A trip through a venue's LX history

[paulears]

I found some images and put them together to show how the venue changed over the years. Missing are the second control - a Strand SP60, that came before the M24 and the GSX that came after it. The picture of the M24 (and sound desk in the background with the reel-to-reel) was taken in 1986. The Hog that replaced a borrowed Strand 300 for a couple of years was retired the year before last with the Chamsys.

 

Anybody else have a timeline of their venue's equipment?

http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/1959-2011.jpg

[Ynot]

Hmmm...

I might be able to dig out some...

 

We went from the SP60 to Lightboard M to Strand 300 to the current Ion.

I know I have pics of the first 3 somewhere and can certainly take one of the present setup...

 

Watch this space

 

 

[Albatross]

Good to see that your desklight in the control room hasn't changed in all that time ! :** laughs out loud **:

 

In the B&W photo of the control room it looks like a Strand M24, which would put it somewhere in the 1980's (doh, I re-read what you posted after looking at the pics, and you've already said this)

 

http://www.strandarchive.co.uk/control/memory/tempusm24/tempusm24.html

[boatman]

Good to see that your desklight in the control room hasn't changed in all that time ! :** laughs out loud **:

.

.

 

Well it has changed a bit, it's acquired more windings of LX tape in subsequent pictures!

[paulears]

I found a few other interesting posters

1981 had Lenny Henry, right at the bottom of the bill, twice nightly!

http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/1981poster.jpg

Then 1994

http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/rockonyarmouth.jpg

and if you are really bored - here is the track we recorded for the opening of the show - and it is amazingly cheesy!

show track

Some are sadly dead, and yes - there really was a performer called Dick Van Winkle!(Who is still playing his clarinet!)

[Ynot]

Halfway there.

 

Strand SP60, installed early 70s from new.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j40/Ynot_01/CR-2.jpg

 

The Lightboard M came in 1990 - still looking for that pic...

 

And the Strand 300. Installed also as new in 2003 I believe.

 

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j40/Ynot_01/LX_Desk_1.jpg

 

 

[Grum]

Good to see that your desklight in the control room hasn't changed in all that time ! :** laughs out loud **:

 

Not much in that venue has changed.

 

In the B&W photo of the control room it looks like a Strand M24, which would put it somewhere in the 1980's

 

And the M24 was certainly being used in 1997 and was probably used for a couple of years after that.

 

I do love the Brit, it can be a challenge at times but it's like a second home and almost every variety act between the 50's and 80's played there at some point. Heck, Paul Daniels even met Debbie McGee there!

[Oovis]

I've not directly posted the images as I'm unsure of copyright but the Strand Archive has these two images of the System CD board which was followed by the Gemini in our theatre. Both photos are in the same room, the first is labelled as the Lyric but the chap at the controls was the Chief when I started here when it was called The Strand Theatre. The photo of the Gemini in action is the same room and the window would be at the left shoulder in the first photo. Sadly nobody can recognise the set on stage or I could have really hit anorak mode and told you what it was lighting too

 

The CD was replaced with the Gemini in 1987, just before I started here, and ended up in the collection of the Theatre Museum, just after I started..

 

The Gemini was replaced with a Gemini 2+ which is now on loan to another venue. Nowadays it's common for each production to hire a desk so we've had all sorts of stuff in.