origin of a ghost light?

[zac850]

I was just wondering what the origin of a ghost light was? Keeping a random light on stage all night dosen't seem like it has a point... just seems like a waste of electricity...

Is there a reason for it?

Personally, my school dosen't keep a ghost light on, but we're also a gym/cafeteria/theater, so thats another reason. The local theater i'm starting to do stuff at keeps a ghost light on at night.

Yea, i'm getting side tracked, Anyway, whats the point of it?

[OnWithTheShow]

Most theatre's light switches are not located right next to the door. The ghost light provides a little bit of light for someone to reach the controls without walking into a set piece or other object and injuring themselves.

[digitaltec]

A light left on when a theatre is locked up for the night, the ghost light has several purposes. The light is placed on stage so that the first and last people in and out of the theatre may safely find their way. In olden days, ghost lights were gas flames and served as pressure release valves for a theatre’s gas system.

According to myth, the ghost light is also left on to ensure that the theatre is never “dark” and to keep the theatre muse happy. Supposedly, the light illuminates good ghosts while keeping bad spirits at bay. When all the theatre lights go out, the ghosts think they have been abandoned and create accidents and mischief.

Now, I can post the entire theory behind the ghost light or you chould just do a search on the net. Basicly it's an old Myth. Just listen to the soundtrack for The Phantom of the Opera.

[soundman]

dont forget to keep the box seat empty.

[HMOcidalmaniac]

i was given to under stand by someone wise that they had a practical purpose: to keep the gas pressure from building up too much and going kablooey during the night, or when the next person when walks in with an open source of flame

[StageSweetheart]

I agree with digitaltech...at our theatre, the "ghost" myth is what we go by, as well as the fact that the ghost light provides much needed lighting when first entering a theatre. The name "ghost light" seems to only make sense if you're going along with the myth. Plus, ghost light, ghosts in your theatre, how cool is that!!??

[Smatticus]

I haven't been on the site in quite a while and was browsing posts since my last visit when I came across this post. I didn't know that ghost lights referred to lights left on when a theatre wasn't in use. The experience I've had with the word 'ghost' I've had someone describe 'ghosting'... which I've understood is like a glitch when you loose control of one or more instruments and they just stay on. For example, during a dance recital last year we were going to a blackout and we had a number of instruments remain on despite every channel being at zero, the master being at zero, and the presets being turned off. The TD I work with calls this 'ghosting' though I do not know what it is caused by. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

[ecglstec]

Ghosts lights are lights that are meant to illuminate the stage when you first walk in. Some are on stands that are placed center stage, others are fixed to walls. See above ^^^^

Ghosting is when a dimmer operates sporadically; sometimes not going off or at other times flickering. They are two entirely different terms. Ghosting is typically caused by a faulty dimmer, but can occasionally be a faulty console or cable. Ghosting circuits suck and present a danger to inexperienced electricians who assume that a dimmer off at the console = no power on the circuit.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Smatticus

I haven't been on the site in quite a while and was browsing posts since my last visit when I came across this post. I didn't know that ghost lights referred to lights left on when a theatre wasn't in use. The experience I've had with the word 'ghost' I've had someone describe 'ghosting'... which I've understood is like a glitch when you loose control of one or more instruments and they just stay on. For example, during a dance recital last year we were going to a blackout and we had a number of instruments remain on despite every channel being at zero, the master being at zero, and the presets being turned off. The TD I work with calls this 'ghosting' though I do not know what it is caused by. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

The only time I have seen this happen is when the optocoupler controlling the triac failed. As such, the channel remained illuminated despite any attempts to dim it

[ecglstec]

Typically it is in the actual dimmer, but there are quite a few times, especially in analog adapted systems, when the contol cards fail or the DMX to analog converter can fail.