Disco lighting in the late seventies?

[Tim Tam]

Hi,

I am interested in the types of disco lighting there was back in the day.

I am setting up my music room wit a bit of Disco lighting to enhance the listening experience and would like to know the sort of lighting that would fit the period.

I already have a mirror ball array with 16, 12, 8 and 6 inch diameter balls (with motors) lit by two Par 36 pin spots one with a colour wheel. They are not actually set up as I have to reinforce the ceiling first!

In the future I hope to add a couple of DJ lighting effects and wonder what sort of thing I should go for? Would things like a mushroom and a moonflower scanner be appropriately "period"? If not, what should I be looking for?

Cheers,
Tim Tam

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

4-channel rope lights

[EricHG23]

Sligthly off topic, but when I was a kid Sesame Street used to sometimes have a disco part or something (I think it was Sesame Street). I was born in 1980, so it prob was sometime between 82-85. I remember I was amazed that the floor had coloured squares that would light up! So for me that was what a disco must ALWAYS have...

how disappointed I was when I finally started clubbign that nowhere I knew had a floor like that (it wasn't until a few years ago I finally went to one)

[Tim Tam]

Thanks Stephen and Eric.

I hadn't thought about those rope lights. Those would be very 70's. Didn't see them at the DJ lighting place I deal with though.

RE those SNF style lighted floors. Pretty cool but a bit out of my budget. Although if I ever won the lotto, well.......
There was only one place I ever went that had the lighted floor and the main thing I remember about it was the danger. It was raised about 12-14 inches off the main floor (without a guard rail) and when you were dancing near the edge you had to be very careful or you would fall off. How they ever got it past their insurers I will never know.

How on earth did this end up on the "Record Care" board though? I haven't mentioned anything a about records.
Bernie moves in mysterious ways.

Cheers,
Tim Tam

[FranceJoliFan]

I am setting up my music room wit a bit of Disco lighting to enhance the listening experience and would like to know the sort of lighting that would fit the period.

The rope lights are a nice idea. Back in 1980 I remember a dancefloor with cut grooves along the length, with rope lights inserted every six inches. While dancing to Shalamar and Cameo my goal was to step right on a light so my clear plastic soles would light up (Crayons were popular back then--the shoes, not the Donna cd.)

TT: How big is your room? And are you just going to sit and listen, or will this be used for dancing?

If you're just looking for decorative touches, I'd track down an infinity light. You hang these on the wall like a poster. The back part is a mirror. The front part is glass you can see through (backed with a mirror coating.) And there's clear lights around the edge in the space between the two mirrors. So the lights get reflected over and over and they seem to go off into infinity. Very hip during that period. Look for them at thrift stores, eBay, and craigslist.

Optical lights were also popular then. Kind of tacky. They looked like sprouting plants made out of stiff fishing line. And the ends would turn different colors. Some of them also rotated. Would look neat to have several grouped together.

Neon might seem expensive. But I've found good deals online (once free even.) Old bar/beer signs. Or business names/logos. My favorite is finding a section of neon in a straight line. It looks good as molding along a wall, just below the ceiling, as an architectural detail. And if you want to be "period", pink neon seemed to be the height of fashion by 1979 (in a Xanadu way.)

A Radio Shack strobe light is a staple (with or without the cheap colored gels.)

A fluorescent blacklight is fun. But make sure you turn off the other lights for full effect. And put up a day-glo marijuana poster.

Nowadays you can buy inexpensive Christmas lights with adjustable flashing. Find the kind with a knob that lets you control the speed. You can get a neat effect attaching them to your ceiling, spreading them out like a sunburst. Or in a spiral pattern around your disco ball.

I hope these suggestions help. (As a teenager I obsessively decorated our rec room as a disco (on a very tight budget), so this is near and dear to my heart.)

[Tim Tam]

Thanks for the suggestions France Joli Fan.

Unfortunately, the room is just for listening not dancing. It is basically a study and with the couch and storage units there is not a whole lot of room for dancing although sometimes I break into a bit of spontaneous solo Hustle.

If you're just looking for decorative touches, I'd track down an infinity light.

I've not heard of the infinity light before although your description gives me an idea of what it would look like. I will check out evilbay.

Optical lights were also popular then. Kind of tacky.

