Vintage Lighting Kliegl archive at Penn State

[Scenemaster60]

I am wondering if anyone here at CB has firsthand experience with this special collection housed at Penn State? As I have mentioned in another post, Kliegl pretty much OWNED the regional and higher education lighting market on the east coast and the midwest from the late 1950s up through the 70s. As an historian I am very interested in the documents housed in this archive. At this point I am not really contemplating a research project either for a degree program or a book but the tale of this once proud company, its prestigious installations (Metropolitan Opera House 1966, Guthrie theatre 1959, Kennedy Center 1969, Sante fe opera 1968, Lyric Opera of Chicago 1974….etc.) and its rapid decline after 1980 fascinate me.

Any thoughts or insights that people might have would be welcome.

I am also wondering if anyone has Kliegl documents in electronic format that they might be willing to share. The stuff over at http://www.klieglbros.com is great but it strikes me that what is posted there may just be the tip of the iceberg, as they say.

Mark Kieffer

 

[JonCarter]

"Tip of the iceberg"--you're probably correct. Contact the folks at http://www.klieglbros.com. I have donated catalogs and some hardware to them.

Jon Carter

 

[ship]

"Tip of the iceberg"--you're probably correct. Contact the folks at http://www.klieglbros.com. I have donated catalogs and some hardware to them.

Jon Carter

"Tip of the iceberg"--you're probably correct. Contact the folks at http://www.klieglbros.com. I have donated catalogs and some hardware to them.

Jon Carter

I have also donated to Kliegl and didn't see what was given installed on the website. (Other brands I was pushing them towards posting). Penn State I have been in contact with and I believe they are working on putting it all on-line but it will take time. I have tried by way of links given to me to access the material without success a few years ago. This perhaps is something CB should stay on top of in links to them as they have access to a lot of goods. Will be wonderful once all the info we need can be found.

Certainly if that interested a visit to Penn State will turn out to be a wonderful vacation for you - book or not. I remember a visit to ETC factory that was one of the best vacations I ever had. http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/sp...atrelight.html is the website, sorry didn't save my contact to them but it's been a few years. Sometimes the quest and while there learning is that part of the vacation suffient as with stuff otherwise while in town. In my case a few antiqes shops to visit.

Ken... you out there, thinking of donating your stuff perhaps to NIU library so all the Hub/Dimitronics/Vara-Lite info can also be saved? CB has your various 58' thru like 72 catalogues already in it's storage on PDF presentable, but there is more and details not in the catalogue and stuff not shown.

 

[JChenault]

I am wondering if anyone here at CB has firsthand experience with this special collection housed at Penn State? As I have mentioned in another post, Kliegl pretty much OWNED the regional and higher education lighting market on the east coast and the midwest from the late 1950s up through the 70s. As an historian I am very interested in the documents housed in this archive. At this point I am not really contemplating a research project either for a degree program or a book but the tale of this once proud company, its prestigious installations (Metropolitan Opera House 1966, Guthrie theatre 1959, Kennedy Center 1969, Sante fe opera 1968, Lyric Opera of Chicago 1974….etc.) and its rapid decline after 1980 fascinate me.

Any thoughts or insights that people might have would be welcome.

I am also wondering if anyone has Kliegl documents in electronic format that they might be willing to share. The stuff over at http://www.klieglbros.com is great but it strikes me that what is posted there may just be the tip of the iceberg, as they say.

Mark Kieffer

If the history of Kliegl interests you, get in touch with Joel Rubin. He was the driving force behind the company when I was there and if approached correctly he is a font of information.

 

[STEVETERRY]

If the history of Kliegl interests you, get in touch with Joel Rubin. He was the driving force behind the company when I was there and if approached correctly he is a font of information.

You are correct--Joel is the most reliable and detailed Source on Kliegl Bros. history.

Serious researchers only, please feel free to PM me for Joel's contact info./