined the show was MSG. I will never forget meeting Mr.
Leonard. It was about 8:15 a.m. and he is informing me that I, and my
PROJECTION LIGHTS & STAGING NEWS
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Liverpool,
U.K.; Darren E. Levin, University of
Texas-Austin; Porsche McGovern, California
Institute of the Arts, Valencia, Calif.; and Jeremy
M. Sinicki, University of Florida…Robe
Lighting is collaborating with Netherlandsbased
Leasing Services to offer flexible financing
to its clients and business partners,
through the company directly or more than
40 distributors.
gear, are a hazard to the industry. He went on to explain what exactly
he meant by that. Twecos, welding cable (undersized no less) no chase
nipples in or out of the distribution boxes, and improper grounding.
He read me the riot act in the middle of The Garden pretty much reducing
me to a face in hands moment of complete panic. Thank God
for the IA Head there, he came over, said it would be okay. He sent his
guys out to acquire all the materials Mr. Leonard had spec’ed, came
back, and helped me fix the whole magilla before show time. Three
years later, I’m in MSG again, this time as the Assistant Electrician with
Holiday On Ice under a very talented guy who prided himself in being
prepared for Mr. Leonard when we played there. Even with all the
prep we did, Norman still managed to find the six inch chase into our
dimmer box an inch too small. He was, as Bob See said, very thorough.
I have developed a strong respect for Norman Leonard as the years
have progressed and I have matured. I would agree, he did change
the industry.
—Jinx Kidd, IATSE Local16, ETCP Certified Electrician
CALENDAR
PLASA Show
Sept. 7-10
Earl’s Court
London
www.plasashow.com
W-DMX Wireless University
Sept. 9
Earl’s Court Two
London
www.wirelessdmx.com
Prolight + Sound Shanghai
Oct. 9-12
Shanghai New International
Expo Centre
Shanghai, China
http://pls.messefrankfurt.com
LDI
Oct. 20-26
Las Vegas, NV
www.ldishow.org
Parnelli Celebrity Classic
Oct. 23
Siena Golf Club
Las Vegas, NV
www.parnelliawards.com/golf
OBITUARIES
Larry E. Nelson
LAS VEGAS —
Larry E. Nelson,
founder of the L.E.
Nelson Sales Corporation,
passed away
from a lengthy illness
on Aug. 12. He
was 65. The company
he founded has
offices in Las Vegas,
Nev. and Fair Lawn,
N.J.
After attending
the University of
Southern California, where he played football
and earned a degree in electrical engineering,
Nelson pursued a career in the entertainment
business and worked for Kliegal, Strand and
Colortran. He then started the home-based
lamp distribution business that formed the
basis of the L.E. Nelson Sales Corp. His wife,
Bernetta, also worked for the business.
Heidi Dowd, Larry’s youngest daughter
and current vice president of L.E. Nelson Sales,
reflected on her father in the following way:
“Growing up my father was a sizeable 6’4”
man. Some people would find that intimidating.
Instead he taught me to always stand with
him and know I was equal in stature.”
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers,
donations be made to Jews for Judaism,
9911 West Pico Blvd., Suite 1240, Los Angeles,
CA 90035.
Alfred P. “Al” Tasch, Jr.
LAWRENCE, MA — Alfred P. “Al” Tasch Jr.,
the service technician with Capron Lighting
and Sound of Needham, Mass., died July 31.
He was 43.
Tasch had been with Capron Lighting
and Sound for eight years. He previously freelanced
for more than a dozen years in the
lighting and sound production industry at
companies such as Bluefin Productions, Inc.,
Parnelli Awards Gala
Oct. 24
Rio Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, NV
www.parnelliawards.com
Sargent Production Services and ALPS Inc.
Tasch is survived by his wife of 14 years,
Paula J. (Bourassa) Tasch, his parents, Alfred
and Lois (Lutz) Tasch, his son, Peter, his daughter,
Allison, and other family members.
A fund has been established for those
wishing to make a donation: the Alfred Tasch
Memorial Fund, c/o Capron Inc., 278 West St.,
Needham, MA 02494.
Ad info:http:// www.plsn.com/instant-info
2008 Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament
Lights Up with Pyro Display
TORONTO — In the days of white tennis
balls and tiny wooden racquets, a tennis
celebration meant polite clapping from the
gallery and a tall glass of iced tea.
These days, things are a little more exciting
in the tennis world.
Even though the nine-day Canadian
Masters tennis tournament, which showcased
the talents of 40 of the world’s top 44
ranked players, wouldn’t be confused with
a sporting event like Wrestlemania, Pyrotek
Special Effects punctuated
the close of each
of the three prime-time
matches with a fireworks
display.
Lorenzo Cornacchia,
Pyrotek’s vice
president, worked with
event coordinators
to implement a new
design for this year’s
event. “It really added
that exclamation mark
for the match winners,”
Cornacchia said.
The displays incorporated 102 of Pyrotek’s
red comets with tail chases, 27
multi-shot comet boards and 54 silver
comets with tails. The fireworks display
fired from the south end of the court for
each evening match.
Pyrotechnicians Tristan Ford and Kenneth
MacDonald set up the effects and
implemented the design from atop the
media booth.
Pyro fired off by Pyrotek Special Effects explodes above the Rexall Centre in Toronto.
10 PLSN SEPTEMBER 2008