THE GENESIS OF VARI*LITE
Story from PLSN
The story is legendary. At a barbecue joint in Dallas in the fall of 1980, the prototype of a color changing light fixture was taken to another level when Jack Maxson, a founding partner of sound company Showco, casually suggested: “Add two more motors and it moves.” The development of the first Vari*Lite automated luminaire created its own company when it went into production from a paper sketch to its premiere on September 25, 1981.
The brand continues to shine on with new people and new products, now under the ownership of Signify. But a 40-year history lends itself to some tales of a time when the concert industry was somewhat in the dark, creating its bedrock to build the foundation that endures today.
Tales are meant to be told. PLSN called upon three pioneers —Rusty Brutsche, Jim Bornhorst and Tom Littrell — to reflect on that first fixture, that first control system, and that first tour of the Vari-Lite brand and company.
We’ll it’s time to embarrass myself. Mark Hammer scraped out of the den some old photos of me back in the bad ole Vari*Lite days and gave them to me for my 50th. So I though I’d share them… thanks Mark.
1. Here’s one of me 40 feet in the air in Darwin on the set of Hey Hey It’s Saturday. I miss the days where we didn’t wear a harness!
2. Here is the old Vari*Lite prep room. While running test chases they use to break faster than you can fix them…. Aaaaaaaggggggg… I love the white VL2 in the corner. This must have been in the mid 90s since I can see some VL5s hanging.
3. Fixing yet another VL4… I was so cool with hair and glasses and my dads 20year old hand me down jumper… The epitome of style…haha.
4. Programming the good ole’ Artisan console for Chaka Khan in the old exhibition halls in Darling Harbour. After being up all night and programming the show for about 14 hours straight, they came in the next morning to tell me the show was cancelled!