The Evolution of the Spotlight

As ABBA once famously sang, “Tonight, the super trouper beams are gonna blind me.” In case you didn’t know, in “Super Trouper,” the bouncy 1970s pop band was singing about spotlights. 

There are few theatrical tools as well known as the spotlight, and there’s an excellent reason for that! Spotlights have been around for a long time. They are incredibly versatile and can be used in innovative ways.

Resembling small searchlights, these luminaries are designed to project light onto well-defined areas, drawing attention to a character, or emphasizing a crucial part of dialogue, emotion, or action. After all, imagine Lady Macbeth guiltily uttering “Out, damned spot,” without dramatic illumination on an otherwise dark, still stage. It doesn’t have the same impact, right?

In addition, spotlights allow certain performers to remain lit while other areas of the stage are dark, drawing the audience’s attention away so they are not distracted when stagehands change the scenery or make other modifications.

Unlike floodlights, they have a concentrated beam that results in sharper shadows. Each spotlight typically includes a high-intensity discharge lamp, a manually focusable lens, a control that allows the operator to change the intensity of the beam, and an iris to adjust its size. 

Read on to learn more about how spotlight technology has evolved and the latest and greatest types and applications.

When Louis Hartmann stole the…well, you get it 

The practical lensed spotlight was invented by Louis Hartmann in 1879, and the first electric spotlight in America was installed on the stage at Boston Bijou's theatre in 1882. In 1904, Hartmann invented a baby lens which was 50 times more powerful than a candle with the added benefit of not causing fires!

Spotlights have come a long way since that 50-watt light first hit the theatre scene!

Here are some of the many varieties today:

Ellipsoidal

Invented in 1933, ellipsoidal reflector spotlights (ERS), also known as Leko lights, focus light onto a very specific, small area of a stage. ERS is the workhorse of theatrical lighting. They usually produce a round-shaped light but can be changed using a shutter, iris, or gobo (a metal filter template placed in a light fixture to project an image or design onto a surface). The components include a bulb, the blades that shape the light, and the lens.

Followspots

A Comet followspot is used on stage when the light needs to follow a performer or other moving object or when the beam size and color need to be varied. It produces a narrow, soft, or sharper-edged beam of light. Followspots are especially well-suited for performers who are always in motion. It would be difficult to capture Lin-Manuel Miranda’s spirited, kinetic stage presence if a light wasn’t following him from one location on the stage to another!

While follow spots are usually controlled manually, the new RobotSpot allows spotlight operators to remotely control up to 12 fixtures simultaneously. This removes the need to be in the rafters of a venue or operating heavy, traditional spot fixtures. Thanks to this state-of-the-art technology, techs have fewer run-ins with operatic phantoms.

Fresnel

A Fresnel spotlight is a soft-edged light that works like a floodlight but with more control over the angle of the beam. Fresnel beams are adjustable, and operators can move the lamp or LED source closer or further away. Thankfully less explosive than its predecessor, but still a lovely way to step into the limelight.

PAR

A PAR spotlight (parabolic aluminized reflector) is one of the most commonly used types of spotlights for the stage. Each PAR spotlight includes a filament, reflector, and lens aligned in fixed positions. The reflector helps concentrate the light and gives it an oval shape (parabola). While PARs don’t give you as much control over the size of the beam, they are the go-to lighting for rock concerts because they illuminate a large area with strong light. They are an excellent choice for an energetic performer like the late Freddie Mercury. He couldn’t rock you if you missed some of the action due to a darkened area of the stage.

A PAR Pin spotlight allows a spotlight operator to focus a narrower beam of light to illuminate a small detail, such as an award, the face of a performer, or a wedding cake.

PORT – Creative lighting for theatrical productions and events

In business since 1985, Port Lighting is committed to providing our clients with the best equipment so you can stage the show of your dreams. Our conscientious, skilled team of 20 experts provides meticulous services. We are passionate about what we do and are 100% committed to excellence across every job – it’s our guiding light in everything we do!

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Want to learn more about what we can do for you? Contact us for a consultation and bring your event into the spotlight.