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” (<strong>PLSN</strong> 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 <strong>com</strong>pany 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 <strong>com</strong>plete 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.<strong>com</strong> W-DMX Wireless University Sept. 9 Earl’s Court Two London www.wirelessdmx.<strong>com</strong> Prolight + Sound Shanghai Oct. 9-12 Shanghai New International Expo Centre Shanghai, China http://pls.messefrankfurt.<strong>com</strong> LDI Oct. 20-26 Las Vegas, NV www.ldishow.org Parnelli Celebrity Classic Oct. 23 Siena Golf Club Las Vegas, NV www.parnelliawards.<strong>com</strong>/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 <strong>com</strong>pany 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 <strong>com</strong>panies such as Bluefin Productions, Inc., Parnelli Awards Gala Oct. 24 Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV www.parnelliawards.<strong>com</strong> 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.<strong>com</strong>/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 <strong>com</strong>ets with tail chases, 27 multi-shot <strong>com</strong>et boards and 54 silver <strong>com</strong>ets 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 <strong>PLSN</strong> SEPTEMBER 2008
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