Don't say they are tacky. I think they look terrific. At least a good one anyway. When I was about 10 or 12 my parents had an Art Gallery and next door was a gift shop with an enormous optical fibre lamp. I used to just sit for ages outside the window gazing at this thing. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. So I have always had a soft spot for them. I also remember that it was very expensive, about $600 which was a LOT of money back then. I glad you reminded me about these, I definitely want to track down a couple of these.

A Radio Shack strobe light is a staple (with or without the cheap colored gels.)

I could definitely get one of these. Although I hope it doesn't cause me to have an epeleptic fit like a Japanese kid watching Pikachu on the TV.:icon_smile:
They have almost caused me to fall down the stairs at a nightclub a couple of times though.

A fluorescent blacklight is fun. But make sure you turn off the other lights for full effect. And put up a day-glo marijuana poster.

You obviously didn't listen when Nancy Reagan told you to, "Just say no."

Nowadays you can buy inexpensive Christmas lights with adjustable flashing. Find the kind with a knob that lets you control the speed. You can get a neat effect attaching them to your ceiling, spreading them out like a sunburst. Or in a spiral pattern around your disco ball.

This suggestion interested me a lot because it might let me re-create an effect I really like. I have seen some videos on Youtube with a frame above the dance floor with lots of lights flashing in sequence. I think this could be recreated on a small scale using Chrissie lights. Thanks for the idea.

I hope these suggestions help. (As a teenager I obsessively decorated our rec room as a disco (on a very tight budget), so this is near and dear to my heart.)

Yes, the suggestions were of enormous help. Thanks for taking the time to help out.

I just wonder if you have a home Disco lighting setup nowadays given your enthusiasm as a teenager? If not, I think you ought to. Re-live the glory days. The lighting really does enhance the Disco listening experience. Apart from the suggestions you have made the semi-professional Disco lighting (fine for home use) is quite inexpensive. Even in Australia most of the lighting effects go for $150-180 and it is considerably cheaper in the U.S. and UK.

I was also interested to hear when talking to the lighting shop guy that much of his business is supplying lighting to people doing what I am doing. So it is not that weird. Okay, maybe it is still weird but at least not all that uncommon.

Cheers,
Tim Tam

[FranceJoliFan]

I was also interested to hear when talking to the lighting shop guy that much of his business is supplying lighting to people doing what I am doing.

Sounds like a good contact to have.

Keep me posted on what you find (maybe you could photograph some of it.)

[Tim Tam]

Hi France Joli Fan,

when I get everything set up I will take some pics and post them here.

Cheers,
Tim Tam

[FranceJoliFan]

when I get everything set up I will take some pics and post them here.

I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Also, I found an infinity light picture:



What do you think?

[Tim Tam]

I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Also, I found an infinity light picture:



What do you think?

I like it. Seeing a pic does cause a bell to ring but I am certain I have never seen one "in the flesh". Most likely in a film or TV show.

I did a bit of a search after seeing your pic. Like many of the 70's lamps they go for fairly big prices. Might be out of my range unless I can find one where the owner doesn't know the collectors price.

I thought I would give Youtube a try and amazingly enough there was a video of one in operation. Seems like everything can be found on Youtube.



Thanks,
Tim Tam

[FranceJoliFan]

I thought I would give Youtube a try and amazingly enough there was a video of one in operation. Seems like everything can be found on Youtube.

Cool video. (When you set up your disco listening room you should take some video footage of it and post it on YouTube yourself.)

I found this pic online:



Someone described it as their disco room door. More 80's looking with the balck and white graphic. But I like the op-art infinity effect (and the purple walls in the hall.) If only we could see what's inside.

: )

[flatliners]

try this website vintagelighteffects.come2me.nl - Clay Paky lots of harvesters cosmos balls and other 70s / 80s effects
american dj do an effect in a 70/80 style called called the accu ufo led it uses led lamps and they last for thousands of hours

[Tim Tam]

Thanks for the link Flatliners.

Some pretty impressive stuff there. Seems like there are people out there who collect vintage lighting effects. Haven't heard of that before but it is sure more interesting than collecting, say, Barbie dolls.

I checked out (Youtube) the American DJ Accu UFO too. Pretty impressive as well but the price tag is a bit frightening.

I actually picked up a "Mushroom" disco light today. A lot of people dismiss this light as too basic but to me it feels very retro and the colours are fantastic. Only $140 AUD too. I love it!

Cheers,
Tim Tam

[Tim Tam]

As requested, here is a very short video of the lighting setup I have in the music room.

The quality is low as it was done using the movie setting on a still camera. The best I can do though.

Cheers,
TimTam